THE GREAT LADY OF ALKION

CHAPTER 18

"She is really training hard," Germaine  said to Charles. Astrid kept shooting arrows hitting the target.
"She has been like that for the past few weeks. If it helps her forget what happened between her and Julian then let her."
She joined them and wiped the sweat from her face.
" Here have some juice," Germaine said.
"Thank you."
"You've been training hard dear," Charles said.
"It's nothing father."
"Your father is right Astrid."
" I'm fine. Don't worry. I just need time to lick my wounds. I will be fine."
" You'll hate me for saying this but I think that you being apart is good. I don't trust Julian at all. I believe that you will find another man who will love you."
" Father."
" I'm saying this because I want the best for you and I don't feel that. It's best that you are not together."
She felt that her father was right but she had feelings for the man who broke her heart and left her. He was the first man she loved but maybe nothing lasts forever like she'd thought her relationship would.

Some metres into the woods Aretha stood waiting for someone.
"I'm sorry I kept you waiting," Audelia said as she came into view.
"That's alright. I missed you," Aretha said as she hugged Audelia. Over the past weeks they had kept meeting and developed friendship. Audelia was Aretha's confidante now that Astrid was busy crying over her broken relationship and was busy.
"I missed you too. How have you been ?"
"I've been fine. Just the usual. Constant rejection from grandfather, Astrid busy, Fabian and mother busy as well and father is around. He runs errands for grandfather when needed.
"Mother ? You call Therese mother and Charles father ?"
"Yes. They raised me as their own and so I call them that. Is there a problem ?"
"And what about your real mother and father ? Do you know about them ?"
"I don't know much. I only know that they are dead."
"Nothing else ?"
" No."
" They really are serious about keeping you in the dark, aren't they ?"
" What do you mean ? Do you know something ?"
" I know all about your parents. I know things about them that could change how you see your family. Especially your grandfather and so called parents,"she said. Her voice filled with venom.
" Then tell me. Nobody tells me anything about them. I only know that my mother died when I was two and her name was Aine. She was mother's sister."
" Yes that part was right but there's more to that.They ruined her happiness and made her miserable and that is why she died."
" Wait. How comes you know about my family ?"
" It doesn't matter how I know about them. All I need is for you to trust me."
"I need to go,"Aretha said. She was beginning to feel uncomfortable about Audelia.
"You will be back to ask me about them because they won't tell you anything."

Aretha went straight to Anthony's study and entered without knocking.
" What the hell are you doing here ?"he asked.
" I want to know what happened to my parents," she said. She didn't care that she was crossing some boundaries.
" They are not alive anymore and Therese took you as her child. What more do you want to know."
" I want the truth. I want the story behind everything."
At that point, Therese and Charles walked in.
" I told you everything you need to know. Now leave me,"Anthony said. That was not a topic he wanted to discuss.
" What do you want to know Aretha ?" Therese asked.
" I want to know the truth about my parents. Tell me mother. You won't lie to me. I am eighteen. I am old enough to know everything."
" Why the sudden need to know."
" It's nothing. I just want to know. I've wanted to for ages now."
" Your mother was my sister and she left you under my care when she died. I don't know much about your father but he was a count. He and your mother did not have a good relationship and they lived apart after she discovered that she was expectant. You were the child. She died two years later and we never heard of your father until five years ago when we got word that he was dead."
" Why didn't you tell me about him ?"
"He didn't show up. Not once even after your birth. Even when you were growing. He wasn't there. He wanted nothing to do with you and that is why we thought it wise to keep his news from you,"this from Charles.
" But I needed to know. Relationship or not,he was my father."
" Darling please understand our stand on this. Don't be mad at us but we did what we thought was best for you."
" It's alright mother. I'm a little upset but that's all. I shouldn't complain because I had you and father to be my parents. Real or not. You are the ones I consider my parents."
Aretha went close to them and embraced them together. It felt like home. She shouldn't have listened to Audelia. She should avoid her in the first place. What would she as an outsider know about her family ? Therese and Charles had told her everything. She knew it and felt it. But was that the case ?

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