chapter 53

Rattle. Rattle.

" It's a good thing that you finally break off with that brat. "

After a while of silence between him and me, the archduke finally speaks in a relieved tone. The carriage we rode has been quite far away from the southern land where Allardis were located. I thought he would scold me for suddenly breaking up with Adam after those hardships fathers endured on the battlefield just for my sake, but I guess he is not..? And one thing for sure, father literally has been tolerating me this whole time given that I didn't even want to talk right now and I also didn't even properly greet his returns earlier despite this being our reunion after a year. Does going to the battlefield make this cold father of mine turn gentler all of the sudden?

" Why are you not talking? Does staying there make your mouth mute or something? Tch. As I thought, I should just destroy that place into pieces earlier! " said him while clenching both his teeth and fists in a rage.

" ... " Ha... I guess that's not the case.

" .....?! "

" W-what..? "

As soon as my eyes catch a glimpse on my father's face which suddenly turns shocked like he was looking at a ghost right in front of him while it is also my first time looking at him in such a state. In a state of stiffness myself, I quickly lowered my face so that my father did not realize that I was aware of the change in his face and that's when I realized what made a man cold and firm like my father suddenly changed his blank facial expression to surprise after he looked at me.

' ahh... I thought I've endured it very well this whole time... ' this thought comes into my head as soon as my eyes look at both of my palms that have been covered with tears. Without me realizing it, apparently, tears had fallen from my eyes which I had been put my best to hold it back from spilling this whole time and now it began to overflow non-stop until it eventually obscures the view of my eyes from continuing to stare at the face in front of me that has long been missed for a year.

" Hic.., ugh. I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cry... hic. I'm sorry. Please forgive me, father. " With a stuttering voice, my hand that slowly began to tremble for fear of being scolded began to wipe away the tears from continuing to spill in front of the person I admire the most for my whole life. Father always ordered as a daughter to the archduke, I could not degrade my dignity by showing any emotion but for the third time, I had failed to obey father's orders.

" ..I-I'm sorry, hic. I'm sorry... "

" ?! Why are you crying? Is that because of that bastard beast?! " said him instead with an annoyed voice while I looked at him dumbfounded with his reaction toward my mistake.

" ...?? " ' Aren't you supposed to scold me, archduke? '

" ..father? "

Once again I saw a change in his cold face that suddenly frowned in annoyance. While father turned silent all of the sudden, unconsciously my tears stopped flowing all of the sudden when my eyes started to doubtedly stare at him with a blank thought. Ponder with his strange reaction towards me today. Should I test this, then?

" ..Da-daddy..? "

" Yes, my daughter? " Rapidly smiles while his big figure continually gets closer to mine after such an immediate response comes out from his mouth which has been clenching in annoyance just a moment ago. There, this guy suddenly changed his behavior as soon as I called him with what he wanted to hear.

" ...??! " How could such a person change just in a second??!

Ah! As I thought! the archduke's facial face changed depending on what I said to him! I should keep my mouth in check so as not to offend him in the future.

" Ah, do you want your daddy to punish that bastard beast who dared to make you cry like this? Or should your daddy just kill him for you, hm? my daughter? Ah. If you don't want that, should your daddy just make the entire grand duchy disappear from this land without any trace? If that would make you feel better, I'll do it right this moment. " With sparkly eyes that gleam whenever he suggests all of those terrifying methods like it was nothing right to my face and then, without waiting for my response, the archduke suddenly call his right-hand man through the window and as soon as that guy showed up in a second, the archduke command him to do a task with such a serious face and voice.

" Gather all of our men and send an order to our Ronin knights to get ready tonight. My daughter prefers to make the whole grand duchy of Allard banish from this land right at this moment so I shall do as her wish. "

"?! Pa-pardon, my lord...? " stuttering his right-hand man, sir Erick Light, is dumbfounded with such a ridiculous order from his master. " You wish-I mean, your daughter wishes to make the grand duchy disappear?? the lady?? "

" Certainly. So, do it now. '' Menacing his dark green eyes with such an ominous gaze, Erick slowly glanced at Claire to ask for help when the archduke seemed to be so serious with this matter.

