ℂhapter 3

I don't want to die here. I should have just walked passed Ruka with Cassius instead of being a coward...

But I know that she would have tried to speak to me & that will have caused a fight, considering I had Cassius with me.

As I stare up at my father, the look he presents me with seems scarier by the second. How should I get out of this situation?...Is there even a way to get out of this?

After some intrusive thoughts, I realize i'm just standing around like an idiot & didn't even greet him yet. He may be my terrifying father who can kill me any second but he is still higher in the ranks than I am. It's only common courtesy.

I bow down & lift up my dress, putting one leg behind the other.

"G-greetings, your majesty...the saviour of our Empire."

I never thought I would ever have to greet my father & especially like that.

I stay in the same position & face the ground. I am so scared to do anything. It's like my mind can't even think anymore...but what's a seven year old suppose to do in circumstances like this anyway? I can't even fight.

I hear a short breath & I flinch.

"...That hair...those eyes..."

I swiftly turn my head upwards. "Huh?"

I didn't expect him to speak but it's better than getting that sword pointed at me.

His eyes glare at me even sharper, and before I know it...he lifts me up without hesitation so we can see eye to eye.

My face is frozen in one expression & even I can't tell what that expression is.

I am so close to my murderous father. I am really re-thing my life decisions up until now, right at this very moment. I have barely even lived life yet...i'm too young to die.

Our eyes don't leave eachothers sight...but for me, I am just scared of looking away.

My father's grip is tight from under my arms. He holds me from a distance & I feel awkward because my feet are just there, dangling in the air.

He narrows his glare.

"Are you aware of who I am?" He speaks in a stone cold voice.

It sounded more of a threat than a question...but that just might be me thinking the worst.

His voice is sharp but low. He's very handsome, there's no doubt my mother wasn't in love with him.

He turns his face to the side & mutters to himself. "Who am I kidding?...a mere child is not that smart."

Who does he take me for? I may be young but common knowledge is important at my age.

Even if I didn't know who he was, I would have at least thought about it & figured it out from there.

I look straight up at him & give him a beaming smile with squinted eyes. I have to at least try & act cute because Uncle Felix & Aunt Rumia did not sacrifice a lot to have me die at the hands of my father that they protected me from. I have to do it for their sake...but I also mainly just want to survive.

"You're my daddy!...right?"

His eyes open wide in surprise. It almost appeared as though he was speechless.

He puts me back down on the ground & sneers to himself. "So I guess this child isn't so senseless huh..."

Why is he speaking as if i'm not here?

I wonder if Uncle Felix is near. Perhaps he will save me from this situation if he is...but I doubt it. He probably left already.

"Um...Sir..." I speak out. "Are you going to kill me?"

I don't know why I randomly just blurted something like that out. Maybe I wanted to know beforehand but now I feel even more awkward than before. What will I do if he says yes?

He bends down, putting his weight on his feet so he can look at me properly.

"Sir?..." He questions with a rude tone. "Wasn't I just your father & now i'm sir?"

I feel as though I deserve this for putting myself in this setting.

"I-i'm sorry..." I stammer.

He is so confusing to me, I can't tell if he's joking or not...but he most likely is not. I have a feeling that this is just his personality.

He pulls out his sword from is scabbard & I step back.

"Do you know how to use this?" He asks.

My heart is beating rapidly fast. Why is he suddenly showing me his weapon?

Could it be?...

I shake my head. "N-no father...I do not..."

He chuckles...but it wasn't a fun & playful laugh. I felt as though he was mocking me.

Lifting the sword up, I can see how violent it really is. It is so sharp-edged that you can see it through the reflection.

I feel that from just a touch, your finger will bleed.

"How could you arrogantly wander to this parts of the Empire & not know how to use a sword?"

Am I being scolded right now?...by this man who just so happens to be my father?

"Well..." I point my eyes up at him & hold my hands behind my back. "I am just a kid..."

Even Cassius isn't skilled in swordsmanship. Uncle Felix wants to wait until he's a bit older.

"So?" He scoffs. "I learned when I was five...I don't see the problem."

I heard stories of how Uncle Felix taught my mother swordsmanship. She wasn't that skilled either but she became great with a sword out on the battlefield. I thought about being like that...but I get frightened so easily.

"You either use it to kill someone...or use it to threaten them." He informs me. "It's your pick."

Is that what's happening right now? He could be doing one or the other, I can't tell.

"Swords are scary." I mutter, pouting my eyes.

I am looked upon with a weird expression. A worrisome look.

"Is this even my daughter?" He laughs, abruptly.

I mean in a way, I guess I can't really be considered his daughter. He didn't raise me. Auntie Rumia & Uncle Felix did.

"Well...they're heavy too." I tell him, hoping it will make a difference.

He seems to not like my answers. He probably thinks i'm pathetic. I just can't believe I lasted this long in a conversation with him. I hope Auntie Rumia & Uncle Felix aren't too mad when I tell them where i've been. Cassius must be worried too, unless he's still running & hiding.

