The Real Lovely Princess || 𝖶𝖬𝖬𝖠𝖯

ath. five

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Chapter Five

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❝ Hush Little Athanasia ❞

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Two years have passed, and Claude have concluded that Athanasia finally regained consciousness. Although, he expected her to be.. more wary of him. But that didn't happen, because Athanasia was like the normal Athanasia that he remembered.

Albeit, Claude still worries about his little daughter. Sometimes, at night, Athanasia would rather want to sleep alone. Which makes Claude sad, because whenever he tries to sleep beside her, little Athanasia always kicks his face.

Claude stared at his little daughter sleeping at the comfortable hidden room, behind his throne in the audience room. Somehow, Athanasia don't like being too faraway from him. Lilian thinks it might become a bad habit for her, but Claude thinks it's cute.

He softly caressed Athanasia strands of hair, as he lovingly gazed at her. He was suddenly startled, when little Athanasia started turning as she sweat. She started sobbing a little, that made Claude worry.

'Is she having a nightmare— Of course, she is, stupid! Can't you see her trashing around?' he argued with himself, as he tried calming sleeping Athanasia down. But no matter what he did, nothing helped.

"Papa, can you sing me a lullaby? Because whenever you do, bad dreams go away."

Claude softly sighed, as he gently placed Athanasia at his arms, softly patting her as she sobbed. 'What was the lullaby mother sang?' Back when he was a child, his mother always sang him a lullaby. She said that it was a commoner's lullaby.

As he remembered the song, he started humming first. "Hush, little Athanasia, don't say a word, Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird." Claude softly sang, as it overlapped' Athanasia's soft cries. "And if that mockingbird don't sing, Papa's gonna buy you a golden ring. And if that golden ring turns brass, Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass. And if that looking glass gets broke, Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat, And if that billy goat doesn't pull, Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull. And if that cart and bull turn over, Papa's gonna buy you a dog named Roger. And if that dog named Roger won't bark, Papa's gonna buy you a horse and cart. And if that horse and cart fall down, well you'll still be the sweetest baby in Obelia." he finished gently, as he improvised some of them. Athanasia started waking up a little, as he continued rocking her.

"Pa.. Papa?"

"Hmm, yes, Papa's here." Claude reassured as he pecked Athanasia's forehead. Athanasia stared at him for a second, and then hugged him tightly, making Claude chuckled. "Did my little Athanasia had a nightmare?"

"Hmm.." Athanasia nodded as she still held Claude tightly.

"What's it about?" Claude can't help but ask.

Athanasia was silent for a moment, as her cute little voice answered. Trembling, as she still remember the horrid nightmare. "Papa was.. Papa was mwean to Athanasia and then.. Papa don't love Athanasia.."

Claude softly sighed, as he looked at her with a soft smile. "Does Papa look like he doesn't love Athanasia?" Athanasia shaked her head, as her jeweled blue eyes gazed at his. "Then, there's no need for you to be worried.. I'll be here, i won't leave you."

Athanasia's face brighten, as she started to smile. "Reawwy?!"

Claude nodded, as his smile widen at Athanasia's cuteness. "Really. Now, let's sleep because Lilian will kill me if you don't get your nap." 'Even though, i'm the emperor."

"Papa's scared of Wiwi?" Athanasia asked innocently, as she started lying down. When Claude shaked his head, Athanasia giggled. "Of couwse! Papa's stwong!"

"Yes, Papa's strong." Claude chuckled.

"Then Papa gonna sing again?" Claude hesitantly answered, when he saw Athanasia's pleading face. He softly sighed, as he nodded. "Yay! Sing it agawn! Athanasia's going to sweep."

"Yes, yes.."

Surely, Did Athanasia think Claude didn't notice how she trembled when she first saw her when she woke up?