III

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Arc III Chapter 1

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21st Fulmen Lunar VI AAC 747

"..." Little Aurora ended up being tired. Her lessons had exhausted the young girl.

All the language ... All the grammar ... All the orthography lessons confused little Aurora. Her tutors showed no relent. They demanded nothing short of perfection.

In her solitude, little Aurora wandered once again aimlessly through the castle. The walls of Schwarzburg provided little warmth these days. They felt lonely, cold, unfriendly, hostile since the day her mother had died. The castle had changed. It did not welcome her any more.

"..." Aurora hugged her doll tightly. Her father had been neglecting her. He did not wish to see her. Her presence was not desired. At least, her brother stood at her side. Tiberius still treated her with kindness, but the unpleasant climate persisted. Even the servants of the castle had perceived the change that the ill winds had brought. It felt as if they ostracised her, and little Aurora did not understand as to why.

"..." Her eyes shed tears, and salted droplets crossed her cheeks. She had done nothing wrong. So why did Father hate her?

Unbeknownst to little Aurora, a silent spectator observed her agony from afar, from around the corner.

"..." Friedrich clenched his fist, his heart conflicted at the sight of such a display of injustice. Lady Aurora did not deserve such treatment, but his options were limited. The Duke erred, but he was only a mere retainer. His voice alone amounted to nothing. Yet something had to be done. And something would be done. This current state of affairs could not be permitted to continue.

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Friedrich knocked before entering the office, a stack of paper under his arms. He was a dutiful secretary. He had procured the requested documents. Aether lamps illuminated the gloomy office. The faint glow of crystals lit the room. Their weak light created an ominous atmosphere.

"..." The Duke glanced up, his sharp purple eyes turning away from his work. "You are late, Friedrich. I hope that your recent tardiness will not develop into a bad habit."

"My apologies, Your Grace. I was impeded. Your daughter ... required my attention." Friedrich smiled to the best of his abilities. "Lady Aurora can be quite the stubborn girl, as you might know. In a certain sense, she is just like her mother ..."

"..." The Duke's mood visibly worsened in an instant. Aurelius' hand stiffened, and the temperature in the room fell noticeably. His piercing stare met him across the room. His purple eyes shimmered dangerously in the dark as the patriarch of the Schwarz family showed his displeasure. "..."

"..." Friedrich gulped, his tongue stuck in his throat. He had committed a serious blunder. In his negligence, he had overstepped his boundaries.

"..." Aurelius narrowed his eyes. "Friedrich, I will overlook your transgression for the sake of your father, but do not mention her so lightly in my presence, unless you wish to displease me. I warn you, Friedrich, mind your tongue. I will not tolerate such insolence in the future."

Friedrich lowered his head, offering an apology. "Forgive me, Your Grace, it was an inexcusable lapse of judgement on my part. It will not happen again."

"I hope so, Friedrich. You might be inexperienced, but it would be a loss if I had to replace you." Aurelius returned his attention to his desk and his work.

"..." Friedrich studied the Duke. He was a sad sight these days, a mere shadow of his former self. Time had passed, but Aurelius had still not come to accept her death. His heart cried. His heart suffered. Unable to cope with his grief, he resorted to denial, anger, hatred. Even directed against his own flesh and blood.

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The Duke dipped his pen into his inkwell. He was a busy man indeed. "Tell me, Friedrich, what did Aurora seek from you? I imagine that my daughter must have asked you again to play dolls with her. The servants told me that the silly girl cherishes them much."

Friedrich shook his head before resorting to a small but useful lie. "You are mistaken, Your Grace. Your daughter desired to speak with you, her father. Aurora feels that you are avoiding her, neglecting her, Your Grace."

"..." The Duke neither disputed, nor confirmed his suspicions. Instead, the patriarch of the House von Schwarz minded his work, studying the documents in front of him. They were reports from his vassals and vast estates. The Schwarzean possession reached from north to south, from east to west. The administration of the duchy taxed even the sternest of men."What did you tell her?"

"..." Friedrich remained silent, folding his hands behind his back. The Duke was engulfed in his work. His attention lay elsewhere. "I informed her that Your Grace is ... occupied. Your noble duties impede you. Your daughter accepted my explanation without complaint, although she appeared to disappointed."

The Duke nodded approvingly. "Good. I do not wish to see her for the foreseeable future. It is probably better for both of us after what has happened ..."

"..." Friedrich kept quiet. As a mere vassal, it was not his place to speak, yet ...

