The Only Daughter Of Lancaster
Part Four: Mirror

"Papa, can I come in?" I asked after knocking on the door and looked into the room.

"Come in" he said, closing the documents before him. I stepped onto the sofa and waited until Dad sat next to me. "What made my daughter come to my office? You want something?"

I smiled, revealing a row of my white teeth. Papa always knew why I came. Well, maybe because every time I come to his study I will always beg or tell stories. "I don't want anything. In the form of goods I mean. I want to hear your opinion."

Papa nodded and I began to prepare myself. I don't know why I'm nervous. I pressed my hands together, trying not to get too nervous. "It's about the academy that I'm going to enter next year." I stole a glance and papa nodded in response for me to continue the story. I exhaled, "I don't know what I want to do. And that leaves me with no reason to take the entrance exam."

"Then it won't be necessary." I gawked, papa's answer was truly incredible.

"Duke! You can't talk like that." Baron Cerland reprimands. He is papa's assistant and advisor. Cerland was not from a noble family, she achieved it through her ability and loyalty to papa. "The young lady came here to discuss about her future. It would be wise if you answered after learning his abilities."

This is one of the reasons Cerland was sent as an adviser. Although Cerland was only twenty, but he was intelligent and thought cold. Papa was silent for a while then sighed. "Bel, you don't have to go to the academy if you don't want to or don't feel like you deserve to be there. I can get those teachers to come here and you can learn the things you love."

I looked at Papa, "what if I don't have things I like?"

Papa leaned his cheek on the hand. "You're my daughter enough then."

I don't get it. What relation? I glanced towards Cerland but the man was staring at papa. "I don't understand, papa."

Papa patted his thigh, it's a sign I should sit on his lap. I do because long ago if it was something important, papa would make me sit on his lap and look me in the eye like this. "Papa didn't force you to be smart in the academy. Papa didn't ask me to boast about the family you like. Papa just wants Bel to live happily. That's it."

My eyes felt dewy and in the end I hugged papa tightly. "Bel is always happy. Bel is happy to be papa's daughter."

I rubbed my eyes several times, my eyes sore from crying. "Thank you"

The pace from papa feels warm. "Oui! Papa! Why is Bel crying?" The cry came along with the door that opened.

Eli entered with a sword in his hand. I think he just finished his training. "Come! Why crying? Who hurt you? Tell me!"

Eli was really overreacting because now he pulled out his sword. "Say it and I'll beat it up."

"Not so, brother. I'm fine now. I just told you about my plan to papa." Obviously soothing. Eli sighed then put his sword back in.

"After all, you think the person who made Bel cry would be alive if your father found out?" Ask papa in a flat tone.

Eli grunting. "Ah, I almost forgot! Duke Hamilton's waiting for Dad in the living room."

I could hear my breath from Papa. Papa must be tired. I hugged him briefly and kissed him on the cheek before coming down from papa's lap. "Then I say goodbye, papa is safe to work."

"Happy work dad, Cerland." Pamit Eli's.

"Yes." Yeah." I smiled when I saw the tip of papa's lips lifted.

Eli stretched out his hand and I gladly welcomed him. "Bel, kiss my cheek too."

"Huh?"

Eli pointed at his cheek with the handle of a sword. "Kiss me here."

I immediately shook my head, "you're dirty."

I don't want to nod. After arriving at the door of my room Eli immediately parted and ran towards his room. I'm getting used to Eli's attitude. Ah, when papa hugged me earlier I remembered the incident.

It made my father and two brothers angry. It was an incident that made me realize that I was so loved.

I was six years old then. I remember that it was the first day I saw my reflection in the glass. Amabel Lancaster is the perfect man. Silver colored hair and gray eyes, even close to white. Such a graceful figure, yet so far from my parents.

When looking at the mirror reflection, of course, I feel happy because of my beautiful appearance. But then I thought, am I really the son of my parents? My hair and my eyes don't show that I'm a Lancaster.

That day I felt so sad. Especially when walking in the corridor and hearing the conversation of the servants. "Miss Amabel is very pretty, but she doesn't look like a Lancaster."

"Yes, her hair and eyes are very different." Answer the other waiter. "Some say that young lady is an abandoned baby."

"What may be the mistress"

"Don't be crazy! Shut your mouth if you still want to live!" The other hard.

Hearing that, I went back to my room and stared at my reflection. You are so charming and doubtful. I wept. Am I an illegitimate child? Or am I just a child without parents? Do I not have a family in this life?

"Miss~ I brought tea." Elena came in while I was still crying. Elena came over and hugged me. "What's wrong? Why is she crying?"

I didn't answer. I hugged him tighter. "Elena, Elena."

Elena just hugged and patted me on the shoulder. "Yes, this is my lady. Please don't cry anymore."

"Come! Come on ma-bel! Why crying?" Eli came hastily and immediately knelt before me.

I just shook my head. What am I supposed to say? I asked if I was his real brother? I don't know.

"Bel" Eli called back and I just shook my head.

That day I just cried and tomorrow I have a fever. My body is very weak. Even an outburst of emotion like this can make me feverish. Mama came with Alec, both of them looking so anxious. "Bel, why did it come to this? Did anyone hurt you?"

I can't answer. I don't want to hurt my mom. Alec rubbed my mom's shoulders. Maybe she asked me to calm down and wait outside because after that she came out. I could see my mom wiping her tears. Ii'm sorry.

Alec didn't say anything, just fixed the towel on my forehead. "Alec, am I your sister?"

Alec's movements stopped the moment my question came out. "Bel, even though our hair and eyes are different does not mean you are a stranger. Bel, you're my sister."

Alec's answer is ambiguous. "Your biological sister?"

Alec nodded, "that's what you're worried about?" Seeing the nod from me made Alec rub my cheek. "Bel, I've seen you grow up since you've been inside mom's belly. People think you are different just because our eyes and hair are different. You are my brother, my brother, and the Lancaster family."

I sobbed back and Alec hugged me tightly. "Don't doubt the blood that runs through you, Bel."

With that I fell asleep and as I opened my eyes, Alec and Eli dyed their hair. Silver, like my hair color. Mama carries a family photo showing a white-haired, gray-eyed Lancaster. Papa doesn't know why I have a fever, I think it would be better.

Alec and Eli's hair is still silver. They did it to protect me. From that day on I knew that I was loved by my family.