Powerful
By Misha
Disclaimer- Not mine. I’m just borrowing them for a little while and will return them when I am done.
Author’s Notes- This is really short, but after talking to @lizzy about Madeleine, it just popped into my head. This is a little bit of background on Madeleine and her relationship with her mother, based on the things we learn about Adelaide in Chapter 14.
Rating- PG
Summary- From a young age, Madeleine understands that her mother doesn’t care what other people think, but she does.
Words- 530
Madeleine is eleven the first time someone makes a nasty remark about her mother to her face.
It’s at school. Madeleine makes a comment about a classmate’s incompetence and the response is a snide remark about Duchess Adelaide’s penchant for stable boys.
It’s comment that obviously came from the girl’s parents, and that makes it worse.
Madeleine’s cheeks stain red, but she fights to keep her composure. After all, a reaction is what they want.
She doesn’t deny it though, because as young as she is, Madeleine is already very aware of her mother’s behavior.
**
Madeleine is thirteen when she hears her parents arguing about her mother’s indiscretions.
“The entire court saw you, Adelaide,” her father yells, his exasperation obvious.
“So?” Her mother’s response is indifferent. “Who cares what they see or what they say?”
“Obviously not you, but you know some people do care about their reputation. Your actions don’t affect just you. Do you ever think about the gossip affects Madeleine?”
A servant comes along then and Madeleine scrambles away before she can hear her mother’s reply, but she doesn’t need to hear it. She knows that Adelaide doesn’t really care how her actions affect anyone else.
**
Madeleine is sixteen the first time she talks about her mother to someone else.
Her mother is drunk at a palace affair and Madeleine happens to see the way Queen Regina’s mouth sets in a thin, tight line and that gives her the confidence to ask, “was she always like this?”
Regina turns to her. “Your mother? Yes, unfortunately.”
“Why doesn’t she care what other people think?” Madeleine asks, watching the way some ladies of the court are snickering at her mother.
“Because she doesn’t have to,” Regina says flatly, “Adelaide has always had the security of power and influence. As a duchess, very few people outrank her and that means, no matter how outrageous she is, she’ll always be important and it gives her the freedom to do what she wants.”
Madeleine considers that. She looks at Regina. “But you outrank her.”
Regina smiles. “I do. Now.”
There is a look of satisfaction on the Queen’s face and Madeleine wonders if Regina ever felt as embarrassed by Adelaide as she does. Maybe. But at least Regina found a way to distance herself from Adelaide and her behavior and that’s what Madeleine needs to do.
As long as Adelaide is alive, she’ll be the Duchess of Krona, and more important than Madeleine, which means she will keep on doing what she wants and Madeleine will have no say. Unless Madeleine finds a way to outrank her.
Her eyes land on Prince Leo, who is dancing with some minor noble and whispering something in her ear that makes her giggle.
Regina notices her gaze and leans in. “He might like the silly girls, but he needs a strong wife, one who can lead him.”
Madeleine immediately understands what the Queen is saying and smiles. She can do that. She can be strong for Cordonia and in return, she will finally be able to distance herself from her mother.
It’s the perfect solution and that moment, Madeleine vows to do whatever it takes to make it a reality.
– End
