My mother once told me that I became my father's pride and joy. The moment my mother gave birth to me, they thought I wouldn't survive at all, because I didn't cry and show any life but then when my father caress my cheeks, it became light pink that I looked like pink rice cake. That's when I started to cry.
At the age of 7, I learned how to read novels, write and I often make my sick, fragile and weak mother read stories about Princess and Knight, on how they end up together despite of having many hindrances, difficulties and challenges in their life and their love. My mother would often tell me that one day, I will meet my knight and will make my father sad, but I shouldn't be worried because even if she's gone one day, she will still be there to my father. I look at her confused and ask. "Are you going to leave us, mother?" She look at me and closes the book in her hands and pat my head, her weak and gentle hands that I felt are still lingering to mine and she said. "I won't my daughter, you will feel agonize by my actions and you'll hate me but someday, I know. You will come to understand it all." I smiled at her and nodded, I know, my mother will die anytime soon. I often hearing her crying at night. She is often in her room with doctors in the town. My father is a merchant so he's always busy. I know to myself that father is always making himself busy because he can't look to my mom.
At the age of 15, my mother died. I cried to the night and keep my posture to the day, I am taking care of my father because I know mother is watching the both of us in heaven. I know how to cook and clean the house. That time, father's job is stable and we made a fortune so we're plenty in life. But, I rather give up on this life just to meet my mother again- I rather not talk like this. Even if my mother is not around, she left quite pretty, no... It's not quite, it's wonderous world of novels and books she collected when she was a maiden. It's a hidden room that she's been hiding whenever father is not around, she is only there to read books, now it's my hiding spot, there are a lots of novels from different country that is kept neatly in the bookshelves. Whenever father is not around, my mother would always read something for me, she is reading every novels and story books with enthusiasm, for I will carry those emotions from now and then, that is because I love my mother so much and I know she would love it that I am inheriting her books with equal love and care like she used to.
and now I am 18, I became a maiden. A lots of people would often talk behind my back on why I am not like others. I am always keeping myself in the house, reading a book while drinking a tea that my father would always give me whenever he came home. By this time, there is an election for the new chancellor. I close the book in my hands and gently put it in the side table where my pocket watch and tea cup located. I stand up and look at myself in the mirror. I saw myself in the reflection and I remember what the others told me, I have curly hair that lasted behind my waist, that is neatly kept, my green eyes are like from my father which I really love. They reminds me of trees outside. I have a petite body and overall I am an average fine lady.
"My lady?" Maria called me from the back, she is one of the maid that is working here and also my friend. "Did you not go to your dancing class? Your father will be mad if he finds out." She look at me worriedly and I smiled brightly. "You don't have to worry about that Maria. He knows that dance is not my passion and that I wanted to become a writer, just like my mother." I said with enthusiasm.
She then took a step forward and her expression grew more into horror. "My lady! You know that your father doesn't want you to become an author, he told you for many times that he doesn't want to hear anything from it." I sighed, she's right. When I became more mature, I told my father that I wanted to write a book that will be love by many people but he disagreed saying that I am only wasting time and that I will be just like mom. From then, I grew distant with him. Am I really his pride and joy when he cannot even understand what his own daughter felt? I am utterly disappointed.
I look down and sighed again. "Just tell a lie one last time Maria. I just can't give up a dream that easily." I said before going outside. I grew farther and farther away from my father and I don't know what is his thoughts, we will just talk about his business and how am I doing and nothing else, he didn't go to my mother's death anniversary or doesn't celebrate a birthday with me. Is he really that busy? Am I not important? Does my father hate me?
