A Father's Redemption

Raynard had a thought, to end everything, and met his daughter in the afterlife. However, he didn’t. At least, didn’t yet.

Not until he had took his revenge. Until everyone who had caused his daughter’s misery and death to meet the same end.

“Why did you suddenly came to see me, Duke Leander?” the young man said, averting eyes contact.

“Your Highness. It was not long ago that I knew about my daughter’s death.”

“You have my condolences.”

“There were many things that I did not knew. I heard some rumors, stating that you were engaged with my daughter,” he scoffed, “even I, as the father did not have any knowledge for the matter. It was ridiculous, would you agree?”

“It was a mutual agreement made by my father, the King, and the lady herself. I only followed what the King had ordered me to.”

“Was it also the King order for Your Highness to cheat on my daughter during your engagement?”

“C—cheat? How presumptuous!”

“Was it not true that you brought back a lover of lower rank and trampled on my daughter’s dignity?”

“Avery had the kindest heart. She was more noble than any noble women in the kingdom!”

“Your Highness. I do not care how kind that young lady was. What I do care was, how my daughter had been taken advantage by mere commoner.”

“Duke Leander, do not cross the line. Were you trying to challenge the authorities of royal family?”

“When did I ever? I believed that woman was no royal family. She was just a mere peasant in my eyes. Your Highness, I hope you did not forget, which family does my daughter and I belonged to.”

Eugene tighten his jaw as he clutched his fist. He had never liked the authorities that the duke family have over the royal family.

Who did not knew?

The kingdom was founded by four extraordinary people. One of those four were elevated as the king, and the other three stood by the first king as the three duke and duchess.

The royal family, Zelig, possessed the ability of light. Leander of the east, possessed the ability of darkness. Hildegarde of the south, possessed the ability to dominate animal and beast. Mandeville of the north, possessed the ability of fire elemental.

The authorities that the three great family had could almost overthrow the royal family. However, they chose to remain as the vassal of the royal family.

“Your Highness. Even if you did not like my daughter. You were not supposed to treat her with such disrespect. For that, you have dishonored the Leander.”

He stood up, and without a bow, he exited the room, leaving the young man gritting his teeth in anger.

Of course, it did not go unnoticed by Raynard. He simply did not care. What could an immature stripling like him could do anyway.

Raynard had it in his mind. What was it that was so intriguing about that woman to the point his daughter were treated with such discourtesy.

His daughter had the same beauty as her mother. That was what he remembered from the last image he saw her, albeit she was young at that time. Thus, he could not understand why does he never heard praises for her beauty.

When he look at the woman in front of him, he thought that the woman were not worthy enough to even be compared with his late wife.

‘What does the people see in her? Kindness? A kind person would never take advantage of other people or worm their way into other’s relationship.’

Even her smile, was full of deceit. “Avery greet the Duke Leander of the east.”

Raynard ignored her greeting, tilting his head toward the maid next to him. “What is your name?”

The maid was flustered but still composed her calm, “this humble servant is called Rita, Your Grace.”

“Rita… I see. That is a good name indeed.”

“I am grateful for your kind words.”

Avery did not flinched and merely stared at the maid. She did not said any word until she saw Raynard turned his face toward her.

Her tenacity almost brought his admiration. If she was not the person involved with his daughter’s death, he might have recruited her to work under him.

“Your Grace,” she said, bowing her head.

“You are not part of the royal, nor the noble families, and you don’t seem to be maids or servants either. Who are you?”

Even if there was mockery in his tone, she remained calm and collected. “I am Avery, Your Grace. The love of Prince Eugene.”

“Love?” He scoffed, bursting out laughter. “What kind of foolishness are you trying to sell here?”

“Your Grace, you might think it was absurd, but Eugene and I loved each other. That was a fact that everyone could see. Yvonne, I mean, your daughter could not accept the truth and many time, she tried to harm me. It was unfortunate that she took her own life, because I had always meant to forgive her.”

“Forgive her?”

Despite trying to keep his composure, murderous aura was seeping out from his body faintly. The deep crimson light circulating around his body.

“What right do you have, to think you could forgive her? It was you, who must begged for forgiveness from my innocent daughter.”

The pressure from the air was heavy, as if a boulder were placed on top of her body. Sweats running through her forehead. Avery used her mana to repel the forces of the aura, yet, she only manage to make herself able to stand.

“Y—your G—grace.This… is… the… royal palace…” she used every inch of her strength to utter few words for him to stop.

“What did I do?” he replied, grinning in satisfaction observing the pain in her face.

“W—what…” she saw a glimpse of the maids.

They were standing perfectly still, as if there was nothing that was pressuring them. She gritted her teeth in realization. He was directing his aura only on her.

It was… a warning. He could end her life without anyone able to say anything. Even the prince could do nothing to stop him.

He clicked his tongue. “I hope the next time we meet, you will be grovelling on the ground instead.”

The moment he stormed off from there, Avery fell on the ground, gasping for air. She clenched her fist.

“We shall see who will be the one who grovel on the ground in the end,” she mumbled.