Chapter 13

                                    

                                          
"Mm..." Asteria and Athanasia softly mumbled as they stirred in bed. "It looks like the princesses are having a good dream." Felix said.
                          
"Well she did sing a song that chases bad dreams away." Claude nonchalantly said. "Yes. The fairies must have heard her song and gifted her with sweet dreams." Felix said.
                          
"You're full of nonsense these days." Claude said. "Hehe." Felix chuckled.
                          
"Mm..." Athanasia mumbled. "...mom..my" Asteria softly mumbled as she unconsciously clenched onto Claude who lightly patted her.
                          
'It's so noisy.' Claude thought but then right after that it went silent again. 'Ah. It's quiet now.' He thought. He then slowly moved his free hand above Athanasia's head before lightly touching it.
                          
"So troublesome. Sleep." He told Athanasia who smiled softly in her sleep. As for Asteria he held her with his other hand as her face was lighting up in her deep slumber.
                          
___________________________________
                          
Two years later
                          
"You're here" Claude said while holding a teacup in his hand. Asteria simply beamed and smiled at her younger sister who had just arrived.
                          
"Papa! Ria!! Athy's here!" Athanasia cutely said while going on over to Claude and Asteria who were sitting on the couch. "Nowadays, you just come and go as you please, don't you." Claude said as he lowered the teacup in his hand.
                          
Asteria chuckled at her younger sister's behavior and her father's. 'Even though they act like this they're starting to get along pretty well~' Asteria thought to herself.
                          
"All of a sudden I wanted to see papa and Ria, this, thiiis much!! So I came right away!" Athanasia with a cheerful expression as she tried her best to express how she felt.
                          
"Isn't it a bit early for you to be making all this ruckus?" Claude asked Athanasia who simply just laughed it off.
                          
Asteria took one last glance at them before staring off at the window as if she was waiting for something.
                          
'Claude's speaking manner hasn't changed but he doesn't seem to mind it when I bother. You actually like me don't you? And my relationship with Asteria has gotten way better over the years!' Athanasia thought to herself.
                          
Claude stayed quiet for a moment as he thought before speaking. "Bring it in." He commanded. And as soon as Claude commanded those simple words Athanasia beamed very brightly with excitement. 
                          
The maids started bringing out desserts and started placing them onto the table in front of them. It was pretty obvious that Athanasia wanted them due to her having a sparkling aura around her as they were being placed down.
                          
'Kyaa~ What a beautiful sight!' Athanasia thought to herself almost drooling over the desserts. "Huh? It looks like you're more excited to see that cake than you are to see us." Claude said.
                          
"It's because it tastes better when I eat it with you, papa. Ria too, of course!" Athanasia said as an excuse. 
                          
'He's so unnecessarily perspective! But besides that, time is a scary thing. To think there would be a day that I would go see Claude out on my own free will. But I get to eat all the snacks I want!' Athanasia thought.
                          
"It always surprises me you don't have chubbier cheeks." Claude bluntly stated. 
                          
'I'm also used to being nagged about my chubby cheeks. Even though you say that...What's your reason for giving me deserts all the time? You think it's cute when I stuff my chubby cheeks, don't you? Or perhaps that's a bit of a stretch.' Athanasia confidently thought.