In the palace chambers of the Emperor, a scene that hasn’t occurred in over five years is happening.

There is a story that long ago he had a baby with an unknown woman but he ends up killing both the mother and the innocent child. It’s precisely why everyone fears him. He holds no feelings and despises the thought of having his bloodline continue. Everyone knows their ruler is a vile man with good looks but a evil heart.

Now that rumors of a newborn child being born into the royal family is spreading, gossips that a commoner has seduced the Emperor and has bed him is a trending topic among the people.

Only few have knowledge of this, but the rumors are indeed true. A princess arrives in this world but unfortunately her birth isn’t a happy occasion.

Cold, emotionless eyes pierce through Acelynn with a mere stare. The golden eyes that seem to analyze her entirety thoroughly was the only thing she remembers from that night, along with the shivers that ran down her spine and the murder of many.

“W..waah! Uwahh!” She lets out a frightened cry, though the words she wishes to say don’t come to her lips. The only thing that does make it out are the obvious fear she feels.

Still, Ethelric doesn’t care. Though handsome he’s a monster that doesn’t care about anything.

“Get rid of this thing.” He spits harsh words, not even bothering to refer to his daughter like she’s a proper human being. His brows are narrowed with fury.

“Your majesty! Please! I beg you to spare the child’s life!” Her mother begs, tears flooding her eyes like a raging waterfall. She’s then on the floor coughing and holding her stomach tightly after being kicked roughly by a palace guard.

“You wench, dared to give birth.” His response was cold, his sword drawn. If others were so hesitant to kill the baby, he will take matters to his own hand.

Acelynn was prepared. Her eyes shut, gripping her small hands and getting ready for it to be all over. She’s born not even a minute ago and already someone wants her dead.

It was probably because of the small sigh she let out but the moment Ethelric touches her, he freezes. His sword is put back and instead of killing her, he decides to allow her to live.

“She’s not letting out anymore cries. Perhaps I’ll let her live and see what she can do.” He snickers before ordering his guards to seize Acelynn’s mother and imprison her. She’s left in the room with just a nursemaid.

The nursemaid, Anna, approaches her and sobs. How sorry she felt for the poor princess. Her first meeting with her own father turns out to be such a terrible experience.

Acelynn gets picked up and soon enough she’s overcome with a burst of emotion. In the arms of her nursemaid she lets out all her tears, rubbing her delicate face against the soft linen cloth and she lets the warm hands patting her back comfort her.

Her nursemaid thinks she’s just hungry and scared but in reality she’s aware she’s no longer going to see a bright future for herself.

Acelynn lies on the crib on her back. She’s staring at the gold covered ceiling, her large eyes glistens with curiosity. Just then Anna enters the room with a bottle of warm milk and immediately her attention focuses on being fed.

As she sucks on the nipple of the bottle, someone unfamiliar comes barging inside, a look of panic on his face. She can’t hear what he’s saying but from how Anna’s expression twists into an uneasy one, she can tell it’s serious.

“Oh, princess! What shall we do?” Anna always talks to Acelynn like she’s a full grown adult that can understand what she says. Sometimes it’s like she talks to herself. To humor her, Acelynn tilts her head, still drinking her milk.

“His Majesty is visiting you. I pray for your safety.” In a worrisome voice she continues. Anna often bites her lips when she’s truly frantic about something that bothers her. Her nose scrunches and she takes the princess in her arms, holding her gently but affectionately. Anna was like her second mother.

A few minutes pass and someone outside the room announces the Emperor’s entrance. He takes no time to allow Anna to introduce herself and rushes to stand beside his daughter’s crib.

Acelynn drops her bottle but she doesn’t cry. She’s afraid that if she makes a single sound her head will be rolling on the ground. That’s the impression Ethelric left on her.

“You.” Ethelric speaks to the nursemaid, his eyes never leaving Acelynn’s face.

“Yes, your majesty.” Anna composes herself, bowing her head to show curtesy. Her hands are clasped together in front of her.

“How come she doesn’t cry?” He questions, remembering that the child didn’t utter a sound even when he had a sword to her neck that night.

“Her highness has a mature mind. It seems she’s aware of her surroundings and the people in it. My guess is that she sees your majesty as her father.” Was the reply he got. The corners of his mouth almost formed a smile.

