A few weeks have passed since we've gathered the information needed to have the authoraties investigate my uncle, but later we found out that some of the police have been paid by my uncle to keep his involvement a secret, thus making matters a bit more difficult. Claude suggested going directly to his father with, and now we wait til the day we can have an audiance with the Emporer.
Today Lizzy came to visit me and we are currently playing a game of chess, which of course she's winning. Suddenly, we hear Hannah speaking with someone at the entrance and becoming curious as to who it is, Lizzy stands up to go and see. Sliding the door open slightly, she peers out through the crack in the door and gasps.
"Lizzy, what's wrong?"
I become worried and silently walk over to stand behind her, she then turns around to face me with tears in her eyes. This furthers my panic and I tip toe towards the cracked door to take a peek myself, upon seeing who's standing there talking to Hannah I freeze and my eyes go wide.
How? I thought...
Suddenly, Lizzy wrenches the door wide open before running out and throwing herself onto the man who wears a beige suit and brown vest underneath his dress coat, looking every bit the Earl he is. A look of surprise crosses his face before looking down and going wide eyed himself. He then smiles and strokes Lizzy's hair affectionately.
"It's been a long time, Elizabeth. My how you've grown."
I on the other hand am still frozen in place and tears blur my vision, making the tall man before me become distorted. His light chestnut brown hair that shows streaks of grey here and there, his skin that's slightly tanned and aging a bit, and of course...his eyes.
It's him...it's really him.
The man then looks up in my direction and his baby blue eyes go as wide as saucers in surprise. I can see the hand gripping the top of his cane tremble slightly as he moves towards me with a limp.
"Lilly...? Is it...is it really you?"
At this point tears are streaming down my face and I nod before running into his arms. His cane hits the floor as he wraps me up into a tight embrace, tears falling from his eyes. Soon we both fall to the floor in a heap, the happiness of being reunited overwhelming us and I look up at him with the best smile I can muster.
"I thought I'd never see you again..."
"As did I. Oh my little girl! I've missed you so much!"
"I've missed you too father!"
As this is going on, Hannah and Lizzy watch us happily as tears fill there own eyes at this joyous reunion.
"I'll go put on some tea...*sniff*" Says Hannah as she walks away, wiping the tears from her eyes.
Soon Lizzy joins us in a group hug and we all smile at one another.
A few moments later after we all compose ourselves, we stand and I hand my father back his cane which he takes with a warm smile on his face.
"Oh Lilly, you've grown into such a beautiful young woman. You look just like your mother."
Saying this he reaches out his free hand and strokes my hair tenderly before pressing a gentle kiss against my hairline.
I do my best to hold back yet another flood of tears when.
"Lilly, Lizzy I was able to arrange an audience with my fa-"
Claude comes into the room and stops in his tracks, looking between the three of us.
"Claude!"
I run over to him and take him by the hand before pulling him over towards my father, they both look confused as I do this.
"Claude, this is my father."
When he hears me say this his eyes widen slightly before he bows respectfully to him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you sir."
"Father, this is Claude. The eldest son of Emperor Faustus."
My father starts in surprise before bowing at the waist.
"The pleasure is all mine sire, I do hope my daughter has behaved herself properly while in your country."
"Please rise, Earl Chambers."
With that my father once again straightens up before leaning heavily on his cane.
"Your daughter has behaved as expected. And she has taught me things I had long since forgotten as well."
As he says this he extends his hand out to me and I take it without hesitation as we smile at one another. My father raises a brow at how intimate we act towards each other and clears his throat.
"If I am seeing things correctly. Does this mean you two our courting?"
We both nod to my father and he smiles brightly.
"This is unbelievable! Congratulations! Is what I would like to say."
As he says this he becomes more serious and looks up at Claude.
"I wish to get to know you better and see if you are deserving of my daughter."
"Of course." Claude says with a smile.
"But first, I think you should hear about all the things that have happened in your absence."
My father looks confused and curious but follows us all into the living room and we take a seat.
Hannah soon brings us in some tea and then moves away to give us all some privacy. After she leaves, Claude, Lizzy and I all begin to tell my father what has happened these past 4 years after we make sure he is comfortable.
...
...
...
SNAP!
Now I didn't think such a thing were possible, and I had heard stories about how parents get a boost of strength that makes them seem inhuman when their child is in danger, but to see it with my own eyes..
