We Are Running Away!
*Bam*
The doors open and Ace rushed in.
"I am back~" he sang as he walked towards Maeve.
"Did you miss me?" he questioned playfully.
"I d-" Maeve was about to answer when Ace grabbed his daughter from her.
"Did you miss Papa?" he questioned again.
"Ace, she is sleeping" Maeve complained.
"Hmm? What are you talking about love? She seems awake to me?" Ace answered in a confused tone as he turned his daughter's body towards Maeve.
"S-she… she was sleeping like, seconds ago!" Maeve uttered with a shocked expression.
"Eheee~" the little girl giggled.
She smiled at her mother, showing her toothless mouth as 2 cute dimples appeared on either side of her soft cheeks, boosting her cuteness.
"Hahaha~ Of course, she will be awake when her Papa is here. Hahaha~" Ace laughed.
He placed his daughter on the bed and kneeled beside the bed.
"Let us play~" He spoke in a playful tone. Like the one people use while talking with a child.
He placed his finger on her nose and when the baby girl tried to catch the finger, he pulled it back. He then again placed his finger and pulled it back in the same way but the third time, he let the girl catch the finger and she giggled in joy.
"Eheheee~"
"She's adorable~" Ace muttered and placed his finger back on her nose.
Thus, the father-daughter pair discovered a completely brand new game.
Maeve smiled as she saw her daughter enjoying and giggling, but suddenly, images of the Tian and Motle family patriarch's being executed appeared in her mind and her smile froze.
She looked at Ace playing with his daughter and questioned unconsciously.
"Would our daughter also have to move on a path filled with blood and gore?"
Maeve was the person who would don't care about blood until it was hers or her Ace's. Not even her own soldiers' blood bothers her, but when she thought of the possibility of her daughter having to go through the same, her heart ached.
Ace's movements froze when he heard Maeve's questions. Memories of his past appeared inside his mind. The killing, the blood, the gore, the betrayals, the sacrifices, his whole life appeared inside his mind.
Just like his wife, he was also immune to blood and gore, for him, human life wasn't worth anything until was of someone he cared about, and that only includes Maeve and his daughter. Even General Luke's life doesn't matter to him.
Sure he was loyal and all, but that was it. For Ace, it was simple, unless you are Maeve or his daughter, your life doesn't matter.
Cruel? Maybe, but who cares.
That is just how he is.
But right now, the problem was different, he couldn't imagine his daughter going through what he did, his body shuddered as he thought of different possibilities of that happening.
The other two Empires are getting reckless. The news of his being only 100 years old has caused a great commotion in the entire Herferd. A hundred years old Divinity! What sort of notion is that? Though they didn't show it outright, It was clear that the other two emperors felt threatened by his presence. The balance between the three Empires was shaken just by his mere presence.
What would happen if the 2 other emperors combine their strength to attack him?
What if when he and Maeve were in a battle, something happens to his daughter?
What if just like him, his daughter has to move on a path of revenge and kill people without mercy?
After so long, maybe more than 85 years.
Ace felt fear.
Fear of losing what he has right now.
Fear of seeing her daughter losing her innocence and killing people without blinking.
Fear…
He felt fear…
His heart shuttered when he thought of all these possibilities.
"Eh?"
Ace came out of his reverie when he felt a soft and tiny hand grabbing his finger. Ace then glanced towards his daughter who had a confused expression on her face that asked, 'Why aren't you playing anymore?'
Suddenly, a smile appeared on his face as he realized something.
He has taken his revenge! He has already done what he wanted. He has killed his father's killers, and the fate of the Emperor is a fate worse than death! He has achieved his goal. There is nothing much left for him to do here.
"We will leave this world" Ace muttered.
"Huh?" Maeve questioned with a confused tone.
"As you know, we live in a superior world.
As a Divinity, I have the power to leave this world and visit another one.
From now on, we will live in a medieval world, sure, there will be low resources, a low amount of elemental Qi, and many other problems, but at least others won't disturb us there.
We can live happily with our daughter, without having to care about anything.
What do you say?" Ace suggested.
"But… isn't that basically running away?" Maeve questioned.
"It is" Ace admitted.
"We are running away.
I already took my revenge and have zero interest in the empire, I just want to live with you and her peacefully, anything else doesn't matter." Ace answered, and after thinking for a while, Maeve smiled. The more she explored this possibility the wider her smile got.
This is a perfect solution without any flaws!
"When are we leaving?" She questioned.
Ace glanced at his daughter who was sucking her own finger as her legs moved as if she was cycling and smiled.
