"Remember, Aeris. No matter what comes, you must never bow to the shadow that hides itself behind the royal family. Keep this in your mind and let it not slip from your thoughts." The rough, urgent voice pulled Aeris from the haze of her shock.
The middle-aged man placed a firm yet gentle hand upon his daughter's shoulder, drawing her close in the quiet of his office. The room, usually filled with the scent of parchment and ink, seemed suddenly heavy with tension and the metallic tang of fear. He lingered beside her, gathering courage, before speaking once more.
"Aeris." The Duke of Ambroise, Lord Hadri, lifted his hand and brushed it lightly across his daughter's pale cheek, a gesture meant to comfort. But his fingers stilled in horror when he realised he had left a streak of his own blood upon her skin, dark against the pallor of her face.
The sharp, coppery scent filled the office, clinging to the leather-bound ledgers and the polished wood of the desk, yet Aeris felt nothing. She remained frozen, caught in the aftermath of the earlier scene, her golden eyes fixed upon the plain wall before her.
Tears traced slow, glimmering paths down her cheeks, and not a single word of her father's reached her mind. Her thoughts were scattered, lost amid the shock that pressed heavily upon her chest, leaving her small and trembling in the midst of the quiet room.
"Dad…" Aeris' gaze remained fixed upon the wall, tears glimmering as she called out for Lord Hadri.
"Dad… mom is gone." Her voice fell to a whisper, trembling with disbelief. The words struck Lord Hadri like a sudden bolt of lightning, sharp and unyielding.
Her mind would not let her rest, replaying the dreadful moment she had witnessed only moments before. Her mother, Madam Maria, the woman who had sacrificed everything to guard her children, was no more. The image pressed upon her chest, heavy and relentless.
Aeris felt the very life drain from her as she recalled her mother's lifeless form. Madam Maria lay upon the cold, unforgiving floor, drenched in a pool of dark, glistening blood, her pale face etched with a final, silent stillness. The memory carved itself into Aeris' mind, leaving an ache that no words could soothe.
"Aeris." Lord Hadri shook her gently by the shoulders, drawing her away from the spiralling shadows of her thoughts. The office, once a place of quiet counsel and mundane affairs, seemed thick with sorrow and the lingering tang of blood. Danger still pressed close upon them, and there was no time to linger in grief.
"Remember what I have said. You must protect our family, protect Ambroise." His voice was stern, hoarse from the weight of command and heartbreak, yet beneath it lay a thread of tenderness. He drew Aeris close into his embrace, a protective wall against the terror of the world outside.
"Forgive your father, Aeris." Lord Hadri's whisper quivered, a small, hidden sob beneath the careful restraint. Though the words seemed to drift and fade in the air between them, he remained steadfast, standing beside her, a presence both fragile and unyielding.
"My dear daughter, you are the heiress of Ambroise, the sole bearer of its name and its legacy within this empire. No one may claim what is rightfully yours. Even should the world turn upside down, even if chaos were to sweep through every corner of the land, you will always ascend as the next head of Ambroise. Do not ever forget this, Aeris." Lord Hadri gently broke their embrace, his gaze heavy with sorrow. He caressed her hair with care, brushing away tears as his voice continued, steady and resolute.
"We are strong. You are strong. As long as the Duchy of Ambroise has you to lead it, we shall never fall. Do not allow them to destroy all that we have built, all that we have fought to protect." Lord Hadri's lips curved into a small, sad smile as he pressed a tender kiss to Aeris' forehead, a silent promise of hope amidst the darkness.
"When the flames that have been lending light to the shadow fade, that will be the moment for you to strike. I do not ask you to lay down your life for our family. But I want you to use our strength to protect your own life and the lives of your brothers."
Aeris could hear the tremor in her father's voice. She lifted her eyes to him, suspicion and unease flickering in their golden depths. It felt like a farewell, and the thought made her heart tighten with unease.
"Dad…" Her voice quavered as she called out, the fear of losing him threading through every syllable. But before she could speak further, Lord Hadri cut her off gently.
"It's fine, dear." He patted her shoulder with a steady hand. "Everything will be fine. You only need to remember what I have told you. Keep that close to your heart."
But as Aeris looked at the calm, almost sorrowful expression on her father's face, anxiety coiled tightly within her. The words he had spoken earlier returned, haunting her thoughts.
"The shadow? Who?" she asked, frowning as her mind raced to consider which family might hold a grudge against theirs.
"It is the family from the—"
"Argh! My lord, we have no time! You and the young lady must leave at once! We must hurry!" The voice of one of the knights cut through the room. His face was a mask of blood so thick that Aeris could not tell whether it was his own or another's.
At the sound of his knight's urgent warning, Lord Hadri acted without hesitation. He pulled Aeris close, guiding her to the far corner of the office where a tall bookcase stood. With a swift motion, he drew a red-covered book from the shelf. The case shuddered and swung aside, revealing a narrow, hidden passage.
"Go," he urged, gently but firmly pushing her toward the secret path. He gestured for her to move forward as it would lead her safely outside the Ambroise estate. Yet no matter how insistently he encouraged her, Aeris remained rooted in place.
"What about you?" she asked, her voice trembling, her small hand clutching at his robes as though anchoring herself to him.
Lord Hadri paused, gazing down at his only daughter, who bore so striking a resemblance to her late mother. The little girl who had once whined over lessons had grown into a fine young lady before his eyes.
He stroked her hair gently, forcing a small, brave smile. "Dad is the head of Ambroise. How could I leave our people to face this alone? This is my responsibility. Aeris…help me protect your siblings, will you? Just follow this path and it will lead you to Ezrik."
Aeris understood the sorrow in her father's eyes. It was a quiet, unspoken farewell. Yet she clung to the hope that he would return. After all, her father was among the finest knights in Ankaa Empire.
"I will wait for you with Uncle Ezrik," she murmured softly, nodding with determination.
"Please, be safe," she added, a faint sob still lingering on her lips.
Lord Hadri closed his eyes, brushing away the tears that threatened to fall, and drew her into a final embrace.
"Your mom and I love you, Airel and Arian, so very much. Never forget that, understand?" He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before nudging her into the hidden path. Placing his hand on the bookcase, he prepared to seal the passage.
"Go." His nod was firm, his eyes lingering on her for a heartbeat longer.
"We also love you and mom so much," Aeris said, offering a trembling smile before turning and stepping into the secret passage.
Lord Hadri watched her go, heart aching as he pulled the shelf to conceal the path. As it swung into place, he caught her voice one last time.
"Dad, no matter what you do, I will not blame you. So please… don't blame yourself."
Those were the final words he heard from his daughter before she vanished from his sight, leaving him alone with the weight of duty and the echo of her promise.