Chapter 182 - Am I At Fault?

"Father, I will tell you what happened at the forest but please promise me one thing...." Irene said as she let go of Sam hand.

"Just say it." 

"Then Father promise me that after hearing what I am going to say, you won't loose your temper." Irene said as she looked at him with confidence.

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"Okay...I promise not to loose my temper no matter what you say next." Raymond said as he looked at Ash. His father instinct already smelt the upcoming blast he was going to hear about.

"Then, I will tell you about today's incident...." Irene said and stated to explain everything from the beginning till the end.

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"So much happened and the situation was so tough yet you knowingly ran out towards the forest without any help....I really don't know what to do with you." Raymond said while looking at Irene, to which Irene just looked at the ground.

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"And about you Ash...*sigh* I really don't get what's wrong with you? I understand that you want to prove yourself so, under your sister request I and Freya let you learn swordsmanship, we never put any restrictions on you. So, why are you still being so rebellious to the extent that you are unable to distinguish between right and wrong!" Raymond for the first time scolded both of them and the atmosphere went from worried to tense.

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"Father I know I lost my temper but he...." 

"He said something that he shouldn't have, is that your excuse Ashton. Words are indeed arrows which can't be taken back but remember your arms are also the weapon which can't be hidden. 

The words he said hurted you and were only heard by you but the wounds you gave him were received by him and will be seen by everyone." Raymond said as he looked at Ashton.

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"Father, I know what you are worried about but Don't worry I made sure that fourth master Winter won't be able to speak the truth. Ashton is safe." Irene said as she placed her hands on his trying to calm him down.

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"Irene....I don't know what should I even say...you did this to protect him but for how long will you he able to keep being his shield? 

You were lucky that I was the fourth master white because if it had been someone else I doubt seeing you two standing infornt of me." Raymond said as he sighed.

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"Both of you give me so much of stress, that it is making me question my choices..." Raymond said as he removed his hands from Irene's grip and sat down on the sofa.

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"This isn't the first time, that soemthing like this happened and I know this won't be the last either...and I know it well that there are lot of things you two keep form me. Be it your feelings, problems or health issues...and I don't really blame you two." 

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"But sometimes I wonder...Is it because I wasn't able to fulfill the role of a father that you two cannot open up with me? Am I the one at fault?" Raymond murmered as he lowered his head.

"Father..." Irene and Ash seeing him like this felt no good but they didn't dare comfort him because they had no idea how to.

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"Lord Winter please don't blame yourself. And who said that you didn't fulfill the role of a father? When you are the best father and person I have ever seen...otherwise tell me who else would bring his best friend daughter with no special background to his house and fulfill all her needs be it anything.

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Lord Winter may think this as a self pleasing, but trust me everything I am saying is what I truly felt. You played the role of a father so well that I didn't miss my own father, I felt as if I am a part of this family...I felt that I am really your daughter." Sam said as she sat while kneeling before him and putting her tiny hands on his hands.

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"And I believe both Ashton and Lady Winter feel the same but are afraid if expressing themselves afterall, you are someone who will be with them for a lifetime so how could they just pour out everything at once? When they can do it a little everyday." Sam said as she smiled while glancing at both Irene and Ash who were surprised by her words but at the same time thankful for saving them form having a mental breakdown.

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"Father, Lady Maxim is right...and we know what we did was not right...and was selfish, we know it all and we are very much apologetic towards it." Irene said as she too sat next to Sam.

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"Father, please forgive us. We promise that there won't be a next time ever and if it does then I would give up on swordmanship like father wanted." Ash out of sudden put forward a strong promise which made even Raymond to twitch.

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"Ashton! Do you know what those words would mean!" Irene scolded him as she looked at him.

"Sister, I learnt from you only. Every one should fulfill there responsibilities...until now I have been running from it but now I won't." Ash said as he bowed before Raymond and kneeled just like the other girls.

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Irene had no idea what she should say, it was a good thing that Ash was well aware for his responsibilities as the oldest son and as the future heir but at the same time Irene was worried about his dream which was now on a very thin line dancing between life and death.

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"Three of you..."

"Father you promised me, that you won't lose your temper so what are you doing now?" Irene said as she looked at him with pitiful eyes.

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"Are you trying to change the topic now?" Raymond said as he stood up.

"Father.." 

"Lord Winter" Irene and Sam said as thye tired to coax him but it didn't work.

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"Father, I am sorry...please don't be angry." Ash said as he ran before him and hugged him tightly making sure he won't be able to leave.

"Ashton! Let me go." 

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"No, I won't! If you leave now, then you will lock yourself in that cold office and start ovwrhtinking and over working again, and then you would skip your meals leading you to get sick. I can't let that happen, so you can't leave." Ash said as he hugged him and signlaled Irene and Sam to help him.

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"Right, we won't let you leave." Irene said as she hugged him from the right side and Sam form the other side.

"I respect you, lord winter and I care about your health so I must do this please forgive me." Sam said as she looked at him with a guilty look.

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"You kids are making me speechless...don't be stubborn and let loose. You won't be able to bear it for long that too in such a hot weather. And even if you do, I won't be able to make it so relase me...even you really care about me." Raymond said and unwilling they had to let go of him with gloomy faces.

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"Stop running your head and return to your owns rooms." Raymond said as he looked at each of their faces and walked away form them without any word if comfort or care.

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"Lord Winter is really really angry...I am afraid will this really happen his health." Sam said as she sighed. Since she is living here since a month she is well aware of his health condition which mainly gets affected because of his bad food schedule.

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"Don't worry, you did your best. Now go back and rest well." Irene said as she patted her head with a gentle smile on her face.

"Yeah, you too Lady Winter. You did your best today too." Sam said as she smiled while looking at her face. The tense environment suddenly turned all soft and harmless, with them being all caring for each other. But it wasn't the same for Ashton.

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"Then I will see you at dinner. And Ashton, don't move around on your own ever again!" She said while making a mad face.

"Okay~~ I promise, not to kove around on my own ever again." Ashton said as he raised on his hand horizontally.

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"You better remmber it." Sam said as she left the room leaving both the siblings alone with awkward silence.

"I will return to my room too." Irene said as she walked past him.

"Sister wait for me--Ahh" Ash who was trying to follow her ended up hitting his leg joint on the wooden table.

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"What wrong?" Irene asked as she turned around with a worried face.

"Nothing much, I just hit my leg on the table. It's okay." He said while trying to suppress his pain so that Irene won't feel worried.

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"Bullsh*t!" Irene said angrily as she put his arms around her neck to support him.

"Why lie, when you can't? Let me send you back.." Irene said as they started waking towards Ashton's room which was on the second floor.