Aeltialiese's POV:
As I gazed out the window of the carriage, each step of the horse causing the vehicle to shake, I found myself lost in thought. It was as if I were a vessel, merely observing the world around me, with no real emotional connection to anything that was transpiring. We were en route back to Mystara, a journey that I had made countless times before. The familiar scenery that passed by held little interest to me, as my mind was preoccupied with other matters.
Despite the fact that an acquaintance of mine (if it was even permissible to refer to her as such, as we had barely conversed) had lost a relative, I couldn't bring myself to feel anything about it. It wasn't that I found it pointless or insignificant, but rather that I simply couldn't summon any emotions in response to it. It was as though the news had passed through me like a breeze, leaving no impression whatsoever.
Of course, I cannot deny that the display of Shionne's emotional outburst did command my attention. However, despite her heart-wrenching cries, I couldn't bring myself to feel any empathy or sympathy for her. It was as if I were watching her from afar, detached and removed from her plight.
All of these things passed through me with little effect, only to be swiftly replaced by thoughts of "him."
But as quickly as my mind had wandered, I was interrupted by my father's voice, pulling me back to the present.
"It will surely be a great burden for her to take on the responsibility of the head of the household at such a tender age," he said with a deep frown etched onto his face. "Do you truly believe that she possesses the necessary qualities to maintain the dignity and reputation of the Alistair household, Aeltia?"
I met his gaze and replied, "Shionne is undoubtedly capable, even at such a young age. However, the burden of managing an entire house at this point in her life might be too much for her to bear alone. As it is, the Alistair house is already on the brink of collapse, and we cannot afford to place such a weighty responsibility on her delicate shoulders."
My father nodded thoughtfully, his eyes deep in contemplation. "You raise a valid point. But we must also consider that many of the heads of the prestigious houses in the republic will undoubtedly be vying for her hand in marriage. I noticed many of them attempting to court her during the procession earlier today. It is disgusting how they view her as a means to strengthen their own houses, while the Alistair house is already struggling."
As my father spoke, memories flooded back to me of the numerous occasions when sons of prestigious houses had attempted to console Shionne for her loss, following the orders of their parents, of course. Alas, their efforts were all in vain, for the young lady in question didn't even bother to cast a glance at them, let alone listen to their words. It seemed that their presence held no significance to her whatsoever.
I too found myself in a rather uncomfortable situation when a group of sons from distinguished houses approached me with a proposition. Though they came with good intentions, their advances were met with nothing but disgust on my part. My revulsion was so palpable that the moment they looked upon my countenance, they immediately backed away, recoiling from the disdain etched upon my features.
I remember vividly, as I looked at them with disdain, how their expressions changed from interest to apprehension. They immediately backed away from me as my disgust was apparent in my demeanor. I had already given my heart to someone, and no amount of persuasion could change that.
"Now that Lord Aerith has passed away, it falls upon Leonidas and me to ensure the safety and protection of the young lady, so that no unsavory characters may approach her. Should any house insist on her marrying into their own, it may be prudent to consider an engagement with one of the sons of the Asura House, in order to dissuade them from any further pursuit."
At the mention of the Asura House's sons, I could not help but raise an eyebrow in curiosity. Which of the three brothers was he referring to?
"Do not fret, Aeltia. It is not him," he said. "Besides, such an option is not viable. He is no longer a member of the Asura House."
I was at a loss for words. The reason why that he could not be considered as a potential fiancé for Shionne was the same reason why our own engagement had been abolished.
"Furthermore, since the young lady is still in her youth, we cannot allow her to assume responsibility for managing the household. Therefore, Leonidas and I will take charge of the household temporarily."
I must admit that the news came as quite a surprise to me, although I endeavored to maintain a stoic countenance. "Pray tell, was that a promise that you made with the late head of the Alistair house?" I inquired of my father.
"It was indeed," my father replied with solemnity. "We made this vow on the very day that his granddaughter came into this world. It was agreed that should he pass on before she had attained the requisite maturity and experience to properly assume the mantle of leadership, then Leonidas and I would assume the responsibility of protecting the Alistair house. Of course, this arrangement is only temporary, and we shall duly hand over the reins of power to the young lady once she has come of age and is fully prepared to shoulder the responsibilities that come with being the head of a household."
"So, father and the head of the Asura house will manage the affairs of the Alistair household, while Shionne will receive an education on how to manage a household," I murmured, trying to make sense of it all.
"Yes, that is correct," my father confirmed. "We will send her to Euclid University for four years once she turns twelve, and upon graduation, she will assume the role of head of the household."
"And you too, Aeltia," he continued, "when you reach your twelfth year, you will begin a four-year education at Euclid University. After your graduation, you will become a knight."
I immediately responded, "I refuse," and gave him a smile.
"I knew you would say that," Father sighed. "But unfortunately, you have no right to refuse. This is for the betterment of our house, Aeltia. Whether you like it or not, you must follow my orders."
I didn't appreciate the direction this conversation was taking, so I remained silent. My father seemed to notice my reluctance to obey him and sighed once more.
"Goodness, how many times have I sighed today? If you tally up the number of sighs I've let out this month, I'm sure it's already in the triple digits," he lamented.
I discreetly averted my gaze from him, though I could sense the tension in the air. From the corner of my eye, I observed that he was grasping his head, as if grappling with a dilemma of great magnitude.
"As I now find myself obliged to attend to the needs of Alistair, whilst simultaneously ensuring the smooth running of our household, I fear the frequency of my exhalations of exasperation may well be doubled. If only my dear daughter would refrain from bringing me any further superfluous burdens," he murmured softly, his voice heavy with a sense of weariness and frustration.
As we made our way back to our hometown of Mystara, my father continued to clutch his head with his hands and the carriage shook slightly.
As I watched the snowy scenery through the window of the carriage, I couldn't help but think about "him." But before my thoughts could wander any further, my father interrupted me.
"Once he gets out of the hospital, he'll be living in Mystara," he informed me without prompting.
"I know," I replied quietly, my eyes fixed on the window. I had already heard about his plans to move to Mystara.
One day, while outside the hospital, I happened to see his father leaving the premises and that's how I discovered it by chance.
Curiosity getting the better of me, I had decided to follow him, which had led me to the Asura house. I watched from afar as he pleaded with the head of the house for another home for his family. And much to my surprise, the head of the Asura house had agreed, granting them a property in Mystara.
Despite my burning hatred for the head of the Asura house, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the decision he had made. It was the right choice.
My father let out a heavy sigh, his words cutting through my thoughts. "You're creeping me out, even though you are my daughter..."
I ignored my father's comment. Instead, I turned my gaze towards the window, lost in thought. My mind began to wander, and I found myself thinking about 'him.' The mere thought of him made my heart race with excitement, and I made a silent vow to myself that no matter what he becomes or how far he runs, I will chase him down to the ends of the earth.
I will never let him escape me.
***
Leon's POV:
As I carefully placed the final piece of clothing in the bag, I suddenly felt a chilling sensation crawling down my spine, causing me to pause momentarily. I looked around, scanning my surroundings for any clue as to what could have caused my sudden unease. The room appeared the same as it always did, with no signs of anything out of the ordinary.
"Are you okay, brother?" Tessia's voice interrupted my thoughts, her head cocked slightly to the side in concern.
"I'm alright," I replied, trying to force a smile. "I just felt this sudden chill down my spine."