Rene hated waking up with a migraine. She could manage easier if she was already up and walking around—laying in bed, the migraine was the only thing she could really focus on.

Adelinde lightly nudged her so she knew the time, murmuring an apology when Rene winced.

“Another migraine?”

“Yeah. Kind of wish they’d stop, but…”

Rene sighed, opening her eyes just enough she could look at Adelinde without letting the light make it worse. Even with curtains closed, it seemed too bright.

Adelinde offered a little frown and pulled away. A bit quieter, she said, “This is the third one this month—second since Matteo and Tara came back. It might be time to visit a doctor again.”

Rene did her best to sit up, even if she had to lean on the wall behind the bed just to avoid falling over. She still didn’t like Adelinde’s concerned frown in response.

“I don’t—” Rene tried, even if she knew it wouldn’t do anything.

Predictably, she got cut off fairly quickly. Adelinde lightly brushed Rene’s shoulder, still frowning but slightly firmer.

“Please. I’ll keep worrying until I know I don’t need to.”

“Take it from me, then,” Rene replied gently, putting her hand over Adelinde’s. “I know what the cause is—I’m just stuck with it. So you don’t need to worry. I’m not dying.”

She assumed so, anyway. She was still affected from the night she bound her blood to that shrine’s gravestone—she tried to break it almost every single time she had a migraine, but it never worked. She wished she could explain that without really telling the full story.

“It wouldn’t hurt to confirm,” Adelinde maintained. She sighed, getting off the bed and moving over to the dresser. “…At any rate, if you can’t sit up I’m not letting you make breakfast.”

“I’ve only been awake for five minutes at most,” Rene pointed out. “It might pass by then.”

“They usually don’t. Whether or not its anything serious, you trying to cook something and either burning or cutting yourself in the process isn’t any better.”

“…All right.”

Carefully, Rene stood up while Adelinde got ready for the day. She knew she probably looked miserable—she felt miserable, to some extent, her head pounding and she fully expected to need to stop if she got dizzy—and she had no way of trying to hide it. Adelinde constantly watched her from the mirror’s reflection.

They both got dressed relatively silently, exchanging mostly-daily weather musing and picking out their respective outfits accordingly. Although Adelinde finished fairly quickly, she still waited by the door—not wanting to hold her for too long, Rene chose to put her hair up while they walked. Adelinde stayed right by her side in case she lost balance.

Rene sat down at the kitchen table once they got there, trying not to be obviously in pain so neither of the kids worried. Adelinde’s glances back at her mostly negated the effort, even if she was just looking to see what they had.

Matteo came in the kitchen first, offering a wave and “good morning” as greeting. He faltered while saying the latter when he noticed Rene sitting down instead of cooking, but didn’t directly ask her—instead, he looked at Adelinde.

“Are we eating in town?”

“It looks like,” Adelinde replied, turning towards him. “Unless you would like to volunteer to cook something for breakfast.”

His attention went back to Rene. “You’re not feeling well, then?”

“Migraine,” Rene replied dismissively. Managing a little smile, she added, “Your mom’s too stubborn to let me do anything.”

“I mean, you look terrible,” Matteo pointed out. “I wouldn’t let you do anything, either.”

“Thank you,” Adelinde said somewhat jokingly. She walked back over to the table. Rene could tell she was trying to stop worrying about her—at least for as long as there were witnesses. “You were going out after breakfast regardless, weren’t you?”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“I was going to the conservatory,” Matteo replied, nodding. “Not the first plan for today, but we actually had a backup in case of rain for once. That’ll probably take a good portion of the morning and some of the afternoon.”

Adelinde murmured her acknowledgment, and in came Tara. She started the same question Matteo did before her brother answered it.

“Rene’s not cooking,” he said.

“…Okay.” She looked specifically at Rene and Adelinde. “I could make something?”

“It’s fine,” Rene said, offering a kind look. “You don’t have to.”

“Something for me and you, at least?” Tara tried instead. Her eyes quickly flickered to the window, and she frowned when she looked back at her parents. “I…don’t want to get caught in the rain—then anyone who’s leaving can just head out earlier, and the ones who are staying don’t need to go anywhere.”

