"Katriana!" Duke Debelvoir rushed toward her daughter who burst into tears, shaken to find her in a frantic state. "WHAT HAPPEN?"
*hic.
*sob.
*waah!
*whaaah!
"Please tell me what's wrong.." Shit. Shit! *panic. Katriana, my heart is breaking so much right now to see you like this! You never cried this much before, heck, you never cried other than the time when you were delivered into this world so what the fuck is going on? Did Caleb's son teased you and crossed the line? "We'll talk again later, Caleb. And you better come up with some explanation that makes sense about YOUR SON who made MY DAUGHTER cry." Archer didn't shot out a killer look, but everyone in the hallway felt a deadly presence from him. "I won't tolerate it even if it's you."
THIRTY MINUTES AGO.
I managed to dodge the greetings.. to another combo of Father-Son's visit today.
I came up with some weird excuses on not to greet and welcoming the famous archduke of the empire and his son, but I guess if my mental state is at stake, I wouldn't mind to be a liar.
I'm not ready to see Ethan just yet.
At least not now anyway.
I know for a fact that to meet him is inevitable in the future, but.. as for now my heart is yet to be ready.
Oh hang on a sec.
Where am I? The maid was getting my shawl and I started to wander aimlessly. Me and my bad habit of zero patience.
It's funny to say that even though this is my house, there are still many quarters that I haven't been to. I mean, in my first life I behaved like a proper little lady and didn't roam around the manor.. also when Vanessa and Belle came in here, Vanessa locked me up a lot as punishment for crimes I didn't do.
Sigh.
What a bitter memory.
Will I ever be able to move on?
Seems like everything that I do remind me of them..
But the breeze in this hallway coming from the garden is somewhat soothing though. It calms me down in a way..
Katriana let herself loose, and got carried away on feeling the soft wind that brushed her skin.
"Woaah.."
*flinched.
I turned around as soon as I head that voice.
THAT VOICE.
"H-Hello.. are you perhaps, the duke's daughter?"
No.
"Greetings Lady Debelvoir, I'm Ethan Vanders. It's a pleasure to finally meet you!"
No way.
"How do you do, my lady?"
My entire body is being taken over by a wave of mixed feelings that it's suffocating me!
My throat hurts..
"I'm the Archduke's son. He's having a meeting with your Father at the moment."
E..
Ethan..
"My Father mentioned that you're a lot younger than I am, so I hope that we can be friends like you're my little sister. I have a little sister at home too but hehe, you can call me brother, I won't mind. I heard a lot about you and.."
No.
No.
The memory of him taking Belle's side..
It hurts.
It hurts!
My heart's racing so fast as he kept on mumbling, my vision turned hazy, and I.. huh? Tears?
Am I.. crying?
Why?
It won't stop.
I don't mean to cry but why are the tears keep on flowing on my cheeks?
And my heart, it's aching.
It's aching so bad..
**
"He.. he didn't do anything, daddy." *hic.
"Then why are you still crying?"
"I'm not. I don't cry."
*sigh. "Katriana.. tell me the truth."
"It is the truth. I only cried because.."
"Because?"
"I mean I didn't cry. I just.."
*squeezed.
"He really didn't do anything bad. I was just startled to see a stranger.. HEY YOU'RE SQUEEZING ME DADDY!"
Baby girl.. daddy will burn the whole world if it's for you, Katriana. Please don't cry like that anymore.. I nearly lost my mind.. "How do you feel now? Better?"
*blowing her nose on his shirt. "Yeah."
*knock-knock. "Pardon me, Your Grace." – Jasper, the Head Butler.
"Come in."
"F-Forgive me, my lord. But the Archduke is insisting on seeing you.."
"Tch. Tell that idiot to wait in my office."
"That idiot can't wait any longer." Caleb entered Archer's bedroom along with his son whose face is covered in both fear and guilt.
"IN MY BEDROOM? YOU SON OF A.." Realizing that he's holding his daughter on his arms and is in the presence of another young kid, Archer paused his 'almost cursing out loud' moment and breathed out a heavy sigh. "I have to apologize, Lord Ethan, as I have misjudged the situation earlier. My sincere apology for blaming you with my daughter's incident."
*flinch. "N-No, Duke Debelvoir, please.. I'm the one who should be apologizing. I startled the little lady and talked too much on my first meeting with her. I asked her if she could be my little sister which crossed the line, but.. but I only said that because she was round and fluffy and chubby and adorable and very cu.. ACK! Father? Why did you hit me?"
