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I held the regal title of princess, not as a mere reverie or yearning, but as a living reality. Conceived from the union of the family leader and one of his favored consorts, adoration naturally flowed towards me. Whether it was from my mother, half-siblings, or even the guards of the household, they had still loved me regardless of my actions. I found solace in that affection, until the day I encountered him - my father.
On my tenth birthday, amidst the grandeur of a lavish celebration, I sought refuge in the garden, donned in a resplendent white and pink floral gown. Drifting away from the festivities, I crouched by a lavender bush, a smile gracing my lips, when a pleasant hum caressed my ears. It emanated from a man seated on a bench, his luscious white hair flowed and gleamed under the night. His eyes remained closed in an air of tranquil repose. He wore a simple white robe with hints of red, some parts of his chest revealing. Captivated, I found myself drawn toward him, my hand instinctively reaching out.
Startled, he blinked open his eyes. I withdrew, cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "I-I apologize! It's just that you looked so—"
A chuckle escaped him as he regarded me. "Looked so? Continue."
"My sincerest apologies! I shall summon someone to attend to your request for compensation!" I said hiding my face away.
"How adorable, my beloved daughter I mean," he murmured, affectionately patting my head, only for me to glance up and find him vanished.
"My daughter...?" I mused, staring at the spot where he'd been.
Our paths never crossed again, and my inquiries to my mother and others yielded naught. They dismissed my account, asserting, "The family head scarcely has time for such encounters, my dear." Though adored by all, credibility in matters concerning the family head eluded me.
This forged a determination within me— to win his love and prove to all that it existed. Despite my innate prowess, I toiled relentlessly, honing my skills through unyielding training, wielding my sword a thousand times, and reading volumes of books, unwavering in my pursuit.
In due course, I earned the status of a princess contender within the Arie clan, eventually ascending to the exalted position. Prior to my palace move, I received a summons from the family head.
I genuflected before him, stealing furtive glances, yet the warmth I once knew no longer radiated from him.
"I've been told of your soon princesshood," he intoned.
"Yes, Father," I replied.
"My sole purpose in summoning you is to offer counsel. Do not bring shame upon the Arie legacy. Regard the Zahard family not as kin, but as competitors. Understood?" His gaze bore into me, a palpable threat lurking.
"Yes, Father..." The ache of his altered demeanor pierced deeper still.
Residing in the royal palace post-coronation, I ascended the Tower without purpose, my father's visage, once affectionate, now etched in frost.
Would our next encounter yield a frigid reception or rekindled affection? This query echoed within me on the 99th floor, as I awaited the ascent to the 100th.
Upon returning to the palace of my youth, I was offered accommodation by the Arie sentinels. Accepting without reservation, I entered, only to be summoned again.
"Your Highness, the family head awaits."
Surprise surged within me. Uncertain whether to feel elation or ire. En route, I pondered whether to change from my blood-streaked armor, but the sentinel urged otherwise. We arrived, the palace a haven of familiarity. As the doors parted, the family patriarch stood as the sole figure. The one who guided me had departed. I genuflected, yet he made me rise before the custom greeting.
Like that initial encounter, a soft smile graced his countenance. "Welcome back, my beloved daughter. You've grown."
I looked at him intently. Beloved daughter? How could those words come out of his mouth after our last encounter? A tempest of anger and a desire for retribution surged within me, even if it meant courting imprisonment. Yet, I averted my gaze, fearing that to meet his eyes would unleash a torrent of tears. This moment, once my sole aspiration, now held me captive.
"Have you been well?" He inquired, a smile gracing his countenance.
"Yes. I've been living in luxury." This sensation, dormant for years, now stirred within me. Although I harbored no illusions of permanence, I yearned to etch this moment into memory.
A contented hum resonated for a fleeting moment. "Well, are you curious as to why I had summoned you?"
I nodded in affirmation.
"Are you acquainted with my distinctive test?" He queried, rising from his seat, the lengthy alabaster robe billowing as he approached.
"I am. Endure a full decaminute under your assault, and one's dearest wish shall be granted." My gaze lifted, curiosity piqued by his line of inquiry. He stood but a few paces away.
"Would you care to partake? Perhaps you shall be the inaugural regular to achieve such a feat." His hand extended towards me.
"I shall exert myself to the utmost, Your Grace." I genuflected.
I had honed my swordsmanship tirelessly, honing the art of evasion, acutely aware that survival trumped any attempt at aggression. Only an irregular, Urek Mazino, had ever vanquished him. I harbored no illusions of matching such a prodigious force, my focus steadfastly fixed on eluding and parrying.
Prior to the trial, as I armored my hands, the family head arrived, draped in his customary robe, a small smile gracing his lips. "Have you trained well?"
I assented with a bow. "Indeed, I have."
"That is commendable. Be forewarned, I shall extend no mercy towards regulars such as yourself."
In the crucible of combat, my blade, cool and resolute, seemed dwarfed by the searing onslaught. Every offensive maneuver faltered, a mere echo in the empty space. Frustration clawed at my chest, but surrender was no option. I recognized my inability to match the family head's might, and thus, I danced on the precipice of evasion.
Time became a fluid, a rhythmic pulse echoing through the chamber. The family head's visage remained an inscrutable mask, his assault unyielding. The seconds dwindled, each akin to a droplet in the hourglass.
As the final minute neared, a strange serenity washed over me. I knew my fortitude would be my salvation. Then, an unprecedented surge of power coursed through the family head's blade, multiplying its force tenfold. Evasion proved futile; the onslaught tore through my armor, and blades pierced my limbs and chest.
At last, the chime heralded the end, reverberating through the chamber. Breathless, I stood amidst a sea of astonished gazes.
I had not vanquished the family head, perhaps never would, yet victory lay in my endurance.
Dimness began to encroach upon my senses. The family head bent down, his gaze fixed upon me. "What is the wish you seek from me?"
"In this moment, when my demise looms near?" I murmured to myself pondering how inhuman the man, my father is.
"Yes. The time is limited to today. Thus, I urge you to choose swiftly." He intoned, unwavering in his gaze.
"Father, I crave neither dominion over a floor nor additional adornments, nor even a personal commendation to the King. Instead, I implore only for your affection. If you cannot muster it, then at least feign it until the hour of my passing."
"Very well. I'm not sure whether to call it ridiculous or thoughtful. Still, you are my beloved daughter." The family leader carried me as my eyes had officially deemed out.