Chapter 141 - Another Encounter (1)

It has already been 3 weeks since it all happened. That person Sir Friyedor mentioned still hasn't appeared in front of her nor did he introduced someone to her. He must have forgotten about it already, Alexandra thought to herself as she walked around the garden of her father's palace. Not the garden that she went before when Prince Julian and his father came to visit the palace nor the garden where she first met her brother Gilbert.

This was completely another garden. It was the same size as the previous one she went to but there were more flowers in here. A gazebo was also seen in the middle of the garden in case if you are tired and you want to take a rest or if you just want to have your tea parties in here. Oh, come to think of it, it would be much better if I would have my tea parties here with my father and my brother. It would be rather pleasant and lovely, she thought to herself and admired the bush of pink roses. The sweet scent coming from the roses wafted to her nose.

Alexandra continued to walk around the place silently as Carlos followed behind her. "What are you thinking, young miss?" He asked, breaking the silence which once surrounded them. Alexandra hummed before she responded, "Nothing special. It's just that, it would be wonderful if my father and I would have our tea parties in here," She said and continued to walk around, admiring the flowers as she walked past them.

Come to think of it, my brothers are going to return from the academy once again because it's their summer vacation although I don't know when that would be. But my father told me that they are going to return any time soon. Alexandra asked him that at the time where she met one of the Elders after he left.

--~--

"Gosh, she's so cute and small! Can I hold her for a second? Please, Claude?" He pleaded, showing the emperor his cute puppy eyes. But despite that, his efforts were still in vain as Alexander refused to hand Alexandra to him. "I refuse. Besides, Alexandra isn't that comfortable when others especially strangers or the people she just met would carry her. She isn't a baby who you could just easily carry," He said. Friyedor just pouted and clicked his tongue, even if he persuades the man in front of him any further, he would still refuse.

"Fine. Anyways, does she have any friends?" Somehow, that was quite offending for Alexandra, she doesn't know why. Alexander furrowed his eyebrows and before he could speak, Alexandra interrupted him. "I do have. They are many of them, the people working inside this palace and my palace, my knight, and also a student at the academy. Although he rarely comes because he is busy with the academy," Alexandra said.

"Well, that's good that you have a friend who is near your age but he rarely visits you, right? That must be sad and lonely. Don't worry, I am going to send someone to you. I am sure you are going to like that person. That means you will have another friend. Isn't that fun?" He said and smiled at Alexandra who had her eyebrows knitted because of confusion. What does he mean by that? Is he going to find someone for me? That's thoughtful of him but I think I am okay with my situation right now.

Before either of them could speak, the man spoke. "Well, I am going now. I still have many things to do," And within just a blink of an eye, he disappeared and vanished into thin air. Kinda reminds her of Harrison when he leaves the room or something. Alexander just let out a sigh.

My father looks tired and exhausted after talking to him. She is not insulting him but people like him are tiring to talk or deal with since they are always full of energy and talks always. But seeing my father just let him act like that, he is really close with him or just used to it. But he mentioned that he already sees my father as his grandson. Ah, this is making my head hurt as I think about it, she thought to herself.

In front of other people, my father acts cold and ruthless but when he is with someone who he is close with, he is sort of natural. Like he is comfortable around them.

Ever since the man left, nobody dared to speak so silence just surrounded them. Her father was still holding her in his arms and wasn't moving. What is my father thinking anyways? Maybe he is thinking about his paper works or something like that since he wasn't able to finish or continue it when I arrived. I still have something to ask him.

"He isn't a bad person. He just usually acts like that. But about the person that he is going to introduce you to, I don't know who will that be," Her father suddenly said out of blue, breaking the silence that surrounded them. Alexandra looked up and met her father's cold gaze, a confused look written on her face. "In case if you are wondering. Despite him acting like that, he is one of the powerful Elders. He was the one who helped me with many things. He was close with my father and treat him as his son so that's why he treats me as his grandson. I am an only child, you see," Her father spoke once again and started walking towards the door.

Where are we heading? Is he going to throw me out? Nah, that wouldn't happen. He would just tell me to do so, she thought to herself. "Where are we heading, papa?" Alexandra asked as he opened the door. He was still holding her in his arms. "I am going to take a walk around the courtyard. Lysander, give the remaining work to my assistant. There are only a few left. Tell him, I am just going to walk around with Alexandra," He said before he stepped outside. Carlos followed behind them.

Feels like I'm on a lockdown since I just remained inside my office for days, Alexander thought to himself as he walked still carrying Alexandra inside her arms. "Papa?" Alexandra called out to her father. "What is it?" He responded. "You can put me down now," Alexandra said and her father stopped from his tracks. He bent down and let Alexandra get down from his arms but he still held her hand. Somehow, he is gradually acting like a true father, she thought to herself and couldn't help but smile.

