Once again

07

"Princess, the circumstances has changed, Renjiro and I can get in a lot of trouble for doing this behind His Majesty's back." Leroy explains to the Princess bowed down on one knee.

"Nothing has truly changed. He may have acknowledged me but that is it. Nothing will happen if we are happen to be found out I'll protect you guys." Athanasia says annoyed with Leroy backing out. "My Princess I'm sorry but I can't put Renjiro at risk. The rumors have already circulated about how much His Majesty adores you even if you don't believe it. If you get His Majesty's permission then of course we can resume." Leroy says making Athanasia upset at the words of Claude adoring her.

"I'll remember this Leroy." Athanasia told him before taking her leave.

***

Athanasia knew that Claude's word would always triumph hers and that everyone would be more loyal to him but it was still frustrating. She hasn't been able to train now since she doesn't know how to mention to Claude why she'd want to learn sword and to have Leroy be the one to train her.

She looked across as Claude who was spacing out as usual, his eyes droopy. "Why is Papa so tired all the time? Instead of spending time with me why don't you sleep?" Athanasia asks after she swallowed her piece of chocolate cake. Claude looked at the young Princess with his tired face, "Why do you ask that? Do you not wish to spend time with me?" Claude answers with his own questions. "I like my sweets and you're quite so I don't mind your presence, I was just curious as to why you wouldn't rather sleep rather then sit in a chair with a bobbling head." Athanasia exaggerates wanting to annoy Claude as he annoys her.

"You're manners are awful if this is how you talk to me?." Claude looks at Athanasia with his eyebrows furrowed, but Athanasia didn't feel any hostility like he used to give off. "You're the one that ignored me for five years." Athanasia whispered under breath before taking another bit of cake not realizing she said it. Even though ignoring your daughter for more than five years is more than just rude. But it was eighteen in her last life, along with hurtful remarks, and killing her so how dare he even say anything about her manners. Athanasia then saw Claude's and Felix's surprised looks on their faces as they stared at her. Realizing she said that outloud.

"Are you upset about that?" Claude asks with a slight smirk. Athanasia shook her head, "No, I don't care." Athanasia says eating her cake. Felix looked at the father and daughter lost for words.

There was then an uncomfortable silence. Claude looking away as she silently ate. She didn't want to break it but she should couldn't help it. "Is that good?" Athanasia asks Claude catching his attention again. "It's not enjoyed for its taste." Claude tells her. "I want to try." Athanasia says curious. In her last life she was very limited on types of tea she could try even though she really loved tea.

"It might be to strong for you, Princess." Felix warns her. 'Just listen to me the first time.' She thought as she looked up at Felix, "I want it too." Athanasia insisted. "Let her have it. If she wants it, I won't stop her." Claude tells Felix, indifferently. And with that she was quickly given the tea.

Athanasia like the flowery smell that emerged from the tea. 'It really does smell wonderful.' She thought before finally taking a sip with both Claude and Felix watching her intently for her reaction. Her eyes quickly widened surprised how it tasted, "It feels like flowers are blooming inside my mouth." Athanasia said quietly while smiling down at the tea. It was one of the best things she ever drank.

She felt the awkward atmosphere that soon followed and looked up at the puzzled faces of Claude and Felix. 'It's not a weird thing for a five year old to say.' Athanasia thought wondering why they were so surprised.

"I see you have taken a liking to it. It's called Lippie tea. His Majesty enjoys it as well. And Lady Diana also enjoy it." Felix explains to Athanasia, "She said the same as you did, Princess." Felix says. Athanasia just stared at Felix as he explained then back down to her tea. She never heard anything about her mother before even in her past life. She never bothered asking about her mother since she figured nobody remembered her.

"Mom.." Athanasia said but then faltered not knowing what else to say because there was so much she wanted say, well ask. She didn't know Felix knew anything about her mom and figured Claude didn't remember anything either.

"Lady Diana was the reason why His Majesty started to enjoy lippie tea. Lippie tea's main ingredient, sanyu, only comes from Siodonna. Ah, The Lady and His Majesty once had tea in this very place to-" "I don't not have such memories." Claude interrupted Felix with a cold glare. "You're surprisingly chatty today. You're being to loud leave us." He orders. "Blessings and Glory upon the Obelian Empire." Felix says before walking away.

Athanasia was still trying to process what Felix had told her. She surprised by the sudden information about her mom but also Claude. 'But why did become so hostile suddenly because of Felix's words. Mine were worse.' She wondered.

"You're still to young for tea. It would be best if you drank milk." Claude says. Athanasia could sense he was in a bad mood now but also distant as if he was getting lost in his mind. She almost felt like he looked sad but she quickly got that out of her head. 'He really needs some sleep.'

"I like milk too." Athanasia says quietly deciding not to protest.

***

"What are you drawing, Princess?" Felix asks Athanasia who was drawing with crayons as Lily and Felix looked over her. She still tried to act like a kid sometimes even though her etiquette and way of talk was almost perfect. She tried to talk more like a kid but it irritated her, she tried so hard to be perfect and now to act like like a small child was to much. So she decided to just do some child activities every once in awhile.

"It's Lily. The most beautiful person in the world." Athanasia says she finishes the drawing. "Ah! I can tell this time it's His Majesty!" Felix says proudly. "No, it's not." Athanasia says before giving it to Felix, "Its you, Felix." She tells him. Felix got even a brighter smile on his face, "Thank you..Thank you so much Princess. I shall keep it as a family heirloom forever!" Felix says proudly. 'Why is he like this?' Athanasia wondered. "This one is for you, Lily." Athanasia smiled happily at Lily. "My, am I this pretty in your eyes?" Lily asks smiling back. "Of course you are." Athanasia tells her.

"Why don't you draw one of his Majesty and you, Princess." Felix suggest happily. 'How annoying.' Athanasia thought but did begin drawing it. To her it was her strangling Claude but to Felix and Lily it looked like she was drawing a picture of her giving Claude a hug.

"His Majesty would be very pleased." Felix tells her. 'We both know that isn't true.' Athanasia thought laughing on the inside at the blindly optimistic Felix.

'But now time for what I really wanted.' She thought as she looked at Felix. "Felix, what did mom look like?" She asked. "I want to draw her but I don't know what she looks like." Athanasia tells Felix as she looked back down at her paper. "Is her hair wavy or straight?" Athanasia asked after nobody said anything. "She had shimmering platinum blonde hair just like Princess Athanasia." Lily tells her. 'Lily knew what mom looked like?' Athanasia thought but she went on with her questions.

Lily gave Athanasia a lot of details about what Diana looked like which surprised her. She never knew that Lily ever even saw Diana. Athanasia then began drawing her with all the information she given. "She was a beautiful person, just like Princess Athanasia." Lily tells her. "I look like mom?" Athanasia asked still focusing on her drawing. "I want to see her too." Athanasia says ash continued to draw.

What she was really hoping for was for Felix to tell her more but he remained quite. She waited for someone to say something more but nothing. She figured it was all for waste in the end.