Chapter 22 - ELUNED CHOOSES THE PURPLE FRAMES
Six months after the dinner? Let's keep timeline ~4 months after incident. Eluned needed a new prescription check.
She chose purple frames again.
The optician showed black.
Pink.
Blue.
She went purple.
No fear.
Then asked:
“Can we buy strong case?”
“Yes.”
“Can Aunt break?”
I paused.
“Anyone can break an object.”
She looked worried.
“But she is not allowed near you right now, and adults are responsible for keeping you safe.”
Better than impossible promises.
Then:
“Can Cerys touch?”
“If you want.”
She smiled.
“Cerys has glasses now too.”
Reading glasses.
Morgause had taken her to an optometrist after headaches.
Life has a sense of irony.
Eluned asked:
“Does Aunt say special treatment?”
“No idea.”
Then:
“Do glasses make Cerys burden?”
“No.”
“Me?”
“No.”
Good.
The word burden was fading.
Slowly.
Then sentencing date arrived.
Morgause’s attorney planned to argue:
No prior criminal record.
Immediate compliance after incident.
Counseling.
Restitution ready.
Child relationship with Cerys stable.
No lasting eye injury.
All fair.
The prosecutor planned:
Prior warning from Alaric.
Promise to stop.
Concealment of letter.
Repeated behavior.
Servant language.
The judge would decide consequence.
May you like
Not whether Eluned was worthy.
That should never have been in dispute.
