WMMAP - [S1] Shelter You - (愛)してる

[Revelation]: The Forsaken Ones

The moonlight loomed over the windowpane of the dining hall, distant, yet impossibly close, signifying the invitation to the dusk as scintillating chandeliers' light falling upon two people within the domain.

"Why are you late?" Claude's voice rumbled, shaking his daughter back to reality.

"Uh... We were... getting candies." She answered eyes staying on the untouched food.

"What is the matter?"

"Ah... Athy's tummy feels... funny."

"What did I tell you about eating sweet before your meal?"

"...Sorry."

"Eat your food and do your homework after this." He got up from the seat, walking past her calmly. The meal he finished long ago.

"Daddy! I need help with homework!"

"Busy."

With that, he left, leaving the child in the dining room alone.

The image of her cousin and her uncle spending time together under the shade of the tree burning in the back of her head. Everywhere she saw Jeannette, her uncle would always stay by her side. From braiding his daughter's hair which should be the responsibility of the maids, to helping his child with sketches and writing; the way her uncle looked at Jeannette when she swirled away from her grace during her dance class.

How she wished to be in Jeannette's shoes. Little did she know she had envy living in the depth of her heart.

Athanasia caught it. The negativity she felt toward her cousin and she had to frantically shake her head, shrug it off and she started shoving food into her mouth instead.

Walking to the hall where her room was, Athanasia saw her godmother talking to her father's bodyguard. An idea popped up, and she wore a veil to her tiny steps, trying to sneak up on the two. The closer she got, the more their conversation came to her ears. Although any form of discussion would not be enough to entice her interest. But as her focus and they centered her name on the two, she would naturally take in what they were saying.

"I know you two did the best you could, but you can't possibly hide this from His Excellency. You have to come clean with him." She heard Lilian's soft whisper.

"Telling that his daughter saved another child from a life and death situation? She could never take a single step outside this house again."

"It's just a coincidence. She has been out to school for the last five years. Nothing happens."

"It wasn't a Coincidence, Lilian. It was a Decision. A Decision she made and entangled herself into this sort of experience that shouldn't have meant to happen to begin with."

"Maybe it's a coincidence. Maybe it's fate."

"Stop it. You are reading too many fantasy books to Lady Athanasia and I think it starting to flood your head with ideas."

"You need to be more open-minded."

"I am. But not to these stupid superstitious things."

"How dare-" The visible stress on his face made her pause, realizing her husband was not in any mood for a sideway discussion. "Fine. Fine. And how is the kid?"

"Well... Good, but not that good. We fear that he may enter a state of coma, but there was little to minimal damage to the head, but his involuntarily reflex to pain contradicted. When a person enters a coma state, their limbs would not respond to pain stimulation. But in his case, he responded when the doctors were patching him up, even though he was not awake. Anyhow, we can rest assured that his life isn't entirely at risk."