"I want to join Umbra."
Silence ensued the office after that. I felt Dad's heavy aura, but I bravely met his emerald eyes. I had a feeling that once I avoid his stare, I wouldn't be able to persuade him anymore. Our staring competition lasted for a few minutes and I was about to escape from his gaze when he suddenly knelt on the floor. He covered his face with his hands and I felt worried.
"Daddy?" I tried to call him out and came to him side. I held his shoulder and tried to look at his face but his hands were covering it. He was taking deep breaths and I felt anxious. When I held his hands, I gasped when they felt cold.
"Daddy? What's happening to you?" I started tearing up out of worry. Was my favor too much? He heaved a big sigh and looked at my eyes directly. I bit my lip when I noticed that his eyes were a little red and it looked so bothered. "First was magic... and now Umbra." He whispered to himself and I was about to speak when he talked.
"Yllaria." He called me. "Do you know the price of being able to wield magic or to join Umbra?" He asked. I was stunned for a few seconds but I shook my head.
"No, Daddy." My small voice quivered. I never thought of the effect of being a magician or a part of Umbra. All I wanted was to survive in this world and protect Daddy. He caressed my hair and sighed.
"A magician... is very rare in this country. Do you know that?" He asked and I gave him a slight nod. Even for royalties, not every generation of the bloodlines can wield magic. "And you're one of those rare people. What do you think will happen?" He asked me and I looked on the floor.
"I'll be a target for death... Or the imperial family will use me as a weapon." I answered him. I just realized it now. Having a great power would always come with its own troubles. Daddy nodded and sighed. "Yes, that's what would happen if they would discover that you can wield magic. As for Umbra..." He cut his words and avoided my gaze. His gaze was looking at a blank space and his eyes looked tired.
"You're aware that we serve under the emperor, right?" I nodded. "Being a part of Umbra means that you would still be a tool for war and killings. Do you know that?" I didn't meet Dad's gaze and I played with my fingers. I had a hunch that that would be the case, but...
"You know, yet you still want to." My eyes widened with what Daddy said. I looked at him, shocked. How? As if reading my mind, he gave me a small smile. "You're my daughter, Yllaria." He simply said and caressed my hair.
"I'm sorry, Daddy." I told him but he didn't say anything. He caressed my hair silently and I felt bad. "Why?" I looked at Dad when he asked me that question. Why?
"I... want to protect Daddy." I told him and he was stunned. After a while, he gave me a smile. It was full of assurance and sincerity. "It's my responsibility to protect you, Yllaria. All I wish is for you to live a happy life." My heart melted with his words. I was tearing up but I tried my best not to cry.
"I... don't want that. I want to live happily with Daddy. Can't I share the burden you feel?" I asked him and it took him a while to answer. His green eyes were staring at me tenderly. "How... could you sound so mature, my dear daughter?" His voice sounded so soft and I was stunned for a while. Shoot, I forgot that I'm still a five year old child. How dumb could I be?
I didn't answer Daddy's question and we stayed silent for a while. Honestly, I was feeling guilty. I knew his worries yet I still pushed for this.
"Okay. I got it." My eyes widened with what he said. "You'll agree for me to join Umbra, Daddy?" I asked him, but he shook his head. "No way am I going to do that. But, you wanted to be strong, don't you? Then I'll just ask one of the members to train you well. Would that be good enough?" A smile appeared in my lips and I nodded at him.
"Of course, Daddy. Thank you!" I gave hugged him tight and he returned my embrace. His hands were still a little cold so I caressed his hair, trying to calm him down. "I'm sorry for being stubborn, Daddy, but I really want this. I'm sorry for being selfish." I told him in a low voice, making sure my sincerity would reach him. He didn't answer, but I felt his embrace getting tighter. "I love you, Daddy." I whispered on his ear and I giggled when I saw it turning red.
"I love you too, my dear daughter. Don't be guilty, I understand. Just live the life you want, I'll be there to support you." He said and I teared up. Ah, really...
