“I heard Ray came to see you.” The Count looks cheerful, clearly pleased that his daughter and his favorite student are getting along, and Asha apologizes to him in her heart once more. “What did you two talk about, my little angel?”
Dad...
Embarrassing as his nicknames for her are, Asha loves the fact that she can hear them again.
“We were talking about the festival, daddy.” She fakes her excitement, but beams for real when she gets patted on the head.
“Of course, of course. Lovers’ Day is a big deal, my darling. Ray couldn’t make it the past few years due to work, but I’m sure he’ll escort you this year.”
> ”I have more important things to do.”
He wasn’t absent because of work.
“Dad.” Time to change topics. “Will you go to the festival with me on Family Day?”
The first day of the festival is considered an auspicious day for the deepening of familial bonds, and thus usually attended by siblings, parents and their children, and grandparents and grandchildren.
Bright blue eyes widen before turning misty. “My baby, you want to go with daddy?”
Oh. Right.
In the past, she’d refused to attend any event without Rayleigh as an escort once she’d debuted in society at sixteen.
I’m sorry, daddy.
“Yes!” Asha throws her arms around his neck, pressing her face against a strong shoulder.
“I want to eat delicious food with you, and then I want to win you a prize at the game stalls!”
She’d stopped giving her father gifts, except on his birthday, when she’d turned fourteen.
“My darling...” He sounds like he’s crying, which makes her heart ache. “Of course, if my baby wishes it, daddy will go with you to the festival on Family Day.”
Thank you, dad. I promise to make you happy and keep you safe.
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“The master is late.”
It’s unusual for the Count to be late to dinner with Asha, which can only mean a matter of national importance is keeping him in the palace, since even the Emperor can’t control the Grandmaster most days.
I knew it. Dad played it down the other day, but the piracy issue is becoming a major concern.
Now that she thinks about it, how many times had her father deliberately sidestepped topics that he believed would worry his only child?
Not just the piracy, but everything else too. Daddy never let me know what was weighing on his mind; he only ever told me things that would make me happy.
Asha’s always known she’d been coddled and protected, swaddled in her father’s deep love, but only since coming back in time had she realized just how much had gone over her oblivious head.
It’ll be different now, daddy. This time, I’LL protect you and everyone in our House.
She’d caused a bit of a commotion by starting to spend more time in the library, since she’d stopped reading anything but romance novels, gossip papers, and fashion journals years ago. Though learning new things had always been enjoyable due to her innate curiosity, Asha had been a bit distracted in recent years.
Still, the way they all reacted…
When she’d asked for ingredients to experiment with in the warehouse, there’d been some panic in the manor but as always no one had questioned or stopped her. As the sole heir to the northern guardian clan, and someone still considered a child by their standards (even if the empire’s laws state she’s reached the age of majority), Asha has been put on a pedestal and deemed absolutely untouchable since birth.
Almost an hour after she’d sat herself at the ornately carved oak table in the grand dining room (fortunately Monique had been carrying the alchemy book Asha’s been reading with her, so she has something to do while waiting), aura and footsteps alert her to her father’s return.
“My baby!” Despite clearly sprinting to see her, not a hair is out of place, as expected of a Grandmaster. “Daddy is so sorry! You must be hungry, Asha!”
Not really.
She’s always been a picky eater, but since her return to the past Asha has had difficulty swallowing more than a few spoonfuls at meals thanks to her time in prison and the torture chamber before.
Stop it. Focus on now.
“Hi daddy!” She’s missed running to him and hugging him more than she could’ve imagined. “It’s okay, you must be really busy helping the Emperor.” Beaming as he squeezes her tight and lifts her up, Asha links her arms loosely around a strong neck as she’s carried back to her seat - her father always fretting about her health, especially since she’d just been ‘ill’, as well as her (childhood habit) of tripping over her own feet constantly.
“Aren’t they so sweet together?”
“I’m so glad Lady Asha decided to be close to the master again.”
“Master was so sad all these years when Lady Asha distanced herself and looked only at His Highness.”
The servants are silenced with a single look from Truman, before the head butler smiles kindly at Asha.
I see. So dad was hurting when I called his behavior stupid and tried to act more grown up like the other nobles in the empire.
I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.
“Daddy!” Mind made up, Asha makes sure her voice is extra cute for her next words. “Are you going to be really busy from now on?”
