It's been days since we found out that the Alpha Kingdom will harm the other kingdoms.
The royal family from the Echo Kingdom was said to arrive earlier, they were now having a meeting with King Ludovic as of the moment, but Aiven assured that he'll talk to them if he gets a chance.
Princess Tellusia and I have been practicing ever since she stepped in to ask for my help, and for the record, she's letting me call her Sia, and Prince Marin also let me call him by his name. It turns out 'Rin' was a pet name given by the Princess and only she can call him with that name.
I was on my bed, trying to get an early sleep but I am here, staring at the ceiling when suddenly I saw a paper beside me on the pillow.
I peek to see Regin, but he was just staring at the window, watching the moon shine its beauty. He still won't leave me at night, he said that it's better to stay with me than to open the door and find that I'm missing.
I turned around to read the paper, "Go to the bathroom," it says.
I smiled, that means my father is here and he has sneaked in even before Regin came here, it is a bit creepy to think, but at least there won't be any problem.
I've been honestly waiting for him since he sent that message, I'm filed with mix emotions on this little reunion we have.
I crumpled the paper and took it with me. I stood up and went to the bathroom, Regin didn't even look at me, since I am in my nightdress. He already knows that I'm just going to do my business and there's no need to follow me.
I locked the door and took a deep breath before facing the bathroom. I can see his shadow from where I am standing, and when I turned around, I saw my father standing in front of the mirror, looking at his face.
I can only rely on the painting I saw about his appearance, and the man before me looks exactly like that, except that he's got long black hair with silver streaks from his old age and a few wrinkles and scars on his face.
He's wearing simple clothing of peasants, but he's got a dagger on his side.
"Papa," I called, then he turned to me and smiled.
"Meteor," he mouthed then he ran to me and embraced me with my feet high above the ground, "I miss you," he said as he brings me down.
I turned on the faucet to at least cover our voices, "What's happening?" I asked him in a low voice.
"You shouldn't be here, Meteor," he whispered, "They took you as a bait for me, are they treating you well?"
I nodded. Granny already dropped a hint that they want him to return that's why they took me in. And he knows that, but I want to tell him everything that happened, and I want to shout at him for leaving me, I want to do a lot of things, but this isn't the time.
"Papa, tell me, who's mom?"
He froze for a second then he chuckled, "You figured out a lot then," he said, then he went out of the door and within a second he was back.
He turned off the faucet and he gestured me to go to my room.
And the moment I went out and saw Regin, he was unconscious, "What did you do?" I asked in a low voice as I ran to my knight to check if he's still breathing.
But he was fine, he looks like he's just sleeping.
"I just knocked him out," Papa gestured chopping his neck, "He's tired, he'll sleep all night so don't worry. I want to talk to you properly."
I sat on my bed, then Papa followed and gave me a warm smile.
I can't help but punch his chest, then everything came crushing through me.
My father's here, he's here.
"Why did you leave me?" I asked as my voice breaks, "I was left alone, I was scared, I didn't know how to live."
He held my hand, and I can feel calluses on his hand, "I'm sorry Meteor. We wanted to give you a normal family, but... we're not even normal like humans."
"Papa," my sobs surfaced as my tears flow out of my eyes, "I hate you."
"I know," he chuckled, "I can see it."
We stayed quiet for a while, then I wiped my tears and composed myself, "Who's mom?"
He chuckled, now I know where I got my eyes, he has the same hazel bright eyes, "I'll tell you how we met, Meteor," he said then he pushed me to lie on bed, then he tucked me in and brushed my hair, like a kid listening to a bedtime story.
For a moment, I felt like I've been in this same scene, him telling me a story, and I'm on the bed listening.
This happened before. I know it.
"The Queen was on her way back to the castle after feeding the orphans in the village, then we saw a young girl, well," he smiled brightly, "A girl my age, she was making a fire in the forest. She was using her power to warm herself on a cold night, and when the Queen saw her face, she ordered us to stop. She ran to the girl and she hugged her tightly, it turns out, it was her old friend, Princess Rose Claire Dawn Fevier, the Alpha Kingdom's heir to the throne."
My eyes grew wide, and my father noticed that I knew the name, but he just continued speaking.
"It turns out, her brother, King Sorin, tried to kill her. But she was able to run away, and that's why the Queen helped her have a place to stay. She knew if King Ludovic found out that the Princess was here, he'll bring her back, that's why the Queen gave her a new identity by changing her hair color and name,"
My father looked at me, I know what's he's about to say next. We said my mother's name in unison, "Tana Marie Lily."