Our time was interrupted when we heard a knock from outside. "Enter." I blinked my eyes a few times when I saw another handsome man enter the room. He has this golden brown hair that glimmered under the setting sun, capturing it's fine waves. A pair of bewitching, golden eyes that screamed calmness and formality. Lashes that looked a lot longer than mine, giving him ang impression of a gentle person and his somehow thin eyebrows that matched his features well. His well-defined nose and jawline, paired with his tall and strong physique and fair skin completed his overall look. I also noticed that he wore a tailcoat over his white shirt, paired with black slacks and shoes. He was also bringing a pen and notebook with him, so I guess he's Daddy's butler?
"Greetings, your grace and lady Yllaria." He bowed and I was about to get off from my seat to greet him back when Daddy held me tightly, as if telling me not to do anything. I pouted with his actions but obliged to what he wanted. "Why are you here?" I rolled my eyes with Daddy's rudeness. I was sitting on his lap but he didn't mind. The butler raised his head and walked towards us. I can feel Daddy's irritation when he was right in front of us. Why?
"Move backward, Sebastian. You're too close to my daughter." A sigh escaped my lips with what he said. Why didn't I think of that? But I learned the butler's name, and it's Sebastian. Quite fitting. Sebastian followed what he said and took a few steps back before talking. "You need to sign a few letters, my lord." Daddy sighed and placed me on the seat before standing up to take Sebastian's notebook and pen. While he was reading the contents, I stared intently at Mr. Sebastian. He's really handsome.
He must have noticed my gaze and he looked on to my direction. I felt a little embarrassed but I still offered him a smile. My jaw almost dropped when he returned a small smile. He's so handsome! I heard someone cleared his throat and I mentally rolled my eyes when I saw Daddy glaring at Mr. Sebastian. "Don't smile at my daughter, you..." He wasn't able to finish his sentence because Mr. Sebastian gave him a smile different from what he showed me. It was a terrifying one, though it really looked kind at first. "Before you continue that, my lord, I guess Lady Yllaria should cover her ears. Also..." His gaze landed on the papers that Daddy took, but wasn't really signed at all. "You should finish signing those if you want all the works for this week to be finished." I almost clapped for Mr. Sebastian after hearing that. Wow, he's so brave.
I thought Daddy would refute, but he backed down and sat beside me. I noticed a small smile on Mr. Sebastian's lips as he saw Daddy following what he said. Really, who's the boss here? "Uh..." The two of them stared at me when I tried to speak. "Mr. Sebastian... Are you a close friend of Daddy?" I asked him and I was shocked to hear a sound of something breaking. When I turned to Daddy's direction, my eyes widened when I saw the pen snap into half. Oh shoot. I was about to speak again when I heard someone chuckled. I turned to Mr. Sebastian's direction and I can clearly see amusement in his face.
"Well... What do you think, lady Yllaria?" He asked me, clearly having a teasing tone. With these actions, I can really conclude that these two are close. Typically, no butler can give commands to their own masters unless it would really be a life and death situation. Another was that Daddy somehow showed an inch of emotion on his face, which doesn't usually happen when he talks with people. Last would be the... "The atmosphere in the office doesn't feel serious at all. Who wouldn't think that you two are friends?" My eyes widened and I immediately covered my mouth when I blurted those words. The two of them stared at me for a long time. Daddy having a displeased expression on his face, while Mr. Sebastian was smiling, utterly failing to keep his emotions on check.
"Ah... Hehe." I laughed a little when they were still staring at me. "You really an interesting one, lady Yllaria." Mr. Sebastian said and smiled at me. I was stunned for a while when he raised his hand and caught a broken pen. His actions were too quick for my eyes to see and when I turned to Daddy, I can see his dark expression. "I... told you not to smile at my daughter, Sebastian." Daddy said, clearly annoyed. Mr. Sebastian didn't seem to mind and ignored him.
