Chapter 50 - Father-daughter Relationship

I opened my eyes slowly and the first thing I saw was the ceiling. I remember I saw a dream about some tree and all...I don't remember the right details about it...But I do know one thing and that's I mustn't be afraid of something that's yet to happen. I looked at the clock and it was almost 6 pm, I slept for a quite long period but for some reason even though I walked up after almost 7 hours. My body still feels light and fresh.

And my wounds are all healed. How did this happen? Did someone from the temple did this but why would someone from a temple visit a lord household that doesn't make sense. I must talk about this with others.

After that, I looked around my room and saw Ash sleeping soundlessly on the sofa. His face looks tired and colourless.

He doesn't even have a blanket with him...what if he gets cold. I thought as I woke up from my bed and went towards him with a blanket in my hand.

And then I slowly and quietly covered him with the blanket making sure that he doesn't wake up.

"You had a hard day today...didn't you.." I said in a low voice as I brushed his hair with my fingers. He is still 5 but, he already saw a lot of things that shouldn't even reach the ears of kids of this age.

"Sleep tight," I said as I turned around to leave but he suddenly held my hands.

I turned around and saw Ash who was now wide awake.

"Where are you going again?" He said with a straight face. "Huh? I...I was just going back to my bed..." I said as I smiled awkwardly.

"I asked where are you going!!!" He said again,

"Ash...I told you..." I said as I flinched by his sudden rise of voice.

"You...you are...going to leave me again...right...." He murmured as his expression darkened.

"No...Ash why would I ever do that!!!" I said as I panicked.

"Please...Please..don't leave me...please..." Ash said as tears started to fall from his eyes.

What is happening??? "Ash why are you being like this...no I mean please stop crying...I am right here..." I said as wiped off his tears.

Ash is being so unusual today, He never acted like this before and he isn't listening to me at all.

Could he be...."Ash..." I said as I waved my hands infront of his face, but he didn't respond. As I thought he is sleep talking.

He has been suffering from sleep talking ever since he was born...and it even looked difficult for him to adjust with all of us. He always looked at us....as if we could disappear any moment.

But for the past 1 year, he didn't have this problem....and I never heard him crying this bitterly before. "There there calm down, I am here. You are safe." I said calmly as I patted his head.

"Don't....Leave me...." He kept murmuring. "Okay, I won't," I said as I started to sing a lullaby which was often sung by mother every time he sleep talked like this.

"Na..Na...Nana... Na...

The days have been tough,

The nights have been dark,

But don't you worry,

Even on the tough days, I will be holding your hand

Even in the dark nights, I will be there by your side

So, don't be afraid and sleep tight

My little dear one

So, don't be afraid and sleep tight

my little dear one

Every monsters that appear

Will be gone with the break of Dawn...

Every Dream you want

It Will become a reality as soon as the sun

Rose up

So, don't be afraid and sleep tight

My little dear one...

So don't be afraid and sleep tight

My little dear one....

La... La... Lala..la..." I ended the lullaby as I saw Ash was now fully asleep.

I smiled as I looked at his face, he must be working so hard these days with all the training and exam preparation, copping up with mother's Condition and on top of that...What Happened to me must have surprised him a lot...no wonder he has started to sleep talk again. Hah, it's too much stress for a 5-year-old kid..isn't it...

"I am sorry...I thought I treated you the best...and that I know you the best but in reality, I am not even qualified to be called your sister. I am sorry..." I said as I gently held his hand and a tear rolled down my left eye.

"I promise...I would be better from now on and I will make sure..that you will never go through all this ever again...I will protect you...My brother, I will make everything right for you and for everyone." I said as I smiled towards him.

Right then, the door of my room opened and a maid came inside my room, she was shocked to see me awake and was about to scream I guess, but I stopped her and told her to go outside with me.

"My Lady!! You are finally awake!!" The maid said as she burst into tears. "Yeah...I am.." I said as I laughed awkwardly.

"I..No we all were so worried about you!!" She cried.

"Yes I know...and I am sorry to make you all worry like this.." I said as I felt a pang of sudden guilt in my throat.

"My Lady you don't need to apologize...it was us who failed to take care of you...BUT now it's not time for this." The maid said as her face became blue.

"My Lady I know you just woke up but...But please come with me...Hana...Hana is in trouble!" The maid said as she held my hands.

"Hana, what happened to her?" I asked as I was surprised by the sudden commotion.

