Allegra had had quite the morning and it was only about to get worse. She walked away from her tearful sister under the assumption that nothing could possibly go wrong. Not long after she had that thought, she was accosted by her mother on her way back upstairs where it was safe. Unfortunately for her, they were both walking towards each other and she could not turn tail and run because it would be too obvious. She did not want to give Princess Venera the satisfaction of knowing she had managed to intimidate her in her own home. So, she walked right up to talk to her with the pretence of normalcy.
“Mother. How good to see you,” she greeted her with an amiable look on her face.
“Likewise, dear,” her mother said as she leaned forward to place a peck on her cheek, a mimicry of true affectio
