Chapter 55

I had already talked on and on about how my parent went out of their way to ensure I was always strapped down to them securely. Even when they let my brothers roam freely about. And when I cried for the same treatment.

Which meant most of the methods of how I got were I have with my business were lies upon lies when told to them. I was just lucky I had solid alibis otherwise I would've been forced to close my business, but during that whole time I had never once gone rogue.

If you have strict parents and value a relationship with them you can't simply disappear so I was down right terrified as I began unveiling my fathers letters.

Father unlike mother wasn't a man of much words. He was brisk, but kept it short. Some called him cold, I just saw it as a way of speaking not everyone could translate.

The first and oldest of the five letters was my first pick.

'When do you plan on returning?'

That was it.

The second.

'Send a response'.

I gulped as I reached for the third and opened it.

'I'm coming to the capital- rumours have spread'.

I saw no point in reading the rest and fell into a slump. Holding my head with a groan. I should have opened the first one!

The door to my room opened and the usual footsteps of Crystal sounded.

"Your father sent a carriage" she told me uncaringly as she walked to my closet and began to rummage through. Probably looking for a dress to wear to some party.

"Already?" I stood up with a sigh and took a deep breath to prepare myself.

"There's also a tea party at Lady Willows house for the successful candidates. Make sure you try to attend" She informed me, but I could barely hear her as I made my way to the front door.

The carriage was plain. Made to look as dull as possible as my father always made sure when he knew I was getting in one. Some long lecture about avoiding attention and the like, but that didn't mean the seats needed to be without any cushions.

I spent the entire way fidgeting with my hands and feeling as if I had reduced to an unconfident little girl. When we finally stopped before the magnificent estate I was a mess of unruly nerves.

The estate as I knew well was simply fascinating, enough to take my mind off the knots in my stomach. It was strange to think a simple merchant family owned it, but I knew it was laughable to pass our business' off as simple.

As expected, nobody stood outside to greet me and I had to make my way inside. The gates were thankfully opened for me by the guards who didn't bother asking for my identity. Obviously having expected my arrival.

Similarly , the doors to the estate opened the moment I was a metre away and I was greeted by the servants of the household who immediately walked me to the tea room.

"Master Colter awaits you in the tea room. He was hoping for a cup of tea made by you" the butler smiled gently at me, and he clearly didn't understand that he was blatantly mocking me through my father.

I tried to swallow the miserable expression I wanted to make and just nodded with a tight smile. I opened the doors with an audible gulp and stepped through them, eyes concentrated on the floor as I heard them shut behind me.

I heard the sound of ashes falling off his cigar before the strong nauseating scent hit me. I crinkled my face in disgust.

"Didn't you quit?" I grumbled as I found my nerves overpowered by my disgust as I looked up and flinched.

He wasn't even looking at me.

His murky green eyes, much like my own, were red rimmed as he stared at his ash tray. He looked haggard, hair unkept unlike his usual need to always look proper. There were bags under his eyes.

"Daughters will always be a fathers most stressing worry. I happen to have a most troublesome one" his eyes rested on me.

"Father… what happened to you?"

He didn't answer and just took another puff of his cigar before he crushed it into his tray. It wasn't even finished.

"Take a guess".

I bit my lips and looked away.

"I didn't realise I would be summoned to the castle", I could feel the queue of excuses die out in my throat as I heard him let out a long hum.

"Your brother tells me you fancy the prince?"

My face flushed embarrassed at the prospect of having such a conversation with my dad of all people.

"About that…"

"I reject it".

"Father".

"It won't happen". I knew that tone. It meant he can not be persuaded otherwise.