He Came Back Again!

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.

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