Chapter 2

"You're so beautiful darling!" mom exclaimed as her eyes blinked

"Thank you, mom!" I smile at her

Mom smiled back and I was amazed at how beautiful she was. I didn't know that my mom could be this beautiful when she was happy. The mom from the past was always cold and angry. I must protect that smile from now on, I will not let others take away those smiles from her again. They will pay.

"What's wrong, darling?" Mom pinched my cheeks and I was brought back to reality

Did she saw me making face?

"No, mom. It's just.. Your smile is beautiful." I replied

Her face become red as if she was flustered.

"I-I see... Thanks darling" she replied while blushing

How cute!

"Since when did you two seems to get along well?"

Suddenly, a cold aura surrounds us and it making me shiver. I look behind and saw my father wearing an elegant suit and seemed to attend the party too.

"D-Duke..." Mom said in shiver

It seemed like mom were afraid to father.

"Yes Papa, would you like to join us?"

I need to break the awkward scene and or might break my momentum.

Father was shocked to the name I called him. It was the name only Ivellina allowed to call him, I really wanted to call him Papa ever since.

As expected, he stared at me with madness in his eyes.

"What did you called me?" he asked in anger

I bent down and said,"It was a mistake, father. Forgive me."

"Watch your words. Even though you are an Lascena, I will never acknowledge you as my daughter." father said

Mom looked at me with sad eyes. Don't worry mom, I was used to it already. Dad never loved me. He loved Ivellina.

"I understood.." I replied

"I will have a separate carriage. Leighny, you will join your daughter. I will take my leave now."

After he said that, he turned his back and walk away with his guards.

That jerk! How dare he speak that against my mom, hmph!

"Adel, darling, are you okay?"

Mom rushed to me and hugged me. I saw her tears falling out on her eyes and I wiped it with my small hands.

"I'm okay mom, you shouldn't feel sad about what that jerk said." I frowned

Oops, my mouth is really sore.

"Pfft.." mom giggled

I was surprised when mama suddenly laughed out loud and patted my head softly.

"You meanie, should not say any bad things to your father. But I can't help but to laugh 'cause it's so cute!"

Huh, am I cute?

"Mom is the cutest!" I protested

"Silly, there's no one else in the world can contest the cuteness of my daughter."

I smiled because of what mom said.

"Just like my mom" I smiled

She smiled at me and held my right hand.

"Let's hurry to the carriage, the party will start soon"

"Okay!"

While we're in the carriage, my mom told me what was her life when she was young. She said that she was a former general of an army and was already experience leading a troop in battlefield. She doesn't have an interest in marriage because battlefield is her life. But when she saw her sisters happily married and has already a sweet family, she decided to have a normal life with happy family.

But it never happened. His father, the king, sold her to marry Duke Austin of this kingdom, Laczero. The kingdom where my mother lived had a debt with Laczero and the payment was my mother whom they knew was a great general.

Mom doesn't want that kind of marriage but she agreed when she fell in love at first sight with my father. She thought there was a chance that her love will return to her but she died holding a hope that will never happen. I was 17 at that time when my mother died because of illness. She became insane and had a mental illness because she loved father so much. After my mom died, father married his concubine and introduce me his daughter, Ivellina.

I will not let the same thing happened. I will protect you mom! No matter what happen. I will be strong.

"We're here" I came back to reality when mom suddenly spoke

I peeked out of the carriage window and was amazed at the beauty of the palace. It's just like before. Do you know that I almost live here because I want to be with Alexis?

Sigh, remembering that cringe childhood stupidity is making me sick.

Soon, we got out of the carriage while our family guards escorted us. By the way, it's Emperor's birthday today. I already prepared a stitched handkerchief as my present to him. I knew that His Majesty likes Lotus a lot because it reminds him the hair color of the late Empress, Empress Prescilla, the first prince's mother who died in assassination. He loves the Empress very much.

As we walk in the entrance, we were overwhelmed by the attention of the other nobles. I can hear their whispers from here.

"Why did they have separate carriage from the Duke?"

"Is it true that Duchess Leighny wasn't favored?"

"Look at those golden hair"

"Red-eyes vixen"

Where is my rod? There are so many bees here.

Honestly, I'm used to the prejudice eyes and blasphemous mouth of the people around me since I was perceived as a villainess. But my mom can't handle it. I can see her grit her teeth for controlling her emotion.

I hold her stand, as I expected she was so stiff.

"It's okay mom.." I whispered

She took at deep breath and began to smile and she nodded.

I glanced at the nobles who bad mouthed me and my mom. They shivered in fear as soon as our eyes meet.

I was a daughter of the Duke! No one can belittle us as long as we have the Lascena name.

We soon reached the throne and we both bowed down to honor the Emperor.

"May Valeria blesses the emperor of the Laczero empire." we said in chorus

"I haven't see your daughter in the palace for two weeks, what happened?" the emperor chuckled

W-What? Why am I the topic here?

"I-I was banned from coming to the palace, Your Majesty.." I said out of embarrassment

"Hahaha! My son was too harsh to you, wasn't he?"

What the heck? Why does he want to make me embarrassed

My eyes saw father glaring at me from afar. Hays, I guess he'll never forgive me to all the shame I have done.

To interrupt the emperor from teasing me, I need to change the topic.

"Your Majesty, I have stitched something for you as my present." I said

A knight handed an embroidered handkerchief to the emperor. When he saw the lotus he immediately fell silent.

Did... something wrong with the handkerchief?

"This is..."

Everyone was shocked when the emperor burst into tears.

"Thank you for your wonderful gift, Miss Adelaide.. " said the emperor as he wiped away his tears

"It's my pleasure, Your Majesty" I responded

"Don't worry child, I will help you earn favor to Alexis" he winked at me

"Thank you, Your Majesty"

Wait, WHAT?!!

"Let's have a dinner together later, thank you for your presence. Enjoy the party. " Emperor said

I can not bend down properly in shock. Didn't I say I won't bother Alexis anymore? Why do we seem to be getting closer now?