Chapter 17 -- Bye, Dad

"You aren't reading today, Princess?" Lily asked cautiously.

"It wasn't interesting."

The princess had spent her morning watching sunlight travel across the ceiling. Observing might not have been entirely correct. It's more as if she's...how to put it... But Lilian could not think of the word she was looking for. Perhaps it's because I have been so absentminded lately.

Athy too wondered what it was she was doing. She'd been listless as of late. Her mind felt blank.

"It's three o'clock in the afternoon. Should I bring snacks for you?"

"That's alright."

As had been the case as of late, Athy didn't want to eat anything. Lily, Hannah, and Ces were shocked to see their princess reject a snack.

Athy knew that she'd been making them uneasy for the past few days. But the idea of having to act a certain way just because they were watching her every move, gave her a headache. Jennette's letters had stopped coming, and the princess felt isolated. As such, she'd taken to spending her time lounging around uselessly. Then again, wasn't that exactly the sort of lifestyle Claude wanted for the outcast princess?

Lily, however, did not give up.

"Would you like to go for a walk? The sun is very nice today."

"I'm too lazy…"

"No. At times like these, you must move. If you'd rather be alone, I won't follow you. How does that sound?"

Lily was oddly strong. She lifted the princess out of the couch that she had all but merged into one with. Although Athy had lost the motivation to do anything, she couldn't ignore the desperation in Lily's eyes. Eventually, she let herself be pushed out of the room.

"Princess!"

"Are you going on a stroll?"

It was almost as if they'd been planning this. Ces and Hannah were pacing at the door. Their eyes sparkled with joy when they saw the princess.

"You made the right decision."

"Yes. You won't believe how nice the weather is today."

Seeing them be THIS happy makes me a little guilty.

"I'll be back later." Feeling slightly embarrassed and awkward, the princess walked through the hall receiving intense welcomes from the palace servants.

Bright sunlight shone overhead the moment she stepped outside.

Ah. It's so bright. Now that I think about it, it's been a while since I was out.

Thinking that it might be nice to take in her surroundings, she took a step forward.

But, is someone watching me from above?

She whipped her head around, but the reflection of the sun obscured the window. Despite her suspicions, she turned back and continued onward.

After she'd rooted herself within the Emerald Palace, the princess had no special occasions to attend. As such, her wardrobe had become rather simple. It made her walk considerably more comfortable.

As Lily wished, Athy admired the trees and their vibrant green leaves, the crisp blue of the sky and so on. Eventually, she came to a garden where white roses were in full bloom. It had been a gift from Claude after she'd made a passing remark to him about the loveliness of roses. Once, it was where they'd had their tea time.

The path along the middle of the garden made admiring the beautiful flowers easy. The princess extended her hand, feeling the velvety petals and smooth leaves. After indulging in the sensation, she clutched the flower in her hand. The white of the crushed rose seemed to glow under the radiance of the sun. She stared at it for a bit and then dropped it. The princess repeated the motion until she had littered the path behind her in crushed white roses.

Athy didn't know what was compelling her to do it, but she wanted to be rid of all the clean, white roses in the garden.

Eventually, she turned to look at what she'd done. Like Hansel And Gretel, Athy had left behind a shining trail. But when she faced forward once more, she saw a man who, like her, stood still and silent.

A breeze passed by, touseling the man's golden hair. Roses, leaves, and Athy's dress danced along. For a brief moment, Claude and Athy merely stared at each other.

Although she had not anticipated his arrival, the princess felt no surprise. Perhaps some part of her knew that he would come to see her.

Unlike the day of the banquet, Claude did not express a blatant hostility towards her. The shadow of a nearby tree cast a dark shade over his eyes. Those eyes pierced through her.

The silence was somehow both too long and too short. The emperor's stare was emotionless. A moment later, he began to walk towards her. Unconsciously, Athy's hands began to tremble.

