I'm Tired

Chapter 20: Wedding Pt. 1

The proposal. It had finally happened.

They were finally getting married.

Of course, nobody expected them to get married as they had. Certainly not over a bet, or after a bloody, brutal hunting competition. But at the same time, they kind of did expect it.

The traditional way to propose is with a long, lengthy scene about love and promises. Both of them, covered in blood, started chatting about a bet and how the princess won. And then she asked for the magician's hand in marriage. So, while they weren't expecting it, they kinda were at the same time?

Point is, they're getting married. Lucas agreed to hold off until Athanasia was a proper adult, or 18.

Athanasia was going to turn 18 really soon. So the preparations were already being made.

"How's the cake going?"

Lily, on top of now dating Felix, was the maid in charge of all the preparations. Lily turned towards the princess, smiling. "It's going great."

Athanasia was giddy with excitement. When she had first reincarnated, she expected this life to be miserable. She expected to be on the run, and flee far away from Obelia. She expected the storyline to progress the same way in Lovely Princess, and for Jennette to have her happily ever after.

But here she was, her stupid tattoo gone, and about to marry the love of her life. She didn't expect life to go the way it had.

Especially not in a world like this.

Of course she thought that Claude would be a problem, but he still is.

"Do you have to marry that bastard?" He asked for the nth time.

"Didn't we talk over this a few minutes ago?" I asked, with a desperate voice.

"I'm just making sure-" Claude's eyes were filled with doubt every time I refused. "But he's older than you... way older than you."

I scratched my cheek, "Age doesn't matter..." I answered nervously. If you think about how many lives I lived and add it together, I was pretty old.

Athanasia sighed. Honestly, while she was a bit desperate to get her father to shut the fuck up, she couldn't blame him.

His daughter had a near death experience, met her dead mother, was revived, was brought to court, participated in the hunting games, and now she is getting married. Claude had quite literally just realized he was a shitty father, his small brain needs time to process what's going on.

"I thank you for your worry though, dad." Athanasia's eyes had softened. He was trying his best, although he was being a bit overbearing. "If you want, we can hang out together before the wedding?"

Claude sighed. "Sure. We'll relax in the garden."

Waving a servant over, Claude asked for a tea party to be set up in the garden of the Garnet Palace. "For my daughter and I."

The royal duo stood, before turning and walking toward the garden. Upon reaching the garden, Athanasia blinked.

In the original timeline, or "Lovely Princess," the flowers there had been lilies. They were Jennette's favorite flower, and resembled innocence and purity. Athanasia internally snorted. Innocence my ass.

In "Who Made Me A Princess?", the flowers planted were red roses. Athanasia's favorite flower, meaning love and passion. If the princess remembered correctly, in one of the chapters of WMMAP, Athanasia had been plucking the red roses, symbolising her love for her father and how it was slowly dying.

At least, that's how she saw it.

But now? The flower planted there was strelitzia. Athanasia frowned. The only reason she knew the name of this flower was because of a tutor. The main reason she remembered this flower was because of it's interesting meaning.

This flower symbolizes two things. Immortality and freedom.

At first, Athanasia had only taken note of this flower because of the 'freedom' part of it's meaning. She had figured that she would never be free.

That she would be stuck in an endless loop of despair forever.

But now? She was free.

"Are you coming?"

Snapping out of her thoughts, Athanasia nodded. "Yeah, sorry. Just thinking."

It's funny how it differs, universe to universe.

Walking further into the garden, Athanasia and Claude sat down at a small table in a secluded area, an array of bitter or plain sweets displayed on it. Athanasia blinked. Another difference.

Claude casually sat down, Athanasia following suit. Absent-mindedly grabbing something- a piece of dark chocolate, her mind supplied - the princess pondered about the universal differences.

Athanasia in WMMAP was really fond of sweets. Apparently, in her past life, she didn't get them very often. Claude, in all timelines, didn't have much of a sweet tooth.

Athanasia, while at first enjoying sweets, generally grew out of her sugar rush before preferring things that weren't sweet at all.

Claude's preference doesn't matter, apparently. Only his daughter.

Glancing up, Claude was chewing on a tart. Was this his attempt at being a better father?

"Um.." Claude coughed. "It's been a while since we've done this, huh?"

"It has." Athanasia tried to remember the last time she had a tea party with Claude, to no avail. "Um- dad?"

The word 'dad' still felt odd on her tongue. It wasn't as cold as 'father', yet not as affectionate as 'papa'.

"Yes, Athanasia?"

"Why are you so upset over my wedding?"

Athanasia was curious. I honestly thought he wouldn't care.

"I'm not upset per say." Claude sighed, tipping his head back. "I just.. I'm worried."

"Worried?"

"Yes." Claude was staring absentmindedly at the sky. "I know, I know. I have no say in your life because of how much of a dipshit I was."

Athanasia nodded, agreeing. You were an absolute asshole.

"But still. I wanna care for you now, for Diana." Claude looked back at Athanasia. "So, I just- I'm worried. That's why."

Athanasia stared at her father incredulously. "So you are against me marrying the love of my life because the love of your life died, and you want me to be happy because of that?"

"Well- yes."

"So you are preventing me from being happy, because you want me to be happy?"

"..yes." Claude rubbed his head. "That sounds stupid out loud."

"Yes, it does. Disregarding that whole ordeal, do you approve of our marriage?"

"I do. I'm just worried."

"You have repeated that multiple times." Athanasia was amused, her father isn't one to stumble over his words.

Claude's eyebrow twitched. "I am aware."

Athanasia smiled, popping another treat into her mouth before swallowing. "I appreciate the effort though. Thank you, dad."

"You're welcome."

Athanasia and Claude had the rest of their tea party in comfortable silence.

____

A/N: Thanks Pastel for some father-daughter time.

E/N: Claude's an idiot.

Word Count: 1055