Coming Clean

[Random NPC]

: "When one spends most nights playing chess, and nothing but chess, talk of family is limited. Neither of us brought it up for fear it would distract us from the game. We had only one night of intimacy, and that was after game of drunk chess."

[Sky]

Lifting a brow slightly, Philomena replied skeptically, "It was just chess? What happened was an accident? Do you mean to tell me that you have no romantic feelings whatsoever for my husband? You don't love him?"

[Random NPC]

: "I hate to be the bearer of bad news but your husband has an unhealthy addiction to chess," Aurelie said. "Whenever I went to visit, which I did only because he was the closest to the royal family and I wanted to know what they honestly thought of me as the days progressed, a game of chess would always ensue." She glanced away. "I love the idea of Demetrius, the kind, protective man. The man, well, let's just say, I rather have my teeth pulled then deal with most of the stuff he's vented to me about."

Her cheeks tinted pink. "Besides, why would he honestly want me when he has you?"

[Sky]

At Aurelie's casual mention that she had become Demetrius's confidant, Philomena felt as though the wind had been knocked out of her. In some way, knowing that her husband had shared his deepest feelings with another woman was worse than knowing that he had shared his body. Because just like Aurelie, what had drawn Philomena to Demetrius were just those qualities that she had mentioned. His kindness. His protectiveness. The way he had always made her laugh. The way he used to sit with her for hours on end and just talk about anything and everything. Struggling to keep her composure from cracking, Philomena said softly, "I thought you said earlier that you two didn't talk about personal things because you didn't want it to distract from your game of chess - you were lying, weren't you? You have been having an affair with my husband - at least, an emotional one."

[Sky]

At the silence that greeted her, Philomena clasped her hands together in front of her dress as she said finally, "At least do me the courtesy of telling me this much: how involved are you expecting Demetrius to be in your child's life?"

[Random NPC]

OOC: I apologize for the lack of response. I had a brain block

"All I expect him to do is a small check just to help pay for her food and clothing. That's all I can ask for."

[Sky]

OOC: No problem

Satisfied with this answer, Philomena lapsed into silence for a long moment before she said softly, "You're holding the knitting needles all wrong - that's why it keeps unraveling." Gently taking the partially formed booties from Aurelie, she continued, "Here. Let me show you the correct way to do this." Seating herself on the floor, Philomena hunched over the yarn as she slowly demonstrated the proper way to hold the needles. Expertly finishing a few rows, she then wordlessly handed it back to Aurelie.

[Random NPC]

: Aurelie flushed embarrassedly, seemingly mortified to be shown her inadquacies in the feminine realm. She'd sooner take part in a healthy debate over some historic battle and its effects on modern day policy then simper over the latest bit of gossip.

Still, she was trained to be a lady, and that included proper manners. "Thank you," she said quietly, trying to duplicate what the other woman showed her.

[Sky]

"I wouldn't thank me yet," Philomena replied with a tired smile. "Because I think in time you'll come to dislike me rather greatly. I know you say that all you can ask from Demetrius is a bit of money every now and then, but I can't believe that that's all you want. I'm a mother and I know that I want my husband to be there for his sons. I think it's only natural that you'll want Demetrius to be there for your daughter, not just financially, but emotionally as well. But . . . but I can't let that happen. I can't let Demetrius have another family. I don't think I would be able to stand knowing that there's something out there that he loves that I can never be a part of. It's selfish, yes, but I think I have the right to be selfish at this point. I'm not just looking out for me, though. I'm looking out for my own children as well. You know as well as I do, I think, that Demetrius is very devoted to his job. He hardly has any spare time and so, when he does get a moment away, I want - need - him to spend it with us. With his real family."

[Random NPC]

: Aurelie gritted her teeth at that comment. "You must forgive me," she said softly. "I am feeling a bit tired and would like to retire for the evening." She stood up abruptly and headed for another part of the room. She hadn't intended to have had this child by Demetrius so Philomena's rubbing *her* family in her face burned - and angered her.

[Sky]

Philomena nodded as she wordlessly exited the room, knowing that her words had angered Aurelie. As she shut the door behind her with a soft click, she sighed as she momentarily wondered if she had done something wrong - if she should have held her tongue. If she should have simply pasted on a fake smile and congratulated Aurelie on her pregnancy. But no, Philomena decided grimly, that would only make her a liar, something she had never once been accused of in her life. No, she had the right to speak her mind just as Aurelie had the right to feel angered by her words. Because when it came down to it, both of them were looking out for their families; who could find fault with that?

As she walked down the hall back toward her husband's chambers, Philomena lightly rubbed her temples. Aurelie could hate her all she wanted but at the end of the day, she was in the wrong. Intentional or not, drunk or not, Aurelie was the one who had slept with a married man and she would have to be the one to deal with the consequences. As would Demetrius. Aurelie probably thought that she was the type of woman who forgave her husband for anything without so much as a thought, but she wasn't. Demetrius would have plenty of punishment; he would, after all, have to live with his betrayal every day of his life. But even though this was the reality of things, she wasn't going to let it permanently affect her life. She couldn't. She had to have her family back, whatever it took. Because this wasn't her mistake. This was Demetrius and Aurelie's mistake. And because of that, she didn't deserve to have it thrown in her face for the rest of her life. She deserved to get what she wanted: her family. That was final.