His determined walk closed the distance between them. She stared up at the face. His shadow enveloped her. It seemed as though he had not been sleeping well. His sickly complexion made him look unwell.

Finally, he spoke. "I should not have let you live."

His tone was different than it had been the last time he'd threatened her. The chilly tones of his voice went stabbed at her as he went on.

"If I had removed you from my sight the moment I saw you, that face wouldn't have troubled my thoughts as it has been."

Malice flickered in his otherwise apathetic gaze. He reached out towards the blonde.

Suddenly, an intangible force clashed with another. The sound of it rang in her ears. Something broke, and bright light sparked around her. The intensity of it shook both the roses and their bodies.

Amongst the tangle of her wildly whipping hair, she looked into those icy, glowing eyes.

"How funny. That protection magic undoubtedly came from my mana."

His dry comment made the princess realize just what Claude was doing.

"Magic doesn't lie. The one who cast this protection on you must have been me."

As though he was slicing through something sharp, a thin scar began to form as the powerful force pushed back against his hand.

"Yet I am the one destroying it."

He reached for her once more, and the sound of the clashing forces surrounded them.

"What a ridiculous charade."

The fierce wind whipped the scent of sweet, white roses into the air. Petals danced before her eyes. A screeching slash surrounded her. Layers of protection magic were slowly shattering. Right then, Claude was truly trying to kill her.

"That face. That expression."

Claude looked down at her with a scowl.

"They vex me."

The deafening sound continued.

"When I get rid of them, it will all end."

Was he talking to her or himself, Athy wondered. Did the answer matter?

With each layer of protection magic that splintered around her, it felt as if every precious memory that she had been cherishing was also being destroyed. A deafening gale seemed as though it might blow them away. More scars surfaced on Claude's hand as it came closer and closer to her. His red blood floated in the air, but he did not stop.

"This worthless life."

She had imagined a scene like this many times before.

"I will be gracious and end it."

As a child, she had wondered when Claude would kill her. But at a certain point, that fear had dissipated. Spending time drinking tea together or picking armfuls of flowers to gift him had become her life.

The loud clashing persisted.

Even though she had never known a family of her own, she had dared to believe that they were truly father and daughter. She had come to cherish the time they spent together.

"When you disappear..."

She couldn't resent him for what he was doing.

"...this unknown frustration..."

Everything that was happening was because of her.

"...and this weight on my chest whenever I think about that face..."

Because I didn't listen to Lucas' warning to keep away from Blackie and because I was too stupid to control my magic, you tried to save me.

"...will all disappear."

That's why I'm being punished right now. I know that...

"So die."

Seeing you not being my dad hurts so much that I can't utter a single word.

"Right now, in my hands."

Claude's hand had nearly reached his daughter's throat. Blood continued to drip from his tattered hand. Athy's hand was just as battered, pierced and scratched from the thorns of the rose she clutched in her hand. Blood dripped onto the grass beneath her.

If one or two more layers of protection magic were destroyed, Claude would kill her, just as he wanted.

Amid that whirlwind, she looked up at those apathetic eyes staring down at her and bit her lip.

I don't want to die like this.

She heard the sound of the protection magic shattering.

At least, not because of you...

He had successfully broken the last layer of protection magic.

I will not die by your hand!!!

A white light, as if someone had summoned the break of dawn, surrounded them.

Just as it reached her neck, Claude's hand froze. Seeing him up close, Athy thought she glimpsed a look of surprise on his face.

The bright storm around them was neither light nor the rose petals dancing around them.

There was a muffled noise, a sort of chaotic silence. Or perhaps it had been a silent scream. Claude opened his mouth to speak, but she couldn't hear him.

Athy finally realized that what encircled them were bubbles. It was her. She was slowly disappearing. Whether it was rage or horror, Claude's expression crumbled.

Before she vanished completely, Athy whispered, "Bye, Dad."

A blinding light flashed before their eyes.