"How about we leave after the naming ceremony?" Ace questioned.
"Mhm," Maeve nodded with a smile as she picked her daughter.
"So, what name have you decided on?" Maeve questioned with a slightly displeased look. She knew that Ace will be the one to choose the name as she lost the bet.
"Hehe~ wait for the ceremony tomorrow" Ace smiled.
"Hmph!" Maeve snorted.
"Aww… don't be like that…" Ace responded with a smile.
"Hmph! Humph!" Maeve snorted again, trying to avoid his gaze.
The daughter placed her little hand on Maeve's face as if telling her to look at her father and Maeve's expression changed.
"Aww… how more precious can you be~" Ace sang as he grabbed his daughter into his arms and the daughter giggled.
They started playing the same game and this time, Maeve also joined in the fun.
…
The next day, the Naming ceremony was arranged in the throne hall. Many nobles came to share the joyful moment and surprisingly, the bishop from the church was also present.
"I thank everyone for coming here today, now please welcome the Emperor, the Empress, and the Imperial princess" Lord Haze announced.
"Long live Emperor, Empress, and the Princess!"
"Long live Emperor, Empress, and the Princess!"
"Long live Emperor, Empress, and the Princess!"
Under the cheers, wearing imperial clothes, Ace and Maeve entered along with their daughter. The clothes the princess wore were of the softest quality available in the whole Herferd.
Everyone present took their seats when Ace and Maeve sat on the throne, while the daughter sat on Ace's laps.
The ceremony started as many nobles came close to Ace, giving the princess some precious gifts along with some cheesy compliments.
"Emperor Ace, I hope the princess has a bright future ahead of her"
"I hope princess becomes even stronger than the emperor"
"The princess is really cute, I am sure she will turn into a great beauty when she grows up"
"The princess…"
And the nobles continued to lick Ace's boot by complimenting and gifting the princess.
The more nobles spoke, the more Ace thought that his decision of leaving this world was a great one.
To everyone surprise, the little princess completely ignored their presence and continued playing with her father's hand. Not even sparkling gems that she usually liked interested her.
She held Ace's forefinger and middle finger with her 2 hands and moved them in different directions with a curious look. In between her movements, she looked at her hand and tried to move her finger the same way she moved Ace's. Her little actions were already enough supplement for Ace to continue with this pathetically boring ceremony as nod to his intelligence for coming up with just a brilliant plan of leaving this stupid place.
*Giggle*
Maeve and Ace giggled while looking at their daughter's curious actions while the nobles continued with their thing.
…
After 1.5 hours, finally, the formalities were over as Ace and Maeve sighed in relief.
"Now I would like to request the emperor to bestow a name to the Imperial princess" the bishop requested.
Ace stood up and hugged his daughter close to his chest, he then glanced at Maeve and smiled as if saying, 'Just wait for it'. Maeve nodded with a smile and Ace turned towards the audience.
"She came into our life as a blessing, as if the God himself, graced us, therefore she shall be called Gracie,
Gracie Vorste!" Ace announced as he lifted Gracie high in the air.
*Giggle*
When she heard the word 'Gracie Vorste' Gracie's smile widened and she bloomed with a small giggle.
"So Cute…" Someone in amongst the crown was unable to control himself and muttered unconsciously.
Ace's smile widened when he heard that, it was the first compliment Ace liked as it came directly from the person's heart, and how could it not? Gracie was like the cutest child ever born into this world, well, at least for him.
"Long live Princess Gracie Vorste!"
"Long live Princess Gracie Vorste!"
"Long live Princess Gracie Vorste!"
The people present cheered.
"I announce this as the end of the ceremony, I wish you all stay for the banquet" Haze announced with a smile.
Ace and his family didn't take part in the banquet and left quickly.
"Long live Emperor, Empress, and the Princess!"
"Long live Emperor, Empress, and the Princess!"
"Long live Emperor, Empress, and the Princess!"
Under the cheers of people present, Ace, Maeve, and Gracie left the throne room and walked towards Maeve's room.
"So, do you like the name?" Ace questioned.
"It was surprisingly better than I thought, I was even prepared to change the name if you had selected something weird" Maeve answered with a smile.
"Did you like your new name, Gracie Vorste?" Ace questioned as he looked at Gracie.
*Giggle*
Gracie giggled in response and Ace smiled.
"See? Even she likes it! Aren't I awesome?" Ace questioned.
*Giggle*
Before Maeve could answer, Gracie giggled again as if nodding to her father's question.
"Cute~" Ace exclaimed and tightened his hug around Gracie.