Derek's POV:
What is up with everyone these days? I plop myself up from my bed with a sigh. Are they all dead or something?
"Not a single call or message." Perhaps they are really busy with work. But I'm so bored!
My eyes drift to my phone once more. "Come on, someone please message me!" I groan glancing to my desk. Or else my father will lecture me for not doing any work around here.
(Ding)
Was that a text?
My eyes widen as a message pops up on the screen. Are you free? I raise a brow at her short text. Huh… what does that mean?
(Ding)
Come to the palace? I sit up on my bed furrowing my brows. Huh… I've only been gone for a few days, does she miss me already?
Brandon's POV:
(Knock)(Knock)
"Lily, you called?"
"Enter."
I push the doors open to reveal my friend looking over a file. Her gorgeous amethyst eyes narrows in pure concentration.
"Brandon, how have you been?"
"I'm doing good." Argh! Who says I'm doing good?! Doing good?! Really? "Did you need something or perhaps you missed not seeing me for a few days?"
"That's right." Her pink lips curve into a smile as her eyes look into mine. "I missed you."
What?
My face heats up as she stands up. Her purple flowy dress sways with her hips as her feet approaches me. A hand brushes against my cheeks as vanilla assaults my nose. She's so close…
"I missed your adorable little face." My friend giggles while pinching my cheeks.
H-Huh?!
"My face is… cute?"
"Yup!" I'm assuming that's a good thing.
"Compared to Astral," I ask as she tilts her head. "Who's more good looking?"
"Hm," She takes her hands from my cheeks shifting the weight of her leg onto the other. "You are." My eyes widen again. "Because you don't annoy me as much."
Yes! I'm accepting that as a compliment!
"But then again… you two are completely different when it comes to looks."
Huh?
"How so?"
"You have a natural baby face. That makes you look cute and adorable! While my husband has this…" She purses her lips. "Mysterious allure about him. Combine that with looks that can only be described as ethereal…"
"So I'm a baby compared to him?" I frown holding her hand. "I feel insulted right now."
But to be fair, he does have amazing genetics. A face with such beauty as his… it should be illegal to have such a handsome face.
"Aw," The woman in front of me stifles a laugh. "Don't be insulted. After all, I still view you as adorable."
My heart thumps as my face heats up. No no no no no! Don't say I still have feelings for her. No Brandon! You are better than this!
"You're cute as well." I whisper as she blinks with a smile. A hand ruffles through my hair playfully.
"Why thank you very much."
I have to switch the topic or else if this continues…
"So what else? Do you expect me to believe you called me here just to see me?"
"Haha," She removes her hands from my body as she hands me a file. "The palace is too quiet lately and not to mention, my husband's not here to keep me company."
Oh yeah…
"So," I flip through the documents quickly. "You want me to take you somewhere fun?"
"What?" A gasp escapes her lips as her hand touches her chest. "And risk going against the Royal Decree?"
I blink as my lips curve into a smirk. "Exactly." I agree. She needs a break from this environment. She needs fresh air.
"Brandon, how dare you?" Her eyes widen as my friend smiles yet again holding in a laugh.
"Oh I dare."
Enna's POV:
"Grandma," A young girl sits on my lap picking up a cookie. "How was daddy when he was little?"
"Why would you ask that, sweetheart?"
"Because I wanna know if daddy was always like that."
Huh?
I glance at my husband who is sitting in the armchair reading a book then back into her purple eyes. "Like what?"
"Hm," A hand lands under her chin as she furrows her brows. "Mommy said it once before. I think she said emotionless."
Of course. It happens to be that word.
"Well, she's wrong." I said after a minute. "He's anything but emotionless."
Her head tilts to the right slightly. "But what does emotionless mean?"
"It simply mean he doesn't display as much emotions like other beings."
She nods. "But why doesn't he?"
Good question. I've been wondering that as well. At first, it was because of Astrana. Then he got better for awhile curtesy of Astraea. Then… My eyes drift towards my husband who is still engrossed in his book. Now it's basically back to square one.
