IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS since the incident happened and the day Diana died by giving birth to her younger sister, the protagonist of the manhwa she's in. listening to the nobles bicker like dogs barking to each other is not entertaining at all. she looked over at her father who's also looking at the bickering nobles with uninterested eyes, his head was propped against his left hand, his right index finger tapping impatiently against the armrest of his throne.

then suddenly the noble requested something from the emperor. "your majesty! I suggest for her highness to have a fiance."  at what the noble just said. Claude glared at him making the noble shrink to fear.

"no," he growled.

"but your majesty!" he glared at them one more time making them quiet.

"I said no. my daughter is not marrying someone." the emperor looked at them very coldly as they shivered.

"but your majesty! We need them to get married otherwise it will make a bad reputation to the empire!" Antanasia closed her eyes, looking at them with bored eyes. Claude, noticing this dismissed the meeting at once. when they all exited the meeting room, Claude turned to Antanasia who sighed tiredly, eyes still closed.

he stand up quietly and scooped Antanasia up and held her tightly, earning a squeak from the younger. Antanasia blushed. "dad! please put me down. it's embarrassing." Claude chooses to ignore her and walks out with Antanasia still secured in his arms and Felix following behind.

"Let's go for a walk."

Antanasia just nodded and rested her head on her father's shoulder, looking dazedly at the passing scenery and not long after, she saw a familiar bundle of joy biting the gold statue. she grinned and was about to greet her when she was suddenly but gently dropped at the ground by her father. she silent herself seeing the look on his face.

"What."

Athanasia flinched hearing the cold voice.

"Is this filthy bug doing in my palace.."

Antanasia gulped and held Claude's right hand, squeezing it tightly. Claude glanced over at her for a moment before turning his attention at the child, though he still squeezed the smaller hand back gently.

*CLANG*

A bag of riches fell from Athanasia, Antanasia would have laughed if not for the heavy atmosphere, Claude on the other hand, didn't pay attention to it.

"That face I've seen before."

Athanasia looks very scared.

".. Yes, it was the dancer from Siodonna. You look like that wench."

Claude released Antanasia's hand and kneeled to Athanasia's height before he lifted her chin to look straight to her eyes.

"Then again it doesn't matter where she came from."

"D-Dad"

"Y-Your Majesty"

Felix and Antanasia said at the same time with nervous sweat rolling down their face.

When Antanasia called Claude "Dad". Athanasia gaped at me in shock. I could almost hear her thoughts; 'What! I have an older sister? But that wasn't mentioned in the novel.'

" And I think I remember. What that wench named you. I believed it was Athanasia."

Antanasia swallowed thickly and wiped away the non-existent sweat poured on her head. Felix glanced at her in concern but she pretended that she didn't notice and observed the scene before her.

"You were a tiny bug who could barely lift its head back then. You've grown a lot," stated Claude and crouched down. Athanasia only gazes at him with her lips tightly shut.

*CLANK*

Another two bags fell off Athanasia and it's content pouring out.

Claude glanced at the ruby that bumped on his foot and stepped on it, breaking it into pieces.

Antanasia laughed inside her head at how terrified Athy looked when Claude raised his hand and to her utter surprise, lifted her high off the ground and suddenly blurted out. "your Heavy. you have chubby cheeks. I didn't expect you to be this heavy. now, what are you doing in my palace?."

Antanasia slapped her hands over her mouth, trying her best to hold in her laughter. Her ribs were beginning to hurt as she laughed silently behind Felix.

Antanasia tilted her head to the side cutely, upon noticing the bite mark innocently. "eh~? Why is there a bite in the golden angel statue Dad?."

Claude glanced at it for a second before looking at Athanasia flinching at the stare directed to her.

Felix saw it and nodded in understanding. "Maybe she thought it was a toy." He said.

"She must have wandered off during her playtime. Felix " Claude said then tossed her carelessly to Felix. "carry her. I should have some tea with my guest."

Claude held out a hand to Antanasia "let's go, Nas."

"okay, Dad!" She said happily, accepting the hand.

______________________

moments later we entered a room and Claude sat on the couch, leaning against it.

"I didn't know you couldn't speak," Claude said and Athanasia just hic'ed in response, trembling and avoiding his gaze. all Nas could think is that it feels like deja vu about what is happening in front of her.

"well, this is boring, not much of a talker?"

Athanasia flinched and forced a cute smile on her adorable cute face. She giggled. "Athy can talk!"

"finally, I get to hear your voice. why did you stay silent until now?"

Athanasia didn't answer this time.

Felix leaned forward and whispered to Claude. "pardon me, your majesty but little girls around the Princess age are known to be shy."

"Is that so." Claude then stared at Antanasia who's sitting beside him, sipping her milk. "Then why is it that Nas just kept eating her cake while I was talking to her?"

Antanasia choked on her milk, coughing violently as Claude patted her back.

when she calmed down, she glared at Claude who was unaffected, seeing that she just huffed and looked away not noticing that she had puffed out her cheeks.

"Felix, leave us."

Felix bowed before going to the door, glancing worriedly at Athanasia before finally going out. Closing the door with a small click.

"Athy is it? Must be a pet name."

"!!"

"Athanasia. What a name.. Do you know the meaning of that name?"

Athanasia knows the meaning of the name, 'Athanasia' the name of the King.

the princess decided to play innocent and tilted her head cutely, acting clueless.

"to dare give her child such a name to a girl at that. she would've had her limbs ripped off if she had survived the labour.

Athanasia glanced at her sister who's lazily putting pieces of cake in her mouth with a faraway look. 'actually I was the one who named her so right now dad is calling me a wench.' she thought as she just minded her own business.

Claude noticed and ran his hand through Antanasia's white hair. caressing her head with such care and gentleness.

"why are you just sitting there? go ahead and eat or else Antanasia would eat all of it until there's nothing left."

Antanasia blushed and lightly hit his arms and pouted at him, Claude chuckled.

he turned his cold icy eyes to Athanasia once again. "I ordered them to bring out something kids would like, if you don't eat they will have no choice but to punish the cook."

"thank you for the food!" Athanasia said quickly, before eating a piece of cake with a smile although her expression says otherwise as she looks like she was about to puke.

"who taught you manners?" Claude asked. now leaning forward and tapping the table.

"Lily taught me," Athanasia answered.

"I see you are talking about Lilian York," Claude said while Athanasia looks shocked.

"five years ago, she stepped in front of me requesting that she be allowed to take care of you. that lady must still be with you. she also took charge of the Ruby Palace."

Inside, Athanasia was moved to tears because of Lily but remained smiling outside.

"how dare she. the only two people who survived after getting in my way we're your mother and that wench."

Athanasia munched quietly avoiding eye contact with Claude.

"daddy says ah~," Antanasia said, holding a fork with a Chocolate cake.

Claude opens his mouth and lets his daughter feed him and smiles softly at the smiling child.

he turned back to Athanasia once again. "as you sit there, are you aware of who I am?"

Athanasia froze and dropped her fork at the table.

Claude started to tap the table as he stared at her waiting for her answer.

"father?" Athanasia said nervously and Claude stopped head tilt at the side, his index finger was on his chin in a thinking pose.

Athanasia tried again. "...Papa?"

Claude froze and looked up.

Athanasia smiled brightly. "Papa!"

❲ EDITED ❳