Papa nodded and caressed my forehead, "In short, I fell in love with the ghost princess and we got married, then we had you."
"What happened on the Queen's assassination, Papa?" I frowned, I wanted to know why she chose me over her life.
Father seemed to be bothered by the questioned, he looked away from me, then he touched his face where there was a big scar.
I don't want to force him, but this is my chance.
"We were having dinner," he started with a sigh, "She insisted to visit us that night when Prince Forest was already asleep since it was her only time to meet her old friend."
I pulled my blanket close to my face, then I watch as my father stood up and stared at the moon while her light covers his face.
"Then, they arrived," his voice came to a whisper while he was staring at the night sky as if he was ready to dive in that dark abyss but memories keep holding him back, then he shook his head, "I'll tell you some other time, why don't we have a walk?"
I shook my head and I stood up to go beside him, "No, I want to know what happened."
Why does it feel like he doesn't want me to know, he's hiding something even to his own daughter. I didn't wait for him for this.
"What happened? Who killed the Queen? Why did she prioritize me over herself?" I muttered while I pull his shirt, "Papa, tell me."
He took a deep breath and held my shoulders, "The Queen concealed your power because they were not only aiming to kill the Queen, they wanted to take you too. And all I can do was fight, and I defeated them," his eyes welcomed darkness as tears are starting to form. I can feel his hands shaking through my skin, he looks afraid and betrayed. "If only I knew. I saw it but I was blinded. I thought everything will be fine. I tried to stop them, but I can't."
His lips trembled as he stares at me with a devastated expression, while I was left in the middle of the unknown. What is he saying? Why do they want to take me? But I still have more questions, if I can't get answers, for now, I'll have to shift to the other one. I can't get stuck in this question.
"Papa," I shook him back to conciousness, then he looked at me, "Are you the one who planned to take me in the Delta Kingdom?"
He creased his brows, "What? You were in Delta? No, I wasn't there. What happened?"
He let me go while I tugged his shirt, clinging for safety that I wanted when I was about to be taken away that day, "They cast a spell that was supposed to kill me, and they were planning to take me to someone."
He looked at me, "Who?" His gaze grew sharp, "I would never hurt you. Now tell me, who cast the spell?"
Anger now covers his eyes while he clenches his fist. I smiled at the idea that he's worrying for me. Even though he left me alone, he still wants to take care of me.
"It's fine. Prince Forest killed her."
Papa raised his brows in surprise, "That little boy?"
"He's not little anymore," I chuckled. I pursed my lips then I look away, "He's amazing."
I want to tell my father how much I adore that Prince, but I can't find the right word to say how much he means to me.
But instead of an encouraging words, his face froze in terror, then he held my hands and squeezed them tightly, "Do not fall in love with him, you'll get hurt, meteor," he said with begging eyes and fearful voice as he shakes his head, "You'll get hurt."
I stare at my father's horrified face, why? Why is he saying those words? Those aren't the ones I was expecting to hear. I wanted the normal father lecturing about boys and love, the ones I see from movies and read on books, but why is he telling me those scary words?
"What are you saying?" My voice cracked from the fear, then I tried to pull my hand away from him while tears came streaming from my eyes, "Why are you--"
We heard that someone was about to enter the room, then I turned to my father.
"Stay away from him, meteor. I don't want you to be hurt," he said then he gave me a soft kiss on my forehead, and a second after he's gone.
"Amelia, you're still awake?" I heard Granny's voice at the door, "Are you alright?"
I wiped my tears and I turned to her with a smile, she was carrying a bow and arrows on her hands, wrapped in gold silk.
"What's that?" I asked as I watch her close the door and look at Regin who was sleeping soundly on the chair.
She put the bow on the table and pulled a quilt from the closet and put it on Regin, then she looked at me and smiled, "I can't go with you tomorrow, I have to visit my brother, he's sick and no one's there to take care of him. I'll be back in a few days."
I nodded as I pull the silk off of the bow, and it revealed magnificent black arrows with gold fletching and arrowhead; the bow has the same design of black and gold tip and string with little swirls of gold on its limb.
"This looks the same with the ones in our house," I said as I remember the ones hidden in the basement that I never dared to touch.
"That's your father's bow, I don't think someone can notice that using that since you'll be hunting on your own, the Prince doesn't know about that too," she took the bow and placed it on my hand, "Now, do your best."
I stared at the majestic weapon, I know my father and I didn't have a good conversation earlier, but that won't change the fact that tomorrow, I will win.