"You’re just like her father. Just like her grandfather and she doesn’t see it," Melanie said, shaking her head.
"Her father, I understand, but how is she to see that I am like her grandfather when he died long before she was born? I don’t know much about you, but I know you hate your former husband. Edgar killed him," Tyrion reminded Melanie.
"So what? Am I to be grateful that Edgar used his status to kill Desmond?" Melanie replied. "Desmond was going to die anyway. He was never careful when it came to money."
"I, too, have read up on cases around the town. It was part of preparing to become king. I’ve also spoken to my family and the Collinses. I know that Edgar killed Desmond to stop him from marrying off your daughter to a man far older than her. Didn’t you know that?" Tyrion asked.
"I have been caught up on everything just like you," Melanie answered. There wasn’t a detail she missed.
"Yet you are not grateful he was killed? Would you have liked for Edgar to turn his back so she would have married that man? I’m starting to not buy your excuses. You knew how your husband was with wanting a perfect family. I think you wanted Alessandra to suffer," said Tyrion.
Melanie laughed. "You don’t know anything-"
"You didn’t write, you didn’t check if he had moved on so you could return, you didn’t visit, and you certainly didn’t care. Your husband was so bad that you had to run away from him, yet you thought your daughter was safe there?" Tyrion asked, not believing Melanie.
"She was his flesh and blood. She would have been better taken care of than he treated me," Melanie argued.
Desmond had always adored Alessandra since she was a copy of Melanie. It wasn’t a son, but Desmond got the perfect child he could parade around.
Melanie thought it was the arrival of Katrina and the birth of Kate that ruined Alessandra’s time with her father.
Tyrion tilted his head, trying to place why she was . "I wonder if it’s something in the air."
"I heard everything. His last wife got in his ear and turned him against Alessandra. I left my daughter in good care," said Melanie.
"So, you don’t have any fault in any of it? I wonder how it must have been for the duchess to be left alone with a man you said wanted you to be perfect and have someone to parade. The shoes she had to fill at a young age," said Tyrion.
"Luckily for you, that’s another man’s wife, so he will be the one to question you. I am only concerned about my wife. You’ve upset her," Tyrion said, and for that, Melanie was never going to be on his good side.
"You’ll kill me, but not the former queen who speaks down on your marriage? I might not be in the same room as you two, but I have heard many things. I am not the only one who thinks this marriage was a bad idea," Melanie said.
"Oh, I want to get rid of her, too," Tyrion said, earning a gasp from Melanie. "I should put you two together and let you bother each other to death."
"Live quietly, Melanie. I am giving you one chance to live quietly because I know Penelope still harbours some love for you. If I hear that you are speaking of her or her mother, then I will come after your family," Tyrion warned Melanie.
Melanie frowned. "Leave my family out of this. They are innocent."
"They are, but I know it is the best way to hurt you. Your husband and son won’t be able to find work in this town once I am through with them. I will be fair to throw in Claire’s husband as well," said Tyrion.
"You cannot do this!" Melanie exclaimed. "My children are innocent."
"All of your children are innocent, but you always forget one and make her the villain. Why are you so surprised when you have already deemed me a monster? If I can’t hurt you besides killing you, then I am going to toy with those you love," Tyrion said, enjoying the fear in Melanie’s eyes.
Tyrion stepped away from Melanie. "I am giving you a chance here, so smile. I had plans to kill you and bury you where drunkards piss. Take the chance I am giving you."
"I am not afraid of you," Melanie said.
She would not allow a spoiled little prince to walk all over her.
"Oh," Tyrion smiled. "I am not worried if you don’t fear me. By all means, challenge me. It will make your downfall all the better. If not for my wife standing on the other side of that door, there would be posters with your face going up around the town by nightfall."
"Do anything to ruin my wife and that daughter you have out there, I won’t ruin her work. I’ll kill her," Tyrion said, promising every bit of his threat.
Melanie remained against the wall as Tyrion walked toward the door. When he opened it, she saw how concerned Melody was.
Melanie locked eyes with Penelope, but Melanie soon looked away.
"Mother!" Melody ran inside as Tyrion came out. "Are you well?" She asked, inspecting her mother.
Melody sighed in relief after confirming that her mother was well. "What did the prince say?"
"I told you that we shouldn’t have come here. I should have got what I needed for Claire and got what we needed for supper. Now, look what you have brought me into," Melanie said, touching her chest.
There was an uneasiness Melanie couldn’t get rid of. She was worried about her family. Who could she turn to for support against a prince?
"I’m sorry. I didn’t think it would get to this point. I thought the matter was small for you and Penelope to resolve. She only wanted you to stop speaking about her mother," said Melody.
Melody couldn’t pinpoint when it all went wrong. Both sides said something wrong, but she was disappointed with her mother.
"It comes off that you treat us better than you treat Alessandra-"
"You are my children," Melanie said, walking away from Melody so she could catch her breath. The uneasiness wouldn’t go away, and more than ever, Melanie felt like she couldn’t breathe.
"Have you drunk something, mother? Alessandra is your child. Your first," Melody said. Had the prince startled her mother this badly?
Melanie shook her head and placed her hands on her hips as she calmed down. "I didn’t want a child with Desmond. I wanted to get away from him, but regardless of what I wanted, he had his way, and she came about from it. She is the child he wanted."
Melody frowned. "It is unfortunate what happened, but now, surely you want her, right?"