Chapter 18 - Farewell

It was obvious on the day of departure. The empty building I woke up in. No mother. No Victor. Not a single maid in sight.

It was abnormal.

My hands seemed to shake a bit. I wasn't really sure at all what it was that made me scared. The emptiness of the mansion was suffocating. The silence was loud.

I decided that if everyone was gone then Edmund, at least, would be here, wouldn't he?

I desperately took small steps down the flight of stairs, rushing to the kitchen and opening the back door wide open to reveal the garden of dead bushes.

My face twitched at the silence, and when a loud grunt was heard I sighed of relief and walked to where the boy usually sparred alone.

There he was. Panting, but continuing. Taking no notice of the one year old who was glad he was there.

Staring at him with a calmer mind I realised something.

Today was a good day to escapd- and just like that I realised a flaw in my plan to escape.

The war. I didn't take the war into consideration at all! How can I survive in a fallen economy among the poor when the richest of rich would struggle to make ends meet.

Change of plans then... blood rushed from my face in horror.

Oh god... - no! I can do this! I can!

So... it was the worst case scenario. I had to survive until the war ends. That's nine long years. That's nine long bloody years! How the hell!-

"Hey. When did you wake up?" Edmunds gasping voice shook me out of my thoughts and back to reality.

"When did you wake up?" I shot back after looking his sweaty body up and down.

"At least answer the question if you're going to ask the same thing..."

"Just now". I answered.

"I woke up really early. Everyone left for some farewell speech. I asked about you but they didn't notice", he shrugged.

At this point Edmund was fully aware of my position at the house. Or lack there of.

"That makes sense. Does that mean today is the day?" I looked to where the tip of the main castle could be spotted. Knowing where to look for it made it easier to catch sight of and my little legs had grown these few days so catching sight of it was a bit easier than back when I couldn't see it at all.

"The day?..." Edmund questioned with an innocence I wasn't going to destroy.

I looked up at the sky in solemn silence.

I knew father would come back happy and in good form. As would Duke Arian, Edmunds father. But the mental toll wouldn't be healthy on the Emperor or the Duke.

That would happen much later in the future so let's not dwell on the matter.

"Do you hear that?" Edmund dropped his sword and cupped a hand around his ear.

I heard nothing. Unlike me whose face didn't change, Edmunds face brightened.

"It's the Duke of Camellia! He's coming here! Your father is with him!" He shouted.

I frowned. I couldn't hear anything. What was he talking about?

He started waving towards the castle frantically. I stared at the boy wondering if he had finally lost it and squinted to where he waved.

There. In the distance, stood a stallion and sitting atop it was a man in a head to toe armour suit of gold. Next to him stood another, smaller figure moving their hands around in the sky as they came nearer.

"Edmund! Mallory!" It was no doubt who that voice belonged to.

Edmund started racing off into the direction. I stood behind for a moment, eyes trained on the man in armour. A trickle of blonde hair could be seen from beneath the helmet.

Father...

I suddenly found my legs racing towards the figure with a happiness that definitely wasn't mine. No. It was as if I was convinced the man in armour was my real father, but I knew he wasn't. So why was I running so desperately?

The horse seemed to halt and the man jumped off gracefully, hands reaching for the helmet and in a shower of blonde hair his face could be made out. A smile atop those thin lips as they smiled widely at me from a distance.

I gasped at the sight, running faster and jumping into the steel arms that spread to collect me.

"Dad!"

He held me in an embrace that, despite him wearing cold iron, was warm and comforting. Conveying more than words could ever wish to.

"Mallory", he lifted me up, eyes with a touch of fondness, muddled in regret.

"Why are you here?" I asked, returning a smile that was tilted a bit. I felt a pang at the thought that I won't see him for years to come.

"You didn't attend the speech so I had to bid you farewell at least. After all, you're my daughter".

A flood of a strange warm arrested my heart that without had craved its touch. Tears brimmed by my eyes as I replied shakily.

"Y-Yes. I- I'm your daughter", I nodded.

"That's right", he placed me on his arm and patted my head slowly, "I want you to know that despite everything I'm glad that you were born. I'm glad I met you. My child". His face was so serene that I found tears pouring down my face.

"D-Dad", I wrapped my arms around him tightly, paying no mind to the eyes that watched me.

He wasn't my father. So why did it feel like he was? I didn't feel any attachment to mother, because I was convinced she wasn't real, but this man, this man seemed as real as real could get.

I didn't completely understand it.

He patted my back slowly, only stopping when Adrian cleared his throat to gather our attention.

"I have some news for you Mallory", he gave me a shy smile.

I narrowed my eyes suspicious of what was to come.

This seems a bit strange? He's not obnoxious like usual.

"Yes?.."

"Ahem! I gave the speech to boost the morale of the citizens", he glanced away with a smile as if he awaited praises.

The Emperor began to laugh, "you want the child to praise you Adrian?" He asked with a teasing smile.

"N-No!" The duke denied with vigour, face turning a light pink as he did so. "I just wanted to let her know!"

His mutters of curses at his brother was interrupted by my hands that clapped loudly for him. I gave him a beaming smile.

"I knew you'd be good at that".

He smiled at my clapping while father pitched in as well.

"It was definitely a note worthy speech".

"I want to see it..." Edmund complained with a pout. Adrian ruffled his hair with a light chuckle.

"Maybe next time buddy. Now, how about you and I head back to the house while Mallory and my brother have a little chat?"

"Yes sir!" Edmund turned to the house and started walking back in long strides. Adrian turned to the Emperor before he left, giving him a thumbs up and ruffling my hair as he rushed to catch up to the energetic boy ahead.

I scowled, patting the mess my hair had become and turning back to the Emperor of Blackburn, my father.

"I only have about five minutes to see you and I want to make it last for the next coming years. Firstly, I may not return and if that is the case then know that I left to protect you and my people", he started so fast I felt a tremor of panic and shook my head.

"N-No. You'll come back". I wasn't so sure myself right now.

Would he come back? Of course he would that's what the story said... but... I've changed it.

Raphael wouldn't go to war anymore and will be replaced by the eldest son of the Harlow dukedom. And would he live up to the war legend Raphael was meant to be? It was uncertain. Very uncertain.

Father gave me a pained smile.

"Of course I'll try to come back alive, but if that isn't"-.

"It will be". I firmly cut him off.

He sighed with an exhausted face, "take care of your brothers and that uncle of yours. It's shameless to leave them in your care, but... out of all of them, somehow, you're the most mature", he gave me the warmest smile a parent could give their child and pecked my forehead.

"I'll take care of them. Don't worry about that", I softly replied. Knowing full well that they'd be fine if I could do anything about it.

"Mallory".

"Hm?"

"Before anyone else, make sure you care for yourself", he patted my head.

"I'll only do that if you promise to do the same".

He laughed the moment he saw my stubborn face and lifted me to give another hug, "where do you get that funny bone from?"

"My real parents".

It was supposed to be a joke. A joke about adoption but god... I regretted it the moment I saw the look of pain that attacked fathers face.

The hurt. The guilt.

Shit... why did I have to thoughtlessly open my mouth.

"M-Mallory- I- "- he started and I cut him off quickly.

"I was joking! It was a joke!" But my insistent denial didn't get through to him at all.

"Look- when I come back- I'll be better. I know there's a chance this could be a turning point for better or for worse but know that I want to be the best father a child could ask for. I'll come back victoriously. I promise", oh for goodness sake, why did I have to run my mouth?

"I believe you father".

"Thank you".