of the table, gaze fixed upon his dinner while his second wife, Lady Marie and her three children, Frederick, Elina an

ess?" the guard who stood by the

my lady-in-waiting to fetch me my dinner to eat in my room but today, I decided that I should at least show my face

.." I s

an apologetic look before pulling the door wide open. I stood there awkwardly, not

the hall and took my seat next to Aiden. He glanced over at my direction and r

u surely have grown into such a beautiful young lady." Lady Marie complimented

I said as my dinner was placed in front of me. I reached out for my

xperienced your rut yet? At your age? Truly unbecoming of an alpha..." she press

all my half-siblings and even my younger brother of two years have expe

y Marie. The doctor says

, who was the same age as Aiden. She attempted to hide the fact that

her smile elegant on her beautiful face and y

f course not, Lady Isabelle. I merely choked on

y Marie turned to my father. There was a pause before my father's gaz

in talking about

ural. Any normal alpha-" Frederi

e middle child of Lady Marie chimed in. Lili

k but I took hold of his arm, stop

an alpha after all?" Lilian

t like one." Elina g

nce!" My mot

rection. "There is no need to dwell on this topic any further." he merely said and with

is the only decent child of hers!" my mother complained once we had retreated t

her, getting anxious by watching her

n you just sit there and take such

childhood where they would torment me just for t

act all high and mighty because they are th

exhausted from having to deal with all these famil

hed out to hold my face, forcing me to look at her. "How can I do that

It is not natural for my rut to be this late when I'm supposedly an alpha. Ever since I was a child

from when you were a child that is af

ur rut will come in no time! You are an alpha, my dearest Cordelia. No matter what anyone says." she reassured me and yet the

us to turn to the figure who stood by the entrance. Almost a

nd. There was an awkward pause before he cleared hi

r! Please join us

, if I

iden shifting to move away.?The both of them only gave me a sympathetic look before making their way to the door. They bowed at the emperor before walking p

-T

mmediately sit back on the couch. Another suffocating silence filled the room until he shifted closer to me. I wa

m much healthier now, father. I can even tr

e interjected, brows furrowed. "Wh

this up to father when she agreed to allow me to train with a sword. "...I

ion softened and he let out a soft sigh. "Be careful not to overwork yourself. You

red father

t were on display on the table. "There is no need for you to be ashamed of being

ot expect him to utter those words to me. He stopp

he said before walk

very man who often treated me like I did not exist when I was a child, was just being...kind to me? I wanted to l