Chapter 6

SHEBA'S POV

I walked to the garden because I seriously needed some fresh air. The room began to feel suffocating after Wilbert's announcement. Knowing that I had to make my decision sooner than I had expected made it impossible to sit still.

As far as I had heard, the people from Firildia had already arrived and were settling in, which also meant I couldn't afford to waste time.

I need to speak to my father. I glanced at the maid walking quietly behind me.

"Lala, what is my father's schedule like? Can I go and see him?"

It might have seemed strange to ask a mere maid about the king's schedule, but apparently, Alera had made sure her maids knew her father's daily routine. She had ordered them to keep track of his schedule so she would always know when she could see him.

It was actually quite efficient.

Why bother memorizing something when you could simply have someone else keep track of it for you?

"His Majesty is free now," Lala replied. "He will soon have his afternoon tea."

I immediately perked up. That's perfect, I could go see him now.

"Alright. Let's go to his waiting room, then. I have something important to discuss with my father."

Lala bowed.

"Yes, Your Highness."

We turned around and began walking through the palace.

As we passed, the maids and guards bowed respectfully. At first, I didn't know how to react, but then I remembered that this was my life now.

I was powerful as Sheba. I built a successful career and had enough influence that people treated me with respect, sometimes even fear. But there were always people above me, people with greater wealth, greater political influence and people who could make decisions that affected my business whether I liked it or not.

Here, things were different. I was a princess. There were people above me, sure, my father was the king, and there were other members of the royal family, but my position alone carried a kind of authority I had never experienced before.

People didn't bow because they respected my accomplishments, They bowed because of who I was. Princess Alera.......

The king's daughter.

It was strange and, if I was being honest, a little intoxicating. I have more power here than I had ever possessed as Sheba.

Eventually, we reached the king's waiting room. The door was enormous. I stared at it for a moment before the herald announced my presence.

"Her Highness, Princess Alera."

The doors opened and I stepped inside. My eyes immediately found the man sitting across the room.

King William Von Asta.

My father.

His attention had been on some documents before I entered, but the moment he saw me, his expression changed, a smile blossomed across his face.

A genuine, warm, affectionate smile and just like that, I understood. The book did not exaggerate, his man absolutely adored his daughter. I read about their relationship, but seeing it firsthand was different.

From what I remembered, Alera's mother had died from an illness. Her father had never remarried after her death. she also had a brother, but he spent most of his time away training, which meant the two of them rarely crossed paths.

So, in many ways, Alera was the center of her father's world. I suddenly felt a strange warmth in my chest. I never had anything like this. My own father never cared about me in this way. Being welcomed by someone who looked genuinely happy simply because I had walked into the room felt almost foreign.

"Hello, Father," I greeted.

The words came out naturally, thanks to the memories that had rushed into my mind earlier, calling him father no longer felt strange.

He immediately stood.

"My darling, how are you?"

He approached me, concern replacing the smile on his face.

"I heard the physician came to check on you. I hope nothing happened."

It was unexpectedly sweet.

"Nothing, Father," I reassured him. "I was just dizzy from standing too long, but I feel much better now."

He studied my face for a moment before finally relaxing.

"I'm glad."

He returned to his seat and gestured for me to sit beside him.

"So, what brings you here, my princess?"

I chuckled.

"Can I not come and see my own father?"

He smiled.

"Well then, I am happy."

There was something so simple about the exchange that I found myself smiling, I expected this conversation to feel strange but instead, it felt almost natural.

Maybe the memories had something to do with it, or it was simply difficult not to respond warmly to someone who looked at you with so much love.

My father studied me again.

"You look so stressed. I hope those courtiers are not overworking you."

I asked in return

"I would never let them."

He laughed.

The sound filled the room.

For a moment, I forgot everything.

The prince, the marriage, the heroine, the future, even the fact that I had somehow been thrown into a fictional world.

I was simply sitting with my father.

My father.

Soon, tea was brought in, the servants carefully arranged everything before stepping away.

My father and I drank our tea while talking casually.

I didn't bring up the marriage, not yet. He didn't say anything about it and I didn't want him to ask questions. But being here already felt so nice.

For now, I was content simply to spend some time with him. Eventually, his attention returned to the work he had been doing before I arrived.

I took that as my cue to leave.

"I'll let you continue your work, Father."

He looked up.

"Of course, my princess. Come visit me again soon."

"I will."

I stood and curtsied before leaving the room, the doors closed behind me and I just stood in the corridor for a moment. I spent the afternoon drinking tea with my father.

I smiled faintly.

Then my thoughts returned to the evening ahead. The guests from Firildia were already here and surely the prince would be at dinner.

I need to prepare, I turned toward my chambers.