Maurice needed to take a walk to clear his mind, unfortunately the rain prevented him from taking a stroll outside so he was forced to walk the halls of his castle. On his walk he looked up to see his youngest daughter staring at the window at the rain. He decided to surprise her and snuck up behind her to scoop her up and put her on his shoulders. Her giggling brought the biggest smile on his face.
"Father please put me down, I don't want to fall," Angel said.
"Angel I would never let anything bad happen to you, I love you."
It was true that he would never let anything harm her but he could only do so much. He would do anything within his power to protect his family even if it meant giving up his small title
"Can I be next father?"
Maurice turns around careful to keep his grip on Angel keeping her balanced on his shoulders. He looks down at his elder daughter.
"Belle, sweetheart what are you doing up? You need to be resting right now, otherwise you will not be well when your mother comes home. You promised her that you would rest while she was away."
"But father, I am feeling better."
She was right, her cheeks had their rosy flush in them again. Maurice did not want his daughter to be taken ill again but her good health was glowing in her again.
"Why don't I read the two of you a story then?"
He puts down Angel next to her sister and kneels down so that he is level with Belle.
"I will race the both of you to the library, whoever wins gets to choose the book."
The two girls are excited at the challenge, Belle turns away to start running but Angel keeps her gaze locked on her father. Her green eyes appear to pierce through to him, as though they are trying to tell him a message but her face appears to be focused on the challenge.
"Is something bothering you Angel?" He asks worried.
"No, I just thought I saw something father."
Angel looks up at her father again but this time her eyes just show their usual forest green wonder. She turns to meet up with her sister at the doorway. Maurice joins his two daughters at the starting line, the doorway.
"Angel, Belle I want this race to be fair. Ready…set..." He is interrupted by a door slamming in the distance.