𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑽𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒂

𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑽𝑰𝑰, 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓

October 14, 2022

Sophie had told Kate what she had heard, and she felt as if a knife had been thrust into her heart. She always thought her daughter would tell her when she had her first kiss. But she hadn't. -When did she stop telling me things, she thought, unable to remember the last time she came home excited to tell them all about her day, and it tore her apart.

Since Victoria had entered the boarding school she had been more distant, but in the last few weeks it had become more so. She never answered their calls, she didn't want to spend the weekend at home anymore, making up some silly excuse. And after what she'd found out and the mystery of the conversation with Pippa, she'd felt very guilty.

Kate parked in the entrance to the boarding school about ten minutes before the time she had agreed with her firstborn. She took her mobile phone out of her bag to check some emails and when she wanted to realise it was already past the hour and there was no sign of the teenager so she decided to call her.

—I'm coming mum— said the young princess abruptly answering the call, which made the woman's eyes widen with her daughter's reply and further affirmed her reasons why they had to have a chat.

—I was just on my way down— Victoria explained getting into the passenger seat as she threw her backpack into the back of the car.

—And my "hello mum, it's good to see you"?— tried to joke Kate but her voice was much louder than she intended.

—Hi mum. I've missed you— she replied giving her a kiss on the left cheek —That's better— smiled the woman giving her a big hug in which the teenager was quite uncomfortable but she tried not to let it show.

When her mother started the car Victoria started to play the radio screen and put on Taylor Swift.—Where are we going?— she asked noticing that this was not the way home.

—Let yourself be surprised— said Kate which provoked a confused look from the princess.

—All right— she replied unconvinced, glancing at her mother suspiciously from time to time.

The teenager was quite busy humming the 1 when the woman stopped the car, turning off the music at the same time, provoking a small groan from the future queen.

—What is this?— she asked as she saw that they were in a small wooden house in the middle of the forest.

—I've organised a girls' night— Catherine explained excitedly but only earned a confused look from her first born. —Why?— she asked fearfully, thinking that her aunt had spoken to her.

—I just want to spend time with you— replied the woman a little annoyed by her daughter's questions, who only nodded.

They went to the cabin and when they entered they could admire a big white screen, as well as a sofa and a table full of fried food and a pizza. —Do you like it?— asked Kate with a smile but the teenager didn't say a word, she just stood there admiring it all, not believing that her mother had set it all up.

—What movie do you want to see?— asked Kate approaching her —Matilda— she answered coming out of her trance.

Victoria had always identified a lot with Matilda, her parents loved her brother more than her, which unfortunately she felt quite identified with. If only she had a Jennifer Honey in her life.

Mother and daughter each sat on one side of the small sofa until Kate pulled her firstborn into a hug and the teenager rested her head on her mother's shoulder. —It's been so long since we've spent time together— Kate commented as she stroked the girl's back and she nodded.