"Also, please call me Sebastian, lady Yllaria. It's quite uncomfortable hearing you call me that." He said and I nodded. "Then call me Yllaria, Sebastian!" I smiled brightly while saying those. Sebastian has a sort of calm aura that made me feel at ease. From observing him, I somehow knew that he's a loyal person. His eyes screamed loyalty to my father, despite teasing him. I felt shivers in my spine when I felt a dangerous aura. I turned to Daddy's direction and my eyes widened when I saw him holding a sword in his right hand.
"You..." He immediately ran to Sebastian while pointing his sword to him. The latter just smiled and evaded all his attacks. "Please calm down, my lord. Did you already read the final letter?" He asked Daddy while still evading the attacks. Come to think of it, where did the sword come from? I sighed when Daddy didn't answer Sebastian and continued attacking him.
"Daddy!" I called him sweetly and he immediately stopped and turned to me. The dark expression disappeared as he smiled brightly at me. "What is it, Yllaria?" I smiled at him. "Listen to what Sebastian says, Daddy. It looks a little serious." I told him calmly and he pouted. I almost burst out laughing upon seeing his expression. He looked like a lost puppy in the woods! Oh gosh!
Feeling defeated, he followed what I said and read the letter. My keen eyes noticed his grip tightening on the sword's hilt. He's angry? I was about to ask what was happening when he crumpled the paper and threw it on the floor. "Who asked for that, Sebastian?" His voice was cold, and I saw Sebastian's demeanor turned so different. Gone were the teasing and amused expressions, all I saw was an emotionless and ruthless person.
"It was the duchess, my lord." Daddy gritted his teeth upon hearing it. By the duchess, did he mean Duchess Leanne? My adoptive mother and Daddy's wife? My curiosity was spilling out, and I can't refrain myself from talking. "What's happening, Daddy?" I asked and he looked at me with worried eyes. He seem hesitant to tell me, so I turned my attention to Sebastian. "Do you know the contents of the letter, Sebastian?" I asked him, seriously meeting his gaze. I had a feeling that it has something to do with me, that's why they won't talk.
"She ordered to get you an etiquette and lessons teachers. She filled your whole schedule with lessons, not even a single time to rest except during meal and sleep times." Daddy answered me before Sebastian could even talk. I mentally took note that Daddy would answer my question if I would ignore him and turn to Sebastian instead. A sigh escaped my lips upon hearing what Daddy said. That woman's really getting on my nerves.
"Can you do anything to somehow manage it, Daddy? Like maybe scheduling one lesson twice a week, but not entirely filling all of my hours?" His forehead knotted with confusion upon hearing my request. "You won't... ask me to stop those lessons?" He asked me and I smiled at him. I also thought of learning the life in this world so I can fully adapt and survive here. Though the schedule of consuming all my time was overboard.
"Yes, I want to learn it Daddy. Let me do it. I'm your daughter and I will fulfill my responsibilities. Trust me, okay?" I told him and it took him a while before sighing. "Ah, what can I do? My daughter's acting all mature even though she's still five." I rolled my eyes with his monologue. Seriously?
I turned to Sebastian and gave him a smile. "Sebastian, please help Daddy organize this one. Knowing him, he might try to remove some of the lessons, but please don't let him. Got it?" My smiled widened when he nodded at me. I also noticed that the amusement on his face got back. I walked towards him and signaled him to put his face down. He leaned towards me and when he was already in my range, I reached for his neck to hug him. "Thank you." I whispered in his ear and I heard Daddy's gasp. Sebastian was frozen for a while and I chuckled when I saw his neck growing red. When I broke from the hug, I can't help but laugh upon seeing his frozen and shocked face.
"Se.Bas.Tian." I heard Daddy's voice behind me and when I turned to look at him, I laughed so hard while imagining fire appearing from his back. Oh gosh, this is too hilarious. They snapped back to reality and looked at me gently.
I gave the two of them a smile as I thought of what might happen to us in the future.
I will be learning magic from Ambrose. Martial arts from one of Umbra's members. Then learning the etiquette and lessons in this world. These are just the first steps to survive in this world. Gotta step up my game!
Let's do this!