Chương 41: Vaille and Sappire
"How is your friend?" Sappire asked as Vaille came out of the room.
"She's fine, for now. Her vial is absorbing mana from the plants we placed around the room. So, she should be fine." She sighed, burying her face in her hands.
"I can't believe I didn't notice how drained she was. Her Vial was so close to being empty … she must have been so tired, Father."
They began walking down the hall of the empty castle, soft light glowing all around them.
"She's a smart girl from what I can see. She will be fine. Are you ok? I'm sorry this birthday ended like this."
Vaille shook her head and smiled, "This what the best birthday I've had in years, Father."
"Really? We but we didn't get to have a proper dinner like you always asked for."
"What I wanted was just to be able to spend time with you, Father. Nothing else matters and I am so glad I got to see how you found me too. Definitely my best birthday."
They stopped in front of Vaille's room door, smiling at each other as they awkwardly kept standing there.
Father never dropped me to my room before. I'm so happy. If I died tonight, it will be a happy death.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it today, Vaille."
"Yes. Sadly, it's over now." She added dreading the next day's loneliness to her next birthday. "Then good night, Father."
"Vaille," Sappire called out before he could stop himself.
"Yes, Father?" Vaille looked at him with a hint of expectation in her eyes.
"Wo-would you like to sleep in my room tonight?"
"Y-your asking me to-"
"Only if you want. Well, after I have neglected you so much I can understand why you would refuse. It was silly of me to ask. Good night, V-"
"No! I-I mean. I want to sleep in your room. Y-your bed couldn't be softer than mine." She nervously added.
Sappire smiled, "Really? I do believe mine is of the finest quality both in cloth and the fillings."
"N-no way. M-mine is softer." Vaille crossed her arms but a smile still formed on her face.
"Then there is only one way to find out."
"And that is?"
"I'll be the judge of it. Come, father." Vaille reached for Sappire's hand but hesitated.
Is this really ok?
Sappire took her hands in his, "Let's go then. I am going to win for the softest bed."
Vaille stared up at him then giggled, tightening her grip in his hands, "No I am going to."
_____________________
"No. You didn't." Vaille gasped, hugging a pillow that's just her size while she bounced on the bed. Her nightdress was a little small for her but it wasn't uncomfortable.
"I did. Why do you think I have this scar here?" Sappire showed a scar at the edge of his jaw. It was faint but there.
"Wow, it looks like it would have been painful."
"No. I didn't notice the cut until a maid started screaming that 'the prince is bleeding'. Until now, people think it's from a battle but only you and I know this secret." Sappire rested against another pillow, turning his entire body to face Vaille. His hair flowed down to the bedspread with his robe.
"What about the one that dared you, father?"
"Oh him? He died on the battlefield, ten years ago." Though he still smiled, there was a hint of sadness as he said that.
The Battle of Uris. The day father came back alone. I wonder what happened.
"I can't believe father jumped off a building to the thorn bushes just because someone dared you to." Vaille ignored her urge to ask him about what happened that day.
Who knows how long this will last? I just want to see Father happy.
"I was a wild child. No matter how much scolding I got, I ignored everyone and did whatever I wished. The maids and my tutors were the ones that suffered the most under my hand. I pity them." He laughed as he recalled something else.
"I would always play childish pranks on them. Once, I splashed my father's new concubine with cold water during winter."
"Father!" Vaille gasped again, stunned at the man in front of her.
Father didn't do that. He wouldn't. That's not like him.
"Well, she was responsible for poisoning my father in the end so I do think my prank was mild compared to that."
"Then she deserves it and a lot more." Vaille huffed.
So she is the Duchess from Vetil, the seventeenth princess in line for the throne. She had hoped to kill off the king and get the throne but father was too strong and smart for her.
In the end, she was beheaded and father became the king. He had to struggle just to stay alive and many called him the Blood-Thirsty King because of how many wars he started and kingdoms he destroyed.
They said that all he wanted to do is see the world burn. But … I don't believe that. Father does not attack unless he has a reason to and everyone just seems to want to get on his bad side. Father's not the one at fault.
"I hate the kingdom of Vetil." Vaille accidentally spoke out.
"Hmm? Why?"
"Ah. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say it out loud." She quickly covered her mouth.
"No, tell me. Why do you hate the Kingdom of Vetil?" He asked, as his golden eyes glowed, "Did someone from that kingdom do something to you? Just describe them and I will take care of you."
"No. I have not met anyone from Vetil. I just hate them for you, father. They refused to take responsibility for what happened to your father because of their own princess, leaving you to deal with everything on your own. I hate them."
"While that is true, Vaille. They couldn't interfere because of a treaty that was signed between us but they permitted me to do whatever I want to the Duchess and they would pretend as though nothing happened."
"That isn't enough. They should have done more." Vaille pouted, hugging the pillow closer to her.
"Well, I don't hate them," Sappire said, smiling at Vaille's reaction.
