Part 7

Elijah paced back and forth in his bedchamber, he was about to lose his temper. Where had Lucien taken Alina? She should be here already. He should have never let her out of his sight. If something had happened to her…

"Papa!" Alina's voice cheered as soon as the door to Elijah's chamber opened. He scooped her up as soon as she ran over to him.

"There you are," he sighed, feeling very relieved. "Where have you been?"

"I met a princess," she explained, clearly excited. "A real princess. And a prince. He did not talk much, but he was nice, I like him. And the princess, her name is Aurora, she said that I look like a princess as well and she taught me how a lady eats soup. It was difficult, I kept spilling my soup, but she said it was alright, she didn't laugh at me. And then we ate chicken and I didn't know I was supposed to use a fork and a knife, so I ate with my hands and she ate with her hands too and she said to the prince that he should also eat with his hands, but he didn't want to and we laughed at him and he pouted and it was funny."

"That's…nice, sweetheart," Elijah replied, trying to understand what his daughter was talking about. He looked at Lucien who had come in with Alina.

"I apologize, my lord," he said. "I was taking the little lady to the kitchen when we ran into the Count's son and daughter, the Lord Tristan and the Lady Aurora. She invited the little lady to join them in the dining room."

"I see."

"Everything went well," Lucien added quickly. "Lady Aurora liked the little lady very much."

"I liked her too," Alina said and paused, looking at Lucien. "Can papa meet her too?"

"I am sure he will," Lucien replied. "The Count is throwing a feast tonight; she and her brother will be there."

Alina's face brightened.

"A feast? Can I come too?"

Lucien hesitated, he seemed very uncomfortable.

"I would love to have you there, little lady, but…"

Elijah frowned; he understood what the problem was. Children weren't welcome to this feast. Well, his daughter would be.

"Yes, sweetheart," he said firmly. "Of course you will come with me, if you are not too tired."

She let out an excited cheer and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Thank you, papa! I promise to be good."

Elijah smiled and rubbed her back.

"I know, little pixie."

Lucien was clearly concerned, but Elijah gave him a determined look before placing Alina on the floor.

"My lord, about the nursemaid…"

"My daughter won't need one," Elijah replied. "She will stay with me or my siblings."

Lucien bit his bottom lip.

"Alright. She has her own bedchamber, shall I…"

"She will stay here with me," Elijah cut in firmly. "If anyone asks questions, you can tell them that I am very fond of my daughter and she has recently lost her…"

Elijah couldn't finish his sentence, but thankfully Lucien understood what he was trying to say.

"Yes, my lord. Is there anything you need?"

Elijah was about to say no when something occurred to him.

"Can you arrange Alina another gown for the feast?"

"Yes, my lord, I believe so."

"Another gown?" Alina asked. "But I already have a pretty gown, why do I need another one?"

Elijah smiled.

"Sweetheart, do you remember when I told you that we are nobles now? Noble girls have more than one pretty gown."

"Really?" she asked curiously. "How many gowns do they have?"

Elijah had to admit that he didn't actually know, so he looked at Lucien.

"Dozens, little lady," the servant replied smiling.

Alina's eyes widened.

"Why do they need so many gowns?"

"Well… They wear a different gown every day, sometimes many different gowns per day."

"Why?"

"It is customary, I suppose. Wealthy people wish to demonstrate their wealth."

Elijah could easily pick up a hint of bitterness in Lucien's voice. The servant cleared his throat and smiled at Alina.

"I will bring you the new gown."

"Thank you, Lucien," she replied smiling.

"You are welcome, little lady."

"Could you also ask someone to prepare a bath for my daughter?" Elijah asked before Lucien was out of the room.

"Of course, my lord."

Alina pouted her lips.

"A bath? I do not want to take a bath, papa."

"Well, you will have to, sweetheart," Elijah replied and touched her nose, making her to wrinkle it.

"What if I won't?"

"Well… Then I am afraid you will be caught by…the bear!"

She screamed and laughed as he chased her around the chamber.

"You can't catch me!" she giggled.

"Is that so? We shall see about that…"

He let out a roar and continued chasing her until someone knocked on the door.

"Yes?"

A servant girl entered the room and curtsied.

"I came to prepare the bath, my lord."

"Yes, good, thank you. It's for my daughter."

"Hello," Alina said cheerfully.

The servant girl looked at her and smiled.

"Hello, my lady."

"You really do not have to prepare a bath for me," Alina said.

The girl looked a little confused.

"Why is that, my lady?"

"Because I do not want to bathe…"

"Alright," Elijah huffed and picked Alina up. "That is enough. You will take a bath and that is final."

He tried not to laugh when she stuck her tongue out. Thank you very much Kol.

"Is that an appropriate behavior for a lady?" he scolded, trying his best to sound serious.

"I am not a lady, I am a bear cub," she replied and stuck her tongue out again.

Elijah smiled and kissed her cheek. He loved his little girl so much that it hurt. He would have done anything for her. As he looked into her trusting eyes, he prayed that she would never find out what kind of a monster her father really was.