" Your Grace, if I may be permitted to speak ..." Friedrich straightened his back, gathering his courage. It was for Lady Aurora.

"..." The Duke merely raised an eyebrow, surprised by his sudden boldness. "Speak your mind, Friedrich, I am listening."

"If I may be frank, I think that ... you are being overly harsh with your daughter, Your Grace. Lady Aurora ... She is a good girl with a pure heart ... Your daughter does not deserve this treatment. You should put your emotions aside, Your Grace. Anger and fury are terrible advisors. Especially, if they are misplaced. You should not blame your daughter for her death. Your daughter is not responsible for her demise, and deep down in your heart, you know it, Your Grace.

You knew about the risks of the marriage. The conflicting bloodlines ... The aspectual incompatibility of the bloodlines ... The potential complications during birth ... It is common knowledge that light and dark, lumen and umbra, do not intermix well. Your daughter bears no responsibility. It was the spirits who decided the fate of your wife. So please reconsider your stance, Your Grace. Anger and scorn are unbecoming of you. Lady Aurora is still your daughter. It is not too late yet to fulfil your duties as her father."

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...

"... ... ..." Silence reigned, and tension filled the air. The Duke's murderous glare pierced Friedrich. The purple in his eyes darkened. The burning passion, the hate, overwhelmed him.

"..." The Duke folded his hands on his desk. "Friedrich, you foolish boy, did I not warn you and your loose tongue? How come that are you trying my patience once again? Are you trying to defy my authority?"

"..." Friedrich knew that he walked on thin ice, but he stood his ground. His honour did not permit him a display of such blatant injustice. "Such was not my intention, Your Grace, and yet ... I understand that it might not be my position to speak, but a wise ruler listens to the counsel of his subjects should the need arise."

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"..." The Duke maintained his iron glare, furious yet pondering his words. "You are certainly a brave man, Friedrich. Your bravery almost borders on foolishness. You and your father are much alike. You both possess a soft heart. Nevertheless, my decision stands. Neither am I willing, nor do I possess the strength to forgive her. Others may, but I do not."

"But ..." Friedrich objected.

Aurelius interrupted him, his voice firm and commanding. "Friedrich, you may leave now. It seems that you have decidedly overstayed your welcome." His order was final.

"As you wish, Your Grace." In the end, Friedrich obeyed, his fists tightly clenched. His efforts had failed. He had failed Lady Aurora. "..."

The Duke studied him intently, his gaze never leaving him. "Friedrich, before you leave, one last word."

Friedrich raised his head, startled "Yes, Your Grace?"

"... ... ..." The Duke hesitated, a grave sigh escaping him at last. "As you might know, Friedrich, Aurora will one day enter the Royal Academy. As things stand, her performance will reflect poorly on the House von Schwarz. Her capabilities are ... lacking, and my time is limited. I would thus like to ask you and your family to assist my daughter in this matter. My daughter will require guidance, not to mention a knight when the time comes. As far as I know, my daughter is quite fond of you. Treat her well, Friedrich. Felicia would have surely wished so if she were still alive."

Friedrich understood. A slight smile adorned his face as he clicked his heels together. "As you command."

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18th Anima Lunar VIII AAC 753

The stars stood high above the ruins of Valentia. The night did not bring the promised peace that she had hoped for. Instead, the night brought memories. Her body shivered despite her warm blanket. Her heart raced, small beads of sweat trickling down her forehead.

"..." Aurora gazed at the pristine sky above, the night illuminated by the light of stars unaccountable. She pitied the poor girl. Even in her dreams, her memories, the spectres of the dark past haunted the poor girl. The girl had suffered much. There was only so much injustice a tender heart could bear.

A tear, a single droplet of sorrow, of wishes unfulfilled, of hopes long forgotten, crossed her cheek before touching the doll nestled in her arms, her doll. As long as she drew breath, Aurora would suffer no more. Aurora deserved the happiness that she had never received. The strength Aurora had lacked, she would provide.

Duke Aurelius von Schwarz

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Check out my other novel and give it a try! =^.^=

Si Vis Pacem -‖- Para Bellum [Naruto FanFic]

Arc I Prologue

Death claims all of us in a timely fashion, but some are granted a second chance.

Armed with ambition, megalomania, and pride alone, an innocent girl reincarnates into the vast world of Naruto with the sole intention of writing history, her history. [Female OC] [AU elements]

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