8 am
Raven Castle
Richard Ranchester laid in his bed reading the diary of his deceased daughter Patricia Walker. He had done this many times before but still enjoyed reading what she had written as it was one of the few things which truly contained her memories.
To know the things she liked and disliked, the things she hid from him and what she really wanted to do with her life filled him with guilt. There no one Richard loved more than his wife and daughter. Though it seemed he chose to put the way the family looked to outsiders before their feelings.
He'd put so much of time into ensuring no one would ever disgrace the family name. He arranged for Patricia to be married to Edward Walker, a man who would be useful for the family business. Reading her diary he came to realized he'd sacrifice her happiness and wanting to find someone she loved herself. Though Edward was a good man, he'd never won over her heart and she wasn't happy until she met Yuu Hirose.
Richard placed the book on his nightstand.
Richard blamed Yuu Hirose and Takumi Usui for the death of his daughter for so many years. Yuu should have known his place and just serve Patricia as a butler. She wouldn't have conceived Takumi and died at childbirth. He had placed the blame on everyone else but himself. His daughter suffered because of his need to not disgrace the family.
He hysterically coughed as the door of his bedroom opened and Gilbert walked in.
"Good morning master Richard. I've brought your medicine and tea." Gilbert said as he's done for many years.
"No need today. It's no use as this body of mine has given up." Richard replied staring at his old family portrait of himself, his wife and Patricia.
"Takumi-sama wanted to do more treatment-"
"That boy can do nothing for me. I am old and tired. I've done enough to make sure this family never faltered and now I can rest." Richard stated.
"Yes, master." Gilbert bowed. He could not force his master to get treatment for he also knew Richard was getting weaker. "It has been a pleasure serving you."
Richard chuckled as Gilbert remained the same as ever. "I hope my wife and Patricia can forgive me when I see them. Give Gerald the letter I already wrote. Deep down I know he's aways resented the way I made him live."
Richard paused thinking something over. "That boy, give him the notes about him from Patricia's diary. I will not apologize for what I've done to him but I'll give him a look of the mother he's never known."
"Yes, master."
"Remember to change the flowers on their graves to the ones they loved," Richard spoke lastly before closing his eyes.
Gilbert bowed not making a sound as he stood beside master Richard for the last time.
A/N: So, it wasn't until I did the last chapter that I realized how old Richard was and it was best to just let him rest in peace. He was 91 in this story.
Next Chapter: Letters
(Next Update for Our Lives is Monday)
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