15 Father’s Return

After a few days, father came home from his travels.

"Father, welcome back." I was at the entrance waiting for the carriage he was in to come. I ran towards him and he caught me in his arms.

"Hahaha, did you miss me my angel?" Father looked very happy of my childish way of greeting him.

"Yes, mother and I have missed you so much." I smiled brightly at him.

Of course this entire act was all staged by me. Don't get me wrong, I am really happy to play the part of Alyssa and my affections for the ducal couple are starting to be genuine. I have been here for nearly a year now and my heart have become close to all the people here. But I still have to plan for my future and possible bad ending.

I asked Oliver when my father will be home and prepared myself on what to say to him about the Montgomery children. Actually I won't tell father that they were the only living descendants of the Montgomery family from the neighboring country. The only ones that know of this are me, Oliver and Eric. I have told them to keep this secret because I owe Derrick my life and also for safety issues as well.

"Welcome home dear." Mother who was just sick a few days ago can now walk but with some assistance. A maid was helping mother to walk towards father.

"My wife, you shouldn't have left your bed if you are still feeling unwell." Father looked at mother worriedly. I was smiling inwardly while looking at father hastens his steps to take mother from the maid.

And of course this was also one of my plans. These past few days, I have also nursed my mother on her sick bed. Her depression when father was away became full blown and I can't leave her side without worrying about her health deteriorating even more.

I have seen to it that all of her food was healthy and that she eats well. At first, feeding her was a hard job with her refusing to eat more. But as I used my cute and childish charms, she gave in to me and so every time she eats I was there to help feed her.

The doctor also gave some tonics and nourishing medicine, saying that this could help her physically and so I made it my job to give it to her on time. The doctor also said that these medicines are only to help mother's body recuperate and that her sickness is coming from depression. He advised that if we want her to fully recover then we should have to make her emotionally stable once more.

And so my plan is to reconcile the ducal couple slowly and steadily. I know the ending of Alyssa's mother in the novel and now that I am Alyssa, I will do my best for that ending to not come into fruition.

'The main objective of this mission is to clear the misunderstanding between these two.' I thought to myself.

'These two people are clearly in love with one another and I don't know why the ducal couple can't see that themselves.' I shook my head knowing that I had to fix their problem.

"Come, let me take you to the lounge room." Father said assisting mother. She was beaming with happiness and that made me smile as well.

"By the way, where is Eric?" Father asked. My mother's smile instantly disappeared with the mention of Eric.

'I really need to clear this misunderstanding once and for all.' I thought to myself. "About Eric father, I asked him to take care of someone for me."

"Take care of someone?" Father looked at me confused.

"I will tell you everything when we get to the lounge room. Mother needs to sit down and rest." I said.

"Of course." Father's attention was now solely with mother, who was now wearing a sad smile.

We walked towards the lounge area and took our seats. Father carefully helped mother on her seat and he sat beside her while still holding her hands. This made me smile seeing them so close with each other.

"Are you cold my wife?" Father asked with a worried tone. "Oliver please tell the maids to serve the tea and snacks. And also get my wife a blanket to keep her warm."

"Yes my lord." Oliver who was waiting by the side bowed and went out.

"You don't have to worry, I am okay." Mother said with a faint smile.

"Of course I have to worry, you are my wife." Father said with a calm tone. My mother on the other hand maintained her sad smile.

Inwardly I face palmed myself. If I can read thoughts I am sure what my mother was thinking right now was 'You only worry about me because I am your legal wife.'

The misunderstanding between these ducal couple really starts to irritate me. I need to fix this quickly but first let's introduce the Montgomery siblings.

"Umm father… I need to tell you something." I said with a worried tone.

"What is it my Ysa?" Father looked my way.

"Well it is about the other day when I went into town. Something happened." I said.

I have planned my dialogue and practiced so many times but I am still nervous now that I am in front of my father.

"Something happened?" Father looked at me curiously. "Tell me, what is it?"

And so I told father what happened in town, every detail of it except for the children being the Montgomery descendants. I only introduced them as street children and that Derrick had exceptional skills with the sword.

edited by: nalyn