" ..ah.. Fa-father... I mean. Daddy.. " immediately put my life on the line, my hand unconsciously grabbing his sleeves and slowly father began to turn his face to look at me tenderly. " What is it? "

" I-I, um... "

" Hm? Why? Is there anything wrong, my daughter? Ah. Do you want his head for revenge? Why don't you said so, I- "

" ugh. I cried because of you.! " shout that out loudly and clearly, everyone there is stunned and startled while the archduke begins to look at me with a blank gaze. " m-me..? "

" ye-yes.. because I missed you, daddy. That's why I cried because I finally can see you again.. " starting to redden in embarrassment, I rapidly lowered my face from being seen by father and sir Erick. Ah..! Now, everyone knows I'm crying like a crybaby because of this trivial matter. ugh! How embarrassing.

" ..pfft. " leak a peal of small laughter all of the sudden, quickly sir Erick covers up his mistake while coughing a little and trying to keep his composure while enduring his laughter from bursting out at any moment. ' Oh my god, it was my lord that made my lady cry. He must be very ashamed right now. pfft. '

" Ehem. M-my lord, should I proceed with your command earlier, or do you want me to punish my lord in your stead instead since my lord is the one who makes my lady cry? " asked Erick with a teasing tone.

" Erick Howard Light. Do you have a death wish? Well, I shall assume you have one since you dared to make fun out of me." Suddenly grasping his sword and looking straight at sir Erick with such a murderous aura, the archduke quickly tried to put his sharp blade on Erick's neck when suddenly Claire grabbed his sleeve once again. " What? "

" Daddy, can you let sir Erick go? I want to talk with you alone since I've been missing you this whole time. Can we, daddy? "

" .... "

" Ha.. consider yourself lucky, Erick. I would have cut your head off your body now if it wasn't for my daughter. " slowly crossed both his arm and looking straight to me with a serious face, the archduke slightly sigh in annoyed when Erick immediately disappears from there and gets to loose of his hook again. I swear that guy would die on my hand someday!

" Daddy, sir Erick is your right-hand man. There's no one as loyal as him and he has been serving you for his whole life. You should keep him by your side for a long time, Daddy. I beg you. "

Sir Erick Howard Light. Just as his family name, 'Light', is a family that has been protecting Romanoff for generations and the most loyal guardian for all of the heirs of Romanoff. Sir Erick is a father of Ashlen Light and he was named as the strongest right-hand man for the archduke but sadly, in the past father lose him when he was trying to protect the archduke from being killed by an assassin but now I'll make sure that such a thing will not repeat again in this second chance of my life.

" Hm. Enough of that old man Erick. Since I am the one who makes you cry, Claire. I shall give you a right to give me a punishment, my daughter. "

" ..? " blankly stares at his face that shows how serious he is right now, I begin to frown dumbfounded with his words. " punishment? to daddy? "

" Yes." confirm him with a gentle smile on his charming face.

" ….. "

" ..... "

" ...um. Then, may I hug you, daddy? " asked myself with a fearful gaze. This is my first time to have given a chance like this so I shouldn't let it waste. I couldn't even touch your hand in the past, let alone hug your body to feel your warmth, father. You always distance yourself from me but I know you've sacrificed yourself so much for your useless daughter's sake. You give me everything but I couldn't do anything for you, father and yet you even choose to die just for giving me the title of royal concubine. I'm sorry for despising you for being cold to me even until you died.

" What? That's not a punishment- "

" ..Hic. Daddy.. "

" Hm?? W-why..? " stuttering in a worried voice and with such a caring gaze in his green eyes, father suddenly wiped my tears with both his thumb and caressed my face gently. " why are you crying again..? is it because of me? I'm sorry, my daughter. "

" Hic. ugh.., Daddy... I'm sorry, I'm sorry...Hic. " begin to drown in my own tears, slowly I feel a sudden warmth begin to get throughout my whole body and when I open my eyes, I can only cry in silence when I realize I've already been in my father's embrace with both his arms lingering on my body tightly.

" Don't cry, my precious daughter. I promise I'll punish myself because I dared to make you cry twice. so stop crying, Claire. Please.. it tears me apart to look at you like this. "

" ....Daddy.. "

Father... I promise. I will not waste this second chance of my life and I'll make sure that bastard Noelle gets what he deserves! He dared to kill you and now I'll make his life turn miserable just like the one I have gone through before! Just you wait, I will make Romanoff have its glory and mighty prosperity after you fall from where you stand now, Noelle. So before that day comes, you better be prepared, Crown prince Noelle, because I'll be the one to look down on you at the very last.