"Son!"
"Yes. I am truly sorry, Duke Debelvoir.. especially to you, my lady. Please forgive my rude behaviour.."
Burying herself in her father's neck, Katriana replied softly. "It's alright.." Dammit why did I lose my cool and cry anyway? My soul is not a child by any stretch of imagination!
"Great!" Caleb collide his hands. "Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared, we really need to finish our talk, Archer."
"I'll have to change my clothes."
"I shall call the footmen, Your Grace."
"No need, Jasper. I'm just changing my shirt. Escort that motherfu.. escort the Archduke and Lord Ethan to my study. Oh, call the maids to change my daughter's dress. She's coming with me for the meeting."
"Don't take too long!" Caleb yapped as he turned around and a sudden realization hits his brain. "Huh? Wait. You're taking your daughter to our meeting?"
"Yes. She's my sole heir. She ought to learn everything at early age and I've been taking her to my meetings from the time when she was just a toddler."
"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?"
"No. Perfectly sane. Unless there'd be some fools who'd try to harm my daughter that is."
"Archer!"
"Tch! Shut up and walk out already! I'm changing my clothes!"
**
*footsteps.
"I still think it's inappropriate, but what do you think?"
"About what, Father?"
"Would you like to join the meeting too?"
"I'm not your heir, though.."
"Wouldn't hurt to start learning some diplomatic issues now.."
"But you were against it earlier." *offensive side eye..
"That's because Lady Debelvoir is way too young! How could he do that to a chi.." *sigh.. "Don't grow up to be stubborn like Duke Debelvoir. And don't grow up to be too detached like Duke Wolff. Also don't grow up to be a.."
"A player like you, yes. I know, I know. You keep reminding me about that ALL THE TIME."
"I never said player. I said free-spiri.."
"Potatoh, Potato. Anyway.. I don't think it's such a bad idea to join you in the meeting."
"Good. Also, I'm proud of you, son. On how handling the situation earlier." Caleb smiled proudly as he pat his son's head and messed with it.
"I still feel bad.. she cried so hard."
"I'm sure she was only startled because it was the first time she saw you. It's okay to feel guilty but it's not okay to dwell too long in it."
"…" His father's words sipped in to his mind. "Alright.."
"Great. Now, hold my hand." *grin.
"What?" *disgust. "Gross!"
"HOLD MY HAND!"
"NO!"
"My best friend's daughter let her Daddy to hug her, why can't I even hold my son's hand? I'm jealous!"
"AND I'M TEN! GET AWAY FROM ME!"
ARCHER'S OFFICE.
There are nine of us in this room.
Four are sitting front to front (facing each other), two aides of Archer's are standing by his back (ready with their notes), two aides of Caleb's are standing by his back (also ready with their notes), and the captain of Falcon Knights that belongs to the archduke is standing by the door.
The atmosphere is quite intense, I'm assuming that this isn't just a regular meeting with teas and macaroons.
And for some reason, Ethan kept on staring at me like stupid.
Please look away, please look away.. look away already you piece of shi –sigh..
"Well, dare I say that this is about the war you mentioned in the letter you sent to Damon?" Archer broke the ice. But wait, war? If it's about THAT war then.. isn't it too soon? It should happen when I turn seven.. or am I wrong? Did my memory trick me?
"You couldn't be more right. The Falcon Knights was escorting my guest.."
"YOUR guest, Archduke Caleb Vanders?" *smirk.
Damn you moron! There are kids here! And she is my former, FORMER paramour! My wife was well informed about it! She was at the capital for business dammit! à *hoping that Archer could read his mind. "Yes. One of my guess, Duke Archer Debelvoir."
Huh? What is up with those two?
But seriously, off topic, why is Ethan's gaze keeps fixating on me? It's getting annoying now.
I have to admit it though, both father and son are quite striking. With their signature light blond hair and cloudy purple eyes that are symbols of the imperial bloodline, faces so handsome that they could make you cry. Ethan is definitely a mini version of Caleb, I'm sure he'd grow up looking like him in the future. Hopefully he won't turn out to be a manwhore either, but who knows..
The last time I saw him was when I was ten in my first life. He visited the house together with Killian on their school break since their families has vacation villas in our territory. They both enrolled at the Imperial Academy, and took any chances they had to see Belle. That was the day when Vanessa slapped and humiliated me in front of everyone. I was truly eager to see the two of them but betrayal and heartache was what I get in return. When I left for the faraway academy at twelve, I never looked back since. I shut myself off from the affairs of the outside, so I had no idea how things were at home or even at the world. Let alone what happened to him.
