Charlie groaned at Riath's words. "I don't need to know how things could have been in order to know how I want them to be now." She waved a hand dismissively. "What could have been is a past fantasy, and could never have been anyway. But you're right about one thing..." she trained off, staring out her tower window to the world beyond the castle grounds. "I know what I want, and I'll work until I get it. Auntie be damned."
She clenched her fist at her side, teeth clenched tightly. "I don't care what she has planned for me. I refuse to be a pawn in her twisted little game."
--
"Then don't balance," Aolani said plainly. "If your sister's expectations are so unattainable, it sounds to me as though she's setting the girl up for failure. After all, one with a broken spirit is easier to control than one who thinks for themselves." The woman paced for a moment before settling back into her chair across from Vioroll. "Make her strong enough to weather whatever tricks your sister has planned. If she's the heir, she's the future. And while our kind may live forever, I believe we both know that's not usually the case."
She clenched her fist at her side, teeth clenched tightly. "I don't care what she has planned for me. I refuse to be a pawn in her twisted little game."
--
"Then don't balance," Aolani said plainly. "If your sister's expectations are so unattainable, it sounds to me as though she's setting the girl up for failure. After all, one with a broken spirit is easier to control than one who thinks for themselves." The woman paced for a moment before settling back into her chair across from Vioroll. "Make her strong enough to weather whatever tricks your sister has planned. If she's the heir, she's the future. And while our kind may live forever, I believe we both know that's not usually the case."
