Ohara paced up and down the corridor stopping in front of a certain door each time she paused. It was the door of she and Dariel's bedroom.
She was sure that he was in there, however, she was scared to go speak to him. In fact, she was terrified, their interaction a few moments ago was not the most delightful one, and she was certain he was still outraged, especially considering she shouted at him.
Ohara sighed, she had no more time to waste. Both her husband and daughter were are stubborn as mules, if she did not act now, her family would be torn apart right before her very eyes.
Ohara made up her mind, she took a deep breath and shakily opened the door. She cautiously walked into their bedroom.
The fireplace was crackling, it burnt with hot flames that warmed the air. As warm as the room was, Ohara could not help but feel a chill run down her spine.
She could see her husband sitting down on the bed, his back turned to her. It was hard to fathom what he was thinking of at the moment. The air in the room felt chilly even though a fire was burning nearby.
Ohara gulped, she mustered all her strength and approached the bed. She was sure he was aware of her presence, but he did not move an inch.
Ohara moved cautiously closer to him till she reached the left corner of the bed. Laying down on her knees she crawled towards him and kneeled at his feet.
Dariel had his head bowed but his eyes open. Their eyes instantly met in a second. Ohara almost felt like she was melting from how fiery his gaze was.
"My love... my darling... I am sorry." she said bowing her head. Here she bowed, on her knees asking for his forgiveness.
"Leave me..." she heard his hoarse voice say. It sounded as if he had been crying, the room was too dim for her to confirm if that was truly the case.
"No my love, I am not leaving till you forgive me..." she said, she placed her hands on his, she pushed hers away.
"Why do you ask for forgiveness? Go and comfort your child." His voice sounded mocking and yet hurt.
"My love, I am sorry." she said once more.
"Sorry for what?!" the harshness in his tone would have scared her a moment ago; but she was already in his hands and she would stay here till she got what she wanted.
"I am sorry for shouting at you." she replied.
"You... you!" he said unable to express himself, causing him to raise his voice.
"You accused me! You treated me like some sort of vile monster, as if I am capable of anything." Ohara could clearly hear the hurt behind his words. She felt a prick in her heart. She had only seen him almost this sad but once.
"But can you blame me my love?" she asked.
"Over the years your temper has gotten worse. You are unpredictable in your rage." she said.
"When you shut the door Dariel, I truly feared the worst." Tears streamed down her eyes as she spoke.
"It pains me so much to think that I believe you would be capable of doing such vile things." she cried.
"You should know me better than that!" he shouted, his voice cracking.
"I really do not know Dariel... each passing day it seems I know you less and less." she said, placing her hands on his.
He was silent, he did not resist her touch, instead he leaned in closer.
"Dariel I love you... I really do, but even love has its limits." she said sniffing.
"You are always angry, you are always upset. You terrify everyone, including me and your own daughter."
"She is the one that caused this! She did the unforgivable!" he shouted like a child wronged.
"She acts as if I am incapable of taking care of my own family!"
"No Dariel, that is not what she intended to do." Trying to calm him down, she spoke as softly as she could.
"What then?! What then did she intend to say to the enemy? That we are not united? That she does not respect her own father?!" he shouted. "That is exactly what she did, she is undermining my authority!"
"Dariel, that is not what she wanted at all. She thought that she was presenting our family with a solution." said Ohara sniffing.
"What solution?! One that entails selling herself as merchandise!" It was clear that he was seriously upset with what Angelica had done.
"I may be many things, but one thing I vowed never to do was to sell my own daughter for my own gain." he said, his eyes burning brightly, not with rage but with something else unfathomable.
"Dariel, I understand why you are upset, however, to Angelica it just seems like you are trying to stop her from helping." Ohara said, she stood up and sat down beside him, their hands still intertwined.
"She is older, wiser. She definitely thought all this through, if you wish to solve this problem of ours your own way, it will end up worse than it was." she said.
"Selling my daughter, is something I will never do, under any circumstance, never." he bellowed.
"She does not understand why, make her understand, tell her. Tell her the truth." Ohara said.
"Tell her why what she did upsets you so much, tell her everything she needs to know."
"Angelica might be stubborn, but she is also reasonable. I am sure that if you voice out your concerns to her not as a lord but as a father, she will listen." she sniffed.
"There are some things she does not need to know." he remarked coldly.
"It is beliefs like those that make it impossible for her to understand you." Ohara said letting go of his hands.
"Do not tell me that you agree with her absurd wish to marry that useless crown prince!" he shouted.
"No, but what I do not agree with is the fact that you asked my daughter, our only child to leave the only home she has known her entire life."
"I understand that you are upset, but if my child leaves this house Dariel, I am tired. I am finished. I will leave you as well and follow my daughter." Dariel could see the resolution in her eyes. He had not seen her that determined in the entire time that he had known her.
Ohara watched his eyes scan her face in a mix of surprise and fear that she truly was serious and serious she was.
"For years I have endured... if Angelica leaves, it truly is the final stroke." Ohara said seriously.
"Apologize to her, explain things to her, or I leave with her." Dariel hated his ultimatum. He hated that the one person who always understood him was now fed up with him. He could not bear the thought of losing her, even though he did not say it, he was afraid.
"So that is how things stand?" he asked and she nodded.
"Yes... the choice is yours." she replied, scared that his stubbornness would hinder him from making peace.
She had expected him to shout in rage, yet surprisingly, he just sighed, stood up and walked out of their bedroom.
"Dariel... where are you going?" she called after him receiving no reply. Instantly she got up and rushed after him.
She saw him turn left and walk down the stairs. His pace was not quick but it had a sense of urgency.
Angelica who was on her way out waited for the maid to hand her one of her bags. She had gone to pack her things quickly.
She was about to open the front door and leave when she heard the frightful voice of her father resounding loudly.
"Wait." he called, walking down the stairs slowly. She turned to face him, quiet and austere.
"You, take her bags back to her room." he commanded the maid standing nearby who bowed and listened to her orders instantly less she be faced with his wrath.
"Angelica, come with me to my study." he said with no room for rebuttal walking back upstairs.
Angelica was silent. She wordlessly followed behind him.
Ohara watched in worry as the two disappeared into Dariel's study, only hoping that they would reach an agreement.