The Broken Princess

The Awkward Father and Daughter

Eliora was lost in thought as she toyed with the necklace around her neck. Her father sat in front of her trying to make a conversation as usual but her mind was elsewhere. It had been years since Caelum left the palace to partake in the war and still he hadn't returned.

So much time had passed, would he even still remember her? She really hoped he did.

"I got this for you." Her father said as he pushed a book towards her. He'd been speaking all this while and she hadn't heard a word he said, she felt kind of bad. He was putting in all this effort to try and help her get back to normal and it felt like she wasn't even trying.

When she returned from Kale she'd been so messed up in the head that she'd been unable to recognize her own father. She couldn't identify him as her sire, only a possible threat to her being. All she saw was someone capable of doing the same things Dimitri had done to her. She saw all men that way now.

Her daily brunch with her father had been devised as a means of therapy. A 'get over your fear by facing it' sort of therapy. Now she could sit in the same room with him without flinching. It wasn't that she didn't feel uneasy but she did her best to hide it because of how much effort the king was putting in. She saw how hurt he was and it pained her. After forcing herself to not get scared, it was actually becoming something that didn't require too much effort. It didn't take as much effort to sit with the man as it did before.

Eliora reached out and collected the book he was offering her. She analysed the cover and a small smile made it's way to her lips. She used to read a ton of romance books and this particular author was one of her favorites. It was a novel named 'Mated to the demon prince' by a human writer named Jiji. Eliora had a collection of books by this author and this happened to be a book she hadn't read.

To think her father would go this far just to make her happy.

"Thank you." She said looking up at him. She willed herself to say father or daddy but no words came out. She knew she was more confident now but why couldn't she say anything?

"You're welcome, sweetheart." Her father said with a wide smile. He looked extremely happy to her but she couldn't figure out why. "I would love to stay here with you more but I have to get back to work now. If I'm not busy later this evening I'll try and join you for dinner."

Eliora nodded slightly and the king pushed the chair back a bit before he stood to his feet. The man stood there staring at his daughter as he debated something in his head. Eliora watched in puzzlement.

As if coming to a conclusion with his inner battle, he walked over to where Eliora was sitting. The girl tensed unknowingly, her heart beginning to beat rapidly.

Derrick placed a small kiss on her forehead and then walked out of the room. Eliora sat shocked in her chair, her hand unconsciously moving to the area he'd pecked. She stared at the door he'd left through as if it had an answer to her question. Her father just kissed her forehead. Eliora smiled as she thought back to the king's face just before he walked out of the room. His face had been tinged red, he was embarrassed.

For a moment when he'd approached her, she'd seen an image of Dimitri walking towards her with a smirk on his face and instantly fear coursed through her veins. The moment she felt his lips on her forehead, all the fear ebbed and that was left was a warm feeling in it's place.

Now she felt bad for even getting scared in the first place. Hopefully her father didn't notice.

Eliora placed her new book carefully on the table before she stood to her feet. She walked over to the railing of her balcony and gazed at the scene below her. It was the garden her father had made personally for her. A gardener was currently working, trimming some over grown hedges.

Even though she didn't visit the garden anymore, her father made sure it was properly cared for and well maintained.

Eliora wished to be able to once again go down there and admire the flowers up close. Breath in their scent and trace their petals with her fingers. She wished she could sit by the garden's pond and dip her feet in the water as she stared up at the skies above her. Eliora reminisced her past and almost immediately an image of short dark hair and hazel coloured eyes flashed in her mind.

Caelum.

Whenever she thought of the time she spent in her garden, that particular demon always came up. Her hand gripped the necklace around her neck on instinct. She couldn't understand the sudden loneliness that washed over her.

She missed him so very much.

She never wrote to him after that first letter she'd sent. With all the chaos that happened after he left, no one would blame her. Her mind hadn't been in the right place after she returned from Kale. Writing a letter to her crush was the last thing on her mind. She'd been too preoccupied trying to get over her trauma.

She stroked the stone again. At certain times, it almost seemed like the blue rock glowed but that was probably just her imagination.

Eliora eventually grew bored of watching the gardener tend to the flowers so she headed back into her bedroom but not without taking her new book with her. She dropped into the reclining chair in her room and turned the first page over.

Derrick had a wide smile plastered on his face as he made his way to his office. The servants watched him with curious glances as he walked past them. They all wondered what could possibly happen to put their king in such a good mood. It was a rare sight to them. He pushed the doors to his office open and slammed them shut once he was in.

Nora materialised into the room as the door shut. Instantly, Derrick pulled her into his arms, smashing his lips against hers. Nora smiled into the kiss, happy to see her husband in such an estatic mood. When he pulled away from her, he smiled down at his wife, his hands on her shoulders. "That book was a great idea! Did you see her face?" He said, his eyes gleaming. "It was small but she definitely smiled. I'm so glad I listened to you." He pulled his wife in again and breathed in her scent.

"I'm glad you're in a good mood." Nora laughed as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "This is the best mood you've been in for a while." She leaned her head against his chest and listened to the beat of his heart. It was a bit rapid, probably due to his excitement.

He wasn't the only one over joyed by this new improvement. Nora had nearly screamed when she saw Eliora smile. It had taken great restraint to remain silent and hidden when all she wanted to do was hug her daughter.

For a split second, Eliora's lips had pulled back into a small smile. Because her face was stoic most of the time, the slight change was easily noticed by her parents. Any other person would have looked past it.

"Of course I'm in a good mood. This means she's actually getting better. Slowly but surely." He said. In one fluid movement, Derrick lifted Nora off her feet and into his arms. She let out a little gasp from shock and quickly wrapped her arms around his neck.

He walked over to his desk and pulled the seat back before he dropped into it with Nora still in his arms. While seated, he adjusted her body so she was seated in his lap with her legs facing the side.

"Warn me before you do stuff like that!" She whined smacking her hand on his chest.

"I'm sorry my love." He laughed and playfully nipped her cheek. "I'm just so happy right now."

Nora smiled at him and stroked his bearded face.

"I'm glad."