TLoS: UAA 47: Eve's Tension

These thoughts continued still to linger with her, even as she lay in a warm morning bath. This was another of the changes which had set about her. Before the change, Ddraig spent as little time possible getting ready; he would clean his scales and ensure he was presentable, but would be minimalist in the amount of time he used. But now, Ddraig found herself taking her time. She lay in the bath, comfortably soaking within, as time slipped by and she lost track of just how long she was there. The bathwater was warm, and it was a pleasant feeling being almost completely enveloped by the warmth in this way (Ddraig normally just had a shower or a sponge bath, not often investing the time into a bath).

She was aware that having her head fixated on a male like this couldn't be good for her ability to lead. She was needed as the empress of Avalar, and here she was, swooning over a dragon like a schoolgirl, becoming weak at the knees with a racing heart just at thought of the man! No! This wouldn't do!

A noble sentiment, putting the people over one's personal life, but this was a battle Ddraig was not going to win, and deep down, she knew it. That didn't stop her from trying however. But for now, she wanted something to eat while she still had the stomach for food.

Unfortunately, there were other problems Ddraig hadn't forseen...

From the moment of first seeing her, Eve was upon her mother, and was not happy.

"...So." She spat. "...How was your 'date'?" She asked bitterly.

"Date?" Ddraig blinked, as it happens, she wasn't a good liar.

"...Yeah, that 'meeting' you went to was with Greywater!"

"How do you know this?!"

Eve rolled her eyes, and dragged Ddraig to the Internet, whereupon several tabs were open from different news sights.

"You first popped up on Facebook." She snorted, showing Ddraig something which made her stomach churn; someone had seen Ddraig and Greywater outside her palace last night, and had taken a photograph of the Dutchman kissing her paw.

"This, and several shots from the theatre were all over the news." Eve rolled her eyes. "Did you both honestly think the Empress of the Avalarian Empire and the King of the Netherlands could go to the theatre together on a date, and nobody would notice?!?!" 

wow, Eve was right; it sounded really stupid upon hearing it from Eve this way.

"Ddraig, you go on and on about being careful and reasonable, then you pull shit like this!" the red dragoness continued. "He's plotting to overthrow you, possibly even kill you! Or did you forget that when he was pouring you wine and talking about pianos?!"

Oddly, the idea that Eve knew about Ddraig's drinking the night before felt worse to her than the fact Eve knew her mother hadn't been completely honest with her. "...You know about that, huh?"

Eve sighed. "I know you're the adult here, but this is stupid."

"Do you think I'm not aware of the implications here?" Ddraig spat. "I know exactly the issues about Greywater. But seriously, he's not the monster we all think! He's actually a real gentleman. It's just it's all lost in the disagreement he and I have had! He's, he's a good dragon dammit!"

Eve paused. "Oh, my, god..." She uttered. "...You do, don't you? You actually have feelings for him?"

"I don't know..." Ddraig spoke tentatively.

"HOW CAN YOU NOT KNOW!?!?" Eve screamed, the tables turned, the daughter losing her fuse where the mother normally would. "You have to have some inclination by now! Stop lying to me!"

"I'm not lying!" Ddraig shouted as response. "...I think I might, but I'm as aware of what this means as you are. I should've told you, I'm sorry."

Eve scoffed, anger dripping from her with a bitter, acidic taste. "Did you even think of me for a second before running off to be courted by a traitor?" She asked, her tone quiet, a mixture of anger and sadness. "Did you think of Cystal, or Olivia, or anyone but yourself?! I know what you've done! you've pawned your ex off on your eunuch uncle, was this your intent all along?!"

"No!" Ddraig barked, she'd not been wearing the crown since she got out of the bath, she had done very well not to get worked up this far. "How dare you! You know I am stuck like this! Me and Cystal are never going to be together again now! She was alone, save for Olivia, and I wanted to do something to give her a dragon to be with who might love her as I once did! But what about me?!? When can I be selfish!?! When can I do something stupid or irrational out of love?! I have never questioned you and your romances, and now you feel you can question mine?!" Ddraig's morning had soured quickly. "Leave me alone!" She waved Eve off. "I don't want to see your face for a while!"

"Fine..." Eve hissed. "But if you're going to drag that man into our family to fulfil your loneliness, fine. But don't you dare try to make me want him to be here, and don't you dare try to make me love him. He is never going to be a father of mine." With these words and a scowl, Eve stormed past, taking off through the front doors and out into Warfang.

Ddraig knew she could've handled that better. She should have been better about it, but she wasn't. She was so angry she hardly even cared where Eve was even going. Of course, Eve was sensible, and wasn't going to do anything stupid, which likely lent itself to Ddraig's apathy at her storming off.