MY DAUGHTER.

ASTOCIA

EMPEROR'S PALACE

IN THE AFTERNOON

HAZY VISION ―― cleared when met with the sight of his little daughter patting his chest and singing fervently the lullaby he once said he liked . brows furrowed , and he slowly sat up .

with time , azazel had learned to control his defensive reflexes around the child to not frighten her . ambrosia seemed to like that , now he was much more comfortable in her presence .

" Good morning Papa ! " she chided as soon as he got up , leaning over his lap with an excited way .

" antonis told 'sia papa asked her to join him for lunch ! did papa get cake for 'sia ? is it chocolate cake? ― not that sia minds if he didn't ask the cook to prepare it ― sia was just cu― "

I just woke up ― he thought , sighing at the headache that slowly was coming to him . frowning , he eyed the child before picking her up with one hand ― earning a squeak from the girl ― and placed her on the other side of the dining table .

" are you here to see me or for the cake that lilian has stopped serving you ? " he stated monotonously , giving her a look that said don't try to fool me .

ambrosia replied with a mischievous little chuckle , shrugging as she replied " cake is better if i eat it with papa . "

cunning little child ― he was no fool to her innocent act , but somehow his daughter's shrewd acting made her more endearing than most .

the man shook his head , " eat . "

grabbing her cutlery with much more precision than expected from a child her age , the princess obeyed . they ate in silence , until ambrosia noticed the paper placed on the table ― it wasn't like him to leave documents lying around ― so she peeked into the contents .

" Inca empire ? Where is that , papa ? "

curious as ever , she questioned him . azazel's response was impassive , as he sliced the meat on his table slowly .

" it is on the west , composed of sixteen kingdoms . you will learn about it further in your history class . "

however that wasn't enough to ease little princess' curiosity ― so she kept going .

" why did they send you a message ? do they want to be friends with us ? or .. haw― ! " she whispered , violet eyes wide in childlike horror .

" do they wish to fight us , papa ?! "

this time azazel looked up at ambrosia , incredulous expression over his usually uninterested face .

" no , they do not wish to fight us . "

regardless , ambrosia didn't stay quiet . of course she didn't ; she was too much like her mother to . inquisitive , brazen , interested in the littlest of things .

" then why did they send a letter , papa ? it seems like an invitation , do they want you to visit their country ? can sia come too ?! "

she chided excitedly , the food in her plate forgotten long ago . azazel had no choice but to answer , after all she will not stop until her questions are completely answered .

he sighed , putting his cutlery down to explain .

" the ministers in the small council have proposed marriage for me in the inca empire ― for alliance purposes ― and since the emperor of inca doesn't have any daughters , to wed the ducal princess with me . that ― " he pointed at the lying invitation , not failing to notice the shock on the child's face .

" is the acceptance letter . the wedding will be held in inca empire due to traditional purposes . "

the princess was now silenced ― and instead of shock , fear slow morphed over her face . azazel could tell why ; ambrosia was a clever child , and a paranoid one as well .

she showed it many times by agreeing to whatever he said , trying her best to please him . she even refused to not see her mother's memories just so she doesn't anger him .

azazel didn't show it , but he knew .

" amrbosia , do you have a problem with it ? " he questioned , gently as he could . for he did not want the reaction of the child who was constantly trying to please him , he wanted her honest words .

but much to his dismay , she instantly smiled ― although it was a hollow smile .

" of course not , papa ! " she exclaimed , adding quickly .

" this way sia would get to visit the inca empire ! and will get a mother too ! maybe even siblings . sia is so bored with playing alone all the time , they will love raven too― hic― "

and before she could stop it , tears were flowing down those chubby cheeks thoroughly . her voice cracked , causing her to hiccup several times , and she cast her eyes down to her lap to prevent him seeing her like that .

it broke his heart to see her like this .

his frown deepened , and before he could notice , azazel was rising from his seat to kneel in front of ambrosia's , embracing her small form and carrying her away from the table .

" shh , shh ― no need to cry . " he found himself consolling the child , rocking her form gently .

I hope his majesty gives this child his love as he did to me ; delilah's words came back to him . and never in his life did he think he would be coddling the child like this ― the child who took his beloved's life away .

the child whom she chose over herself , over him .

" if you don't want it , i will not remarry . just say the word ; marriage isn't a necessity for me , or the empire for that matter . "

he reassured the little girl , whose tears had now subsided and was clinging to him like an infant monkey .

" it's not that sia doesn't want papa to marry . " she whispered , meekly as if ashamed of her own reaction .

" just don't forget sia , papa .. " she trailed off , small face hiding itself in his neck where he could still feel her damp cheeks .

something about her insecurity tugged at his heart . whether it was shame , guilt , or paternal instincts , azazel wasn't sure . but he found himself regretting not paying attention to this child in the past . maybe then she wouldn't have felt as if his love for her was a flighty phase which would fade away as soon as he found himself interested in something else .

more to assure himself than her , he replied , voice determined .

" you are my daughter , ambrosia . nothing ― and no one ― can change that . "