"Right, I have a question to ask you, papa," Alexandra started as they continued to walk once again while holding hands. "What is it?" He responded and slightly tilted his head down to look at her. "When are my brothers going back from the academy? I mean, it's almost their vacation, right? I badly want to see them again. How long will their vacation last?" Alexandra started to attack him with questions, excitement lacing her tone of voice as she spoke. There was a smile across her lips which was beaming with joy. Aside from her brothers going back, Harrison would also visit frequently.

Alexandra lifted her head and looked at him, her warm gaze meeting his cold ones. "Are your relationship with them improving?" Her father didn't respond or answer her questions but rather he asked her this. Based on how Alexandra was acting, it seems like she was already getting close with them but he is not sure yet. Alexandra smiled widely at him and nodded, "Yes. Although I am still not that close with Brother Calixander and Brother Chandler but our relationship is slightly improving. I hope that this vacation, I will become close with them," She responded with a smile on her face.

"That's good," It was good that she hadn't given up regardless of her brothers' personality and how they treated her. It seems like she is already strong enough to deal with this on her own. "Are you not mad at them?" Her father asked her in his usual monotonous tone of voice. Alexandra hummed before she responded, "No. I understand why they are acting like that towards me, I can't blame them, after all. But since I already have gotten this far, I am not going to give up. Besides, nothing would happen if I don't do something," She said.

She recalled the conversation her two brothers had inside one of the houses on their training grounds. It was at the time where they were looking for them and before they leave and go back to the academy. It was still vivid and clear inside her head.

"Do you think she is coming today, brother?" That voice belongs to Prince Chandler.

"Are you waiting or expecting her to come today?" There are only two people who only have that cold and monotonous voice, father and Prince Calixander. It was probably Prince Calixander because Prince Chandler called him as a brother.

"N-No! I hate her, so I would probably be g-glad that she w-wouldn't c-come today!" Prince Chandler is being a tsundere.

"What are you so nervous about?"

"It's nothing, I just remembered what father and Brother Gilbert told me before,"

"What about Gilbert? I can only recall the one with father while we were having breakfast,"

"Should we trust her?"

"That's what father told us to do, to just be patient and spend some time with her even though it would be short, and try to get close to her,"

"B-But—"

"Father also said that it was one of what mother wanted, that even if it was a girl or if it was a boy born with a disease or something, let's treat him or her as siblings. That was what mother wanted and wished,"

"Are you really going to trust her?"

"I'll try to get to know her first and judge her by how she acted but based from how she treated us for the past few days, it seems like she doesn't resent us even when I treated her harshly and she looks innocent,"

"That's weird coming from your mouth, you would always badmouth her before but now… you're sort of… soft,"

"Shut up, I'm trying to be an understanding brother. That is also what our mother and father wished and told me before. One of the responsibilities of the eldest sibling is to take care of his or her younger siblings. I am just trying to do my responsibilities, although I still hate her,"

"Hmm…"

"And you too, act maturely and stop arguing with Christian. You two are siblings, try to get along with him,"

"I don't want to,"

"You just don't know how to,"

"Of course I do! I just refuse to get along with him even with that girl,"

"Even when she gave you the things that you've been looking for since last year?"

"W-Well, I still hate her! Argh, I just don't want to get along with either of them,"

"And your reason is?"

"I'm not telling you,"

"You tsundere,"

She was able to realize some things because of that conversation. She knew about their reasons and some things that they are going to do because of that. She was happy when she learned about it, it feels like something heavy was taken off on top of her shoulders. It was quite a relief actually.

"I see. It's my fault why they are acting like that. I don't want to tell you the reason. But I apologize if I haven't treated you as my daughter at first that's why don't be confused if I am acting like this right now. There are various reasons why and I won't tell you about it, maybe when the right time comes," He said and Alexandra blinked multiple times as she stared at him.

"About your brothers, they are going to return next month or any time soon. Just wait for them," He said. Alexandra nodded and she looked ahead of her.

I—

As she was deep in thought, she bumped into someone making her fall backward but thanks to Carlos' quick response, he was able to catch her before she falls back to the hard ground. "Ow," Although she didn't fall to the ground, the pain and impact that she felt when she bumped into that person were enough to make her wince in pain.

"Young miss, are you okay?" Carlos asked her in a worried tone of voice and Alexandra just nodded and said, "Yes, I'm okay. Moreover, what about the one who bumped into me?" She heard a groan coming from the person in front of her who was now sitting on the ground.

"Ugh, that hurts," It sounds like the owner of the voice was a boy. She turned her head towards that person and her warm blue eyes met cold yet enchanting green ones.