Priest

"You were out of it earlier, how are you now?" asked Karim. He's been putting a façade, for Sigrid not to notice his weakness. But this façade doesn't seem to be effective anymore.

"Are YOU okay?" said Sigrid. Emphasizing the word 'you' by asking his father. "You're the one who don't look okay..."

The chilly mood is now gone because of what they just ask each other, 'You really are my father, aren't you?'.

"Shall we go back to what we are discussing?" he takes the lead to start the topic even though this isn't pleasant for him. Is it courage?

'She deserves to know it. Who wouldn't be mad if something this important about your identity will be hidden?'

"You... You are not my biological daughter," his words are like a thorn that pierced his daughter's chest. "Just what I told you earlier, it really is shocking but... you are the princess," he doesn't want to admit it but he wants to vomit every time he's admitting the truth, that Sigrid isn't his daughter.

"Princess? Sure, Dad. I'm yours and mom's princess," she chuckled.

'How did he expect me to believe this? There's no way I'm a princess. Princess of what? Princess where?', the issues and truths that she's been receiving are enough to make her gone mad, to the point that she's doubting to believe it.

Karim chuckled, "You sure are our princess, Siri," princess of the dukedom, he means. Once again, he looks at her eyes. "I don't want to admit it, but you need to know the truth," the smile that he plastered once again made her eyes teary.

"Dad, is this a joke? A dream? How can this be possible? I am your daughter... I am also Mom's. C-Can we stop this? Please tell me if I did something wrong... Sigrid will face the punishment," she begged as she placed her hand on top of another then bowed.

'Why must we go through something like this?' Karim asked himself. "I wish I am joking, Siri..." he then showed her a small smile, "Please lift your head,"

Before she even finally lifts it, a knock from the door disturbs their discussion. "Who is it?" asked the duke.

"This is Alex, Your Grace. Her Grace, Helina Novich wish to have an audience because of some urgent matters," he stated.

What he said made him confused, 'Urgent matters? She knew that I'm talking to Sigrid,'. "Let her in," he then thinks if his wife also wants to talk with Sigrid about this matter. 'I just hope she won't cry,'

The woman who just got in the room thanked the man for assisting him. She then turned her focus on the duke who's now looking at her, confused. "Pardon my intrusion, Your Grace. I know this is so sudden, but the Priest sent me a message,"

The man who was sitting calmly earlier couldn't help but to stand up because of the news his wife brought. "Priest?" it's very unusual for the Priests to call him, but who is this exactly? "Tell me the details,"

But before the duchess can even open her mouth, Sigrid bids her goodbye. "I don't think I must be here. Your Graces, pardon me for butting in but I think I have to go," she then turns her back, taking this opportunity to escape. The man that's still on the door, does his job by assisting the woman.

The mood in the duke's room seems awful, but without further delay, the duchess, Helina, started discussing the topic with her husband.

On the other hand, Sigrid who just got out of the room, can't help but feel relieved and full of regret at the same time. "What is this? I should be feeling good but what is this sour feeling?" she asked herself and the grip that's on her chest tightened.

"My Lady!" A loud voice from a woman in the maid outfit covered the hallway because of her voice. "Are you okay, My Lady? You don't seem to be in a nice state," she asked.

Sigrid then turned her attention to the maid. "Risa?" Risa, her personal maid after Amanda got promoted to be the head maid. "What are you doing here?" she asked. To not look mad, she placed her palms onto Risa's, who's been waiting to assist her.

The moment she asked her, she became shaky. "Ah?! T-That miss... I just happened to go across this path when I saw you..."

'Is she still intimidated?' she thinks. Risa is her personal maid for 5 years already but the woman still looks very nervous whenever she's in front of her. She then sighed to stop thinking about that matter. 'I'm sure she's going to get over it soon,'

"Where do you want to go, My Lady? Should I assist you into your room?" Risa opened up.

When she nodded, the maid to her job, aiding her master's needs. "Is there anymore I can help you with?"

"You can go now," said Sigrid. "You did a good job." she added after slumping herself onto her bed.

The maid can't help but to be embarrassed because of the statement her master just said. 'I'll do even better in the future, My Lady!', she can't utter it because the mood that's enveloping Sigrid isn't very good, and with that she doesn't think she can't talk with her so easily.

'Whatever the reason is... I don't think you should be locking yourself up,' she added to her thought.

Still, she can think of advice, words, comfort things that can console Sigrid, she knows that she's not in the right place to talk to her. "Thank you, My Lady. Just ring the bell on your table and I shall get in to aid more of your needs." She then bowed her head and in a blink of an eye, she's already out of Sigrid's room without a noise.

"Is she an assassin?" the woman who's all alone in the room, mumbled.

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lilithnov