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He turns at the sound of the doors opening and freezes cold. Diane. He’s struck silent as the image of Diane floats down the stairs escorted by Felix. Something clenches tightly in his chest as reality hits. This isn’t Diane. This is Anastasia. His daughter. The thing that killed Diane. Suddenly he so badly wants to kill her. To stop the pain of a version so similar to his beloved existing when she didn’t. The pain is almost too much to bear. But it’s far to late to even pretend he could kill her. He’s had so many chances when she was younger and every time he hesitated and made excuses. He realizes now he’d already come to care for her. And now he loves the child too much to ever possibly hurt her. The second person he’s ever loved. He can’t let another person he cares for die. Not again. Not even at his own hands.
“Daddy I’m so happy I could spend today with you.” She says with a warm smile.
It takes him far too long to come back to himself and realize he’d been standing in silence. He moves forward and holds his hand out towards her. “You look very pretty today.” he finally says.
She’s surprised but then a bright smile appears on her face and she seems to glow, becoming even more beautiful before his eyes. He’s unable to look away. “Thank You, Daddy”.
He takes her hand and leads her to the carriage. He can’t help staring at her sitting across from him. She looks so much like Diane that it hurts. He has to turn his head to stare blankly out the window before he’s overwhelmed with emotions.
They spend the rest of the ride in silence. Him lost in his thoughts and Anastasia in her own.
(Diane. Jennette. Two different women swirl in their heads.)
They arrive and make their way up the entrance stairs. They would be descending a large staircase for everyone to see, and then the ball would officially begin. Right before the doors Athy pauses and draws in a breath for courage. And then the doors open and their names are announced in a booming voice.
“Make way for his Majesty Emperor Claude de Alger Obelia! And her Highness Princess Athanasia de Alger Obelia!" The uniformed men announce loudly.
The happily chatting aristocrats below fall to an immediate silence and all eyes are on them. Even the music, which had been playing peacefully until now, stopped. His daughter hand in his goes stiff and shakes, her grip on Claude's hand tightening. "What’s the matter?" He asked lowly, for her ears alone. Matching blue bejeweled eyes lock as Claude glanced down at her, watching her. She may have been smiling, but it had turned stiff and she was frozen in place pressed against his side. She was almost too scared to move? Finally understanding, without hesitation he turns narrowed cold eyes on the gawking crowd. The crowd immediately collapse in a deep bow, all trembling and Athy finally relaxes. He had been correct at the problem. Claude was used to such large crowds and stares while his sheltered daughter wasn’t.
As they gracefully begin their descent down the stairs hand in hand he mused, "I can make them keep their heads down like that until the ceremony is over, if you want." This catches Athanasia off guard enough to stutter out a “No-no” before she collects herself and laughing softly “That’s just like you daddy. But you can’t do that, I’m not the only one debuting today. These girls have waited months and years for this day. It’s okay Daddy. Because I’ll have you by my side.”
“I didn’t take you for the time to get nervous about such trivial things.” He muses aloud as they walk. “Considering how you were ripping my hair out and hitting my face when you were little, dancing in front of a crowd shouldn’t be a problem.” Athy quickly becomes flustered “N-n-no way. I don’t remember doing such things. Such jokes daddy.” “You were an insolent little thing, even back then.” “Ahh, stop teasing me.” She’s more relaxed now so he’s pleased his words had served their purpose of soothing her.
Once they reached the center of the ballroom the band had composed themself and began to play the first song. Father and daughter bowed to each other and then began their dance. “Relax” he spoke as he pulled her close “This is a day for you to have fun, no matter what anyone else says.”
Claude was impressed by how beautifully and gracefully Athy dances. A lovely smile on her face. “Daddy you have no idea how good I am at dancing. Prepare to be surprised.” Confident words spoken far too early as she almost immediately crushed his foot under her heel. Both froze in shock at her mistake and in her haste to step back she twisted and began to fall. He’s quick to grab her waist and easily lift her gracefully into the air. She makes a silly dumbfounded expression but he can see her relief that no one else saw her minor blunders. He’s reminded again that she’s different from Diane. He set her on the ground and can’t help smirking when she immediately shielded her flushed embarrassed face against his. “I forgot you were a different person, despite how similar you look. I’ve become quite foolish.” he says almost absentmindedly. She steps on his toes several more times before the song ends. They bowed to each other again, him with his arm across his chest and Athy bowing gracefully low to the ground. The nobles surrounding clapping loudly.
