I looked up and saw my Father and that snake.

My heart stopped.

Father, oh dear Father. What happened to you?

The once full-of-life face now appeared half-dead. Father looked thinner and his eyes were not filled with their usual splendour and colour. Instead, they were lifeless and devoid of any colour. The once healthy glow he had emitted was now sour.

At least he was happy to see me...

But what shocked me—even more so than Father's transformation, was what that snake was holding.

It was a music box.

Mother's music box.

Why... Why was she holding it?! How dare she lay her filthy paws on Mother's precious item? What right does she—a vile and venomous woman—to touch a gentle and kind woman's item?!

I let out a snarl, springing up and grabbing the box from her hand and clutching it to my chest. She seemed shocked as I glared at her disgusting figure—undisguised hate and killing intent in my eyes.

There were two intense auras being released from behind me and I almost sighed in relief. Etti and Big Brother were backing me up. Even if that witch wanted to do something underhanded—she wouldn't dare to anymore.

Father frowned and I saw him look at Caroline in absolute disgust. Even an ordinary person could feel the disgust radiating from the depths of his bones and out of his skin. They were surprised—everyone knew that this was the Queen, his second wife. Then they remembered—this was an arranged and forced marriage by the Council.

After all, the whole world was aware of the deep love the original Argonda royal family—my family—held for each other. To touch one of us would have been a call for death, no matter the status or prestige one has. It was unforgivable to harm my family.

But this music box... Mother had given it to me at birth. Though there was only one song left from it—as the rest were destroyed soon after that snake came into the family—it was more precious than any other item. To touch it was a taboo and to even think those filthy slimy hands lay hands on Mother's gift, she deserves a fate worse than death.

I turned around, silently moving to sit on the mat laid out. Father soon followed and sat next to me silently. He then pulled me onto his lap. I turned around, letting out a little sniff.

Across from us, I heard the friendly chatter between the Empress and Caroline.

Disgusting.

Two snakes joining together. How fitting.

They were both extravagant and greedy, only wished for beauty and disregarded those who their people thought in higher regard.

Soon, lunch came and Lucian had not arrived.

Good.

It would be bad for him to deal with this.

After eating, that stupid Empress and Caroline went on a long walk—I hope they never return.

Etti and Big brother seemed to understand that Father and I needed alone time so they left the garden. We were the only people left as the servants and maids had also gone.

Father's crimson eyes looked down at the music box before nodding. Nodding back, I slowly turned the handle. Soon, the delicate and sweet melody came out.

Tears were rolling down our faces and I'm sure to many, we would have just seemed like an ordinary father-daughter pair.

He smiled softly to me—though those tears told me it wasn't a happy smile—before he softly sung.

"You are my sunshine,

my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are grey

You never know, dear,

how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away...

The other night, dear,

as I lay sleeping

I dreamt I held you in my arms

When I awoke, dear,

I was mistaken

So I hung my head, and I cried..."

I was about to bawl but continued the song anyway.

"You are my sunshine,

my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are grey

You never know, dear,

how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away...

I'll always love you and make you happy

If you will only say the same

But if you leave me to love another,

You'll regret it all one day..."

We sang the last part of the song in unison.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are grey

You never know, dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

Please don't take my sunshine away..."

When the music stopped, I burst into tears and buried my head in Father's chest.

It wasn't fair! Why did Mother die, why did my unborn sibling die?! What have we done to others that they despise us so much to kill one of the most precious beings in our lives?! What rights do they have to even think of touching my family let alone harming them?!

I swear, if I find the culprits, not only will I send them to the depths of hell to rot, I'll torture them first!

Father stroked my hair and back but I knew he was about to burst out into tears as well. Mother was extremely precious to both of us, but she was the love of his life and his reason to go on. I had lost a sibling but he had lost a child.

I whispered something that caused Father to burst out crying.

"It's okay to cry, Dada..."

~~*~~

I was wandering around, greeting those who had come to see their child when I came across the secluded garden the Emperor, Empress and General Etti had situated themselves in with Amaryllis to wait for her family.

But I didn't see all those powerful figures.

Instead, I saw two people, both struggling to hold back tears as they sang a song. It was beautiful to listen to, very touching and even I nearly started to cry.

It was Amaryllis.

Was that man her father?

After the song ended, the small and fierce woman burst out into tears and the man was stroking her soothingly. Anybody could see he was going to cry as well.

Then she mumbled something but with my enhanced hearing, I heard it as clear as day.

"It's okay to cry, Dada..."

~~*~~