"She...She is about to be fired from the household as she wasn't able to take care of my lady.." The maid said as she looked downwards.

"She is getting fired...cuz of me..." I murmured,

"Take me to her! Right now!!" I ordered with a serious face.

"Yes! My Lady. Please follow me then." The maid said as we walked towards father's office.

I took a deep breath before entering the room,

"Open the door," I said to the maid.

"Yes My lady." She said as she opened the door.

And I went inside.

There was a tense environment inside with Father and butler Mill looking at Hana with their sharp eyes and Hana sitting there with an emotionless face.

"What happening here?" I said as I walked towards them.

"My Lady!" Both Butler Mill and Hana said as they looked toward me.

"Irene...." Father said as he looked at me with shocked eyes.

I know Father is happy to see me awake but right now, I need to stand beside Hana.

"Father, are you trying to fire Hana?" I asked as I went near his desk.

"My lady please calm down...you just woke up. Don't stress yourself up." Butler Mill said as he singled me to sit on the sofa.

"Thanks for your concern but I am totally fine and whatever happened to me...wasn't related to Hana in any way... the one to blame is only me," I said as I looked at them with a serious face.

"My Lady...You are too kind...But today I can't accept your kindness...cuz no matter how we say it, if not for my absence today such a thing would have never happened to you..." Hana said as she clenched her dress and bit her lower lip.

"You always treated me as well as others so well but what I did...My carelessness leads to you hurting yourself...I don't deserve to serve you...I don't" Hana said as teardrops fall in her hands.

"Hana who said that you did nothing for me...You did whatever you could just for me. You laughed with me, you picked me up every time I fell, you encouraged me, and more than anything you bought me Hot chocolate, even though it's so precious." I said as I smiled towards her. It's true Hana is my favourite maid or should I say she is like an older sister to me.

Hana sat there with a shocked expression on her face as a smile appeared on her face, "My Lady...you know everything...Don't you." She said.

"Yes, that's my speciality," I said jokingly.

But I did feel father gaze behind my back.

"Everyone except Irene can leave the room," Father said in a demanding tone.

"Yes, My lord." Saying that both of them left the room.Leaving me and Father all alone. I could feel father approaching me so I turned around with a smile on my face.

"Father I know you might be angry with me right now...but I promise such a thing will..." I wasn't even able to control my sentence when he carried me up and suddenly hugged me. His shoulders were shaking again..."Father...." I murmured as I was taken aback by his action.

"Thanks for returning...Thanks..." He said in a low voice. ".....Please never leave us like that ever again..please...I would do whatever you want...but never do that again...you are my only daughter....I can't lose you," Father said as I could feel the wetness in my shoulders.

He...He is crying..."Father, I will never do things like that ever again so please....." Don't cry...I wanted to say those last words but I knew at this moment, I shouldn't stop him.

It's not because he is my father or an elder or a man... it's not about shame... it's about feelings and emotions. And I know right now, he needs to let it go then hold them in.

And like that, we stood there for Almont 20 minutes, after which we finally sat down on the couch and had some Father-daughter talk.

He didn't ask me about, how I got those wounds and how I ended up in such a position.

But he still told me not to take much stress and told me not to overwork myself.

"It's almost 8 pm now, you should head for dinner, you probably haven't eaten since noon," Father said as he looked at the clock.

"Ah yes...I probably should but Father...why didn't you asked me about today's incident?" I asked him as I looked at my fingers.

Father stayed silent for a while, "Because I believe you don't want us to know about it and furthermore you regret doing...Don't you?" Father asked as he looked at me. His words surprised me it was as if he read my mind.

"Yes, father is right... Then I will head towards the kitchen." I said as I smiled slightly as I rose up from the couch and went towards the door.

"Ah but Father what about Hana's job? Will you still fire her?" " I asked as I turned around to face him.

"Well about that, she can stay if you want her to. You can do whatever you like, I will never stop you. And, don't hesitate to ask anything from me." Father said as he came near me.

"You are my only daughter. So I will do whatever I can to bring a smile to your face." Father said as he patted my head.

Father never told me things like this before, he always told us to follow rules and regulations but today it feels as if, he wants to spoil me. That's quite out of the blue but it somehow makes some happy.

"Thank you, Father," I said as I smiled brightly towards him.

"Good Girl, "Father said as he smiled back.

That night the question that always ran in my mind, If my father loves me or not? finally got an answer.

and that's was, 'Yes, he does, he always did and he always will.'