The Duchess's office was a solemn chamber, adorned with tapestries and fine furniture. She sat behind her ornate desk, her stern gaze fixated on the door as Delphine entered.
"Why did you leave your room when you were told you were grounded, Delphine?" the Duchess demanded, her voice icy but controlled.
Delphine, instead of apologizing, began to make excuses, her words stumbling over one another. "I-I was hurt, Mama, and I didn't mean to go against your wishes, but Andromeda is so scary, and she hit me, and..."
The Duchess interrupted her with a firmness that brooked no excuses. "Delphine, you need to learn from your sister. How could you speak ill of her and go behind her back?"
Delphine tried to make more excuses, her eyes welling up with fresh tears, but her mother's stern gaze silenced her. The Duchess's voice grew even firmer as she continued, "Andromeda is your blood, Delphine. Have you given any thought to your actions? What you did was wrong."
