words can hurt

prompt: remorse
word count: 298

***

“How could you let them do this, Danny?” Katarina shouted after slamming the wood doors to the banquet hall shut.

“Let them? I did not let them do anything, Kat,” Daniel replied, his eyes narrowing.

“Well, I am not sure what else to call what you were doing in there.”

“I was trying to keep a level head and not lose my temper, which is something that perhaps you should wont to try.”

“I apologize if the implication of being traded away like livestock has made me lose my patience,” she spat, closing the distance between them further so that they were nearly touching.

“This is not how I envisioned these negotiations going, either, Kat. Do you think this is something I wanted?”

“Why not? If it helps you get what you want, then what do you care?” she said, turning away from him.

He reached out to her, gently taking hold of her arm. “Kat, you cannot really believe -“

She turned back to him. “But what else should I have expected, really? Like father like son, right?” She clapped her hand over her mouth, but it was too late. Daniel dropped her arm, seemingly stunned by her words. He widened his eyes as he looked down at her, before turning on his heel and walking away.

“Daniel wait, I did not –“ Katarina called out to his retreating frame, but he kept walking, disappearing as the front door closed behind him.

Katarina picked up the closest object – an apple from the fruit bowl on the serving cart – and hurled it at the door with all her might while unleashing a deafening groan, sinking to her knees in her effort. She took a deep breath before heading off in the direction he left.