He, who made you a princess

Chapter XLI

~ the things one man can do for love ~
pt. I

In a room filled with the color of the sunlight, Athanasia listened to Jennette's every word. Much more than she did the first time...

The first time when she stood to listen to her words back then, after that night of confrontation. She's thought about it more since. And even more so...

When her uncle came to visit her. To save her.

Maybe it was just her way to compensate. But even then, it wasn't something she can repay. And again, Jennette would lose her family.

Was it to make herself feel better? Because even though everything was made to be taken away by Jennette, for her, the reality was different.

And even though she knew it happened, it didn't happen to her. And she had no vivid memories of those times. It was only that book, that time she ventured into a different world, and the nightmares her curse showed her, it was only those that told her the reality that was opposite of the one she was living in.

Nobody took anything away from her here.

Here, she was the one who took. And she worked hard for them. For her own life, for her happiness, until it was for more than just herself.

Until she wished for her father's happiness. Until she wished to make another man happy. Until she wished everyone else would live long and happy lives.

Even then, being able to wish for that was a blessing not many have.

And even now, Jennette would lose her father again.

And this time, it would be because of her.

These are thoughts that circled inside Athanasia's mind as she brushed the brunette locks laying atop her lap. She looked down at Jennette who had fallen asleep, remembering...

There was something taken from her after all...

One which cannot be replaced also, no matter what. And she knew who took that precious thing from her. She knew who caused her to lose the life she promised to cherish and love most of all.

Athanasia felt a pang in her heart the same time rage suddenly surfaced from beneath her skin. She dropped her head close to Jennette's and wondered...

She understood what was going on. After all, once she has all the information to piece together, it wasn't hard to figure out. A sleeping Claude she found locked in the Black Tower while another Claude walked around the palace.

Lucas who would disappear abruptly, more so than normal. And Felix whose goosebumps were so obvious every time he had to lie when she tries to corner him with questions.

Of course she had to work hard for that too. Pushing an idle old man to muster every bit of talent and knowledge, and skill, and all the experiences of his years. Well, grandpa chief finally got a hold of that single drop of blood from her.

It took a while,  but if it was going to motivate him to find a way to transcend worlds. Then what's one drop going to harm? Nobody.

And she thought she'd be pleased if it annoyed her husband and her dad. To begin with, it was their fault for hiding things from her.

She was upset.

Even when she understood why they'd want to hide it from her, still, she couldn't help but feel upset.

Athanasia felt a little left out. Maybe even a little jealous.

She grunted and shook her head before sighing to herself.