The Queen didn't even comfort Aria as she went on her voice thundering through the chamber, her fury was barely controlled. "It would have been better if you were raped and killed!" she spat venomously, her words slicing through Aria like a blade. The harsh declaration made Aria's heart clench, not with surprise, but with a sting of bitter familiarity. This wasn't new; she'd always known her parents' lack of care, but hearing such cruel words out loud was another wound to her already battered spirit.
Aria flinched but kept her composure. She'd learned to shield herself from their poisonous words over the years. She raised her chin slightly, refusing to let her tears fall. Just as I thought, she mused, they wouldn't have cared what happened to me. Whether I was raped or killed, it would have only been a slight inconvenience for them.