But I shouldn't think of it much. I need to focus now. I better brush it off now. Come on, Katriana!
"Anyway, Falcon Knights fought some unusual demonic beasts as they crossed the northern alps, and all investigations led to far north as the source of creatures' existence."
So it IS that war.
"And what does your big bro says?"
"Oh come on, I notify both of you dumbasses.." *sudden alertness, "not you, my little lady, I meant the other duke, ehehe.. do forgive my foul language." *sweat-smiling. "Ahem, I meant I informed you and Damon first-hand so we can just handle it without my brother's influence."
"He's THE Emeperor, *whispering ..you moron."
"Our Knights are more than capable to handle the situation. I'll let him know after the final investigation. But wouldn't it be better to send our Knights first?"
"What is wrong with you and your pride, Caleb?"
"It's not about pride. I'm just telling you tha.."
*both keep on arguing.
Ah I see. That war wasn't a sudden war. It broke out when I was seven because of two years struggling upon the irrational decision of the archduke. And Archer went along with it.. sigh, idiots.
I'm sure whatever happened in the battlefield is gruesome but prolonging it with some selfish reasons is a question mark on their logic. If the demonic beasts attack has already started, then it would take about four years for them to clear up the mess should the story fold according to the original plotline of my fist life. And more lives would suffer. More deaths. More grieves. The soldiers have their personal lives too.. with families and all. And maybe, just maybe, if I voice out my opinion now, the baron wouldn't have to die, would he? Both Vanessa and Belle wouldn't have to come here and I wouldn't have to see them ever again.. or am I being too greedy with my wish now?
"Pardon me, Your Excellency the Archduke." I spoke. With rather a firm voice that startled everyone in their room. Especially since I cut the kids argument. "If you would allow me to speak?"
"Y-Yes. Yes of course, my lady."
"Do I have your permission as well, Your Grace?" I switched my eyes toward Archer, asking for his approval. I really need to say this. I'm sure you'll allow me to but just so the others would know.. please do say yes.
*staring straight at his daughter.
"Daddy!" *punched her father's jaw in front of everyone (they're shocked to the core).
"YES. Ahem, of course Katriana. You may speak."
Tch. Focus you punk.
"Well, I'm sorry to say this Your Excellency the Archduke, but I think it's better to cut the shoe that pinches the foot."
"…" – the reaction of the rest of the people in the room.
"What I'm saying is, it isn't good to prolong the current issue in the name of we have better soldiers. Though I understand the strength of the Knights of the three great houses combined is invincible, but strength alone isn't enough in the battlefield. And we can't simply underestimate the strength of our opponent either. This is THE demonic creatures we're talking about, I'm sure I don't need to elaborate on how many species there are. And coming from the far north, the creatures have always been mysterious. There's a reason the House of Wolff is guarding the area for over a thousand years, we can't overlook that fact."
ARE THOSE WORDS COMING FROM A FIVE YEAR OLD? I'M DUMBFOUNDED. – Caleb.
"Moreover, with the current state of the empire, we've ever been so solid. If the five great houses of the nation would join in hands, the greater the chances of winning at earliest stage, don't you think? The Eastern Region with House Rivanoff and House Blackwood are well known with their strategic ways of thinking in battlefield. Both Western and Central Regions with the Imperial Family, including yours, Your Excellency the Archduke, are the nation's biggest military. Not to mention the mages of the empire. And of course, there's also my house. I don't need to pin-point how great my Daddy is – I meant my house is. But in summary, joined forces at earliest stage is crucial. We can start with the investigations as you've mentioned before with one-third representative of the houses, set up a length for the campaign, and should it not be solved by then, push for the war with the decree upon approval or His Majesty the Emperor."
"…" – everyone else was once again left speechless.
"Of course if what I just said do make sense in any way. I'm a mere five-year old with a mere insight."
"N-No, my lady. I was, I think.. everyone including your Daddy here is astonish. What an incredible, strong comprehension you have, Lady Debelvoir."
"It's worth taking into consideration."
"Sure it is. Say, pray tell little lady, would you mind telling me how were you able to tackle a suggestion that come up with a solution?"
Pray tell? What are you some ye old dude?
"Well, with all due respect Your Excellency the Archduke..
..I'm a Debelvoir."