Chapter 193 - Have A Goodnight, Father!
"You are spoiling her." A woman's poised and calm voice was heard in the silent room.
The young boy who was being subjected to the blame raised his head and glanced at the woman who sat before him.
Fritzen did not stop his action of taking a sip out of the cup filled with warm tea which was placed at his lips.
Queen Zena had finally been visited by her son just as he had promised to do once he was done with his dessert.
She waited for the servants to pour tea for them and when she was sure that they had been left alone, the first thing she had uttered was the statement filled with blame.
The young Prince was used to hearing similar words from his mother and nodded, implying that he would ponder over it.
At first, he had enjoyed the treatment he received from his mother but as of late, he was beginning to wonder whether he needed the excessive care that she smothered him with.
Every other young boy at the Royal Academy had the freedom of staying back with their friends and returning during the weekends.
However, the Prince was forbidden from doing so as the separation was not something his mother could bear.
He had his own friends, his desires to spend time and mingle with them but he would often have to cut short on this time to make enough time for his mother.
"How was your day at the Academy?" Queen Zena asked when she noticed that he had fallen deep into thought.
'Even my son thinks that I am wrong.' She pressed down the grievance in her heart as she smiled at him.
He was the firstborn child that she had struggled to give birth to, all she wanted for him was the best things that she could give.
However, it seemed as though he was also misunderstanding her intentions just like her husband.
'Every time I speak to my King about spoiling that girl he moves to another topic, not wanting to listen to my words.' She lamented and now she observed that her son was also doing the same.
Prince Fritzen smiled back at his mother and began narrating how well he was doing in his daily classes at the Academy.
While the Queen and her son sat in the parlor in her Palace, the King was walking his daughter back to the Rose Palace which was her residence.
"Will we get the new dessert tomorrow?" Princess Felicia inquired with excitement dazzling in her eyes.
She gazed at the man who strode next to her with longing for the treat apparent in her eyes.
'How can she still think about eating more sweet dishes after everything she had after dinner?' King Ophire had a helpless look on his face as he nodded at her.
"Did Miss Glennise praise the new dessert highly?" He tested her, slight mockery laced in those words.
Sadly, his child was too young to comprehend the sarcastic remark he had made and nodded soon after hearing those words.
"Glenny told me everything about her trip to the Commercial District before I came over to meet you for evening tea, Father." She informed me with the same enthusiasm as earlier.
The King's steward and the Princess' personal maid followed after their masters at an appropriate distance, making sure that they were not within earshot to avoid listening in on their conversation.
"Is that so?" King Ophire humored her and patted her head as he walked along.
This gesture only encouraged the child to continue speaking as she made animated gestures with her hands to improve the story-telling experience for her father.
At first, the man was nodding absentmindedly to placate his eager child but somewhere along the way, his curiosity was piqued.
The cause of this sudden change was the child whose name he had heard after a long time.
Ever since he had promised Marquess Samed to not get the daughter of Earl St. Claire involved in the plans regarding the preventive measures against the plagues, he had not heard a single thing about her.
Now, he was hearing about the news of how she had helped the servants in Baron MacIntyre's cafe which made the Ruler of the land to have a proud smile on his face.
'That child is truly charitable!' He had high praises for the young one who was doing so much without expecting anything in return.
Unfortunately, the King was still under the false impression that Yvonne had created for herself the last time she had asked the Marquess to help her keep a secret from the Royal Ruler of the land.
The misconception that she was doing another great deed of charity to the Baron had taken root into his brain, a misconception that will soon be broken.
As King Ophire was praising Yvonne's smart mind, the father and daughter pair had reached the Rose Palace.
"Have a goodnight, Father!" Felicia did not forget to curtsy as she wished him goodbye.
The father watched his little girl rush ahead as she tried to hurry back inside to get some sleep as it was already close to her bedtime.
The maid bowed before the King and followed after the Princess to ensure that she was alright.
King Ophire had remained in the same place as he waited for his daughter to safely enter her Palace before he could leave this place.
However, just as she had reached the entrance, Felicia turned around and yelled at a loud voice.
"Don't forget about the dessert that I want after lunch!" She screamed and in the next instant, scurried away to avoid any reprimands from him.
She knew that she had just forgone her etiquettes so she did not wait to hear another lecture from him.
King Ophire shook his head at the child who was obedient at times and at others, she was mischievous.
He was aware of the dessert that she wished to eat after lunch which made him sigh as he turned around.
"Summon Baron MacIntyre tomorrow with the reason for discussing the services that he would have to provide for Princess Felicia's birthday celebrations in a few weeks." He ordered the steward who accepted the instructions with a bow.
'If Felly wants those then I will get her those treats for the celebration.' He conceded his defeat before the whims of his little girl.
The servant stood at the side and waited for his master to move ahead and only then did he lift his head and follow after him.
The slow pace that they had been walking at in order to accommodate the short steps of the Princess had now hastened as they were heading back to the Main Palace where the King and Queen resided.
"Make sure that Baron gets the new dessert when he arrives." King Ophire gave out a second order when he recalled the parting words of the princess.
The steward bowed his head once again and continued to follow the King while making the necessary plans in his mind about how to fulfill the tasks given to him.
'I will see to it that Princess gets that dessert after her lunch with His Majesty." He swore to himself and was bent on fulfilling this promise.