"Bertie!"
The boy flinched at his father's shout.
"Tell me it's not true that you stayed with a woman for three nights before waiting for marriage."
"..it's not.."
Albert pinched his nose as he sighed, "We sent you away to learn from an educational program, and yet you *cough cough* you *cough* you mess around because of peer pressure!?"
"It wasn't peer pressure! My fellow cadets encouraged me to have some fun because all I ever did was study."
"Well, if you weren't messing around you would be having better grades by now."
"No matter how much I study, the knowledge doesn't stick in my head! I'm not like Vicky! I'm not ever gonna be as good as her! So, please just stop comparing me to my perfect older sister!"
Albert looked at his son shocked.
"Ah, I didn't mean to say it like that.." Bertie murmured.
"I didn't know you felt that way. I apologize. Your mother and I, we didn't mean to compare you both. We just hoped that you would feel more motivated with some competition."
"Well, I didn't. In fact, I felt more pressured. And no amount of studying seemed to satisfy Mother's or your expectations. I always fell short no matter how hard I tried."
"I apologize on Victoria's behalf and mine. We truly didn't know how it was affecting you. If we did, we would have *cough* we would have *cough cough*-"
"Hey, Dad.. are you okay?"
"Ah, yes.. I must be feeling a bit under the weather.. The trip to come here was quite far, and the rain doesn't seem to be helping.. Let me just rest for s while. We'll talk more about this later. Okay, son?"
"Alright.." Bertie murmured though part of him felt worried.