Claude takes her hand in his once again and escorts her to the thrones on the podium. “You did well” he says and Athy pouts “I’ll do even better next time” He stops in front of the smaller throne beside his. The one he had commissioned solely for her. And she gratefully takes a seat. He sits as well. In the background he can hear the second song began as the rest of the young debutants begin dancing with their partners.
(She sees Duke Alfius off in the shadows talking to a man. But no sign of Ijekiel or Jennette. Something about the stranger makes her uneasy. But she’s quickly distracted by her worries of Jennette and her father meeting and forgets the man in favor of staring at Claude sadly. Her last thought of him is wondering why for a moment his eyes looked so familiar.)
The second song finishes and it was time for Athanasia to descend from the throne and to join the other young ladies in dance. He pats her back and says “Go Ahead”. But Athy doesn’t move she simply stared up at him. Eventually she spoke “Daddy, thank you for being with me today. It was the best birthday present ever. Thanks to you, I’m going to remember today as a very happy day. I love you Daddy."
She leans up and presses a gentle kiss on his cheek. Low gasps fill the hall surprised at such open affection from the princess and acceptance from their cold blooded emperor. "Goodbye, Daddy." She whispered with a sad smile, turning from him and walking down the stairs. Claude could only stare and slowing raise his hand towards her. Before he can do anything more she disappears before his very eyes into the crowd.
(My True Feelings. Even if Claude no longer sees me as his daughter because of Jennette, Claude was the first father I ever had, and I’ve loved every moment of it.)
“Anastasia. Why?” That expression...
He doesn’t know what she meant but there was something about it that he felt wrong. Like she was truly going to vanish before his very eyes.
Lost in his thoughts he sunk into the throne and stared vacantly at the dancing people.
The annoying Duke dog Alpheus suddenly approaches. “Greetings from your humble subject, Roger Alpheus. Blessings and glory upon the Obelia-“ “That’s enough” Claude cut him off already wishing to rid of the bastards presence.
“Your majesty I have something of great important to speak to you about.” Claude looks at him in disinterest before turning away. “What is it?”
The annoying bastard hesitates and Claude grows bored enough he begins searching for Athy. Ah there she is. Her beautiful blond hair standing out even in a crowd of nobles. Eventually he speaks “This is something best spoken in private. I wish to introduce you to the ward I’ve been raising.”
“The princess is dancing. I will not stop her from enjoying her debutant ball. Especially not to meet some sniveling child you’ve poorly raised.” He doesn’t look away. He sees a flash of blue and brown approach the princess and even from a distance he sees her unease. Before he can do anything the Duke continues speaking.
“There’s no need to involve the princes in this.”
Claude is quick to turn a cold gaze at him and flare his mana “You say this is an important royal matter. But my daughter isn’t needed? Are you saying the princess is not royalty?”
The duke stammers pointless excuses but Claude is even less inclined to listen to him anymore.
“Your making a racket on top of all this music. I’ve heard enough of you today.”
But he didn’t take the hint and kept digging “What a lucky turn of fate that the two are in the same room today, let’s not-“
“I said that’s enough” Claude said interrupting his pathetic attempts. “I won’t want my time with my daughter to be interrupted.” Done talking Clause turns his head away and ignores him to watch his daughter dance instead. He doesn’t bother to see if the duke leaves or not.
He frowns when he sees her dancing with the said bastards heir Ijekiel. He’ll have to ensure there’s no further interactions between the two. If he’s anything like his father then he’s greedy and untrustworthy. For good measure he glares at the boys back and sending some killing intent his way.
Time passes and eventually Athy leaves the other dancers and while she smiles happily it’s clear she’s exhausted. “Already done?” he asks amused. She nods and tells him she had fun but dancing with so many people was more tiring then she imagined.
He nods “We’ll be leaving then, I’m bored of these pests.” He stands and offers his hand to Athy. She smiles brightly and places her hand in his and together they begin to walk away.
(For a moment Athanasia holds a hope in the smallest part of her heart that everything might be safe. Jeannette was never introduced to Claude. So maybe she can stay and continue her happy life with daddy.)
