IF THAT CHILD SPLIT INTO TWO

Chapter Seven: two sisters?

"Yes, your majesty."

They were taken to the best rooms the two have ever seen. Odette's room was in front of Charlotte's. Felix had told her that if she needed absolutely anything that she'd inform the head maid or himself. Odette visited her daughter because she had noticed that she was too quiet.

"Is something bothering you, mon Cherie?" Odette gently carried her daughters hair. Charlotte hugged her pillow and said.

"His majesty had the same eyes as me, mama ... is he my papa?"

Odette felt her heart stop. She knew she child was intelligent but to this extent-

"It's ... complicated, mon Cherie. You must never reveal yourself about your eyes to anyone here okay?"

"Okay."

"Good girl. Are you hungry? It's almost dinner time."

"Can I have lasagna and cheesecake?"

"I'll ask the maids to prepare that for you."

"Yay!"

Claude was with Athanasia who were about to have dinner when he was told that Odette and her daughter were going to have dinner as well. He ordered for them to come eat with them. Athanasia was bewildered because Claude never invited anyone with her. Who was this Odette?

"Lily?" Nine year old Athanasia called out her nanny.

"Yes, princess?"

"Who is Odette that papa was talking about?"

"Ah you mean Lady Odette Blanche from France. She's a ballerina who she had interacted with his majesty years ago."

"Ballerina?" Athanasia's eyes sparkled.

"Yes. Her family are well known performers from generations to generations. She and her daughter had come here to form an alliance between the two kingdoms."

"Oooohhh. Is she pretty?"

"From what I heard in the palace they are both very pretty."

"Athy wants to meet them!"

"You will in dinner so let's make you even prettier, princess."

"Okay!"

Athanasia wore a pretty yellow dress with daisies imprinted on it and she had her hair in pigtails with two yellow ribbons with a daisy on them. She sat down close to Claude who dressed up nicely as well.

"An old friend of mine came today with her daughter." Claude said. Athanasia nodded.

"Athy heard they are very pretty!"

"... hmm." Claud hummed, as if he was agreeing to it.

"Your majesty they have arrived." Felix said.

"Let them in."

Felix opened the doors and Athanasia almost had her eyeballs pop out of their sockets from what she saw. A beautiful woman with hair as white as the clouds and snow, her eyes shining like of an emerald and her pale skin made her look like an angel or a goddess. Next to her was a little girl who looked like her except for her skin wasn't pale but peachy and her eyes were as blue as the skies.

The two bowed respectfully and said.

"Blessings and Glory Upon the Sun and the star of Obelia."

"Good evening, your majesty." Odette said, her eyes landed on Athanasia and for a second the princess thought she wouldn't like her but-

She smiled softly and said.

"And this must be the beautiful princess of Obelia. The rumors don't do you any justice, your highness. I am Odette Blanche."

Athanasia was in awe, not only she was pretty but she was pretty in the inside as well. Claude motioned a chair close to him and Odette nodded.

"Charlotte why don't you go give the gifts you prepared for the princess and his majesty?"

"Okay." The little girl ran round the table and looked up to Athanasia who was curious on what was in her hand. Also admiring her beauty from her mother but shed looked somehow familiar.

"I made this myself." Charlotte shyly mumbled showing a beautiful keychain with different colors jewels on it and the Obelian symbol and animal. Athanasia gasped and smiled cheerfully.

"Thank you! Athy loves it!"

Charlotte's eyes brightened and smiled shyly. She then approached Claude and showed her another keychain but it had different gems on. The Emperor looked at the keychain and then took it in his hand.

"You made this by yourself?"

"Mama told me to use a tool to change the shape of the gold metal to make the symbol but yes."

"... well done." He patted her head. Charlotte smiled and hugged Odette who kissed her head. "Good job, baby."

"Can Charlotte sit next to Athy?"

"Can I?" Charlotte asked. Odette glanced at Claude who gave her a small nod.

"Sure."

The two little girls were now bonding with each other, giggling and all. Odette and Claude were eating in silence until he broke it.

"What have you been up to the past few years?"

"Well now I am a guest of honor in ballet competitions and sometimes the judge. The only time I dance is when the hosts ask me to and pay me."

"How is the school?"

"I teach there most of the time now. You'd be surprised if you see how many of my students are already so talented."

"Hmm." Claude's eyes landed on Charlotte who was playing with Athanasia. The two little girls were smiling in such a similarity way it bothered him.

"Does your daughter do ballet as well?"

Odette looked at charlotte and smiled.

"Kinda. She's really into figure ice skating. I taught her some moves in ballet that would be necessary for that sport but I already assigned a good teacher for her skating."

"How is she now?"

"Very good. We brought her to the ice when she was only 3 and now she's a real natural. Her teacher, Miss Olivia, said she can start competing in 2 years."

"That's impressive."

"How about your daughter? I heard she's a genius."

"Yes, she started her studies when she was 4. Already knows the ancient language by heart."

"The empire will be in good hands in the future." Odette smiled. Claude nodded.

He felt as ease now the awkwardness has left and there was no tension between them. However he felt a certain attraction to the little girl but he'd confirm his suspicions later.

"I can teach you if you want!"

"Really?! I'd love that! Papa! Can Charlotte teach Athy ice skating?" Athanasia clapped her hands together.

Claude was in thought.

"Is there an ice skating range here? It's so warm here, I'd doubt that-"

"There is in the south of Obelia. It's colder there."

"Isn't it far?"

"Doesn't matter. We can go there tomorrow if you two really want to."

"Athy wants to!"

"Me too."

Odette felt a twig in her heart. For a single moment it felt like a family dinner. Two little girls asking their father something and the mother being worried but the father reassuring her. Her hand was placed on her chest as she breathed in and out.