with each passing moment, the silence grew heavier, the room filled with a mixture of tension and deep contemplation. antanasia stood there, her heart beating in her chest as she waited for her father's response, hoping for a glimpse of the love and warmth she once knew. meanwhile, claude wrestled with the conflicting emotions within his mind, grappling with the revelation that this young girl before him was indeed his daughter, the product of his profound love and connection with empress estelle.

in the midst of the charged atmosphere, felix took a step forward, breaking the tension that hung in the air. He spoke softly, his voice filled with a mixture of understanding and empathy. "your majesty," he began, "princess antanasia truly is your daughter, the heir to the throne. though your amnesia may have clouded your memories, the physical resemblance between you and the empress is undeniable." antanasia stood there, a mix of emotions swirling within her as she took in the gravity of felix's words.

it was one thing to know the truth deep down, but another to hear it spoken aloud in such a stark manner. she couldn't help but wonder how her father would react to this revelation, and what impact it would have on their shattered bond. the room fell into a heavy silence once more, the weight of the revelation settling heavily upon all present. antanasia could only wait, her heart both yearning and dreading her father's response, wondering which path he would choose – whether he would embrace her as his lost child or reject her completely.

antanasia's voice trembled as she posed the question, her heart heavy with anticipation. "dad," her voice quivered as she spoke, "do you really not remember your daughter? despite the forgetfulness that has befallen you, i implore you to cast your mind back to those precious moments shared between us. can you not recall even a glimmer of our bond?" her words hung in the air, filled with a mixture of longing and apprehension.

the room seemed to hold its breath as antanasia waited for her father's answer. the silence stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity as she silently prayed for a flicker of recollection from her father. but for now, all she could hear was the sound of her own breath, the quiet room offering no clues as to what thoughts swirled within his mind.

as claude watched antanasia crying in front of him, he was struck by a sudden pang of discomfort, as if witnessing her tears triggered an innate response within him. despite the amnesia that had claimed his memories, a deep-seated aversion to seeing her cry stirred within him. the sight of her crying stirred an unfamiliar sense of protectiveness within him, a protective instinct that surpassed his lack of recollection of who she truly was.

"enough." claude finally spoke, his voice firm but tinged with a hint of concern. "there's no need for tears." he couldn't bear to witness his so-called daughter's sorrow, even if the memory of their bond was lost to him. his words held a flicker of care that transcended his amnesia, a reflection of the love that remained deep within his heart.

"dry your tears," claude repeated, his words firm yet tinged with a touch of softness. despite his amnesia, he found himself compelled to respond to Antanasia's tears. "cry no more," he commanded, his voice carrying a note of paternal authority that seemed to emerge from the depths of his memory.

with downcast eyes, antanasia gracefully bowed before the emperor, her voice quiet and tender. "then, I shall take my leave so that you may rest, your majesty," she murmured softly. However, her choice of title did not sit well with him, and the word "your majesty" left a bitter taste in his mouth.

"please, refrain from addressing me as 'your majesty',"  claude responded, his voice carrying a mix of confusion and authority. "If you must address me, call me 'father.'"  antanasia looked at him with widened eyes, surprised by his request for her to address him as "father" instead of "your majesty."

however, she quickly regained her composure and nodded her head in agreement. "ah— yes, father," she responded, the warmth and affection in her voice making it clear that she was content to address him in such a familiar way. as antanasia bid farewell and exited the room, her father, claude, turned his gaze towards felix, a thoughtful expression on his face. he took a moment to collect his thoughts before speaking, his voice filled with a sense of contemplation.

felix met claude's gaze, expecting a question or a request from him. however, the silence that hung in the air indicated that claude was deep in thought, grappling with the recent revelation and its implications for their kingdom. after a moment, felix spoke up, breaking the silence. "is there something on your mind, your majesty?" he inquired, his tone respectful yet curious.

claude spoke in a firm yet considerate manner, his words commanding yet tinged with a hint of warmth. "Ensure that the young child is well-cared for in the sapphire palace" he instructed, his voice carrying a note of authority, yet tinged with a hint of protectiveness. "and while you're at it, make sure to find the second child as well." the weight of his words hung in the air as felix nodded silently, prepared to carry out the emperor's commands.

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i can't believe this has 4162 words....