"Your weak"... Duke? Excuse You?
Ahh wait sorry. Greetings. This is Asteria as you all know. So far I think I haven't jumped into a 3rd rate novel being villainess and taking revenge falling in love and etc. I don't remember ever reading a novel about someone named Asteria.
So I was single child of two civil servants in my previous life. I had everything except parental love. Thanks to my genes I was much ahead of my classmates. As things were easy for me I always continued doing everything I can and could so as to get attention from my parents. I gained the whole world's attention but not of my parents . Sadly I was targeted by one of the rival countries and died on my 3rd job. You maybe feeling oh my such a sad life and all. But I don't. Because currently after being born as the Duke's daughter I'm enjoying my life to its fullest.
After being born here I was faced with assassination. My mother died protecting me. She used her last strength of magic to teleport me to the House of Ranchettes. The house picked me up with the letter and so I came to live with them till now until my father's return. I thought this life also I'm not going to get parental love so I attached myself too much to Ranchettes Duchess and her son Sam and I most of the time ended up fighting. Wars were never a good news. So I had lost hope that dad will be ever coming back. I knowingly avoided all places that talked about dad. But now seeing him, I'm wishing I should have listened to them more.
He looks so tired and yet happy. I can't differentiate what he is feeling but one thing is sure. The expression he has on his face is same as the expression a child has when he finds his lost candy. But daddy, the way you returned my greetings don't you think that's wrong? Weak? How strong did you think me to be?
He suddenly picked me up and walked towards his seat. Everyone in the room dropped into silence. What dad was doing isn't right. It's the imperial Palace. You shouldn't show your emotions so openly. What do you think you are doing? I tried to look at him , but he was already looking at me as if analysing what kind of new toy I am? Wait Toy? Even my own thoughts are getting worse of me.
"How have you been? " I asked out of curiosity. But he seemed so flushed. Did I ask something wrong? No I didn't. Is he having a fever? That's bad then. I stood up on him, and he flushed more and caught me. I struggled and touched his forehead with mine, "you don't seem to have fever. Are you feeling unwell". I couldn't understand what was going on but everyone in the room bursted into laughing. What's so funny?
" You got a unique daughter Duke" the king commented. Dad nodded awkwardly and turned to me. "Asteria"he spoke clumsly.. " You know my name? "I querried, I expected him to not know. Now I was more embarrassed knowing I asked such a stupid question. But let's continue with the innocence. He chuckled for the first time. He was so beautiful, he is serene and peaceful like an angel. " You are an angel" Ehh that came out unconsciously, "what did you say? " He was stunned. "Asteria said you look like an angel when you smile ". I could see the guard behind him on verge of crying. Is it really something I shouldn't have said?. Dad hugged me and patted on my back. He talked in a low voice, though he thought I couldn't hear but I heard his voice, " I'm not an angel, my angel".