[Varian's quiet for a moment, staring at the pattern on his bedsheets. He didn't expect he'd have to be reopening this old wound- much less to someone he's already reopened it for already. He already has a good idea of how Fern will react because of this- but it doesn't mean he finds it easy. Far from it.]

I found a way I might be able to help my dad. It means I had to drug the palace guards with truth serum and con the princess into treason to help me gather what I needed. The thing didn't work, I realised the princess was the only one with the magic to free my father.

[She didn't- not then, but he didn't know.]

So I kidnapped her mother to lure her to my village. Used Ruddiger to attack people as a distraction while I did it- turned him into a monster. When the princess and her people came for the queen, I attacked them with automotons.