“Seek respect. Not attention. It lasts longer”

*************

After having breakfast with Zamiel, Heaven decided she needed to go back home fast. She wished that she could just enjoy her time with Zamiel and ignore the rest of the world, but she couldn’t. She had things to do, and she didn’t want many questions because she was absent too long.

Zamiel had showered her with kissed and praises and fed her till she was full. But that didn’t help. It only added to her dizziness, and she wobbled as she arrived back home. Her mind was a fog, her stomach still fluttered every though every muscle in her body complained as she walked. She felt funny and sore at the same time.

Before her mother could come to her room, she changed quickly into something new and brushed her hair so that she looked decent. Just then her mother knocked on the door and peeked inside.

“You are awake.” She said walking inside.

Her mother gazed traveled along her body before she looked at her face and smiled. She probably knew that she was absent the whole night.

“I brought you some breakfast.” She said not asking anything that would cause an embarrassing moment for both of them. Heaven was thankful for that.

Her mother went and put the tray in her hand on the table. Heaven felt her stomach turn. She was already full.

“Thank you, mother. I was thinking of going to see father for a while. See how things are going with Valish.”

“Your father will be here soon and you can talk to him. There is a risk you will be seen if you go to Valish.”

It was true. Heaven just felt bad that she couldn’t help, even though she knew there wasn’t much she could do. She failed to get her title that would allow her to help her father. Now, she was still just a princess. She wasn’t supposed to get involved in political matters unless for training purposes.

After a while, her father came to her room while she was eating breakfast. She tried to force herself just to appease her mother, who complained about her weight.

“Heaven.” He opened his arms for her as usual and she walked into his embrace. “Did you rest well?” He asked, looking down upon her.

“Yes. Did you get any rest? How are things going?”

He led her to the table, and they sat down. “Everything is going well. Valish is now part of Decresh. We have announced it to the people and set the new law and rules. The citizens seem to be accepting and we haven’t faced any problems. The King and the prince were executed.”

Heaven nodded. After the mission none of the decisions were hers to make and Heaven trusted that her father made the right choice.

“I am glad everything went well. I wish I could help.” She said.

“Do you regret risking your title?” He asked.

Heaven shook her head. “No.”

Her father smiled. “Good. You can’t help me without a title, but you already did a good job.” He told her.

A smile lit up her face. Maybe she was worried that her father wasn’t proud for no reason.

“You might not have gotten the title general but I think you gained respect. That is more important. With time you will also gain your general title.” He continued.

Heaven nodded.

“But…” he added, taking her hand in his. “Right now, I want you to focus on yourself. You need to rest and be strong.”

“Is this about grandfather?”

Some unknown emotions shifted through his eyes. “Yes.” He said.

The joy she felt this morning suddenly died. Heaven was mostly hurt because he was her grandfather. He was supposed to take care of her, love her and cherish her. Not manipulate her and make her miserable.

“Is there really no way we can stop him?”

Her father was silent for a while, and Heaven understood that whatever way to stop him would cause them a lot of harm.

Her grandfather was supposed to roam earth and manipulate people for as long as they existed. Killing him or locking him, none of that would work. Not that Heaven wished those things to work. What she truly wished was for her grandfather to be a grandfather to her. To come back to their family and bring happiness to her grandmother. But she knew that wouldn’t happen.

Even worse, now he threatened their happiness.

Heaven put her hand on top of her fathers. “Don’t worry, father. I will be alright. I am strong.” She smiled at him.

“You are very strong.” He said kissing her hand and then he noticed the ribbon still tied around her wrist.

“Do you wear ribbons like this these days?” He asked, completely oblivious and confused.

Heaven forced her smile back. “No. I just like it this way.” She said, and it wasn’t a complete lie. She did like it around her wrist. It reminded her of her bond with Zamiel.

Heaven wondered if Zamiel sorted out the things he needed to do before getting married. She knew he was making a name for himself so he could be seen as someone worthy to marry a princess. Heaven didn’t doubt that he was capable of that and even more.

But something at the back of her mind alarmed her about getting married. The thought of it made fear crawl into her skin. The excitement she had been feeling was gone. Her stomach churned, and she suddenly felt nauseous. She could feel it in her gut that something bad was about to happen. Or was this her grandfather playing tricks on her?

“Is everything alright?” Her father asked.

Heaven nodded with a smile. “I think I ate too much.” She said.

But she knew that was a lie. What was disturbing her suddenly? This was the time she should dance in happiness. She looked at the ribbon and tried to remember the good memories, but all she remembered was promising herself to protect Zamiel.

Something told her she would fail.