“I do wonder what she thinks of me. Does she know she can be easily killed? Haha.” This time he wasn’t talking to anyone in particular.

Acelynn nearly flinches when his hands reach out to touch her cheeks. She thought he was going to hurt her but, to her surprise, his hands makes contact with her soft skin. She was expecting his hand to be as cold as his personality but they were warm.

It was almost pleasant.

She smiles adorably at him and it catches him off guard. He pulls his hand back to her disappointment.

“I’ll be returning.” He calmly says but he stops when Anna inquires about something.

“Your majesty, may I ask about how her majes- err, the princess’ mother is doing?” She bravely questions. Her hands fidget. She knows this is a touchy subject for the Emperor.

He shoots a horrible look at her and grits his teeth. She made the wrong move.

“Guards! Take this stupid woman out and beat her. The next time she dares to be so bold, fire her from her position as nursemaid and annihilate her entire family.” The words still hanging in the air, he leaves. Only after seeing Anna dragged out by two men.

Acelynn witnessed this all. The warmth she felt from Ethelric just a while ago is no longer there, it’s replaced by something horrid.

She feels sorry for her father.

Three months pass since Acelynn’s birth. Somehow she’s still alive and breathing, though she has many questions about how or why.

Everyday she starts her morning with Anna feeding her then she’s carried to the garden where she enjoys the many flowers that bloom. Recently she’s learned that the flowers here are different from the flowers back at home.

“Oh, princess, I do hope your mother is faring well. No new information about her has been leaked... I fear that she may be—ah, forget it. This is not something a child should be hearing.” Anna sighs and looks up, her eyes welling with tears. Acelynn pats her gently in an effort to comfort her nursemaid. Anna, however, takes her gesture wrongly.

“I suppose you are curious about your mother after all?” Anna begins, cradling the little princess in her arms. Sometimes Acelynn dislikes the way her nursemaid’s mind works.

“Gah!” Acelynn whines, though it only further lets Anna continue.

“Your mother... she’s a wonderful woman. Her heart is as kind as gold and no doubt the Emperor, your father, loves her dearly. It’s just he’s terrible at showing his affection.” Anna gives a weak smile, staring longingly in the direction of the emperor’s palace.

“When she first came to the palace,” Anna spoke again, “the Emperor was completely enraptured. He spent weeks trying to earn his way into her heart and doted on her, even going as far as to ignore ancient customs where commoners aren’t allowed to be married into the royal family. I wonder how that same man ended up doing this to her.”

Acelynn already knows. Anna thinks that the princess doesn’t really understand those around her, but Acelynn is different. She hears maids whisper about her situation and she eventually came to a conclusion: her mother was a spy from another kingdom. She had tried assassinating the Emperor a few days before Acelynn was born.

It made her sad. No, she feels no pity for her mother, but more so for her father. The one woman he thought he loved and had a child with betrays him and even wants for his death.

Acelynn was sure the warmth she had felt from his hands that night was real. Ethelric knows how to love, he just doesn’t know who to give it to. He’s a human after all.

Poor father.

Sometimes she wishes she could give him a hug, but fears for her own safety. Due to Ethelric’s nature she knows she would be killed immediately.

“Uuu..” She makes a weird noise and cuddles up against Anna. She did this every time she felt sleepy and wanted to nap. In reality it was just her tactic to be left alone since Anna was really chatty and enjoyed tiring her out.

“It must be time for your nap, princess.” With this she took Acelynn inside and set her down in her crib, putting a warm bottle of milk in her mouth. As she watches the princess fall asleep, she wishes everyday would go like this. She doesn’t want anything bad to happen to her dear princess.

“Is she asleep?” An unfamiliar voice softly says and a shadow enters the room. It’s a females voice.

“Yes, isn’t she adorable?” Anna replies cheerfully.

“Indeed.” The unknown person is closer now and although Acelynn can’t make out her face, the gentle hand that rubs her cheeks is soothing.

“Sleep well, my dear daughter,” Acelynn can hear the person’s voice crack. “Give your father a good life, please.”

Then the shadow is gone and the voice fades away. Acelynn falls asleep.