Conflicting Emotions

"Not at all, Madame. I am fully sane." Dixie drawled.

I'm here to defeat a Demon Lord, so the part where I go insane is definitely not now.

Looking back at the duke, Dixie reiterates her demand. "She was my mother and very dear to me. I don't have much left of her apart from my memories, so living in her room will help me feel closer to her. And less lonely."

"Those sound like very reasonable reasons to me." Bonnie added. "The Emerald Room should have been hers since mother's passing.

"Alexander! What are you saying!? The Emerald Room is intended solely for the Duchess!" Tyren lashed out, furiously.

"Well, you are a Duchess, have been so for years and yet the Duke won't permit you to stay there. So it should go to the next reigning Lady Del Montague." Bonnie countered with another shrug. "I'm sure mother wouldn't have minded Felicia staying in her room. After all, she was mother's favorite child."

Bonnie smiled and patted Dixie on the head. It was true for the both of them. Their mother loved Dixie more and in the book, Moniqua favored Felicia over Alexander. 

Roelle felt a strange stirring in his heart listening to his blood children talk about their late mother. Some of his bitterness faded at the mention of Moniqua's tenderness.

"Very well, you can take the key for the Emerald Room." He replied, unlocking a drawer and taking out a silver key. He placed it on the table and watched as Felicia happily bounced forward to receive it.

"Thank you so much, Your Grace. This is quite possibly the first kind gesture you've shown me in the past 5 years!" She chirped. "I will forever be grateful!"

The Duke's expression twitched into a frown. 

Tyren's eyes were filled with bitterness and greed.

Helena was bothered to see Felicia so happy.

The DeMont sister were ready to leave. Dixie lifted her ugly dress and curtsied. Bonnie offered a small bow.

Roelle's eyes lingered on the door for a moment before he picked up his quill and resumed his work.

He addressed Helena and Tyren without looking at them. "The two of you can leave as well."

Tyren bit her lip anxiously. "Your Grace, do you think this is a good idea? What if Felicia earns the Crown Prince's scorn?"

"If so, then I will punish her. But the girl seems to have grown sensible, so I will give her one last chance. Alex appears to want to help her so I will let him handle her from now on."

Tyren had no rebuttal. She glanced at her daughter and noticed her sadness. "Why do you look so unhappy, my love? You were cheerful earlier."

Helena forced a smile. "I'm just worried about sister becoming a Crown Princess. She's going to get a lot of attention and I'm not sure she can handle it. Sister has always kept to herself; she's used to living in the shadows."

That's the only place that bitch belongs!

"She is not a true Del Montague if she can't handle herself gracefully under scrutiny." Roelle finally looked up. "So she had best keep her promise and prove her worth!"

You are not allowed to remain a useless bully forever, Felicia!

"But never mind her, Helena. Focus yourself on your own studies. You are a Saintess, so you must mold yourself into becoming an asset for the empire." Roelle encouraged, hoping to put a smile on Helena's face.

"I will, father! I will become the greatest Saintess there ever was!" Helena promised, happy to have his attention back on her.

"Good girl! Go now. I have work to do." The Duke replied with a smile. He felt happy seeing Helena happy.

Tyren and Helena both curtsied before departing. Roelle notices that Felicia's curtsy was far more graceful than both mother and daughter.

Many changes will take place for my family this year. Everyone will have to stay sharp! Especially you, Felicia! I will not tolerate any more blunders from you!

His eyes got cold again as he remembered her crime and the little warmth he'd felt earlier was gone instantly.

Tsk! What is wrong with me? Why did I go soft for that heinous child who killed my beloved Moniqua?