"That's just the way he is." I can't tell if it's because of trauma or it's because of his personality. Probably a bit of both at this point. "But," My lips form a smile looking at his daughter. "That's only his facade. On the inside, he's very emotional."
"Emotional as mommy?"
I stifle a giggle as my hands braid her hair. "No but point is, your daddy is not emotionless. He has emotions but doesn't show them very often that's all."
"Oh but then why does mommy call daddy emotionless?"
That's because…
"She's right by referring as emotionless." A voice chimes in as my eyes widen. The man sitting in the corner takes off his glasses. "What's he's doing to her is called emotional neglect."
"Emotional neglect?"
What is he saying?!
"Eliphas," I glare at him as he sports an innocent smile. "Not in front of his daughter."
"I'm only stating the truth."
There's a time and a place to say it! Good gracious this guy.
"Does that mean daddy doesn't care for mommy anymore?" The girl's lips curve into a pout as my husband lets out a sigh.
"He still cares for her. That I can be confident about but he's not showing it."
"Why?"
He shrugs with a clueless grin. "Beats me."
She turns to me as a hand picks up another cookie chewing it happily. "Grandma, guess what?"
"Hm?"
"I love you." Her small arms wrap around my stomach as my eyes widen. What?
I glance at my husband who is sporting a miniature small then back at my granddaughter. This is the first time she said that to me… should I be this surprised?
"I…" Wait… why does she pick now to say it? Am I overthinking? She's a kid and kids are simple creatures. If she's saying that phrase then she really must've meant it.
"I love you as well, Melody but…"
Amethyst eyes with gold and silver specks look into my eyes. "You're wondering why I am saying that to you, right?"
Actually, I take that back. Kids may be simple but that clearly doesn't apply to her.
I nod as she beams. "Because I noticed dada hasn't said it to you in a long time." Her arms hug my body once more. "Daddy always say I love you to me and since he's not here right now, I want to say it for him."
This child…
My jaw drops as she said that. My husband stares at her as he approaches the couch sitting beside me. "Well, first of all," A hand strokes her hair. "You can't say I love you for someone."
"You can't?"
He shakes his head as big eyes stare into his. "However," A big smile flashes on his face. "It's nice to know you love your grandmother so much."
Her eyes widen as he leans over to plant a kiss on her head. "I love you as well grandpa!"
(Creek)
"Hey," The door opens as a girl with aquamarine hair sashays in opening her arms. "Let me in on this love fest!"
"Auntie!"
She hops onto the couch hugging her father as he grunts at the sudden impact. "I love you too, daddy!"
I stifle a giggle as his eyes widen. "Honey, not that I'm complaining but aren't you a bit old to be referring to me as such?"
Golden eyes widen as she pouts. "Are you saying I can't call you daddy anymore?"
"It's not that. It's just-"
"Would you rather me call you Eliphas instead because I could if you-"
"No no no no no," He pulls her into his embrace once more. "Don't you dare refer to me as such."
"But Lucky can say your name. Why can't I?"
"Exactly," He pats her back gently. "I already have a kid who is disrespecting me. I can't have you do it as well."
She frowns furrowing her brows. "Astral gets away with everything."
"Anna," My husband shakes his head patting her hand. "Your brother doesn't get away with everything."
"Oh really? Then how come he can refer to you by your name with any repercussions? How come he tried to kill…" She glances at the young girl on my lap nibbling at her cookie as she sighs. "Point is, it's not fair."
"Well, his circumstances are different as you know." She pouts as a chuckle comes from my husband. "Come one my little princess, cheer up."
She turns her head to the side as her frown deepens. Hahaha!
Green and red eyes blink a bit as he pinches his nose bridge. "Alright. What do you want?"
Her eyes light up as a devious little smirk crosses her face. I knew it. She always want something.
"Daddy, how could you say that? Why would you assume I want something?" Her smile turns upside down. "I only want to refer to you as daddy. Is that such a bad thing?"
"Technically that's still wanting something." He mutters beneath his breath. "But sure. As long as you're not referring to me by my name then it's your call."
"Yay!"
You know, she may be 19 but compared to Melody, she acts so much like a kid. Not that I'm complaining of course.