"Alicia." A familiar voice called out to . I have heard this voice many tis since I arrived in this palace. But even after this many years I can’t help but feel the distance between us.
I look around to find king father walking towards . All the people that he passed by bowed down to him.
"Greetings to you king father." I curtsied when he was just a few steps in front of .
"Rise my child." Father said
I looked up and see father looking at with love and affection that he has never once shown to before. This surprised so I turned my gaze away, not to the extent that he would notice.
"Let look at you before you leave." Father gently cupped my face and raised my face. He looked at with such warmth. "You really have your mother’s looks."
My father’s words gave a sense of warmth. Sothing I have craved from him since the first ti I t him.
"I want to apologize to you my child." Father’s voice was firm and gentle. "I have never been such a father to you. I know that in your heart, you have so ill feelings towards ."
His words shook . It is true that I have so ill feelings against him to so extent. It has been many years since he has taken in as his daughter but he never once been a father to . Even though in the exterior, I seem to be okay with his cold treatnt towards but deep down inside, I have always hoped he would love even just a bit. The years that I lived and grew up with my step siblings, seeing them being treated well by my father made envious.
And now with father’s words, my inner most feelings are trying to surface. I was trying to suppress the tears that are at the rim of my eyes.
"Oh, my Alicia." Father might have seen how I was fighting back the tears from falling. He quickly pulled into his embrace. "Shh, don’t cry. It’s father’s fault. It’s all this father’s fault."
His words broke the dam that was holding back my feelings. I then cried out loud like a child in her father’s embrace.
"Why? Why only now father?" I let out my pent up frustration on him. "I have always craved for your love. I have tried my best to be well behaved. I have always hoped that even though I was just an illegitimate child, if I behave well you would at least give a glance or a simple recognition. But it was all in vain. I thought you really never loved , that I was just a mistake that you made for only one night with my mother who was only a maid."
"Shhh...shhh. It’s my fault, please forgive ." Father was patting my back trying to console . "I know my past actions cannot be forgiven lightly and all my reasons are just excuses, but please don’t think that I do not love you."
Father held my face and lifted it up. He gently wiped away the tears with his thumb. "I have always loved you as my daughter Alicia. You were never a mistake my child. Don’t ever think of that. Your mother is the only woman I have ever loved in my life. I had made bad choices, wrong decisions and I have regretted all of them until now. But at least I want to correct one mistake and that is to show you that I love you, my daughter."
Hearing the words ’I love you’ and ’My daughter’ made my heart squeeze with both pain and happiness. This made cry even more and father never let go of in his embrace. He continuously comforted in my sobs.
I didn’t know how long I have cried after my sobs have subsided. When I cald down, father released from his embrace.
"Are you alright now?" Father asked with gentleness while wiping the remaining tears away.
I nodded as a reply and a handkerchief was handed to in an instant. When I looked up, I see Regaleon who was handing his handkerchief.
"Have you cald down?" Regaleon asked with patience. I nodded to his question and took his handkerchief and wiped my eyes from the tear stains.
"Father in law." Regaleon gave his greeting to father and father nodded as acknowledgent. "I hate to interrupt but I am afraid we must proceed with the parade."
"I understand." Father replied curtly.
I nearly forgot that the grand parade was about to start and that we were standing at place where many people were preparing. When I looked around the employees and maids that were busy were looking at us with tearing eyes.
’They just saw our family drama.’ I thought. This made felt embarrassed. I feel like I want to dig a hole on the ground and hide.
Regaleon may have noticed my embarrassnt, he pulled into his embrace with my face buried into his chest.
"If you can excuse us father in law? I want to take Alicia to freshen her up." Regaleon asked.
Regaleon’s reasons is what I really need right now. I feel that my eyes were swollen from the crying.
"Of course." Father gave us his permission.
Before Regaleon was able to escort away, father called out to him.
"Prince Regaleon." Father called and Regaleon turned around. "Please take care of my daughter in my stead." I can hear father’s utmost sincerity with his request.
Regaleon hooked up his lips into his clever smile. "Even without you asking your grace, I intend to take care of her until the day I die."
There was a hint of irritation in my father’s face for an instant but then he heaved a sigh and nodded in acknowledgent.
After that Regaleon took away to help freshen up before the grand parade begins.
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