My father had literally snapped his cane in two after hearing what we had to say and we were all taken by surprise.
His eyebrow twitches and I swear I can hear all the muscles in his body tense up in anger.
"How dare he?...I will see him hang for what he has done!"
After saying this he slams his fist into the ground, causing us all to jump.
Claude leans over and whispers quietly into my ear.
"Remind me to never get him angry."
I nod, feeling the same way he does.
After my father has settled down, he heaves a great sigh and looks down at his now broken cane.
Claude offers to take him to the repair shop and he nods in gratitude before the two of them stand and head out to the shop.
This is good, they'll be able to talk and get to know one another better.
"This is good, they'll be able to talk and get to know one another better."
Lizzy speaks my thoughts and I nod my head.
When they come back it's decided that my father will stay at the royal vacation home with me, which gives us plenty of time to catch up and reminisce about the old days.
I show my father around the vacation home the next day while our arms link, giving him some support as he limps around. I finally get up the courage to ask what happened in the war and he smiles at me sadly before opening his mouth to speak.
"I don't remember much about the war, those parts of my memories are still a bit hazy. All I know is what I've heard from those who fought beside me. Like all war, it wasn't pretty and we all fought bravely for our home and country. I was told that when I advanced behind enemy lines, I ran into a minefield and hit one of them and the last thing I said was to tell you that I loved you and I was sorry I couldn't come back to you."
As he said this I realized we had stopped under the willow tree and he has his hand on mine with a small smile.
"And then, when I woke up...I had no memories. I was told I was lucky to be alive and to still have all my limbs."
He lets out a small chuckle.
"I was hospitalized for 2 years and regained enough memories to be transferred into an institution. The following year and a half, someone had sent me mementos of my life and I slowly began to remember everything about my life before the war, and then I found a pressed lily inside a picture book and everything came flooding back as if I were hit by a tremendous wave. I left the institution and went in search of you, but found that Aleister had come here to Japan for trade."
With that he reached out he free hand and began stroking my hair.
"And now here I am, with the daughter I had left behind."
His face then contorts into anger.
"Only to find that my brother, my own flesh and blood had turned you into a servant of his house and abused you out of some petty excuse for revenge. I am so sorry I left you behind Lilly, it shames me to no end."
I shake my head and smile up at him.
"No father, you did what you thought was right. There is no shame in that."
He smiles sadly as he caresses my cheek gently with his big, warm hands. These hands that I remember so well, that always comforted me as a child.
"It seems in my absence, you have become not only as beautiful as your mother, but as wise, intelligent and kind as well."
He says with a small chuckle before we both smile at one another.
"Excuse me Lilly, Earl Chambers."
We both turn around and see Hannah standing there holding a long package in her arms.
"Your new cane has arrived."
"Wonderful. Please bring it here, Hannah."
Blushing slightly at the gentle tone in my fathers voice Hannah comes over to us before kneeling down onto the ground to open the package, she then pulls out his new cane and hands it to him. He thanks her and takes the cane from her hands, inspecting it's slender black sheen base, the lily engraved silver bulb on top of it, and then putting his weight onto it fully. With a nod of satisfaction I step away from my father so he can walk around and get a feel for it.
Hannah and I watch with smiles on our faces as he makes use of his new cane.
A couple days have passed and it is now the day of our meeting with the Emperor. I am so nervous I can't help trembling the entire time Hannah and Lizzy once again help me into my disguise.
"It'll be OK Lilly, we're all here for you. And now so is uncle Thomas."
Lizzy says while looking up at me with the brightest smile.
"She's right. Everything will be fine."
Says my father as he comes to stand behind Hannah.
We all look at him and he smiles warmly when he sees me in the elegant Kimono and black wig.
"Wow, you look lovely. If I wasn't your father I'm sure I wouldn't be able to recognize you like that."
"Oh, are you saying I don't look lovely any other time father?"
I say with a teasing smirk and he laughs while waving a hand.
"Of course not my dear, you always look beautiful. But this is a different kind of lovely. You truly look like you belong in those types of clothes."
I blush at my fathers compliment which makes him smile all the more warmly.
"Now shall we be off? The prince's are outside waiting for us."
With that Lizzy and I nod and say our goodbyes to Hannah who gives us each a hug and wishes us good luck. We then head out and make our way to the palace, justice will finally be brought to my uncle.