Perpetually since she was born, she was deemed in a duty to become a queen - the future empress. There are reasons why the Rosemary Empire describes the queen and empress as if it is not different. The queen position is given which only concludes to the position of the mother of a nation.
The empress and queen are different but since the empress is not yet dead nor she had not yet left her position. Those who have been will become the Queens candidates will be named after a queen instead of a crown princess because they believe that the crown princess cannot be given to a not related royal blood.
The traditions of the rosemary empire made its confusion to the entire nation. Luckily it was explained to them throughout a brief easy summary to understand the tradition of the empire.
Now Kiana was chosen even when she was still unborn from this world. Her future has been set in stone. There is no way to undo a destiny befall unto her head that is why Kiana had to become more advance than a normal noble child.
She was only a mere 5-year-old child when she had to learn everything till she become 7. Then her lessons advance into top tier despite her age. She was taught everything in a day just so she could understand in a way she could understand.
Then she proceeded to much higher education at age of 10. However, in her journey to her destiny. She was also neglected by her father whom she couldn't even see every day because of his heavy workaholic passion.
He will only see her in a formal business-like telling her this and that about her classes.
That is why she was born without her father's love when she needed them.
The duke didn't notice all this time that everything he did hurts his daughter more than it hurts him. He watches his daughter cry to the instinct that he feels like trash. He didn't give her opportunities when she was a child nor talk to her like a normal father.
The duke didn't want to lose his daughter too. He has lost everything and he didn't want to lose her like how he lost his wife. The duke looked at her and he grasped.
"I don't hate you, instead I'm grateful that you are my daughter. All of this that I did, is all because of my sadness that I didn't remember having a daughter. However, I didn't regret having you and I will never regret that in my entire life because you are my daughter, a child born from me and Mellena both with love and affection. " Kiana has finally given up her position and lost the weight on her foot that she fell to the ground trying to calm herself from crying.
The misunderstanding that they both had made the two of them suffered but one thing both of them know. They both love each other as a father and a daughter...
-----♣️-----
The eyes of judgemental people always carry him wherever he goes. Everyone present in that castle, those who knew the duke before the Lady was yet to be born and others who always misunderstand him. He always carries the perfect persona of a good duke, who supports the empire and who had good justice and morality as a person of power.
Yet, he has to fix every choice he makes because one wrong move may affect his image as the duke. To those who have been loyal to him, it was new to them that a duke like him who is well known to have a good reputation and who always works has been roaming around the corridor of the castle with the freedom to do so.
He was like a free soul who was set free from his life inside a box that he needed to maintain. Rumors may run amok but in a good way, the duke rumored to be cold and heartless was change by a scene that will not be forgotten by the people present today.
'I've never seen the duke like that.. ' -Servant 1
'That's true, he always locks himself up. ' -Servant 2
'I'm actually happy for milady, she's been very lonely ever since. ' -Servant 3
'I hope, they will live so happily like that again. ' -Servant 4
Everyone is talking about the sudden changes in House Byrne and many of them are surprised by the sudden scene, which has never been done before. The whispers had reached his ears but his mind is so focused on his daughter who's been showing signs of shyness.
The duke grips her hands forcing her to stop walking. "Daughter, would you like to visit the capital? " Of course, he'd like to ask her this since she had never seen the capital that he had built from sweats and hardship.
Kiana's eye shifted in the thought of her father's offer. "I've never been allowed outside the castle. "
"I've been forbidding you because of the fear that you might get hurt. However, since you are at this age you may leave this house as you please. It's fine now. " There's no motion nor movement from Kiana at that time but her eyes are burning from the things her father had told her.
She couldn't believe what she just heard, her father? There's no way he'll go this far just to please her. However, the way he convey his own feelings made her a bit guilty. misunderstanding him after this long time. She once thought he was neglecting her due to personal duties but now she didn't know what truth anymore...
"I--- I see, I understand, your grace. "
'I wonder how long will he last? '
She arrive alone in her quarters, then there were two maids waiting in front of her door while two guards have been guarding her quarters ever since she left the castle unnoticed. The two guards wore the same plated armor and leather boots while holding a lance in a serious face. "Good afternoon, milady. " They greeted while they open the door that leads to her bedroom.
The maids waiting for her followed her inside. "Miss, I am a new maid assigned to dress you up according to Countess Helea's order. " That's right, Kiana never allowed 3-4 maids and she only keep two maids and her nanny, Countess Helea.
She nodded seating herself on her sofa. "What's your name? " Since they are new, they must be hired recently and she didn't remember them in any of her memories of the past.
"Liya, miss. "
"Sarah is mine, miss. "
She nodded once more. "Liya, you may arrange my bath while Sarah should pick my attire for today. " Kiana said making her two maids nodded and they separately went to their duties as she ordered.
"Sarah, pick a light dress that doesn't stand out. I would also like it if it's plainer. " The maid looked at her. "Yes, miss! "
It didn't take some time for Liya to prepare the bath. She did seem to take time because she's new and she didn't well know about noble furniture. So it took her several minutes to understand the mechanics of Kiana's bathroom while Sarah didn't seem to bother about the time and she spent almost a minute finding a suitable dress for her references.
"Milady, I'll be helping you remove your clothes. " Liya offered so did Kiana nodded and she let Liya removed the tie and pin behind her thick dress.
Then she finishes preparing after wearing a commoner plain dress, with no accessories and other designs on her body nor hair. Then she wore a simple black beret that match her simple plain light brown hair-green dress.
She looks like a body warmth with simple clothing but everything she wore was perfect into her style. Her hair was braided in a simple fluffy ponytail.
Arriving in the scene, her father stood well prepared. He wore a Black Wool Three Pieces of a suit, matches the weather and his appearance as the duke. He wore a tiny two pieces of black gloves and a black shoe enough to make him a little more presentable but Kiana was stunned to see her father standing beside a carriage.
"Have you wait for too long, your grace?" She asked though it was understandable.
"No, I did not actually. Shall we get going then? " The duke didn't mind the time he wastes but he starts being doubtful about his daughter not calling him 'father' like how she used to. He's a little bothered but he remains silent, opening the carriage white wool plank door.
Kiana nodded and she let her father help her get inside. Then both of them left the castle, bringing along 3 personal knights and 5 spies. She looked at the window where a tree had openly appear in front of her before she saw the castle from the distance while she was walking far away from it.
"Your Grace, I appreciate you doing this but I hope you didn't forget your mistakes in the past... "
"I will, I promise my daughter. " She nodded in relief and she smile once again.
She was drawn thinking about what happened today, it was worthwhile because she witnessed her father trying his best for her. He's starting to look like a proper father and she wanted that to happen so that the enemy won't take advantage of her doubtful relationship with her father.
This way, the stage of curing her father is coming of date. It won't take much longer when she'll be able to cure him by making him rest day by day. This way, the problem of his illness reduce and it will not affect big time.
'Time will tell when I see the stage filled with my advantages, then he a fake' will suffer the same thing I did back then. '
'I will watch you at this sideline empress, everything you did for me nor to me, neither grateful nor injustice. I will return them all to you a thousand times over. '