"Welcome Home, Father." Please, please tell me he hasn't recognized me yet. Her legs were trembling beneath the fabric of her dress, which led to her arms shaking along with them. Her breath quickened as her sense of the things around her disappeared, and she could no longer focus on anything but her riled-up thoughts.
I escaped, so why does it still feel like I'm in hell? All I ask is that he doesn't hit me too hard; I can endure it, so please, god, don't let the beating be as brutal as my real father's was, I'm begging. She broke out in a cold sweat before she'd even realized the Duke was an inch away from her.
"Emris…"
He grabbed her by the shoulders and squeezed. Emris flinched, feeling the compressing of her chest and the vomit wanting to push out her throat. Looking up, the vision of him was as horrifying as her father, who resembled the devil in her eyes. Emris' eyes, which became small, screamed with the undeniable terror that she swallowed.
Her eyebrows furrowed, and she clenched her jaw, hoping the pain wouldn't be bad, until a teardrop trickled, falling to the floor.
Her eyes immediately shifted to its source, and the tears that fell were from the Duke, whose ocean blue eyes procured a rippling effect like the river when he cried. Emris' sense of reality came back to notice that his grip was tight but weak at the same time.
Is he sad because he knows who I am, or…? Whether she finished her train of thought didn't matter when the Duke pulled her over and cradled her in his arms as you would a newborn child.
"Emris, my daughter… I'm not dreaming, am I? Sweetheart, I love you and have been waiting for the day you smiled at me and welcomed me home again. It'll feel warm to me, whether it be a simple hello or a smile." His embrace was as warm and cozy as a fluffy pillow, safe from harm; the world drowned out was what she felt the moment he'd hugged her.
Two things for Emris were different at that moment: the ability to address someone as a father and to be hugged by someone who cared about her. Ridicule and abuse were all she knew and all she expected, but her beliefs became flipped around.
"Someone fetch Emris a parasol! It's too hot of a day for her to be without one!" The Duke shouted at the servants, covering his precious daughter's head with his big hands, shielding her from the sun's glare. The servants who'd cared about Emris just as much ran in a frenzy to find the parasol of the highest quality for their delicate lady.
Once in his hands, he covered Emris completely, not even getting underneath it himself. What's going on? Everyone's acting as if—oh no…. She buried her embarrassment in the palms of her hands, realizing she'd just messed up once again.
"My daughter, having you greet me for the first time in five years has cleared away any fatigue my body had. Today must be the day the goddess looks upon the Fallow Dutchy kindly." Drying streaks of his tears were more visible from the sunlight, and yet with or without them, Emris' father was as dashing as an actor.
His facial features were still sharp and defined even when he aged. A single wrinkle or sign of old age was not visible. His most prominent features were his glossy ocean blue eyes containing the shine of the sparkling sea and lush, short yet fluffy whitish-lavender hair that resembled hers.
"Father, I missed you dearly, so I came down as soon as I heard of your return. I apologize for making you constantly worry; I hope you can forgive me." From a hidden pocket of her dress, she pulled out a pink embroidered handkerchief with the family crest and placed it in his hands that still gripped onto hers.
His wavering grasp squeezed the handkerchief, his puppy-like eyes shifting onto Emris' enchanting expression, giving him the same happiness a thousand blooming flowers would give. She was at the center of his heart and world; all he needed on the darkest of days was the sight of his daughter to make the life in him return.
"Theodore, clear my schedule for today. I want to spend all my time with my daughter on this perfect day."
"As you wish, Your Grace." Readily, with no opposition, the butler agreed since he, too, knew how long it had been since happiness had been present in the Fallow household.
A whole day!? I don't want to; what if he catches me almost immediately and locks me up in chains to torture me until I tell him where Emris is? Coursing through her veins, she felt her blood pumping irregularly. The Duke had given her no reason to be frightened of him or think of him that way, but she couldn't help it. Emris had already seen how someone could quickly change the attitude they show towards others, so she was untrusting of any kindness.
