Sribble scribble scribble.

The sound of a pen scratching paper echoes even throughout the night.

Then it stops.

"It's late."

There was a tap on the desk when he placed his pen. The notorious workaholic has stopped his work for today.

"Have you stopped your work for today Lord Albrecht?" His old faithful servant asks.

"Yes."

This is his life.

"Your Grace, you are pretty early today." The old man is teasing me right now.

"My back hurts." Stretching my back is such a pain now. Too many sounds of my bones cracking. "Plus I just felt like it." 

Am I getting old now?

No. "Do you need to get the physician to check on you Your Grace?" His voice reminded me there was an ancient being waiting beside me.

"It's fine, no need for that. My sons would raise a fuss if I was checked for something like this." 

I stood up, "It's late now. Did my wife and children already have supper?" 

"Yes all of them had supper without you once again My Grace." I noticed him frowning for a second and then, "Your Grace, are you really sure you're fine not dining with the rest of your family?"

I knew he'd say it again.

"It's fine." I'm used to it now. "My children are all adults, they understand the work their father is doing,and plus she can fill my spot, that's what she's there for right?" It came from a good place of heart so I won't reprimand my cheeky butler.

Oh yeah.

"Plus there is one more who also doesn't join during supper." And immediately his frown became even larger.

"...Please don't use Lady Arianne's circumstances as justification for your own absence, Your Grace."

"I know, it is but a simple statement."

The old man did not respond to that and so with the silence, I sorted and stored my paperwork until my desk was empty.

But now, "... I'm hungry."

"Do you wish for a simple meal, Your Grace?" The old man immediately sprung into action.

"Yes, make it quick and simple. I will eat alone so there's no need for fanciful embellishments."

He was quiet for a moment and then, "Of course, I will visit the head chef right this instant."

"Good." I gave a heavy smile.

As much as the old man likes to talk back a lot, one of the things I like about him is he never questions such vague things as dignity or appearance.

"I shall make my way." And like that, he does what he said he does and leaves the room.

Now that I'm all alone. "I need a quick snack." Under my desk I grab two of my favorite things, dried berries and cigars. 

"Hmm." Now that the old man is gone I can eat without him making a snide remark.

Psssssst….

Pressing the bud of my cigar to the glowing firestone in the corner of my desk, it lit a flame.

Now that I'm all alone and relaxing for once, "What a day." One thing made this day stand out from all the other days of work I had.

Closing my eyes I see that person with a striking resemblance to her.

"Arianne." All I can think about is that sickly child.

"Sickly huh..." Another memory pops up.

Looking at the walls of my office is a painting, someone whom the word sickly is synonymous with. 

"Father." Muttering that word brought back memories of a time where there were no responsibilities for me.

"You were very sickly too, father. But you were triumphant until the end. How could you do it?" People with weak constitutions should be weak, but my father was an exception.

And now with the awakening of my daughter... 

"Rubbish." I am thinking of rubbish thoughts.

I got my mind off of that nonsense and once again, "Why do you always come back long after you're dead?" I stare at another part of the wall.

A part where there are black curtains blocking it.

"I cannot believe I will be looking at you again."

I stood up and pushed the curtain by the sides to see a painting of a woman with snow white hair, gradually turning into a magenta like color by the tips. Needless to say.

"I guess our daughter turned extremely similar to you huh…." Why am I even speaking to someone who isn't here anymore?

"I will meet her after a long time, so wish me luck." I pulled the curtains back covering her before I got out of my office.

Since I'm hungry now.

•••

"I'm so hungry." My stomach is grumbling.

I just woke up and by looking out the window it is now nighttime. And I have just been sleeping all day, so when I began thinking about food my belly roared.

In front of me was a platter with what seemed to be food. It was a greyish white ball thing. I say it seemed because it had no taste at all. Even if I'm hungry I'm not gonna eat something with no taste at all.

Right Miriam?

"How can I get over you?" 

Miriam is sleeping in the corner of my bed, her head and arms on the mattress while the rest of her body is on the floor.

"What to do." Obviously I don't want her waking up and making a fuss so sneaking out it is then.

After moving my body sneakily out the bed, I'm out.

"Well that was easy." I slowly walk past her and go to reach the door.

And out, "Phew!" After closing the door to my room and leaving Miriam asleep, I am now outside my room.

And whilst I finally relaxed my body, "Ou—!" A jolt of pain suddenly came over to me all at once.

After the adrenaline rush of sneaking out subsided I felt the worst pain in the world.

My legs staggered standing up as I rested by the wall.

"Is this all the whiplash from me being in a coma for a week…?" I felt cramps all over my body, my bones feel brittle after not moving for a whole week, and my skin shedding is just the things I can think about that caused this.

And looking at the arm supporting me by the wall, seeing it's hand all bandaged up. I laugh at myself. "This body is fucked up." I felt like I haven't eaten in a week.

But still, I staggered on. 

One thing I need to do first is, "Where is the goddamned food." I guess I didn't think it through enough where I'll be getting my food huh.

But suddenly, "I will help you." A voice identical to mine talked to me.

"It's you." I spoke to myself.

"Yeah it's me Arianne, I can finally talk to you without needing a mirror." She said,

"That's good." I responded. "Needing a mirror every time while I talk to you would be really inconvenient.

"I know, I cannot feel anything from your body now but I know it hurts. So I wanted to help you with this at the very least." She spoke. 

"Go to that corridor…" And so I slowly made my way to the dining room.