Rene nodded permission, and Adelinde and Matteo left after exchanging waves or goodbyes. Tara waited until the door closed behind them before she actually went to the other side of the kitchen to make something. Rene gave some input by watching her, ultimately guiding her through cutting up some fruit.

She tried to get her own plate, but Tara refused just as firmly as Adelinde did. Rene let the girl do as she wanted, murmuring some thanks after Tara set both plates in their respective places and took her spot next to Rene. She noticed Tara’s expression and tried her best at the same kind of gentle tone Adelinde would use with them that didn’t sound condescending—it came easiest with Tara whenever she didn’t even mean it.

“Are you okay?” Rene asked. “That isn’t your normal ‘I wish it wouldn’t rain’ look.”

“Just…a bit guilty, maybe,” Tara replied quickly, only glancing at her for a second before focusing on her food. “I tend to be my best whenever you have a migraine. The rain is still concerning, but otherwise I feel good for so early in the morning. I’m barely even tired.”

She paused for a minute and took a little breath before looking back at Rene. “Actually, I—”

A harsh knock on the front door cut her off, and Tara immediately shrunk back. Rene offered an apologetic look and stood up.

“Don’t know who would be deciding to visit,” Rene murmured. When she reached the kitchen’s window that looked out to the front, she put one hand on the wall in case she needed the support and moved the curtain back.

The person stood in a good enough spot for Rene to see them. It took her a few seconds to realize it was Elina. When she made that connection, her expression must’ve changed—Tara let out a little whimper in response to it.

Rene did what she could to give her daughter a smile without moving quickly enough to lose her balance.

“It’s someone for me,” Rene explained. “Just stay here for a little bit, okay? Go ahead and keep eating. It won’t take long.”

Tara murmured an agreement. Rene walked over to the front door, letting that gentleness fade by the time she opened it. Elina both did and did not seem to expect her, but regardless tried to go inside before either said anything.

Rene firmly pushed her back, earning a glare she hadn’t seen in years. She didn’t miss it.

“What do you want?” Rene asked.

“I just want to confirm something,” Elina said simply. “Your…children or what have you traveled to the west two weeks ago, didn’t they?”

Rene frowned in response. “Stay away from my kids—and get out of sight while you’re at it. The same thing I told Lord Dazuz applies to you.”

“Go ahead and ruin the effort. I imagine you’ll fall right along with us—you’re not that far from Father and I, you know.”

Rene prepared to close the door again, but the moment she stepped back Elina took the chance to come inside. She moved too quickly for Rene to grab her as she passed, the movement only serving to make her dizzy.

She continued on sooner than she should have, but honestly preferred Elina being gone than whatever consequences she would face from being quick. Elina stood across from where Tara sat; Rene half-collapsed over the table once she reached it. Tara let out a squeak in response, but Elina ignored her. Rene kept her eyes open despite the world turning around her. She didn’t want to risk it.

“I’m curious,” Elina said to Tara. “Did she tell you about me? What do you know?

“Stay away from my kids,” Rene maintained. “I will get a knife if you don’t leave.”

“Port girls never change,” Elina replied coldly, only slightly glancing at her. “I remembered when you actually respected me.”

“For about a month. You don’t have a reason to be here.” She managed to stand up without relying on the table.

From next to her, Tara whimpered again. Rene looked down at her.

…Gods. The drizzle outside was probably concerning enough for her. Rene threatening to stab someone wouldn’t help.

Regardless, Elina pulled away from the table as well.

“I suppose I could head out now,” Elina mused. She said it like she was invited to stay. “I confirmed what I wanted to, at least. Would either of you like to tell me where the boy went?”

Both stayed silent, and Elina sighed.

“Expected.” She walked to the kitchen door, then glanced back at Rene. “Father will likely visit at some point. Best get all your threats and promises in order.”

Rene followed behind her just to lock the door again, returning to Tara as soon as she could.

The girl didn’t say anything. Rene didn’t have the words to try to explain it or comfort her, so ultimately they ate and separated in silence.

She said herself earlier: she’s stuck with it, both the migraines and the choices that caused them. She tried to think if there was a way for her to tell Adelinde without worrying her, and ultimately came to one of the vaguest conclusions she could.