Is it just me or are his eyes sparkling?
“I have all the time in the world for you, my princess.”
I’m sorry, dad. But I’ll never be addressed as ‘her highness’.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Pushing those thoughts away, Asha focuses on acting as adorably as possible. “Then, can we get matching outfits for the festival?”
“Match...” It’s probably the first time in her life she’s seen her father blushing and tongue tied, and the sight of it makes her giggle. “My baby, you want...you want to wear matching outfits with daddy?”
“Of course!” Asha beams when she sees how happy her father is. “The festival is next week, so if you have time tomorrow, maybe we can call a designer over and choose outfits together?”
“Sure!” Her father may be turning forty come autumn, but when he smiles like that he looks like a little boy.
I’ll do better this time, dad. I swear it.
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I suppose this is the power of the Grand Duke’s fiancée.
Madam Diore, the empire’s leading designer, doesn’t usually make house calls on so little notice, especially with a major event like the summer festival coming up, yet the imposing woman is at the Lamberg’s manor at 10:45 in the morning (fifteen minutes before the scheduled meeting time) with an army of assistants carrying samples and mannequins standing at attention behind her.
“Madam Diore, I apologize for the sudden request.” Asha realizes only once she lifts her head that the usually unflappable fashion maven is blinking in surprise. “Thank you for coming to see us despite your busy schedule. House Lamberg promises to make it worth your while.”
As impressive as ever, Madam.
The designer recovers her composure quickly, curtsying and greeting the Hero of the Empire and his daughter flawlessly.
Over the course of the next hour, Asha wonders why the usually impassive woman keeps throwing her looks of confusion and sympathy.
What’s going on?
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“It’s because you’re not acting like you usually do.”
Valora is the first to respond, as always, Monique shooting the redhead glares at her lack of decorum (as always).
“How so?”
This time even the blunt knight holds her tongue and weighs her options, before making up her mind to throw all tact out the window.
“You stopped being seen with the master once you turned sixteen, but today you chose to get matching outfits for Family Day. And you stopped calling master ‘daddy’ or ‘dad’ once you turned twelve, but ever since you ran around like a madwoman you started being more affectionate with master. Of course everyone’s confused.”
“Valora!” Monique rarely shouts or resorts to violence, but this time the brunette yells while slapping the knight’s arm. “I know you’re all brawn no brain, but have some respect for Lady Asha!”
“That’s DAME Valora to you, MISS Monique.” Some things never change.
“That’s MAGE Monique to you, DAMN Valora.” Should I intervene?
“Erm...” Two pairs of eyes swivel towards her own immediately. “What about the sympathy?”
That had been the most confusing of all. Not even in her previous life had anyone looked at her that way.
“My lady.” Why are you both looking so upset? “It’s because of that traitor.”
No need to ask who Monique is referring to, not with the way her usually stoic expression turns dark as she spits out that last word.
I’d remind you that insulting a member of the imperial family is a crime that will cost you your tongue if I thought you’d care, old friend.
More importantly though, despite the way Rayleigh had treated her - until now, and in her past future life - no one had ever sympathized with Asha, always reserving their kindness for Medea instead, especially whenever the blonde was a victim of Asha’s bullying.
Wait.
In the past, Asha had belittled and bullied Medea ceaselessly, and the more Rayleigh showed care for the Gusic adoptee the more vicious Asha had become in her attacks.
Does that mean that even if I marry him, he won’t kill me as long as I’m not mean to Medea?
There’s a little flutter in her chest at the thought, which she stamps out ruthlessly.
> “Must you behave like this?”
Don’t be an idiot. He hates you - has hated you since you were twelve or maybe even before that. The only way to avoid death is to break the engagement, and convince dad to move back north.
The Lambergs had started spending more time in the capital since becoming nobles, but it wasn’t until her father became a count that they resided in the center of the empire three quarters of each year.
Come to think of it, when was the last time I went back to the north for the Winter March?
Every year during the northern hemisphere’s winter, her clan faces off against demonic spawn from the Far Side for the sake of the world. At the same time in the far south of the southern continent, the only other guardian clan steps up to their divine duty as well in the Summer March. If either clan fails to defeat and push back the demons, the world would potentially face another Age of Demons - another reason why House Lamberg is so honored in the empire.