Behind them they heard a familiar voice shout. “Your majesty I’ve been waiting patiently to speak with you!”
“I already told you I have no interest in what you spoke of earlier. Be silent.” Claude says without interest as he continues to walk away.
“Your majesty, there is a second princess!" He hollered. “I announce Princess Jennette to his Majesty!”
Claude whips around in fury at his audacity and Athy is pulled along. “What did you just say?"
"Your majesty, I present to you, your second daughter. This is Princess Jennette de Alger Obelia." Duke Alpheus shifted, presenting this Jennette for Claude to see. A young girl with brown hair and plain blue eyes. She looks familiar.
The crowd is in immediately roars.
Jennette pulls off her ring revealing her jeweled eyes. Rudely lifting her head without permission. Claude’s lips curl.
Athy grips his arm tightly her face pale. She’s cold to the touch and shaking. How long had she been that way? Was she doubting him? Thinking he’d accept this thing into their home with open arms? He reaches out a hand to stroke her head.
“You look familiar. Are you that wrench Penelope Judith’s daughter?”
Jennette’s face immediately lights up “Yes father! That’s my mother.”
“In that case you are no daughter of mine.” He said with cold eyes.
The duke and Jennette freeze at those words. The duke is quick to loudly begin protesting. “What do you mean no daughter of yours?! She has the jewel eyes of the Obelia royal family! How can you lie and say she’s not yours? Be reasonable your majesty! Your own fiancé gave birth to her!”
Claude gives a slow cruel smirk “Me be reasonable? I know I’m not the father because I never slept with her whore of a mother. She might of been my fiancé but she was far too busy crawling into the bed of my eldest brother to even spare me any of her time.”
Everyone listening to the spectacle gasped and began whispering loudly amongst themselves.
“Which makes you Anastacius and Penelope Judith daughter. Not mine. They were both traitorous back stabbing snakes. I have no intentions of accepting such filth into my family.”
“I killed my brother with my own hands. What should stop me from killing you as well? Not only that but your parents must have used dark magic to create you.” He face twisted in disgust. “They must have for you to reek so strongly of death and other vile things you unnatural creature. Your not even human. I don’t even know what you are. Anastacius‘s latest failed experiment?”
“Guards” he shouted and uniformed guards came quickly enter the ballroom and kneeled before him. “Arrest this inhuman thing and Duke Alpheus of treason and trying to trick the royal family by using the royal blood to create such a disgusting monster and trying to sell it off as a human as well as my child.”
“They will be publicly executed tomorrow at sunrise!” He declared.
Jennette collapsed to her knees as everything she’d been told was a lie and began to wail. While Roger was red with fury and began to shout at Claude. But Claude was done listening.
“Guards take them away! I tire of their pathetic voices. Lock them in the dungeons.” Claude ordered and the guards quickly dragged them away. “Don’t get to comfortable” he sneered after them “you won’t be staying there for long.”
Claude turned and addressed the next issue “Ijekiel Alpheus” said boy who’s face had grown paler with each words spoken by the emperor turned even paler as those cold eyes turned on to him, somehow immediately finding him amongst the crowd. “Come forward.”
The crowd parted and fearfully Ijekiel walked as bravely as he could towards Claude. “You seem completely ignorant to all that has happened and for that I will graciously allow you to live. But ignorant is not an excuse” Athy squeezes his hand gently and he frowned but continued “and if not for my daughters soft heart I’d have chosen a painful punishment for you. As such you are herby named Duke of Alpheus.” He leveled an ice stare down at him. “I hope today will teach you to not be greedy like your father and want for things that were never his to covet. Make no mistake if you’ve learned nothing today then no one will be able to save you from death. Not even the princess. Do I make myself clear?” He said letting his mana to leak out.
Ijekiel immediately fell to one knee and kept his head down “Yes your majesty. I thank you for your graciously sparing of my life. And will take your lessons to heart and work hard to not become my traitorous father.”
“Good” Claude said cooly before turning and walking away, pulling this daughter along by the hand.
Only once they were in the carriage Athanasia was able to overcome her shock to form words “Father why did you do all that?” she whispered.
He turned to her and said “Because your are my one and only child. I will never accept another for the rest of my life.”
And at those words Athanasia de Alger Obelia for the first time in years, allowed herself to cry.
But this time, they were tears of relief.