Chapter 4

Duke just pulled a stoic face the moment his wife walked away to attend her important event. The eyes trailed to the rest of his kids in a sigh. "Dismiss." He too walked away from the table. "I will be with the king. Tell her." Instructed him to one of the maids available there.

"Yes, Duke." The maid bow.

And her brothers hurriedly went to the academy in solemn expression soon after without saying goodbye to their favorite little sister.

"Young lady, the duke sends regards to you. He said he is going to the Capital today." Told the maid as soon as the permission to enter the room was permitted. The maid remained bow even after the news was delivered she was not one of many of her maids.

"Okay, thank you." She said gloomily without turning to the maid and promptly dismissed her to do her other work.

Elizebeth watched the scenery of the garden inside the room at one of the many windows available. Mindlessly experiencing everything without any word utter while Emily sat beside her on the floor with a grieving face.

Emily knew her temper too well. She has served the lady since she was 12-year-old. She was the smartest and the most brilliant maid they had despite being the youngest. The Shar couple always gave the best to their children, especially the princess of the house, they didn't care about the status or age as long as they could do their job right.

The lady would never have any preference. She could sit anywhere as long as it was spacious enough for her and passable comfortably.

One time, she saw the lady sitting on the grass without a napkin, contradictory to the peers who practically choosy and hate to dirty their clothes, Elizebeth seemed happier to be in the dirt than playing safe.

Sometimes the only concern of the lady was whether the stain was bearable to wash or not.

However, the seat in front of the window inside the room on the floor was exclusively when she was too upset for whatever reason. She loved to calm herself by watching the garden while feeling the coldness of the clean floor.

Similar to her father, the lady didn't show her emotions outwardly, she just smiled gently and cutely, but once in a while, she could go crazy like this. Acting like a pitiful child and stormed off to the room without bearing any punishment on her back. Their family coaxed her too much, even so, it was the right amount, for some reason.

She understood her father's message too well. As if his father said 'I am in Capital, come to me whenever you want'. It was known to people in Capital that Duke of Shar has immersed love towards his only daughter, to the point he sometimes took his daughter to his workplace.

It was usually an off-limit place for a child but Elizebeth was not the case people in Capital fancy her presence. She was an understandable and quiet child. She didn't even interrupt anyone from doing their job, just interfered unless his father started to abuse his power, pushing people at the edge deliberately to get what he wanted.

People usually find comfort in her presence and the flow of the work speeded up largely as her father was at the easiest moment to handle when she was there, hence, people secretly anticipated her arrival.

Even the king could not fathom his curiosity, thus interrogating her personally by bribing her with delicious candies to shut her mouth from spilling any personal and secret meeting between them that she happily agreed.

Her immature side won the battle of honesty. The food was everything even meant to betray her promise to her father to not meet the king without his knowledge.

She could sense that today was the hellish day for the workers. Even for the king. His father was a difficult man to deal with originally. Her presence was a light for their rope to be held onto in this kind of tight situation, but what should she do when the source of his father's bad temper for today mainly was because of her? Certainly, the king too was driven by that dark force.

In her heart, she pitied those innocent lives to the fullest. It's just she was too irritated when her father forced her to eat something she could not, hence she resolved by throwing a tantrum. It was all because she could not tell them that her stomach felt so funny. She hated to reveal her ill side to their parents. She wanted to appear as the perfect child for them, all because of her obsession.

It was more than a few hours later since she sat there with the cold milk besides when she decided to get ready to meet her angry father. She was so certain, her father had already worn everyone out including the King.

Putting pressure on everything and being a difficult lord to his best ability. Nitpicking in any slightest mistake or sometimes making it up mistake just for the sake to satisfy his anger.

"May I have my refreshment with Duke?" It was a rhetorical question that Emily was well versed. She said confidently in her smile face back again.

Emily who just waited patiently without speaking, complied with the word and busied herself with the order and also prepared her to meet Duke. She understood the order perfectly. The lady was ready to meet her father.

Emily's face was soft but she could see the sense of worry in the eyes. Emily seemed genuinely worried about her. She would talk to her after she coaxed her father's injured heart.

The carriage departed not too long after together with her few knights outside while she and Emily inside the carriage. The destination was a bit far from home, it took them around an hour to be in front of the main gate of the castle.

When she pulled away the curtain to reveal herself to the castle guard, she swore she saw the tears running down from the soldier, seeming his father managed to lash out at the soldier outside as well. They didn't have to stay long for inspection when the soldier was well versed with her usual visit.

After she got out of the carriage, she was greeted by overly kind attendants who were more than happy to see her happy face in front of the castle with Emily beside.

"Oh, My Lady. You look so cute as always." Said the head attendant sincerely.

"Hello, lady Akra. You look gorgeous as well." Answered her in so much politeness that stole everyone's heart for how many times she was there. Akra was the attendant that King assigned to her during her visit to the castle for the conveniences. He wanted her to be comfortable like home as he always fished here to visit the Capital even it means every day.

"Still with the sweet mouth. I will give you some sweets after you've finished your refreshment with your temperamental dad after this. Hang it with it for a little bit." Akra laughed like a lady like she always did after witnessing her father's temperament. Despite this, there's no ill intent behind it. She was just amused to see the usually stoic Duke had a soft spot for his only daughter.

"He is my father, still." She chuckled. Humored the attendant in delight. Walking gracefully to the office which was located a bit further inside the castle.

"Your wonderful father." Agreed Akra in the same manner. She indeed has no malicious intention in her words just genuinely amused with Duke's love towards the younger child in the house.

She just agreed in her heart while ambled to her destination, didn't even stop when some other visitor halted their work just to witness her group marching diligently to the most important office in relief sigh. She didn't know how much his father's mood impacted everyone but it seemed her father managed to scare everyone in the castle.

"What are you!!!"

And from afar, she could hear her father's demonic voice and cold attitude a bit too loud.

"Ohohoho. The duke is too upset." Akra smiled at her before stopping a few steps away from the door.

She could only make a cute smile to Akra and Emily who were just a bit reluctant to let her face Duke.

"Go on, My Lady. We will come back with your promising refreshment." Urged Akra while pointing at the door politely while bending her body to show respect to her as the lady of the Shar, their superior despite her constant joking manner.

Akra has an excessive positive energy that sometimes overwhelms people, her words have no filter but bearing no ill intention. Despite that, she knew to show respect to people above her.

She sighed, face didn't convince at all. "And the sweet." Her eyes were dead tired even before she started.

"And the sweet." Akra nodded, still bending along with the rest of the attendants behind her including Emily.