The door creaked again.. this time slowly, deliberately.

I didn’t turn around. I didn’t need to.

Only one person in this palace had the audacity to enter my chambers without giving a proper knock.. acting like he bloody owned the floor beneath my feet.

“Did mother send you to stress me over little miss vanishing green eyed snake?” I called without looking up at him, “Or are you just here to mope at me to tell you what I didn't do right and pretend to be father of the year again?”

I heard the door click shut. His footsteps were slow, calm, measured... as always.

“You’ve always been dramatic,” he...