While on the way there, I look at the marvelous furniture, walls, everything in this palace essential and couldn't help but be in awe.

"I'm rich." I told myself. 

"No longer would I need to do hard work." I couldn't help but smile.

Smile at the fact that despite my hilariously weak body, my future is secured in this fantasy world.

"I just need to get through this hurdle." So I pushed myself even harder after that.

•••

"Hey! Have you seen that child?"

"Yeah I saw her! She was walking all alone by herself!"

"How pitiful—Oh My Lord Albrecht."

I walk by a couple of gossiping young maids on night duty, who have bowed their heads when they saw me.

I told them to presume their work and immediately they nestled in an area far away from me.

"...What a noisy bunch." I would have them fired if this was day duty with the other nobles visiting but I'll be lenient as it is night.

But interestingly, "What do they mean by a child?" But I quickly remove that thought in my head as it is but useless gossip.

And so, I made my way to the side entrance of the dining hall instead of the massive double doors. 

"I mean it's not like she's awake once again." I mutter to myself before going inside….

•••

How did I get into this mess?

Let me explain.

After walking for god knows how long I finally found the room where the dining room is.

There was a really fancy doorway in this room where a couple of guards kept watch, but fortunately they were kind to me and so let me inside.

It was strange to see. It was incredibly fancy, more so than the other rooms I've seen, and there was one seat where food was placed.

It was very strange indeed, a lone meal only meant for one person.

It was then I thought, maybe it was for me? I thought there was no way someone was also eating all by themselves except me.

And so I sat down and looked at the table and the food in front of me.

Let me just say it looks luxurious but humble at the same time. The dishes and ingredients themselves looked expensive but it lacked any presentation and there was no garnish to be found.

It really was like food to eat and not one to look at, which I like.

But strangely enough, I didn't feel anything appetizing about it.

And so I grabbed the utensils and took out a bite.

I took one bite.

It was delicious, it was really delicious. The steak was soft and fluffy and melts in your mouth. The sauce compliments it completely. It has a rich umami flavor, and the little addition of what seemed to be fruit-like punch at the end was a masterful work of culinary art.

There was nothing wrong with it.

So why?

Why did I suddenly want to throw up?

"Bhphf!—" I immediately covered and closed my mouth with my palms as I felt something rise up in my throat.

I literally felt it on the back of my mouth before I swallowed it down again.

"Haaaa….haa...haaa..." Mouth felt dry, and when touching my face tears fell out.

"Why…." 

Without a doubt that was the worst experience I've ever had in both of my lives.

But before I could even register what happened to me.

"Who's there!" I heard a voice coming through from a different, less fancy entrance.

I look and we meet in the eye. "Arianne?" He muttered.

I dunno who this man is but I could tell. "Father?" This man is my father, I know it.

"Arianne!" He rushes over straight to me.

"What have you done!"

With that I felt my heart shatter, "I... I..." I wanna say sorry for eating this food but actually.

"No, why are you eating this kind of food?" It wasn't about me eating this food at all and I felt my heart a bit restored after that.

"W-what do you mean?" My mouth is still shaking from what happened earlier.

"..." He was silent. "So you forgot some memories during your coma huh?" He continues, "Do you want me to tell you why you cannot eat these kinds of food anymore?" 

I nodded, and wondered what kind of things they do to this child to end up like this?

But, he didn't tell me at all.

•••

Poor child.

Those are the only words I could describe my own daughter right now.

"You don't have to force yourself to do this." I told her, caressing my hand onto her little head.

She's sitting on my lap at this moment, "I-I can do this father…." Desperately not trying to throw up, as she ate the steak on the table.

I decided to split up the steak to one where she can eat and the rest for me.

I am carefully watching her right now, not even eating my steak. To prepare in case she throws up.

This set of events makes my stomach curl in grief, even as a noble this frail thin little girl is my own kin, my child.

If only I wasn't so preoccupied back then, I would have been able to stop the things that woman did to Arianne. This is what I thought.

"Oh." My eyes widened out of my thoughts and looked at Arianne who's covering her lips with her palms. "Are you alright?"

She finished her share of the steak and she nodded before swallowing it down her throat.

"I-I did it..." Arianne meekly said, resting on my torso.

"Good." There isn't much I can say to this, but I made sure to thoroughly rub her head. 

"You can—" I stop midway through when she turns around and rests her forehead onto me.

"That's good….hmmn." She relaxes and before long,

"...Take a rest now." And she did.

"You must be really tired huh." I carefully grab her on to me.

I stood up with Arianne by my arms and left my dinner for tonight and slowly and silently carried her.

"Arianne." I look down to see my child.

Frail and weak, she feels too light for someone who's lived this world for 9 years. But even with all of her deficiency she still holds on and tries her hardest.

"Why are you such a striking resemblance to two of the people I care about?" 

One was her late mother, the other…

"Why are you staring at me like that father?" I noticed on the wall was a picture of him.

My father was terribly weak and sickly, it shouldn't have been possible for him to rule this very territory right now, but he did. He did so splendidly.

"Why do I think of the past when I stare at you, my child?" The child that honestly shouldn't have existed and survived, is right here resting by my arms.

"Hmm?" I notice her groaning.

"What is it—"

Blurgh!

…She threw up, while asleep.

"..." Both of our clothing have been dirtied.

"Maybe I evaluated you too highly Arianne." You are still but a child after all.

I grabbed the napkin from the table and cleaned her mouth.

"Let's get you cleaned up." I said before leaving the dining hall.

...I slept badly tonight as I did not eat the rest of my dinner.