"B-but why? It's because of them that you had to go through so many things, father."
"Not entirely. Everyone in court wanted to kill father, even if she hadn't killed him someone else would have done so. And," He patted Vaille's head, "you are from Vetil. So how could I hate the Kingdom my beloved daughter came from?"
"W-what?" Vaille tried to mask her surprise of both her father's hand on her head and what he had just said. Her shoulders slumped when he took his hand away.
"Remember the vision we saw?"
"Yes?" Vaille touched where his hand was as the warmth faded.
"Your mother was the second princess of the Kingdom of Vetil. She was sent away to a political marriage with the King of Scarin. I knew her from my secret visits to the Kingdom. She was an amazing woman, so strong and powerful."
Sappire had a hit of fondness in his eyes as he spoke of her, even though his smile was a little sad.
"Father … did you love my mother?"
"Love? I don't know if you can call it that but I cherished her existence beyond even my own. I tried to protest when she was about to be sent away but she made that choice on her own and I wanted to respect her wishes."
"Did you ever regret not stopping her that day?" Vaille asked, playing with the hem of her dress.
If father stopped her, he could have married her too and they would be happy. Why would father even want to keep me?
"Vaille, come here." He propped himself up, leaning against a stack of pillows and opened his arms to her.
Without hesitation, Vaille entered his embrace. Feeling the warmth of his body as he pulled the covers over them. The beating of his heart calmed hers down like little drums.
"I would be lying if I said that I didn't regret it a little bit but knowing her, she would have ignored me either way. I felt sad that I couldn't make it in time to save her but you were ok. And that's all that matters, now." He held her tight like he was scared she would slip away if he loosened his grip even a little.
"Why did you save me or even take me in as your daughter? You could have just put me in an orphanage. Or … somewhere else." Vaille asked, pulling out of the embrace. Her eyes downcast. "I'm not your real daughter. But the daughter of the woman you loved with another man."
"Vaille." Sappier took her hands in his and waited for her to finally look at him in the face. He gently placed a kiss on her forehead. "You are my daughter. But remember the decision to remain as my daughter is up to you.
"If one day you do not wish to associate with me or to stop being my daughter, I-"
"No! I want to be your daughter. I am so happy to be your daughter. Please let me keep being your daughter, forever." Vaille cried, jumping into his arms again.
"My lovely daughter. My reason for living. Thank you for accepting me as well." Sappire smiled as he buried his face in her hair.
"Thank you for existing." He whispered, unbeknownst to Vaille who was still a sobbing mess in his arms.
________________
"Are you feeling better?" He asked, handing her a handkerchief.
"Yes." She sniffled, wiping her eyes and nose with the handkerchief.
"It's nice to have a good cry." Sappire looked at Vaille's long hair and turned her around, sitting her on his lap.
"F-father?"
"It will be uncomfortable sleeping like this. Let me braid your hair for you."
"Fine. Only if I can braid yours too."
"Oh~ Vaille knows how to braid hair? I'm impressed." He chuckled, as his hands expertly wove her hair.
Her hair … is just like her mother's.
"I practised. I also know how to embroider and swing a sword." Vaille said, pride in her voice.
"Really? May I ask for an embroidered handkerchief then? Maybe we will have to duel oneday too."
"Of course. I can make as many as you need. I'll get started tomorrow with Lillian." Vaille squealed as she thought of what to embroider. "I've always wanted to talk about these things with you, father. It feels like a dream, I'm so happy."
"I'm sorry I couldn't do even this much for you, Vaille."
Vaille shook her head, "I know you're busy. I need only one day. That's good enough for me, father. Thank you for today, I even got to see your room. I'm so happy."
"Does that mean I won in terms of softest bed?" He teased.
"Yes. Yes. You won. It must be so comfortable sleeping here." Vaille patted the mattress and sighed wistfully.
"Come anytime you wish then."
"Are you sure? I might disturb you."
"Well, if it's you please come and disturb me. In your case, you don't disturb me enough." He chuckled, destroying any chance of Vaille to get mad at him.
"I was trying to be a good child and princess." Vaille huffed.
"You don't have to be perfect. You just have to be … Vaille."
"Fine. But it'll be hard not being perfect all the time."
Sappire finally laughed, "You are my daughter. Done." He tied the ends of her hair using a hair tie he summoned with his magic.
"Of course, who else did you think I was?" Vaille inspected her hair and gasped, "Wow. You are so skilled, father. But I will be better. Turn around."
"Ok. Ok."
"You have such pretty hair, father." Vaille started braiding his silky locks with as much precision as her father did. "H-how was mother like?"
"Mother? Oh, her? She was scary, especially in battle. She could take me down without even trying."
"Mother was like that?"
"Yeah, there was this time that involved a gryphon-"
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Winter_Iris
Winter_Iris Would you all like to read a little more on Sappier and Vaille's mother's relationship? Please let me know.
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