"Very well." He speaks with an unsatisfied taste in his mouth as he slides the sword back into the place he took it out of.

His glare towards me was so cold just now. Colder than before.

I am still trembling in my body. I feel as though I have to be very careful with what I say or do.

"I'm sorry."

He looks through me with a weird look.

"Is apologizing all that you know?"

I guess I didn't notice how much I was saying it until he mentioned it. When put in scary & awkward situations, I tend to apologize a lot, especially if the person is older than me.

"I'm sor-" I begin but then clear my throat. "I mean no."

He stays quiet for a moment & I don't know what else to do. I was never prepared to meet him because I never thought I had too...but meeting him like this is just awful. Why do I feel the sudden urge to cry?

Maybe I should just walk back. It can't be scarier than talking to him...and he hasn't attempted to swing his sword at me yet so I guess this is the perfect time to escape.

I quickly turn my head over to where the forest is located. My expression appears dull when I notice that it looks even more terrifying than before. I should have just walked back when I arrived rather than stalling.

It's like the trees grew taller & thicker, the light appears dimmer, the dark colour of the grass makes it seem gloomier than it actually is. It rises up to where any beast can hide behind them. I feel as though I can see red eyes & vicious sounds through that path but that is most likely just my imagination.

I slowly turn back to the man whom is my father. I know it's wrong of me to ask...but I have nothing left to lose.

"Uhm...excuse me..." I utter, embarrassingly. My voice is low but can be heard quiet well, considering how silent it is.

"If you're not busy doing grown up stuff...would you mind escorting me to where the forest stops?"

I know it's a long shot but I can't just stand here forever.

He stands straight & snickers at me. "Bold question."

He bends back down to look me straight in the eye with a grin. "Even knowing who I am?"

I step back, startled. What made me think it was a good idea to even ask such a thing? If anything, he's probably scarier than the forest right about now.

"You're right...it was stupid of me to say..."

I turn around & begin speed walking...but then, my feet feel like they're not even on the ground anymore. They're in the air.

I look up & notice that my father has grabbed around my stomach, holding me like i'm some sort of travel bag.

He just looks straight up ahead, not saying a word. How do I mention to him that it kind of hurts when he carries me like this?

I decide against telling him anything.

I dangle around in his arms until we reach the end of the forest. All that was heard the entire time was the sound of his footsteps & the noise of my heavy breathing. I didn't even ask why he decided to help me.

He puts me down & I instantly wipe down my dress to unwrinkle it.

"Thank you sir-...I mean father." I begin to turn in the direction I came from. "I will be good from here now-"

As soon as I said that, he grabs onto my hand & continues to walk.

I only told him to escort me outside of the forest so why is he suddenly taking me further? Is he mad that I wasted his time? What if this is my punishment because he knows i'm terrified of him?

I want to say something, anything...but what?

I look up at him. He seems focused on some other matter going on inside his mind but he is still taking the time to walk me back to the palace.

"Uhm...is there a reason you're walking me the entire way?"

He glances down at me & then faces the front again. He does not look too happy when I said that.

"Are you saying you want to walk alone?"

That did not feel like a question but I answer anyway. "I...Uh...well..."

"I need to speak to Felix about something anyway." He interrupts. "It just so happens that we're going the same direction."

Has he ever been to the palace recently? I don't think so. Usually, Uncle Felix gets notice that he has to go to the Empire right away when there's a matter that needs to be solved.

Though, what he said doesn't answer why he's holding onto my finger. I already got lost once but I know my way back now.

"O-okay..."

We begin walking & I almost stop in my tracks when I see Ruka...but I can't stop because I am not walking by myself. She's not in the same spot anymore, she's near the path to the palace...but why is she still outside?

I try to hide behind my father secretly, but he notices.

"Is there a reason you're clinging onto my back?"

Could this day get any worse?

"Sorry...I am just a slow walker." I lie.

It seems believable enough...perhaps.

"Then just walk faster." He complains. "I don't have all day."

Well jheez.

"Okay...i'll try."

I move back up but try walking faster so I can get passed Ruka without being noticed. That makes me pull my father forward a little bit but he doesn't say anything.

Luckily, Ruka was distracted in an another direction so she didn't notice us. My father didn't notice anything out of the ordinary & just continued to walk.

We make it to the palace & the front enterance opens automatically where I find Uncle Felix, Aunt Rumia & brother Cassius all crying in worry.

"Uncle Felix! Auntie Rumia! Brother Cassius!" I shout in excitement as I let go of my fathers hand.

They all look up & shout in sync. "Kathenia!" "Kathy!"

I run up to hug them as Aunt Rumia cries "Where were you? we were so worried!"

Uncle Felix wraps his arms around us tightly to form a big hug. "When Cassius came home without you...I thought something terrible must have happened."

"Little sister!" Cassius cries. "You suddenly disappeared!"

I disappeared? he's the one I couldn't find...

But I admire this moment. To be in the arms where I feel safe.

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