Regina wasn't sure when it had all begun. Her mother had always paid a great amount of attention to her. It only got worse as she grew older. Her mother watched her every move like a hawk, always commenting on her appearance and how she dressed. She often complained Regina wasn't ambitious enough, that she should try harder to marry into one of the royal families. She didn't want any of it though. She'd been pressuring her since she was born. Always stating she must marry for the money, have a son. Bring honour to her family in some way and she hated every minute of it.

If her mother knew about Daniel she never let Regina know. She never brought his name up or mentioned about the stable boy once. Instead she kept Regina close, rarely letting her out of her sight. She only got a chance to breathe when her father fell ill. She felt bad leaving him alone with her mother but she took every opportunity to get out of the castle that she got. She was finally going to run away, leave and never look back. But it all changed when she found her mother blocking the door, her arms folded over her chest, wearing a black intricately detailed dress.

"You are not to see that boy anymore, Regina. Your father passed away this morning. You are staying in this house and doing as I say, do you understand me?" Cora asked raising an eyebrow locking eyes with her daughter. Everything about the girl only reminded her of herself, and she was definitely a narcissist.

Her heart fell into her stomach; it was as if the wind had been knocked out of her. Her father was dead, the only one, other than Daniel, that had ever tried to protect her from her mother. He may have let her get away with a lot but she knew deep down that if her father hadn't been around that her mother would have done much worse to her. She turned away from her mother as tears gathered in her eyes. "How can you be so cold? Daddy died because of you! You never loved him!"

Cora narrowed her eyes and grabbed her daughter by the chin roughly and tilted her head up to look her in the eye. "How many times must I tell you, my love? Love is weakness! Being in love with some man, or boy in your case, will only hold you back! Don't you see that? He will keep you from achieving greatness!"

Regina shook her head and closed her eyes as her tears began to fall down her cheeks. She had no way out now, her father was gone and she wasn't allowed to see Daniel. It was getting harder for her to see a way out of this. "I won't believe that mother. I refuse. I love Daniel… he'll wait for me."

Cora watched the tears slide down her daughter's cheeks and closed her own eyes taking a breath to calm herself. Getting upset would only push Regina further from her and into the arms of that stable boy and that was the last thing she needed. If she could get the boy out of their life without killing him then she would.

"I'm sorry, Regina. I shouldn't have said that, I just worry about you. I know what it's like to be so young and so in love. It can hurt you more than you would ever imagine. I just wish to spare your feelings. I care about you so much, I want you to be happy." She murmured wrapping her arms around Regina and pulling her close, rubbing her back gently.

A frown fell over the younger woman's face as her mother hugged her, she couldn't remember the last time her mother had held her without any forced contact or without her being ill. She was confused by her mother's actions but leaned into her, wrapping her arms back around her. "I'm sorry too. I was upset, I shouldn't speak to you that way. It was just a lot at once."

"I know, but your father would be very proud of you. I know I am. You're growing into a stunning young woman who will have King's falling at your feet one day. You're worth all the attention of them all and you shall have it." Cora murmured pulling back and cupping her cheek with a small, genuine smile.

Despite herself Regina found herself accepting this new side to her mother and pressing into her hand blushing some. It may seem too good to be true but she wanted her mother's affections for so long she would take what she could get, no matter how fleeting. Hopefully she wouldn't be proven wrong.