"Lord Hivera..." A clique of servants bowed on receiving their master.
Lord Hivera looked exactly like the portrait that hung on the wall. The only difference was the dark circles under his eyes, along the slight wrinkles that defined his cheekbones.
His hair was a brilliant bright red. Unlike his hair his eyes were dull, they could be translucent but it was something close to ash. Although they looked dull but when his eyes turned to Anthonette a little life stirred up in them. Anthonette watched as Lord Hivera revealed a small smile.
"Anthonette..." The servants turned their attention to the lady the moment the Lord caught sight of her. Anthonette was expecting a lousy good for nothing tout to yell at her. He didn't call her name arrogantly, neither did she detect irritation. This man truly treasured his daughter, she could tell by his tone.
It made her wonder, did she only marry to find peace and comfort or was it all a guise that the only man she called a father in her previous life didn't even accept her as his daughter.
Either way, why is this man painted as one who never loved his daughter.
"Shall we have lunch together ?"
•••••
Anthonette watch as her father made a maid blush. She was nervously trying to set down his food, their fingers brushed slightly against each other and without trying her father charmed the maid. Even though Anthonette barely knew this man it was a sight for sore eyes.
"Thank you my Lord." The maid left with her face red as a tomato. Lord Hivera smirked but in a split second his warm smile returned the moment his eyes landed on Anthonette.
This man wasn't a tout but he was a flirt. ༎ຶ‿༎ຶ Well we all can't be winners.
"How have you been faring ?
Did you travel often ?
How's your health ?
If you're less busy shall we see the Kingdom together ?
I know no present can't make up for missing a decade of your birthday, but I wish a grant your heart desires.."
The atmosphere was quiet after that, Anthonette's silence made the Lord a little ashamed.
The questions he asked even showed he thought about Anthonette during his absence.
So then, why did this man 'abandon' his daughter ?
Lord Hivera awkwardly clicked his index finger against his tea cup. He didn't get a word out from his daughter, he was even lucky to see her after ten years, he didn't expect her to warm up to him all of a sudden.
But there is hope to get his daughter back, she was the one who asked to see him.
"I understand, if you hold a grudge towards me." He continued clicking his finger against the tea cup. "You needed me most back then." His face lifts away from the table and towards her direction.
"But look at you now, you don't still need me anymore. I just got excited since you invited me.."
"I didn't invite you.." Anthonette cut the duke short as they both finally see eye to eye. "You didn't ?" He echoed across the room.
"But, your letter.."
"I didn't send you any letter, I didn't even know you existed until now." Until now Anthonette understood the gravity of her words. The dark circles underneath his eyes grimed despondent. "I was surprised when I heard word of your visit, I don't want us to have any misunderstandings but why was this the only letter you answered out of all the myriads I wrote to you." The Lord eyes distend.
"You never sent me letters, I-I never got any." Well the current Anthonette didn't send any letters.
"I did, every single day until I realized you forgot about me, even if one of my letters somehow found their way to you...."
"Showing up won't heal a decade of heartache.." Anthonette gets up she was already uncomfortable from the unknown emotions she was feeling. It was the longing of a daughter for her father's attention.
Lord Hivera had awaken the feelings she thought she rid off in her first transmigration.
"You are welcomed to stay either way, it's your house and I'll be married soon. I won't have to burden you." Her back was already turned at this point. "You're not my daughter are you ?" Anthonette froze on her steps.
"Excuse me ?" She turns to see a sneer plastered on his face.
"Everyone in this household isn't buying your act, I heard the rumors that my daughter has changed.."
"So that's why you paid me a visit. Then that bullshit about me sending a letter is false. You're here on your own terms... what do you want ?"
"I will reveal everything I have my own questions too."
"And they are ?" Anthonette questions.
"Who are you ? And what have you done with my daughter ?"