Vergil's OneShots (DMC Fanfiction)

Daughter of House Sparda - Part Four

[Daughter of House Sparda –Part Four]

"Dad," Acela held her father's hands that were callused and rough from his younger years of holding his swords too often, "I will be fine. You don't have to worry about me."

"Nonsense. You are my daughter, and I will always worry about my children no matter where they are and what they do. Especially you; I will always think about you and hope that you are happy, eating well and doing whatever you want to do." He answered withdrawing one hand from hers, but coming up to lightly cradle her face softly. Age wrote in the blue eyes that glinted while he smiled sweetly at her, and though Duke Sparda had always had white hair since birth, his face was finally fitting for the white hair. The man did not get younger with the years, and ever since the death of his closest friend the late King, Acela's father had been almost too busy helping the prince ascend smoothly to his throne.

"Thanks to you I can do exactly just that all the time." Acela covered the hand cradling her face with one of hers, holding back the tears. "I'm just leaving temporarily. I promise I will be back before you know it. You won't even know that I was gone."

"Then don't take too long and don't have too much fun such that you forget to return home." He bade.

"I'm not Dante, Dad." Acela chuckled, then picked the bouquet of flowers that she had brought into the room with her, putting it between them. "I got this for you. To promise you that I won't run into any trouble while I'm there, and even if I do, I know exactly how to get myself out of there."

"You..." The Duke smile was softly sour as he accepted the bouquet between his hands, admiring the vibrant colors before he looked back up at his daughter who had turned 26 in a blink of an eye. The malnourished 13 year old who had been selling flowers in front of his compound had grown up into a beautiful, strong and independent woman who was giving him flowers. "You are really your mother's daughter. Eva always gave me flowers to leave in my office so that I would be reminded of her."

"I know." Acela answered shortly. "Mum always bought flowers from me back from before, remember? I always saw the same type of flowers in your office even after Mum passed on."

"Don't let talk of flowers hold you back." Duke Sparda rested the beautiful bouquet back on the table again, this time stepping forth and taking his daughter in a gentle hug. "Know that your father will be watching over things in the dukedom, so rest assured while you carry out your mission. Don't worry about what happens here and no matter what happens, you must stay safe."

"I will." Acela promised, hugging her father back equally tightly in farewell. They remained like that for a short while –Acela soaking in her father's hug enough to survive for the next few months and possibly years without him –before parting. An encouraging smile hung on the duke's face as she turned and stepped towards the door.

With a heavy heart, Acela exited her father's office and closed it firmly behind her.

"The carriage is ready." Her brother waited for her outside. The corridor lamp cast a soft orange glow on his face, and she looked up to see regret and worry in those blue eyes. She remembered how angry those blue eyes had been back during the discussion, how they had looked as if they were ready to burn everything down to reject the proposal.

Acela had no doubts that if she hadn't stepped in like she did and accepted the proposal, he would have done some irreparable damages to the Kingdom.

"Where is Dante?" She asked as they started their journey to the front of their mansion where the carriage was waiting... to bring her to her fiancé.

After the death of King Felix, there had been a short period of fighting between the nobility as some tried to block the Crown Prince Claude's ascension with ridiculous claims. Her father and family had stood by Claude's side the entire time, and together, they had managed to dismantle the power of the Vestia family –the leaders of the rebelling nobles. The victory, celebrated by Claude's coronation, had been short-lived when assassins from the rival country of Kiyo tried to sabotage the whole affair by staging an attempt on the new king's life.