Just as what my father asked me to bring Claire to his study room, after dinner I take her with me and go to my father's study room. We knock the door and Uncle Jake open the door for us.
"Young master Henry, Miss Claire…Master already waiting for you, please come in"
We enter the study room and bows to salute my father before greet him.
"Good evening father"
"Good evening, your highness"
"Good evening you two….Jake, you can leave us alone now"
My father replies to our greetings and asks uncle jake to leave. It seems there's an important matter to discuss with us. But why with Claire? After uncle Jake leaves, my father looks at Claire with solemn eyes.
"Miss, Claire…let me ask you questions. Do you enjoy live in Harvard's castle?"
"Yes, your highness. I'm happy to live in here"
"Please, leave that 'your highness' title…. I believe you and Henry have a close relationship right? Maybe in the future, you should call me father in law"
Claire's face getting blushing when she heard words 'father in law' from my father's mouth. my father laughing when see Claire's bashfully attitude.
"I'm sorry your hi….i don't know to address you then"
"Just call me uncle John is fine. I call you here because I have something important to discuss with you"
"Ah…with me your…uncle John?"
"Yes, Claire…how old are you, right now?"
"I will turn seventeen on second month next year"
"Hmm…that's mean you entering marriage time, right? Besides my son, are there any other men that get your interest? You live in men section in this castle due to your position as Henry's personal maid, is not impossible for you to see men more often than those female maids who live in the female section"
Claire look puzzled with my father question
"Besides Henry, there's no other man that I had interest. Excuse me, but is that related to me being called here?"
"Yes, it's related with your relationship with Henry, that's why I call you both here"
"What is that father? Is there something to do with my relationship with Claire?"
"Yes. Henry looks…..I promise to Claire before that if she can give me a child from you, she can become your mistress. But if you decide to marry her and take her as the wife, that's a different matter. What's bother my mind is your fiancé. Do you ever consider she will not allow you to marry another woman or have a mistress? Can you refuse it? Frankly speaking, I don't know about your fiancé character although I ever go to meet Earl Stamfort several times in his castle. What if she's a person with a domineering, selfish and stubborn character? I don't even know why she had an interest in you and propose the engagement for the first time"
Ugh! My father is right. I never see my fiancé and our engagement is made without we meet and know each other well. It never crossed my mind before, suddenly I feel shiver on my back and cold sweat on my forehead.
"Father…you're right. What do you have on mind for Claire then?"
My father takes a paper from his drawer and handed it to Claire. Claire receives that paper and reads it, a puzzled expression shows on her face after she read what written on the paper.
"Uncle John…what is this? There're so many items in there, also a big amount of money also written in this paper"
My father didn't immediately answer Claire's question. I ask Claire permission to see what written there
"Claire, may I take look on that paper?"
"Sure, Henry"
Claire gives the paper to me, and like as she said, the paper content is a list of many goods and some amount of money. The value of the goods and money in that list is quite hefty and can make a person rich enough if he owns the goods and money in that list.
"Father…what kind of list is this?"
"It's all related with Claire's past. So I'm sorry if what I tell you later would bring bad memory to you Claire"
"It's okay uncle John…please tell me"
"Alright….maybe you still remember what your parents do for living right?"
"Yes….they are traveling merchant"
"And you still remember what makes you lost your parent?"
Claire's face suddenly turns gloomy, there's sorrow emancipated from her eyes when my father asks that. The death of her parent from bandit attack is something she will not forget and that also when I meet Claire for the first time.
"I will never able to forget that event, Uncle John"
"This one maybe you not remember….because after we exterminated those bandits, we bring you, your parent and other your parent caravan member dead bodies to castle town for their funeral. You may be feeling so sad at that time to not aware that we also take the cart and all things that we can save from the bandit's attack along with us. That list is what your parent bring with them on the caravan, and after their death, of course, those goods belong to you as their daughter"
I see so that list is Claire's parent belonging that they left when they died in the bandit attack. I also didn't aware my father brings them to castle either. From the corner of Claire's eyes, tears start flowing down.
"I'm sorry if this brought painful memory to you Claire, but if the worst scenario happens, and you can't live with Henry anymore, you still can have a decent life with things that your parents left to you. And it's my obligation to return these things to the rightful owner that is you, Claire"
"No, uncle John. Yes, maybe I'm a bit sad when this sad memory suddenly come again, and anxious when you mention about the worst thing can happen in the future, but I'm also happy that you also take care to my parent belonging and handed back to me and also thinking about my future. Even if you keep those things for yourself I also don't mind. Compared to what you've done to me after my parents gone, those things look nothing. You give me shelter, food, education and most important people that love me"
"I can't accept that Claire, that goods and money belong to you. Maybe you do not need it now, but who knows you will need that later. Let's make this way, I will keep those things for you, anytime you need it just say it and I will return it to you"
"Thank you, Uncle John, that's a good suggestion, I leave those things in your care for now. My mind now can't think what I should do with those things"
"Hmm…I know. Your mind is full with the thought about how you can stay on Henry's side, right? That's just like Clara said when I ask her about the same matter two years ago"
Claire's face gets blushing with that question. She not answers it and just nodded as confirmation. My father laughed while I hold her hands gently
"Don't worry Claire…I will find a way for you to be with me if the worst situation happens"
"Henry…I'm happy to hear that. But don't just because of me, you make your father and other people in this castle face unnecessary troubles"
Claire's words make me touched. There's sincerity in her words and unselfishness from her thought. She's not willing to become a troublemaker for my father and other people in the castle.
"Don't worry Claire, I will always try to find the best way for that matter without jeopardizing anyone else"
"Just believe to Henry, Claire. I believe my son also want to keep you on his side too. Since there's nothing else I want to say to you, you can leave"
"Yes, thank you and good night Uncle John"
"Good night father"
"Hmm…good night kids"
I hold Claire's hand and stand up from our chairs. After giving a bow for respect, we leave my father's study room and return to my room.