To Eris’s displeasure, maids flowed into her room after her father, setting up several small plates of snacks and drinks, before disappearing to the other side of the door. It was a clear sign that her father expected to have a long conversation with her, and that she wouldn’t be able to kick him out of her room any time soon.
Sighing like an aggrieved teen, Eris obediently sat on the couch across from the one that her father chose, sitting with impeccable grace, even as she crossed her arms and refused to look at him.
“So to what do I owe the visit? Have you come to try to convince me again, or was there simply nothing else to do?”
“...My, and there goes my daughter’s signature sharp tongue. I have no idea where you got such a thing from.”
“Who knows? If that’s all you have to say, then perhaps it’s best that you go dear father, before it manages to get any sharper.”
Her father smiled sadly, as if he were quite hurt but didn’t fully want to show it.
“No no... There’s certainly more that I wish to speak to you about. No need to be so hasty to be rid of me, Eris.”
“I make no promises. Perhaps it is you who should be more hasty.”
The venom that dripped from her words was heavily apparent. Even her father, who was used to the sharpness that her words had always held, couldn’t help but frown and sigh from hearing it.
“...Well, before that, let me ask you how your day went. Was it too terribly busy?”
“My day, you ask… I performed my duties perfectly and efficiently, as befits the lady of the Margrave’s house.”
Eris’s eyes seemed to somehow turn even farther away from him, showing her increasing displeasure.
“I see. As expected of my daughter, who’s excellently capable in everything that she does.”
Though her father smiled as he complimented her, the way his gaze turned to stare angstily into the plate in front of him belied how uncomfortable he was. Though Eris had easily noticed the obvious emotions that he was expressing, she stuck to her aloof facade, subtly digging her nails into her arms.
“Of course. It’s only to be expected of someone like me... especially now that my workload has been so greatly cut.”
“...Don’t say that to me like that. I’ve already apologized to you so much, Eris! How much more do you want me to-”
“I’ve already told you, I’m done with this conversation! It's too late; I made my choice! Although I appreciate the sentiment, you and I both know that what’s done is done. I won’t be changing my mind. Pick one of your other offsprings to take care of things for you! As you know, I’m already quite busy with this.”
“But it’s not too late!!!”
Her father’s fist pounded into the arm of the couch, making a loud cracking sound and finally causing Eris’s surprised eyes to turn his way.
“It’s not too late at all! Please Eris, stop this foolish decision! Things can change, I’ll change them for you! I won’t make you continue to go to something like tea parties anymore; Your rightful place is as the heir of this family! You have much bigger and better things to take care of! Please, take back your words and rejoin me. If we simply find you a suitable bride to do all of this for you, then-”
“Pfft. So many words... Really father, you talk so disparagingly about a lady’s duties for someone who insisted upon them being so important. I won’t be taking my decision back, especially not for someone who can’t appreciate everything that I’ve done for this family... so you can leave now, father. Personally, I think Himmel will do a great job as a replacement for me. I’ll look through the reputable noble ladies that I know and try to find him a proper bride. You won’t have to worry about such things as a lack of a suitable bride again, father.”
Somehow Eris’s words became even more icy, to the point where they almost burned. Her red eyes were like flame incarnate, glowing with a fierce light that quieted down even her alpha father.
And her nails were pressed into her arms so hard that were her skin not so strong and firm, she would have already cut into them.
“Hmm…”
Her father’s face quickly collapsed into a grimace, the wind being resoundingly knocked out of his sails by Eris’s firm rebuttal.
“...Forgive me, dear Eris. I didn’t mean to make it sound as if I didn’t think what you’ve done was important.”
“Oh really. How surprising.”
Once again, Eris turned her head dismissively away from her father.
“Perhaps this incapable and unfilial daughter somehow misunderstood your words.”
“What? How could you possibly-”
“I wonder if mother would have heard things differently.”
“...”
Somehow, impossibly, her father’s face fell even further. It was as if a heartrending gloominess had been painted over it, the sight of which was enough to make Eris bite her lip.
“...How could you say that to me, Eris…”
The shallow breaths that escaped her father, as if he were truly deeply pained, were enough to make Eris finally drop her crossed arms and reach for her tea cup. She practically guzzled it all down to calm herself, staring into the empty cup afterwards as if searching for something, still refusing to look his way.
“...I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought her up like that.”
“I…”
Her father slowly wiped a hand over his face, pulling at it dramatically before it finally returned to some semblance of being okay.
“...I understand. We both flew off the handle a bit there. This isn’t at all what I’d wanted to talk to you about.”
“Hmm?”
Eris slightly lowered her tea cup, once again making eye contact with him.
“Then what did you come here to say?”
“Ah yes, well… Hmm…”
Her father’s eyes shifted around the table. His face looked unsure of which words he should pick.
“Well, actually, to be frank I wanted to speak with you about what you’ve been up to as of late.”
“...What?”
“As you know, I keep track of my children’s activities, including yours, as any father should. If even Himmel was aware of how you’ve changed lately, then of course I would have already noticed.”
Eris frowned, her tea cup coming down onto the saucer with an unhappy clink.
“...And?”
“And I simply wanted to hear directly from my own daughter what was happening! Who is this woman that you’ve recently been spending all your time with, showering her in money? This is quite unprecedented for you.”
Her father took a bite out of a small cookie, looking completely normal, as if there was absolutely nothing wrong with what he was asking. He didn’t seem as if he were trying to reject Eris being friends with Siffia as she’d feared, but for some reason Eris still felt quite put off by him asking about her in the first place.
“...Why should I have to tell you? It’s perfectly normal for someone to make a friend... If you’re really that curious, then continue to spy on me like you have been and draw your own conclusions.”
“My, yes. You’re right that it’s normal for anyone to have a friend.”
Her father nodded along, but the amused smile plastered across his face irritated Eris to no end.
“But, when it’s my dear daughter who’s never had a single sincere friend in her twenty one years of life, I fear that it’s a different story! You, who loathes spending too much time with others, and abhors having needless work and responsibility thrust upon her, would never go out of her way like this without a reason! Either that Heston girl is truly something special, or there’s somethingelse going on here!”