Matilda

“Of course,” she said, “Your Majesty.” I admired the way she could make the words sound so much like “You Idiot.”
― Megan Whalen Turner, Return of the Thief

“It is one of the universe's deepest and cruelest jokes that it takes a lifetime to learn the lessons you need in order to live.”
― Jeffrey Cranor, You Feel It Just Below the Ribs

“It had bewildered her, back at Canaan House, how the whole of her always seemed to come back to Gideon. For one brief and beautiful space of time, she had welcomed it: that microcosm of eternity between forgiveness and the slow, uncomprehending agony of the fall. Gideon rolling up her shirt sleeves. Gideon dappled in shadow, breaking promises. One idiot with a sword and an asymmetrical smile had proved to be Harrow’s end: her apocalypse swifter than the death of the Emperor and the sun with him.”
― Tamsyn Muir, Harrow the Ninth

“I think they have to show their worst selves sometimes in order to be sure that even at their worst they are loved. Irene knows how frightened he is."

The King didn't sound frightened.

"Any minute," said Eddis, "he will realise--"
As if her words were magic, silence fell in the tent and Eddis finished in a whisper. "How frightened she is.”
― Megan Whalen Turner, Return of the Thief