What If?

11

"Princess you look so pretty today." Ces says happily. I looked up from my book to see Hannah, Ces, and Lily staring at me. "Thank you? What's happening?" I ask looking at the three suspicious maids.

"We're worried about you, Princess." Hannah confesses. "There's no reason to be. I'm quite fine." I giggled slightly.

"Princess, ever since the young magician has left you haven't been the same. You go to tea like you have before he left with His Majesty and Her Highness but you no longer go outside you just cooped up in here surrounded by books and just overall moping around!" Lily scolds and the two others shake their heads in agreement.

"I'm just a little sad he is gone and I just been wanting to study more lately. Nothing is wrong." I tell them before going back to my book. "Fine. But His Majesty has requested your presence." Lily says.

"What? But we don't meet today? Why does he want to see me today?" I ask placing my book on the couch and standing up. "I'm sorry, Princess. We don't know why either but you should hurry." Hannah says. "Felix is already here." Lily tells me.

I walked out of the room and downstairs where Felix greeted me. "You ready, Your Highness?" He smiles happily at me. "Why does His Majesty wish to see me today?" I ask Felix.

"It's best if you His Majesty that." Felix says offering his which I grabbed onto.

We walked Claude Palace meeting him in the garden as usual. Except we didn't go to where we usual sat for tea. As we walked further into the garden I was able to see Claude who was looking at all the flowers in front of him.

When we were closer Claude turned to us. He seemed more tired than usual today. As we stood in front of him I bowed. "Blessings and Glory upon the Sun of the Obelian Empire." I say as I stand back up. "Good morning, Your Majesty." I greet him. "Walk with me." Is all he said before turning and walking away. I went and joined him by his side but also a step behind.

We walked in silence for awhile. I looked around and just admired the pretty garden. It was a nice morning. It seemed Claude wasn't in a bad mood either. That was quite auspicious, meaning he wasn't planning to kill me. But he could also not be in a bad mood because he plans to kill me. Ah, Claude is quite unfathomable.

"I heard the young warlock went away for awhile." Claude suddenly says breaking me from my thoughts. "That's correct, Your Majesty." I respond. It went silent again. "He will be gone fo awhile." I decided to break the silence this time. "Neglecting his duty for a long time." Claude remarks. Oops. Sorry Lucas.

"H-How have you been lately?" I ask quickly. We should stop talking about Lucas in case I accidentally say something reckless again and get him in real trouble."I've been fine." Claude says his answer short and blunt. I look back at Felix. He just smiled at me. "Likewise." I say even though Claude didn't ask how I back.

"Princess." Felix says suddenly. I turned slightly towards Felix. Claude just glanced back. "Look!" Felix points his pocket where the handkerchief I gave him poked out a bit. "I always have it on me, Princess." Felix stated proudly. I laughed at him. "I'm glad you like it." I smiled at him. "I do-" Felix was cut off by Claude.

"Ten steps back, Felix." Claude ordered. "Felix only." He added quickly glancing down towards me. At least talking with Felix for that short time helped me ease out a bit. Why does he always force Felix to step away from us? It was nice to talk him. We walked in silence once again.

"Princess Jennette has gotten sick and must rest for a few days." Claude explains to me, suddenly breaking the silence.

He wouldn't summon me just to tell me something as silly as that. He doesn't think I poisoned her did he? It hasn't been that long since the trial and I'll have to do it again?

"I didn't poison her, I swear, Your Majesty." I sat quickly looking up at him. He looked at me annoyed. "She just fell sick she wasn't poisoned." He tells me.

That's a relief. But then I don't understand why I'm here.

"Day after tomorrow we are having a banquet and Princess Jennette was suppose to attend it with me, but she can't now. So I have decided to ask you to join me." Claude says sighing.

I looked up at Claude. His eyes still looked at me so coldly. So heartlessly. Is he crazy? That banquet after tomorrow it was for his birthday and he wants me to attend with him? Why would he want me to go? Just because Princess Jennette can't go? His daughter can't go so he is settling for me or something? He proclaimed not long ago he never saw me as his daughter and told me I was a fool for thinking I could ever be seen as his daughter. He humiliated me time after time again. All I ever wanted from him was to be loved. To be loved by my father. I tried so hard to get his attention. I learned to be a perfect lady, with great manners, learned every noble dance and then I practiced them till perfection with blistered feet, I studied hard and learned several languages, how our empire worked, the history of our empire. Just so I could maybe impress him enough where he would praise me just once. Just once! But none of that ever happened. It was all in vain. Then when Princess Jennette showed up she got that one thing I tried so hard to get. In an instant she had what I was never able to get my whole life. Something I'll never be able to get.

I wiped away the tears that welled up in my eyes. "You are so cruel." I cried but it was so quite I doubted he heard what I said. I continued to wipe my wet eyes. Why won't they stop? Please stop falling! "You are so cruel, Your Majesty." I cried out again. "You can't do this! It's not fair!" I cried loudly. I don't care if he decided to kill me because of this! Just how dare he! How dare he think he can do this!

"You can't tell me that I'm not your daughter and treat me so ruthlessly then suddenly force me to have tea several times with you then expect me to go to your stupid banquet!" I sobbed stepping away from him. "I hate you. I wish I was never borned your daughter. I did nothing to deserve this." I tell him shaking my head slightly. "You're so cruel." Is the last I say before running away. I wanted to get as far away as possible from him!