"What do you want, Valerie?" Oberon's voice was low, laced with the exhaustion of a ruler who had been tested too many times.
Valerie's mouth went dry, his carefully rehearsed words slipping away. "I... I wanted to explain myself," he managed, his voice faltering. "I know what I did was wrong, but I need you to understand why I did it."
"Ahh, there it is, the excuses," Oberon lifted his hardened expression and stared right at him. "Tell me then, Valerie, did you think of understanding your brother Aldric when the news of him murdering your fiancée came in?"
At once, Valerie's throat dried up. He attempted to speak but there was a huge lump in his throat. He couldn't say a word because it was a lie and Fae couldn't lie.
Despair hit him and his eyes darted around, his mind working on an answer that would save what little dignity he had left.
"It's different." He said.
"How different?" Oberon retorted.
