The colorful confetti and the flower petals floating in the air. He and his group of men, marched through the sea of people, toward the palace. Praises and words of gratitude could be heard from both side.

The young men from his group waved back to the people, even his right hand man. There was no reaction from him, and not once he glanced at the people cheering along the way. He only wanted to meet one person, but that person was not there.

He greeted the King, the Queen, the Royal Consort, and the two Prince. He noticed the eyes on him were not the one of admiration or respect, but of those scorn and mocking.

He had brought back honor for the kingdom, celebrated by the people, and yet, his fellow nobles were only expressing their distaste. He could care less about those people. He had never cared.

“Once again, you have brought back another victory for our kingdom. Indeed, Duke Leander was the hero for our kingdom. Come, tell me whatever you wished for and I shall granted it to you.”

“It was my honor to serve for the kingdom, and it was my duty to ensure the prosperity of our kingdom under Your Majesty reign. Moreover, it is without any doubt, the contribution of the first prince who had brought to us victory. I would never dare to ask for anything.”

The King laughed. He was pleased and at the same time vexed with the respond he gave.

“Considering that you had no more child to succeed your title, why not I give you a wife? Then, you may continue your bloodline,” the King said, proudly with not an ounce of consideration, while ignoring the praise to the first prince.

The man was appalled and so was the first prince. They had no clue for what had happened during their absence.

“Your Majesty, my daughter would be the one to succeed my title, and even if she do not wanted to, then her husband, or her child will do so. There was no need for Your Majesty to trouble yourself finding me a wife.”

“Oh?” The King lifted his eyebrow, “it seem you have not received the news at the battlefield.”

He sighed, added, “it sadden me to break the news to you in such a joyous occasion, however, it was not right to keep such matter a secret from you.”

***

The joyous celebration, the colorful festival, could not found it way into the dull and bleak mansion. It was, as if they were still, yet in the middle of the war. No laughter nor smile could be heard nor seen.

Trickles of raindrop poured down to the ground. The magnificent tombstone stood still in the middle of the rain. Next to it was a rather humble tombstone that stand out for it small size and dull appearances in the sea of other glorious tombstone.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

—Here lies Yvonne Esperanza Leander, the daughter of Anastasia Antoinette Leander and Raynard Esteban Leander. May the sin of the soul be purified and found it way to the heaven where the Angels lie.

He stood there with his drenched clothes. His solemn, somber look, was hidden under his wet silver hair.

It was not known for how long had he stood there, not moving an inch. Blood dripping from the tightly clenched fist.

He tilted his head, looking up into the dark gloomy sky. His eyes was dull as if it had lost it soul. “Even you… now, even you had gone,” he mumbled, “what am I to do?”

When he heard the news of his own daughter’s death from the king, his heart sunk in despair. When he stormed into his own mansion, asking the butlers, the maids, and the servants for why had he been kept in the dark, they either told him they did not knew, or it was for the sake of him, who was in the middle of the war.

He felt a strong desire to unsheathe his sword and slit the throat of those who hid the fact from him. He had not seen her for few years. The last time he saw her was nine years ago.

Even before that, he did not remembered much about her. He hardly spent time with his one and only daughter. He spent most of the time at the land he own, the eastern border, while his daughter was left at his mansion in the capital city. He would never thought how much he regretted it.

His heart that was on the edge of the cliff fell into the abyss upon hearing the rumors about his daughter and all her horrendous act. The wicked deed his daughter commit was unbearable for him to accept. What was it that made his daughter to behave in such way? He could not think of anything.

Perhaps, she had to atone for her sin with her own death, was what he thought. Even he already begun to accept everything that happened. That was… before meeting him.

“Your Grace,” his aide, walked closer and shielded his body with the black umbrella. He added, “the first prince arrived and requested your audience.”

“Lead him to my study. I will be with him after I changed my attire.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The first prince of Zelig, Caesar Lukasha Ivan Zelig, was an honorable and brave warrior that fought alongside him at the last six month of the war.

Three years in the battlefield, he had requested for reinforcement few times. It was only seven month ago did the king sent support, which is the first prince and his fellow mercenaries group instead of the imperial knights.

Although he was skeptical at the beginning, it was them that had brought victory to the kingdom. He had to admit. The first prince and his people were more than talented.

“Your Highness,” he greeted the first prince the moment he saw the man.

“Duke Leander,” Caesar answered his greeting, prompting the older man to have a seat.

“May I know why the sudden visit?”

“Yvonne.”

Raynard flinched at the mention of his daughter’s name. “What about my daughter?”

“Do you know how she… met her end?”

“I heard that she end her own life while in the prison. That child had been raised with the utmost care. She must have been unable to persevere in the face of hardship, hence took the most coward decision.”

Listening to Raynard sent a chill to his spine. Not that he felt fear or anything in between. He thought it was ridiculous. He scoffed. He laughed. Raynard look at him, confused.

“Duke Leander. Do you really think that she took her own life? No… I should first asked, do you really think she grew up rather spoiled? That was not how it seem to me.”

“What do you know about my child?”

“Your child… Sure. Your child. The one that you met only twice in her life.”

“You spoke as if you had met her before, Your Highness.”

“I did,” he firmly said.