No, if I disobey, he might do something even worse. I can't! I don't want to think of what he could do to me! She clenched her fists until her nails sinked into her flesh.
"Would you like to go for breakfast, Sweetheart? There's this new place nearby that I've been meaning to recommend to you." A soothing voice and sweet disposition made her all the more anxious about how horrifying his sudden turn would be. "Y-yes, that sounds lovely, Father."
Amid her dread-filled actions of fidgeting her fingers, twisting them around to find an end to her churning stomach, the Duke bent down to her forehead and kissed her lovingly, startling her. "I love you, Sweetheart." A smile like his reminded her of those of the knights from fairy tales who were perfect in every way, shape, or form.
Looking at his affectionate demeanor, everything in her body melted into a puddle. When the carriage had arrived, he'd reached out, grasped her hand, and helped her into the carriage.
He cares so much for Emris; it makes me want to cry and scream. Maybe if I cry, he'll hug me just one more time. Damn it, what am I thinking? I'm really…such a bad person. She sighed into her hand pressed against her face. Biting her lip didn't have the effect of holding back her tears, so when Emris' father stepped into the carriage, he saw his daughter's tears pour out like a faucet.
"Emris! Emris, why are you crying?!"
"I-I'm sorry, Father. I di-didn't mean to…"
She whined and sobbed, attempting to hide away her tears, but Emris's father patted her head, ruffling her hair. "It's okay, Emris. Apologizing to me is something you'll never need to do." Surprising her, he'd wiped away her tears with a single swipe of his finger. The expectation of being hit for showing a shroud of emotions became something he'd shaken in such a small action.
He's-He's really not going to hit me? Countering her thoughts, he laid her head down on his shoulders and smiled, showing her the beautiful scenery of Moonhollow through the carriage window. Emris' tears washed away, and her comfort around a father she'd wished she had enhanced. So, this is what it feels like to have a caring father.
Clarrisa, are you seeing this? Our little angel has become happy again. I wish that you were here instead of a clueless man like me. I really don't deserve a daughter or wife as lovely as you both are. I'll protect Emris and keep her happy always, even if it means I have to give my own soul to the devil. Emris's smile had a chain effect on her father's, and he rested his head above hers, gazing out the window.
After a long ride, they arrived at an aesthetically pleasing and quaint restaurant surrounded by greenery. Emris' eyes stuck onto the restaurant in awe, her heart jumping with glee from how charming it was.
"Shall we head inside now, Sweetheart?" He warmly asked while extending his hand to Emris.
"Yes! Let's go!" Emris exclaimed, grabbing his hand and letting the light of his personality seep into her heart.
Emris requested, at the Duke's permission, a table on the outside near the sprouting fragrant flowers. "It's so gorgeous here, Father! Thank you for recommending this restaurant; I absolutely love it." Once again, her lips parted into a broad smile, compelling to her father's eyes. It felt like sweet ecstasy that he refused to part with.
"Then you should come out more often to experience these places more, Emris." He suggested, sure her answer would be a refusal.
"Yes! That sounds nice. Why don't you recommend more places for me, Father?"
His heart flutters from just one sentence formed inside him, taking shop in the frail spot for Emris. No paradise could be comparable to the time spent with his lovely daughter, whom he wanted to spoil with only the best things in the world.
Hmm…why does Emris' Father look like he's being interrogated? "Is something wrong, Father? You don't look well."
"Um…Sweetheart, there's something I need to ask you." Timidly, he'd pulled out a letter with the Imperial Crest that was unfamiliar to Emris.
Huh? What the heck is this? Wait! Is this an invitation to a party? If it is an invitation, I need to accept it no matter what it is since it will help me go forward with my investigation. She decided resolutely on what she would do in the interest of her goal to return home and get Emris' body back to her.
"Sweetheart, this is an invitation to the Black and White Ball at the Imperial Palace. Would you like to attend?"