Acelynn’s Mother

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.

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