After lunch was cut short, Amourora got sent to her room after she was treated by a doctor. As the emperor commanded, she's not to come out of her chambers until he says otherwise.
Amourora curled up in the bed and stared at the wall, she had nothing else to do. Just when she thought she could die of boredom, a knocking sound came from the door.
Knock knock.
"go away!"
The door still opened and someone came in and walked to her bed.
"Bella..." her bed dipped and someone shook her shoulder gently. "don't you have something to say to me?"
'what is he doing here? Shouldn't the maids bring dinner?' she wrapped her duvet around her tighter. What should she do now?
"I understand you don't want to talk about it?" The emperor lowered the duvet to see her face clearly, but she wouldn't budge. So, he just picked up the duvet roll into his lap and rocked it soothingly.
"Bella, there is something bothering me lately." whispered slowly and gently, like singing a lullaby to a baby. "...you have not been a good girl lately."
If anyone were to hear the emperor right now, they would not believe their ears. The cold emperor whose gaze alone feels like thunder claps, talking softly to a child.
Actually, the emperor didn't have to talk for others to find his presence deafening, a glance would suffice. Even when he got angry, he won't shout, his cold glare would be enough to make even the men with strongest hearts tremble.
His presence emanates the powerful aura of a ruler, both heavy and suffocating, when needed. But when it comes to his beloved daughter, he'd lower his walls.
Even Amourora was shocked when she heard his words. And he said them in such a calm tone, too. She peeked over her duvet to see his face and make sure it's not an imposter pretending to be her dad.
Nope, it's her father alright.
Unlike some stories, the emperor wasn't a short bald man with a big belly and beard, nor a bulky man who looked more like a bear. Instead he had exquisite features envied by both men and women.
An unparalleled beauty.
He had a perfect majestic figure, not too muscular nor too skinny, but also tall and impressive. In terms of features were not inferior to the late queen, who was an ethereal beauty not just in the empire, but across the continent. And his dark as the night sky, smooth as butter hair, and prestine white as snow skin blended in a bizarre combination to highlight the other perfectly.
And the most attractive feature of all were his dazzling eyes. Breath catching like the blooming Lilacs on spring, and sharper than the swords in a battlefield. When soft, they give the fascinating illusion of an elegant and charming scholar,. Once provoked, a veteran general's weapon won't compare to the icy sharpness of his eyes. Oppressive yet calm and tranquil.
Countless ladies would not only forget how to breath in his presence, but they would lose all common sense and be willing to give up another breath just for another glimpse of those enchanting eyes.
'a drowning person would hang on by a thread, but those drowning in love would give their last breath for another moment' she once heard something like that, and wondered if it applied to her father's fans.
"is something wrong?" he furrowed his beautiful eyebrows and touched her forehead with his cool slender fingers. "Bella? Baby darling?"
"... don't call me that, it's weird."
"what's weird about it?" He smiled as she finally replied. "anyway, let's not act like this from now on, alright? If you behave like a good girl and learn etiquette, you can choose whatever rewards you want. Do we have a deal? "
"but, daddy, I don't want to." she pouted. "I am clever and talented like you, daddy, I don't need to learn anything, right?"
"uh..." how can he respond when he just received a huge blow to his heart? What did he ever do to have such an adorable daughter?
"no, you don't... Ahm, I mean, you do. I know you are as perfect as me, everybody knows, but I want you to be even better than me."
"like Duke Veritas ?"
The emperor felt like cold water poured down on him, and his smile vanished.
"how is he better than me?" he smiled through gritted teeth.
"I...heard he was a genius..."she whispered looking away. Her father's expression was scary, it's a miracle she could even open her mouth without crying.
Thinking of her revenge on Duke Veritas made her indure her father's piercing gaze enough to voice out, "daddy..."
" hm? "his foul mood instantly disappeared at her word.
Amourora was scared at how much each of her insignificant words influenced her father's mood.
" daddy, when is second uncle coming home? "she decided to change the subject, then remembering his jealously she quickly added hugging his neck," I have you, but Avyanna doesn't have anyone. She must feel very lonely. "
" hm. "the emperor nodded then smiled. "Belle, you are starting to care about others more, that's wonderful."
"you think so?" uh-oh, is he suspicious of her? Will she get busted?
"yes, that's good. Will you take etiquette lessons now?" why does he keep coming back to this point?
"will you call uncle back?"
"I will think about it."
"me too." she smiled cheekily.
"how about you study the basics for the tea party? And we will talk about the rest later?" He asked.
"... If you insist." she 'reluctantly' nodded. "daddy?"
"yes?"
"do you love me?"
"more than anything else" he smiled charmingly. "now eat your dinner, alright?"
"then do you love mother?"
His hand reaching for the spoon paused for a split second. "hm?