Chapter 02.
My Asia
by trishii
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Freya's POV :
". . .ok at me!"
"Are you sure she's alright? She has yet to cry as soon as she was born!"
"We've already called the family doctor earlier and he said there isn't any problems with the lady!"
Who were they? I could hear two unfamiliar voices talking right beside me. I'm curious to know about them, though I'm still afraid of who it might be.
Were they angels waiting to take me to the heavens? Though, their earlier discussion didn't seem like it. Maybe I was mistaken?
I slowly opened one eye, only to be amazed by the luxurious ceiling ordained with golden trinkets as it compliments the velvet red paint. Taking a look by my side, I could see that the whole room was nothing that I have ever seen.
I couldn't help but reach out to the pretty ceiling when instead of my usual bruised and calloused hand meet my gaze, but that of a small pale hand of a little baby.
What was going on? Am I still dreaming or is this heaven playing tricks on me? I've never heard of stories where you suddenly have baby hands as soon as you died. But I did see a light and the next thing I know, I was here, lying on something comfy.
I clearly was confused and was about to think about my circumstances even further when two tall women suddenly came into view as they looked down on me with big smiles on their faces.
"—wah?. . ." I stopped as soon as I heard my voice. I was sure I was going to ask them where I was but what came out instead was a jumble of letters that even I didn't know what it meant. But it seemed to please the two strangers even further.
One even slowly took me in her hands and before I knew it, I was being carried like a baby. "Ah, we're blessed with such a beautiful lady. She's a miniature version of the Marchioness. Marquess Chamberlain would be pleased!" The girl who I assumed to be a maid exclaimed as she stared at me while an other older one was busy cradling me in her arms.
"Such a shame that she couldn't even see her only daughter grow up." A woman with long hazelnut hair responded as she cling unto me harder. The two looked relatively sad, yet I still have no clue who they were talking about.
But then I remembered the names they were discussing earlier. Marquess Chamberlain and Marchioness Renesme? If they're talking about the Chamberlain family, they're quite known in the life I lived before. Especially when not only Marquess Chamberlain is close with the royal family, but also for the grand feats him and his family had done within the years.
They were quite a perfect couple as rumors stated since even though the Marquess and Marquessa were arranged to marry each other at a young age, they truly loved one another as soon as they met. Marquess Chamberlain was known to be a cruel and cold man whom the current King had feared even when they were close friends.
It was said that the Marchioness who just came from the countryside decided to accept the invitation of the grand ball in hopes of meeting her beloved even if she was arranged to marry someone she didn't know. And then she met the Marquess and had fallen for him, ultimately getting married as soon as they found out they were the partners they never wanted to meet in the first place. To think they were also blessed with three gifted men that was sought out by many respectable women.
Even though I have never had the chance to meet the Chamberlain Family before I passed away, they were rather famous. Though, I never heard that the Marchioness passed away. And did they had a daughter before she left? I couldn't remember.
From what I know, if they did have a daughter, there wouldn't have been a chance for Lady Bela to become the crown princess. Everyone knew that the royal family had always wanted for the Doukas and the Chamberlains to unite due to their crazy military power, seeing how Marquess Chamberlain's two children had connections with the military army of the kingdom, not to mention they were good friends with many of the royal family members.
"Are you hungry, my lady? Or do you want to change into another pretty dress?" Was she talking to me? She is indeed staring right at me, but she must be misinformed as I am not a lady.
"We should go and dolly her up again! There might be a chance that her brothers or father would visit her!" I was about to say something but was suddenly brought in front of a vanity mirror filled of transparent boxes with numerous amounts of jewels. But I couldn't care about that as I soon saw my reflection against the mirror in front of me adorned with gold and a name surrounding it in a cursive motion.
"My, have you fallen in love with your reflection? After all, Marquess Chamberlain fell deeply in love with the Marchioness where you got your looks from! Olivia! Get me Lady Asia's brush!" The two maids quickly went to work as they brushed my short dark hair before looking for a ribbon that would match the small frilly blue dress that I was wearing that complimented my icy blue eyes and pale skin, far from what I looked like before I died.
I pointed towards the cursive writing on the wall around the vanity, and with a smile. The lady hugged me tight, "Curious? That's the name bestowed upon your parents, little one. Niamh Anastasia Chamberlain; the youngest and only daughter of the great Marquess and Marchioness of the Chamberlain Family."
Had I really become a lady? Was this all a dream or a reality? No, Freya. This is your wish that has finally been answered. A chance to prove everyone who you can be. You've now become an actual lady.
I won't let this chance of mine go to waste.
Before I could even try to talk with the woman who was taking care of me, the double doors that connected my room to the hallway opened and in came a tall man with sleek silver hair that matched perfectly with his golden orbs.
He had a confident vibe surrounding him as he came inside the room, where I couldn't help but meet his icy cold gaze. I quickly noticed the uniform he was wearing, befitting for an important figure like him. Marquess Frederick Chamberlain; my father.
I gulped at the sight of him. I have only heard how scary and strict he was, especially with his three children. I didn't know what to expect by his character when I haven't gotten the chance to see him for myself. You can say that I'm feeling quite nervous at our first encounter, hoping that he would at best accept me as his child.
He headed towards us, not breaking eye contact as he walked towards us. Without even saying a word, the woman who has been carrying me around quickly held me in front of him with a grin plastered on her face and due to the sudden tension around this first encounter, I couldn't help but shut my eyes tight.
Until I felt his warm hands hold me in his embrace. I feel his warmth surround me as he held me tight. "My Asia." he whispered as he slowly rocked me, giving me a chaste kiss on my bare forehead.
I open my eyes, only to see him so close to me. His fierce looking eyes now looked so sincere as he stared at me with love and compassion. "You're the best treasure your mother could give me before passing away. And I shall love and care for you as much as two parents should give you."
"You are our hope. Our pride. Our little Anastasia."
The words he spoke of was heartfelt and true. My heart wavered as he spoke while I was in his arms. Is this what it feels like to be loved? To think that mere words could bring such an impact on me. And I couldn't handle myself after that.
For the first time in my life, I started crying, not because of grief and desperation. But because of the overwhelming love I could feel coming from him made it too hard to handle that I couldn't help myself but cry in joy.
I finally have someone to call 'Daddy'.