I think the last time I went back north was when I was twelve?
“My lady?” Startled from her thoughts, Asha refocuses on her attendants once more. “My lady, you mustn’t let that asshole and his skank upset you.”
Wow.
Monique never uses foul language - that’s Valora’s territory - so for the quiet mage to speak so derogatorily about another, especially a woman in their empire where women face more restrictions than men...
“Thank you, Monique.” Those purple eyes widen and blink at her smile, before a small tug on pink lips makes Asha smile wider. “But Lady Medea isn’t to blame for being born beautiful and kind, just as it’s not her fault His Highness has fallen for her.”
Instantly Asha’s met with two scowling faces, and she wants to hug her loyal friends.
“If that bitch pushed that piece of shit away and reminded him that he has a FIANCÉE, things wouldn’t have gotten this bad!” Trust Valora to lose her temper.
“I agree with the dimwit.” Asha wants to laugh at how Monique continues to needle her colleague, even in such a situation, but memories of their dying words hold her back. “It takes two to tango, my lady.”
’Two to tango’? Yet Rayleigh has hated me for some unknown reason since I was twelve.
Unless I did something to upset him that much? But what?
Asha resolves to think about it later when yet another quarrel erupts between her attendants. No one comes to check despite the ruckus, everyone in House Lamberg long familiar with Monique’s and Valora’s squabbles.
----------------------------------------
Count Lamberg is late for dinner every day, though Asha insists on waiting despite his instructions. She doesn’t have much appetite these days anyway, and spends the time reading more books on alchemy, magic, medicine, and mathematics while trying to figure out the specifics of the gunpowder weapons she knows are coming.
I like these patterns I’m seeing, though I shouldn’t. They’re interesting, but they mean only terrible things. Unless they can be applied differently? After all, one can use a knife to butter toast, cut meat, and kill in self defense or anger.
On Sunday, the Count finally takes her to his study after their meal and explains the situation.
I knew it.
The pirates have been getting bolder, attacking merchant vessels even within sight of the Loredan navy, and the Emperor is furious because of the embarrassment this is bringing the country so close to the summer festival.
“Dad, do the pirates seem to target any ships in particular?”
Asha’s a terrible actress, having been raised to be honest regardless of circumstances, but she’s had more reason to practice her acting skills lately so she hopes her feigned innocence is enough to fool her father.
Oh no.
When the Count is quiet for awhile, eyes assessing and face contemplative, Asha wonders if she’d screwed up.
Then she wonders why she’d worried, when her father is the most famous fool in the empire when it comes to her.
“Why is my baby so smart?” Giggling as he ruffles her naturally messy hair, Asha breathes a sigh of relief at not being caught in her act.
“Did I help, daddy?”
She gets a tight squeeze in response.
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Wow.
Though the outfits Asha and the Count had requested aren’t the most glamorous by any means, Madam Diore has outdone herself in turning haute couture high street.
This is perfect! Elegant, luxurious, understated, simple, and comfortable!
“Madam.” The designer curtsies low when addressed by the Grandmaster. “I commend you on an excellent job despite the short notice, and hope you’ll create more such masterpieces for my beloved daughter.”
“Of course, my lord.” Those red lips are stretched wide, and Asha knows it’s not because of the compliment. A single off the shelf dress from Diore’s boutique costs at least five hundred gold coins - with bespoke gowns starting at a thousand - so for the Count to ask for more custom dresses for Asha means Diore would easily be making at least ten thousand gold coins, enough to fund a family of six commoners for more than a decade.
“Daddy! You’re going to look so much more handsome, all the women in the empire will fall in love at first sight!” Acting on her resolve to be a better daughter this time, Asha throws herself at her father, wrapping her arms around his neck and beaming up at a blushing face.
“My baby is too sweet.” She gets pecks on her forehead as servants aww and coo. “You’ll look more like an angel than ever, Asha.”
Grinning up at him, Asha excitedly launches into her plans for Family Day.
Everything will be fine. Daddy already made a plan to protect the Quan ships after our discussion, and Marquess Moravia sent word to the navy after His Majesty approved dad’s strategy.
Somehow though, Asha gets the feeling the festival will have its share of surprises.
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MOONRISE BY LUNASEA: CHAPTER 3 END