"Your Majesty, I am glad that you did not decline the Princess' invitation for the tea party" That day, after breakfast with Athanasia. Claude, who roamed at the garden was accompanied by Felix. "But I also suggest that His Majesty should treat the Princess with more care and gentleness"
Claude did not reply.
"In the past few days, after the Princess has returned, The maids were keeping their eyes on the Princess. They noticed that the princess was acting differently"
"Acting different you say?"
"Yes, your Majesty. Lily, the closest server to the Princess, observed this matter too. Two days ago, the princess ordered the servants not to enter her room, without her permission. Even Lily could not enter her room easily either. They can also hear strange noises coming from her room like the Princess is talking to someone. Sometimes she's laughing the next time she's shouting"
Suddenly recalling the conversation with Athanasia a while ago.
Claude began to set his foot for roaming around the garden. Ignoring the memory of Athanasia's action, clicking her tongue in front of him and trying to leave him at the dining room so early, like there is something's more important than him.
'I hate this feeling. Why is she acting like that?' Claude thought for a moment. Remembering the unwanted expression of Athanasia on his birthday celebration.
"I am too worried about the Princess, Your Majesty. Even I, can't get close to the Princess since that day. She's starting to ignore the---"
"Shut up if you want to live"
"But your Majesty, I know that you can't remember the Princess, but this matter is really important!" Felix raised his voice, to his master.
"Felix" Claude's eyes become sharp, darting his gaze upon his servant. "I don't want to hear anything about this topic anymore"
Felix who fell silent couldn't argue with his master anymore. He instead observed Claude for a minute before roaming his eyes around the field.
Having the silence between the two of them.
Eventually, the silence around the pink-scenery-field was stolen by a sweet little voice.
"There, have a taste my lady" A familiar voice rang around the ears of the two.
Felix, who suddenly heard the voice began to find the owner. "Your Majesty, It's the Princess Athanasia" Felix Informed his Master.
Claude unconsciously glanced at Athanasia serving a tea to a strange woman. He noticed the genuine happiness at the Princess' face while serving that tea for a black-haired lady.
"Of course, young woman" The woman replied to Athanasia. Claude observed the graceful action of the woman. She lifts the teacup enjoying the strong aroma wavering at the air.
Claude couldn't see the face of the woman. But why does his heart beating so fast? The feeling of nostalgia triggered the unknown feeling inside his body... Making him feel like seeing something very important to him again.
"Papa Claude habitually drink that tea. Sometimes he will invite me for a tea party" The young woman began to talk again.
"Lipeh tea..." The black-haired woman whispered, reaching on his ears.
"Felix told me too that my mother... Loved this tea very much that she invited my Papa Claude to try it too"
"I see..." The woman replied.
"Your Majesty. The Princess is talking about the first time she drank a Lipeh tea with you! I am glad that she still remember things like that, she's just a cute little child at that time" Felix happily commented, like a proud father.
Claude could not remember what Felix was talking about, but felt something light on his heart, making him a little bit uncomfortable.
"But who is that Lady? It seems like the princess is really happy being with her than being with His Maje--..."
"Shut your mouth" Claude replied to Felix.
He began to take a step nearing at the two Ladies, who are having their tea time.
When Athanasia saw the two familiar figure coming to their area, the panic appeared on her face.
"Your Majesty---" Felix tried to stop his master.
But the stoic face of Claude told him to dare not stop him.
Claude was about to grab the woman's shoulder, but suddenly. Unexpected things were meant to happen.
"It feels like a flower is blooming inside my mouth" The woman happily said. Claude froze for a moment narrowing his eyes at the back of the black-haired woman "This is the real nectar of gods"
'That voice...' He thought
"It feels like a flower is blooming inside my mouth"
"It feels like spring has come"
A familiar voice rang inside his head, followed by another small pitched voice.
"It's like a flower is blooming inside Athy's mouth"
"Athy?" The woman called his daughter.
'This... That woman..' He thought. 'What is this?'
