Seeing through the Flames (Killua x OC) (Kurapika x OC)

Chapter 10

WARNING: If you are uncomfortable with child abuse, psychological abuse, verbal abuse, and physical abuse, then please skip the dream sections and/or skim through them quickly. Thank you.

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"Do you understand what you did wrong, my child?" Arla's father stood stiffly, looking out the large window. He did not bother to glance at her ever since she entered the room.

"..." Arla stood behind her father with her head looking straight at his back. "I understand that I have brought shame to the family by being banned from the school and the Court."

"And do you know why that is so shameful?" He inquired.

Arla gathered her hands together in front of her, speaking in a lifeless and emotionless manner. "Because I have not only lost my fiance to another woman, I have also made the Froshumburg Family lose face in front of our people, the Court, and the potential acquaintances that I could have befriended to strengthen our network of allies. Instead, I have destroyed that potential network with my own hands." She, however, took a step towards him. "However, I have not done what they accused me of. If it had been something that I had done, then I would accept this result, but I will not."

"And so? What will you do? You cannot change the mind of the Court that easily."

She paused briefly before replying, "I will change the minds of our people - to help them get on my side and for them to truly understand that I am on their side. That has always been my dream and no matter what happens to me, that will always be my dream."

Her father finally faced her. "Then who is at fault for this event?"

"...I am." She answered. "Because I did not bother to gather enough allies, because I could not get them to accept me as one of them, and because I have this power that frightens them away... Because...what they fear is the unknown...and I am that unknown. So I am at fault. Even though I have not done what they accused me of, that does not matter in the end... Because if you have no one on your side, then you will always be the one who has done what they accused you of - no matter what."

"Wrong, my child." He shook his head. "The one who is at fault for this event would be me. I am the one who allowed you to show your power and to utilize it in front of others. I am the one who allowed others to find out about your power. I am the one who has not guided you enough to help establish enough connections and allies for yourself in the first place. Therefore, I am the one at fault."

"But-"

"My child, even if I am the prime minister of this country, I am willing to always protect you from this country, but because I realized too late that this country no longer cares if you are a child or a woman, I have failed you so many times in the past. For they will always attack if it benefits them greatly." He smiled sadly at her. "I wonder when it started to happen - this change... This spiral of negativity and distrust. Suspicion lingering in every corner and jealousy always swaying the decisions of others... When did the happiness of our people no longer matter? When have we lost ourselves to power?" Shame swirled in his eyes. "In the end, my generation is to be blamed. We could not handle the power correctly and have now misused it for our own emotional and other benefits. I wish... I sometimes wish, my child, that I was back in the time when things have been greater. All that had mattered to us nobles back then were the contentment and smiles of our people. For me, that has not changed, but why... Why has it changed for the others? What has changed so much that they became so twisted and ugly in their hearts?"

"Father..." Arla gripped her hand tightly as an attempt to stop herself from crying. "Father, I will not fall. I will make that dream come true - for that world to come about again. I will not let it end in your time. We still have a chance in making this happen."