Friendship

"Purple," Varya said to her son as he picked up a leaf of what resembled purple lettuce. "That one's purple." 

As soon as the last word left her lips, her son had already haughtily tossed it to the floor and Prince Basileus sat back in his chair, rubbing one of his temples. He had been working on letting go of being a perfectionist since they had a rambunctious toddler who didn't believe in law or order. 

Varya smiled sweetly at the prince. He really had been trying for their sake. Whenever they had a moment behind closed doors, she would praise him for it.

She praised him so much, he started to get an affinity for it - it must be because of his royal blood. She used it against him every chance she got. 

The silver-haired empress poked a piece of food and placed it in her mouth. She thoughtfully chewed it so that she could eavesdrop on the conversation happening on the other side of the table.