"P-papa Claude!" The young woman, who appeared shocked made him come back to the current situation. Athanasia glanced at the red-haired man on his back "You're also here Felix hehe"
"So, this is the important business you've got," Claude said before glancing at the back of the blacked hair woman sitting in front of his daughter.
The black-haired-woman flinched. She immediately stands up to greet Claude by his title
"G-Greetings to the sun of Obelia"
'That damned voice...'
Claude stared at the woman for a second. When he realized he can't see the face of the woman at that position, his gaze quickly turned on his daughter
"Felix, get me a teacup" He ordered his knight.
"Pardon your majesty?" Felix asked, giving his master a puzzled look.
Claude, who just appeared in front of the two ladies declared that...
"Don't make me repeat myself. I'll be joining their tea time"
•••••
'Crap, we're doomed. We're doomed' Athanasia told herself while glancing at Diana. She sensed that Claude took his seat beside her, she immediately gestured her mother to do the same thing.
"Papa. What are you doing here?" She quickly asked, trying not to sound demanding.
"I own this place, aren't I?" Claude replied.
'Well said' Athanasia thought. 'But why do you have to be here now? Why today? Did I miscalculate it? I thought...'
"Who is this woman who entered here without any of my permission?" Claude with a dominating aura around his body asked Diana.
"She's..."
Athanasia thought for the right words to say, but before she could to that. Diana lifts her head, giving Claude a straight forward stare.
Diana answered the question. "I'm just a mere commoner from siodonna, I'm sorry for the intrusion on your property Your Highness but the Princess gave me a permission"
'Mama... I was about to become an abandoned princess. Why Are you dragging my name like that?' Athanasia thought, giving Diana a pouty look.
"What's your name and how did Athanasia know you?" Claude asked Diana again.
"His Majesty's curious about this low-birth woman's name?"
"You're curious about this low-birth dancer's name?"
Claude didn't show it, but he was completely frozen on his place. The woman's voice is very similar to that woman who left him many years ago.
He narrowed his eyes at the face of the woman who just talked bluntly to him. Even the features are also familiar, he can't identify why but if the blunt woman's hair is golden, she will look exactly like Athanasia.
"I am Dianne, A commoner from Siodonna, I met you daughter---"
"I met her when I ran away from you. She helped me and she's here because I invited her" Athanasia quickly cut Diana's statement.
"Dianne...huh? " 'Diana'
"For a commoner like you, you talk so bluntly"
"P-papa... For--"
"I grew up as a commoner, my body doesn't know such things as etiquette, Your Majesty" Diana replied.
"But you do know who are you talking to"
"My apologies, Your Majesty, are you going to consider me as an arrogant wench and punish me for talking so bluntly?" Diana replied politely but with a blunt tone.
"Eh...?" Athanasia who is shocked by Diana's Attitude towards Claude, reacted.
'MAMA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?' Athanasia thought. 'I should stop this or else...'
"Interesting.." Claude uttered, that made Athanasia's face more dumbfounded
Claude felt a palace servant, who came with Felix. When the servant placed the teacup in front of Claude. Athanasia immediately stands up to pour the tea she brewed on the cup.
"Papa I brewed the tea for you. Have a taste" Athanasia tried to divert Claude's attention to her.
"Deceiving the Emperor is a crime. You brewed the tea for that blunt lady. Not for me"
Athanasia's body stiffened for a moment. 'Yes, yes. I'm doomed. Real doomed'
"Papa it's..."
"There is always a next time. I heard that the Princess will invite you for tea time. That's quite acceptable for compensation. Aren't it?" Diana replied happily.
"Eh?" - Felix
Athanasia who can't do anything but to shut up watched her parents actions.
'It seems like, Papa Claude won't do anything to Mama...' Athy roamed her eyes, trying to find a way to make Diana escape. 'Actually... Does she even have to escape? It appears that she's enjoying the conversation with Claude'
'Wait... Is that Lucas?' Athanasia thought when she saw a familiar figure of a young man crossing at the garden. 'It's him!'
