Click, clack, click, clack.
It's 'mother' again. What does she want now?
In the hallway, a shadowy, slim, curvy figure walks closer. And closer. 'Mother' comes into view, yawning gracefully. Her hair is disheveled. She's limping, dressed in her sleeping robe.
Vira watches. Thinks to herself, "She must've had a fun morning... still in her sleeping robe."
Vira quickly looks back down at her plate when her 'father' emerges from the hallway. He glances at her—and then, gives her a playful wink.
Her stomach turns. No warning. Just sickness rising up her throat.
She slams her hands on the table and stands up.
"Honey? You alright?" her 'mother' purrs, her same sweet purring tone whenever she's hiding something inside makes Vira's mind insane.
Vira doesn't answer.
She runs to the bathroom.
Poor Vira. We all thought this would turn out like a Disney tale… but it ends with a quiet horror that you can't shake, because we're in sorrow…
How... Pitiful...
Vira yells, her voice weary and cracked, "I'm alright 'mother'! You don't have to worry about me!"
She may say that, but she can't prove it. Another wave of sickness rises up her throat. She turns and digs her face back into the toilet.
"BLEEUGHH!"
She pants, only to vomit again—her body barely letting her breathe.
"BLEEUGHH!!"
On the other side of the door, her 'mother' listens.
And… she smiles?
But as she speaks, she cloaks her delight with disquiet. "Dear? Are you sure you're okay? Can 'mother' come inside?"
Vira, worn out, pants heavily. Her body begs for help, but her mind refuses. She's not in control—not fully.
So who's the real Vira? The strong girl? Or a liar to herself... and us?
Her voice breaks mid-sentence. "You can come in… 'mother'."
The door creaks open slowly.
Her 'mother' peeks one eye in, then swings the door fully open.
She shifts from a devilish grin to an agitated frown.
She kneels beside Vira, stroking her hair gently.
"Dear, why are you vomiting? Are you sick?"
Vira doesn't see the smile. She doesn't see the monster.
Her sadness clouds her vision.
The queen's eyes seem concerned… but beneath, buried in depths so dark even dogs couldn't sense it—
Is lust.
A pleasure in seeing her daughter like this. A mask made of concern. A performance only a 'mother' could perfect.
The Afternoon
"Dear, how are you? Are you feeling at least a bit better, my dear?" Vira's 'mother' whispered softly outside the bedroom door.
Vira lay asleep in her bed. The queen smiled quietly to herself. She's asleep, isn't she? Perfect~ The pill had worked, as always.
She took a cup of water and slipped something strange and unsettling into it — some unknown 'medication' that Vira would never willingly swallow.
Opening the door slowly, the queen tiptoed inside, placed the cup gently on the bedside table, and brushed a tender kiss on Vira's forehead before slipping out again.
The Night
Vira stirred awake. She turned on her side and noticed the cup of water beside her, along with a little note in flowing script:
Hello dear, feeling a bit better now? You must be thirsty. I prepared this for you~
Love, Mother
Really? Seriously? Did she think Vira would believe such a lie?
In Vira's mind, suspicion flared immediately: She added something, didn't she? Something to... make me hurt. Maybe poison.
But strangely, Vira didn't care. All she wanted was to escape this cruel fairytale — no matter the cost.
I guess… I don't mind this kind of pain, as long as it makes me disappear from here…
Wait, what? She doesn't care?!
Her 'mother' had pushed her too far — to the point where Vira was contemplating disappearing forever.
Vira muttered to herself, forcing her thoughts back to reality:
No. I can't think like that. It means they've won — 'mother' and 'father' have trapped me inside my own mind, making me want to be trapped. But I won't fall for it. Not now.
Steeling herself, Vira grabbed the glass and rose quietly. She opened the door slowly, the hinges creaking softly.
Did 'mother' hear that already?
Ignoring the fear, she planned an excuse — if caught, she'd say the water tasted weird, she didn't want it.
But what if she tasted it? And soon felt the pain? She needed to be careful.
Her hand hovered over the sink as she prepared to pour the water away — but then she caught sight of her 'father' in the hall, casually drinking from a cup.
"Honey? What are you doing? Have you drunk your cup of water from 'mother' yet?"
Vira took a quick sip before setting the glass down, replying, "Yep. But what exactly did 'mother' put in it? Some kind of medication? Or a pill?"
Her 'father' smirked, eyes gleaming with something cruel.
"If you want me to tell you, you'll have to let me play with your toy again~ So, what's it gonna be? You want the truth and the game, or no truth and no game? Choice A or B?"
Ew. How disgusting.
Vira hesitated. Both options were horrifying: A was vile, but B was unknown and worse.
Swallowing hard, she said firmly, "A… I choose A."
Her 'father' purred with approval. "Smart girl. Very smart."
Clearing his throat, he continued, "That water you drank? It's an immortality potion. It activates when you turn twenty-five. You'll never age a day beyond that. Isn't that nice?"
Vira's eyes widened in fear and tears as the weight of his words settled over her.
"Really?" she whispered, voice trembling.
He nodded once, then snapped, "Now then, dear… let's play with your toy~"
Vira flinched but whispered, "A-alright…"
RIP, dear Vira. Here's hoping she finds something—or someone—to remind her there's still light beyond this cruel fairytale. Something real. Something kind. Something not like her 'mother.'
The Morning
For some reason, I like just using headings instead of chapters—headings like "The Afternoon" or "The Morning." They sound kind of sappy, I know. You wanna go back to the story instead of me yapping? …Alright, fine. We'll go back to the story, I guess. Tough crowd.
Vira flutters her eyes open. Like last time, 'Father' isn't there.
She slips on her sleeping robe, the same as always, and quietly makes bacon and eggs for herself. Again. She cries again too—but this time, she knows she's crying… and she ignores it.
Her 'Mother' walks into the kitchen, holding a box of tissues. Vira hadn't heard the usual click, clack, click clack of her heels this time.
"Here, dear~" her 'Mother' purrs softly.
Vira flinches. She hadn't realized anyone was there. But after a pause, she takes the tissues and wipes her face. I really hope she doesn't ask why I'm crying… she thinks. I can't say it. 'Mother' probably knows, but what if she doesn't? What if she asks? I… I can't say that 'Father' has been doing this to me… but then—
Her thoughts are cut off when 'Mother' slides a file onto the table.
"This," she says, "is your new royal school. You're twelve now, dear, and you've been homeschooled long enough~ Time to face the real world. This is where you'll attend. Isn't that exciting?"
Vira feels butterflies stirring in her stomach—part excitement, part dread. How will school really be? she wonders.
Things seem to be getting real now. But what will Vira face?
Imagine she finds her first real friend—that would be nice, wouldn't it?
Let's just hope nothing bad happens once she finally finds someone to rely on.