They memories planted

He walked in with my mother and Audrey. ‎Audrey leaned toward my mom and acted fragile. Nice clothing pick, Audrey, I muttered to myself. The pink flowery gown matched her mood. ‎I almost burst out laughing, the Almighty Viper of Aether acting weak, the fastest female cultivator and her father’s pride. ‎But something seems different. ‎They walked in together; last time, Caleb was my first guest. ‎My mom walked toward my bed and stopped. ‎"We are here to discuss the nation’s affairs with you," almost like a whisper laced with annoyance. ‎When did you begin discussing the nation’s affairs with Sara? I wondered to myself. ‎Caleb cut in, “Mother, go straight to the point.” ‎He was already impatient at this point. ‎Audrey went straight to her knees and began her scripted drama. “Forgive me, sister.” ‎She broke down, and my mom looked at me with such hate, and she said,” Can’t you get up and hold your sister?” ‎Before I could reply, Caleb walked up to me to drag me down, and just like that, I was off the bed. ‎I found my voice,” Mother," I called out. ‎"You came into my room with your children to bully me." ‎I found my voice; it sounded like I were prepared for this confrontation. Very good. Shock registered on my mother’s face; Audrey peeped up a bit to be sure. ‎I love the look on their faces. Before I could bask in my petty victory, ‎the air shifted. ‎A slap landed on my face. ‎I tried again to speak. ‎She raised her hands once more, and I caught it midst air. ‎She was still for a moment. Trying to understand how I had stopped her. Then recalculate her movement. ‎And recovered fast. ‎"Since when did you begin to challenge me?" her eyes widened. She was speaking with rage, and the veins on her head were popping out. What an angry woman! ‎"I’m sorry, mother," I whispered, not remorseful at all. My eyes apologized, but my shoulders did otherwise. ‎Before she could say anymore, Caleb threw a blow at me; at that moment, my grandma walked in and caught him right in the act. ‎He froze like a child caught stealing, and my mother tried to smooth things, but my grandma shut her up with her eyes. ‎She asked my sister why she was kneeling, and she cried more. ‎My brother intervened quickly, “Is it not Sara?” ‎He pointed accusing fingers towards me. The family matriarch observed for a brief moment the look on our faces before making her decision. ‎ “What did she do?” “She was cruel,” Caleb blurted. “How cruel?” She still pressed on. “Audrey only wanted her help, and she turned around and demanded her core....” ‎he stammered; he must have realized that he was saying gibberish. ‎And she asked him again in her authoritative voice what I did. ‎No response. ‎They could not say what I did at all. ‎My grandma's bitter laughter echoed through the room. ‎"Is this the son you want to rule Aether?" Silence filled the room. We know who the question was meant for. And we all held our breath. ‎ “This weakling.” ‎My sister opened her mouth to sob. ‎This time around, my mother asked her, ‎"Audrey, can you just shut up?" ‎I watched as her shoulders trembled. She stopped pretending and knelt."Matriarch, I’m truly sorry. I acted out of place," she begged, with her head bowed to the marble floor decorated with a white serpent still life drawing. My grandma turned her face away, refusing to acknowledge her. My mother turned to me as if trying to play her last card."I’m sorry, Sara. Acted out of impulse." ‎I knew the reaction she wanted, and I would beat her to it. Still on the floor, I crawled to her. ‎"Mother, why are you apologizing to me?" ‎Before she could recover, I turned to face Audrey. ‎"Look at the mess you created." ‎I was playing my cards well. ‎"Sara, I’m sorry." ‎Audrey tried to acknowledge her fault. ‎But I didn’t plan to let her get away easily. ‎"Can you tell me, Audrey, the reason Caleb is here to harass me?" ‎I gave her a look that shocked her. ‎She bit her lips so hard that they bled a little. ‎Caleb wanted to move to comfort her; I guess he remembered to read the room. ‎"Sara, we can talk about this later," my mother said, this time around almost pleading. ‎"But you never gave me the chance to understand the situation, and you hit me." ‎I sobbed harder, not for the harassment, not for the betrayal, but for a life the once wasted. ‎The Matriarch cleared her throat, and all attention turned back to her. ‎She watched us briefly. ‎Before she began her daily sermon. ‎"We are royalty, and we must behave like one and learn to carry ourselves as such and all times." ‎We nodded in agreement. ‎"Caleb!" ‎My grandma finally turned to him. ‎"On no account should you lift your fingers again against any royal princess." ‎She waited still he bowed. ‎Her eyes still pressed on him. Still, he bowed and acknowledged her. ‎"I’m sorry, Sara, and forgive me, Grandma." ‎His hatred still stinks, and his anger still rages. ‎"Mother, excuse me." ‎My mother finally found her voice. ‎"I have a place I need to be now." ‎She rises to her full height. ‎The tall, elegant, pale woman with the dark aura, her eyeballs never changed back to their human form after her last cultivation, her dark, full hair is a testament to her beauty. ‎"Please, mother," she added, “forgive my Caleb behaviour.” ‎She turned around and helped my sister to her feet. ‎My brother turned to check if she was hurt and glared at me. ‎I wanted to roll my eyes. ‎And insult them loudly. Fools. ‎She signaled to her children to leave with her. ‎My mother had swallowed her pride because her son’s title and future were being questioned. ‎Audrey turned to look at me with a faint smile. ‎ A smile of victory. She thought she was winning. ‎I would not share the future with her.