Ever since the escort left Arata, the mood had been far tenser. Robert felt more like a dread than a comfortable host to her. The air was far more tense, and the environment began revealing its dangers.
The inside of the house was another book from the cover, and the walls were dull brown timber, but the furniture was as royal as her castle: antique tables, shelves, lamps, and more. There was the pure leather sofa where she sat and the most expensive cutlery in which she was served some good-smelling beef and a cup of tea. But there was something else that caught Arata's fascination more.
"Don't worry; all these are antiques from my past." Robert had dealt with kids of peaceful times before, it was obvious that those things scared them. "I am not scared. They all look amazing." He hadn't seen Arata before though.
The dull and weak wall had such a bright and strong shine. It was locked inside a sword casing with the royal symbol of the king of Ethereo ingrained on its handle, while the shelf displayed a pistol, rifle, shield, and medal of honour hanging from the middle of the case.
"Shall we begin with my training? I have been waiting for this moment for a long time." Arata was excited with a smile and curled fists ready to fight.
"ha... A bold kid as you are, much like your father in that regard. Did he tell you why you are here to see me today?" Robert made himself comfortable on a nearby sofa while moving his hands on the velvet cloth of the seat.
"He told me, you would teach me to become a commander. Or maybe, a great soldier like you?"
"Maybe you could say the truth, about how he did not tell you about the reason for being here? You are a very terrible liar, from what I see."
"Exactly, Mother always catches me when I lie, how did you know that? Is there some secret technique to know that? Magic or some secret art?" The excitement oozed from the little girl even more.
"I think we have started on the wrong page here, Arata Sakaguchi. I am not a servant of your father or grandfather by any chance. I have felt war, and now I roam a free man. Your presence is here only because I was asked to make you quench your ambitions."
"What to mean 'quench my ambitions'?" There was a second of pause and confusion inside Arata's heart.
"It is as I say. You must extinguish the thought of becoming a queen, commander or even a soldier by any chance. You need to become like a person who dreams of a happy family, a good-earning man and two or maybe three kids. You could eat three times under a roof, send your kids to school, and do some house chores while your man earns for you. I want you to take this life as your goal."
Even though it was a hot summer, the words hit Arata like frostbite. Had the person in front of her forgotten who she was?
"What are you talking about? Why would I want to live that, you know who I am. My grandfather, Frey Ken was a leader of rebel groups, now he commands the administration of Asphodel and Lynx. My father, Yuuka Sakaguchi is the greatest military commander in the world, the one who won the war of Lynx by putting his life on the line. And you are asking to live like a nobody?!"
Arata got up from her seat, anger riddled her face, she took her step forward and closed the distance with Robert. This was something else, never had anyone told her to give up all ambitions, not even her mother who wanted a simple life told her anything like that.
"You tell me I know you, and then explain about your family anyway. I suggest you also tell me about your mother and what military achievements your mother accomplished, I am ready to hear any of them if you want to tell me any."
"..." Arata was quiet after that, she had no words to answer. Her mother was a follower of peace, she did not like war, or the idea of getting glory and honour. She wanted the life, that Robert was telling her about.
"But I don't want to be like my mother. I want to be like my father to lead and rule for the good of the people. I don't wish to marry anyone, I will serve my nation till my death. My life is my choice to make you can't force me to live the way I don't want to."
"Very well indeed, you can be like whoever you wish to be. Your path in the end will be your choice, but do have the will to choose that path? I don't think you have an understanding of just what is at stake in this war. Things are not going your father's way, there are so many conflicts that you don't know about. You don't know what will happen in the next moment."
"What?! Are you saying my father is in danger? He could lose even after seeing how he has every battle of his life?!"
"Yes. With more confidence than ever."
Arata sat on her seat, words were more difficult to digest, and her father never made mistakes. He had planned out, always in every scenario he couldn't lose to anyone. But confidence in Robert's words scared her even more, why did think the way he did?
"What makes you say this? How are you so certain that my father can lose?"
"Because of you, dear Princess." Robert pointed her finger at Arata. While her eyes fluttered in such offensive actions.
"How dare you point your finger at me. Have you forgotten all the honour of how to talk to a lady after becoming a free man? This is the wisdom all of these years of fighting had brought you? Telling women that they cannot fight any battles and asking them to stay locked inside homes and watch as the world crumbles around them. This is not what I expected of you arriving at this place." Arata stood on from her seat. This time like a proper lady her mother would always want her to, be elegant and assertive.
"I suggest you call my escort back. I will be leaving earlier than originally planned."
Robert did not reply immediately instead he got up from his seat, walked towards the door and opened it up.
"I will be the one delivering you back, My lady. Perhaps, I will keep the beef and tea for the next time you come and visit me."
Arata thoughts of a rebuttal but didn't say it out, it was not how a lady would do it. She kept her glare straight and made her way out of the house.
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