Cici Tsumis

Chapter 3

I made the announcement at the dining table when both my parents were present. Everyone had just finished their breakfast when I shared my news.

I made no request of any kind. I declared that the day I turned 13 was the day I would leave home to go to the training site in order to become a female warrior.

Mother was shocked and yelled in protest and questioned my sanity. Her reaction was predictable, but the one I had my eyes on was Duke Regin.

Blue crystal eyes like mine staring back for what seemed like ions.

Duke Regin sat silently and calmly stared at me. His newspaper folded neatly on the table. He was giving me his full attention.

I stared back firmly, my chin tilted high a bit defiantly, my back straightened with determination and on guard to prepare for his response.

He finally closed his eyes….

reached for his tea….

took a sip….

before replying,

“…. I see.”

He stared at his tea for a moment before asking, “On your 13th birthday, you say you are to leave?”

“Yes, sir. ” I replied. Ignoring the rapid thud in my ears.

He leaned back on his chair rather pensive, “It’s in a week I believe? Do you have everything you need? If not, ask the butler and he will get anything you need.”

“Duke!” Clara cried out. Her eyes bulged out in bewilderment.

I blinked. He was just going to let me go?! No questions asked? Not even to know why?

“Quiet down, Clara. I have no time for your spouts this morning. I need to go to work now.” He got up and put his napkin on the table. He walked to the butler to get his coat while mother sputtered in her seat, looking frantically from me to my father.

“Bianca” I jotted out of my train of thought. He was putting his light grey gloves on while looking at me in an expression I could not decipher. “Ask the butler if you need something for your journey.”

“Y-yes, father.” He nodded at me and walked out the door.

Mother tried to talk me out of it. I knew by the frantic look she was giving me. However, at the moment I felt like I was in a bubble and her voice was garbled and faint. There were some words I could guess she said like “mad”, “crazed”, and “turmoil”.

My eyebrows furrowed.

My mind was stuck in a confused turmoil. On one hand, it could be that this is father’s way in showing me support or…. it could simply mean that…father doesn’t care. He truly doesn’t care what I do with my life.

He will do his part as a father and provide for his family a home and the essentials …and that’s it

…that’s it…

---

The rest of the week was a blur. I remember not much. The head maid took care of the packing, and the butler took care of getting me a carriage. Mother still tried to convince otherwise of my foolish venture. Father was busy at work as always.

On the day of my departure, it was bright and sunny. Not a cloud in sight.

My mother was in tears. She blubbered something that sounded like happy birthday. My eyes widened at the notion. Oh yeah …it is my birthday…

Father was there also. He stood silently, watching as my mother kissed me once and twice. She came to hug me again. This time very tightly which surprised me. For a small and frail looking woman, she had a strong iron grip. I wanted to roll my eyes and ask her why she was acting as if it was the last time, she was going to see me.

She let go before I had the chance to. Father then stepped forward towards me.

I didn’t expect my father to do anything except just nod and say something like “Take care.” or something like-

A weird sensation touched my head. I looked up. A hand. No. My father’s hand. He was patting my head a bit awkwardly.

“Take care my only daughter.” he whispered so softly that it caressed my eardrums, and I was doubtful if he said such a thing if not for the glimmering fond look in his eyes that whispered the same thing.

How cruel! How cruel! In all my years living with this man, the day he decides to show me any affection is the day I leave the household. And the day he decides to smile so gently with loving eyes, is the day I am so mentally unprepared by my own reaction. I hadn’t cried since I was an infant and I wasn’t going to now!

I blinked my eyes and took a deep breath. “Yes, father. Farewell.”

I stepped into the carriage and didn’t look back once at the only home I had ever known…. ignoring the treacherous tears that slipped through the cracks.