Deep in my thoughts I stopped when I saw one of the candidate for the election of new Chancellor, he is not that old. He is quite handsome and elegant, his calm aura is visible to him. I can tell he is a good person. I snapped back out of my thoughts when he look at me and smile. "Do you need something from this old man, young lady?" He asked. I quickly shook my head and bow down. I know this man, he is Charles Van Beau Harvey, one of the candidate, he is a former royal knight before retiring and now he is running for being a chancellor. He is one respected man in Ingrascia for whoever disrespect his family will be facing an unthinkable punishment. "I am sorry for looking, I am kind of space out." I said worriedly, I heard him release a chuckled. "It's alright my lady, I am glad that such a beauty would look at this old man. Perhaps, you are quite familiar in this street, may I know where is this place?" He then handed me a piece of paper. 'Oh...' I muttered. "That bookshop is on the left, three blocks." I smiled at him, he took my hand and kiss it gently showing his gratitude in such a gentle manner. "Thank you my lady. I would never forget your kindness." He smiled and walk away with his companion, but before that I heard him muttered. 'Lucien.'
Is that a name? Is he looking for someone? I shrugged it off as I saw Maria running towards me. "My lady! Your father is back and you need to get ready for there is a party for a new Chancellor and both of you are invited! Quick!." Without my reply, she hold my wrist and we started running.
New chancellor? This quick? But it's just been a week, how come?.
15 minutes have passed and we arrive at home. I saw my father on the couch. I don't know what I am going to say, should I greet him? should I say hello? My mind is blank and my heart is pounding so fast. "You arrived, Annaliese." He said without looking. "Yes, welcome home. Father." I said in respecting tone. "Get ready, I know Maria already gave you the announcement." He said, I walked towards my room upstairs, but before I could ever go up he said. "You shouldn't ditching your class, Anna." I frowned in annoyance but never reply, even if I did. I would get nothing.
I close the door behind me and flopped myself to my bed. This is my room. I have big bed with white and red sheets, on the corner is bookshelves with a lots of books and table. That's it, I sat down when Maria came to my room and look at me sadly. "Oh, dear Annaliese if your mother could see your sulking face, she would scold me for not making you laugh." She caresses my cheeks. I look down. "I just don't get my father, does he hate me so much? Doesn't he love me?" I asked her, she sat beside and and hugs me gently, "He loves you for you are his only daughter." She said, I just believe it, because she doesn't know what it felt. Maria is loved by her family, by her parents despite of their life. "Oh, I know. How about I dress you up so that every man in Ingrascia would fell over heels on your fine, gentle and elegant beauty, my lady." She skips and smiles widely, it made me smile. I look at her naughtily. "Didn't you know that people often call me average?"
"Oh, my lady. Even a small diamond can shine on it's own if you polish it with care." She smirks at me and make me dress.
After an hour of dressing up, I look at myself in the mirror, I almost cry from what I saw. I look like my mother, her heart shaped lips, her pure and innocent eyes. I look exactly like her when she was young. "Oh my lady. You're prettier than the princess-" I covered her mouth with my hand. "Maria, you don't want to get punish do you?" I nervously laugh at her, she nodded. "I am sorry my lady but you're just pretty. I don't know why people doesn't recognize it, or they like those girls who puffer themselves with flying colors rather than simplicity." She laughed. "Maria, let's just leave, I don't want my father wait for too long, you know." I smiled at her.
Carefully we go down. I am wearing a simple white ball gown with white roses and gold frills on it, Maria is helping me with the dress as it reaches the floor and I am not really use with this kind of dresses. I look at my father who is waiting with awe expression. "Annaliese, you... You really look like your mother- I..." He looks down and then sighed, after that he offer his hand indicating that he wants to escort me. "Thank you father." I smiled and he smiled back.
We arrived at the Palace just in time, the royal guards are strict and checks every car and invitations since this is where the ruler of Ingrascia are living. I am nervous, not because of that thoughts but because of crowd. I am not used of many people as I am only with my books all the time and didn't realize that I am comfortable only to Maria. I sighed.
My father left me after we entered a big room, it's 30 times wider than our home. There are many people but it feels like they are few, people are looking at me, girls are greeting at me and boys are smiling for I don't know why.
As the time passes, I heard a sound of fork and glass. I look at the stairs where the king and the new chancellor is located but, before I could even process what is happening. The new chancellor met my eyes and smiles at me gently. He is the old man!
Mr. Charles Van Beau Harvey!