"LUCAS!" Athanasia called him. The young man quickly turned his gaze at the princess, who has a troubled face. "Come here" she mouthed.
"Isn't it the young warlock?" Felix asked.
Diana who also caught her attention by the young man glanced at Lucas. "Lucas is also here" she whispered. "Should we also invite him?"
"No!" Athanasia replied. "Didn't you say your daughter might be waiting for you?" The princess gave her a meaningful look.
'Daughter?' Diana thought 'fine I think I need to leave' Diana softly chuckle when she saw Athanasia's reaction.
"Greetings to the sun of Obelia" Lucas greeted them when he reached their Area.
"Rise"
"What do you need my Princess?" Lucas quickly asked, like a polite servant.
"Send her home, you know where is her home right?" Athanasia ordered Lucas. When Lucas got what Athanasia was trying to say, He immediately nodded.
"No, Felix Send her home," A baritone voice said. Athanasia's body flinched when she heard that from Claude.
'No! She might get exposed!"
"No need your majesty. Lucas is my Future son-in-law, his presence alone is enough to get me home, safely. Besides, my Daughter will become ecstatic when she saw him" Diana replied while patting Lucas' head.
Lucas can't help but hide his grin when he heard that. 'Looks like the mother is teasing her daughter' he thought while glancing at Athanasia's dumbfounded face.
"Where do you live? You said you have a daughter. Do you have a husband?" Claude Asked.
'Uhhh... You?' Diana Jokingly thought
Felix and Athanasia Can't help but to get shocked, hearing this from the sun of Obelia are very surprising.
'HIS INSTINCT! MAYBE HIS INSTINCT FOR THIS WOMAN BEING HIS LATE LOVER WHO DIED AFTER GIVING BIRTH TO ME KICKED IN THAT'S WHY HE'S VERY INTERESTED TO HER' Athanasia thought.
"Don't be too curious about me, Your Majesty. I'm just a mere commoner" Diana Smiled at Claude before placing her disguised hair on her side. "Let's Go, Future Son-In-Law"
"!!!!"-Athanasia
••••
"Mama, I am mad" Athanasia pouts her lips as she throws her body on her bed.
"Oww so the big baby is mad" Lucas, who is sitting on a chair teased her.
"SHUT UP BASTARD"
"Is that how you treat your future husband?"
"YOU--"
"Kids, kids, stop that," Diana told them while trying to hide her laugh. "You're both too young to have lover's quarrel"
"Mama!" Athanasia exclaimed.
"Fine. Lucas, you can go now, it's already dark outside. Athanasia needs to sleep already" Diana chuckled while looking at Athanasia's face.
'She's teasing me again? Diana, why are you like that?'
"Honey, Lucas left already. Are you still mad?" Diana asked Athanasia, who is covering her body with her blanket. "How cute, don't worry. I'll make it up to you"
'She's kinda sweet, yet weird'
"How?"
"I'll sing you lullaby" Athanasia felt her mama's presence beside her, gently stroking her hair. "What do you think?"
"I'm already fourteen, you know" Athanasia replied.'My mindset is actually for adults!'
"Your age doesn't really matter, You're still a baby in my eyes" Diana sweetly replied.
'She actually treats me like a child, should I tell her that my mental age is just like as her and I am also a reincarnated person from her current world?'
"Rock-a-bye baby"
Out of nowhere, Diana started to sing. Athanasia who know the song lift up her head to face her Mama.
"Moon is shining, goodbye for today, the baby smiles at stars"
'It's a song says bye-bye to bad dreams' Athanasia thought while smiling
"A more sparkling morning will come tomorrow, Only have pretty dreams"
"I'm sleepy" Athanasia whispered to Diana. Her mama only chuckled while stroking her hair.
"Good night, our baby"
That night is one of Athanasia's most peaceful night, who would've thought that having a mother by her side felt so great. 'I'll just wish that my Papa Claude will get better soon'