However, in the end, Daymond conceded.
“Bella. Do as your mother says and apologize to Eroel.”
Despite her young age, Bella realized that her parents were discussing her. Sensing the awkward atmosphere, she waved her legs, signaling to be put down.
Once on the floor, Isabella rushed into the arms of Emily, her nanny, and with pouting lips, she apologized to her brother and nanny.
“Brother, Nanny, sorry.”
“There, there, what a good girl. Miss Bella, it’s time for your nap now.”
The tea time thus ended like that. Though no one raised their voice or displayed anger, the air had been heavy with tension for a while. Daymond, as usual, had followed Anne’s wishes, though he couldn’t help feeling unsettled about it.
On their way back to the main house, Isabella, possibly tired, dozed off and promptly fell into a deep sleep. With Eroel off to his next lesson and Daymond pulled away for urgent documents by Ashton, Anne was left.
“I’ll put her to bed today.”
Anne took Isabella from the nanny. Laying her in the bed specially made by Daymond, Isabella’s flushed cheeks from crying were evident.
Anne gently wiped her eyes with a dry towel. Isabella, who was supposedly deep in dreamland, suddenly opened her eyes. Blinking innocently, she looked straight at Anne.
“My daughter, I’m sorry about earlier. But apologizing is important. You know Mom loves you, right?”
After assuring her to have sweet dreams, Isabella nodded and smiled, seemingly having forgotten the earlier upset.
Anne lingered with a gaze full of love and kissed her daughter’s cheek. She pulled the covers to make sure she was warm and quietly left the room.
Anne returned to her room alone and sat by the window, looking out. The unease from how the peaceful tea time ended uncomfortably weighed on her.
She could have been gentler. Anne wanted to avoid disputes, partly fearing that an uncontrolled outburst might inadvertently bring up the past.
Lost in thought, Anne turned when she felt Luciel’s sudden presence. Luciel, who had been missing for days, was now standing close by.
“Luciel, isn’t it time you started using the door?”
“And isn’t it about time Anne stopped being surprised by me?”
His cheeky retort to her light scolding suggested it was time she got used to his silent arrivals. Sighing lightly, Anne changed the subject.
“Where have you been lately?”
“Ah, just looking for something.”
Luciel scratched his head, hesitating to speak further. Anne, who tends not to pry if the other person is reluctant, simply let it be.
“But why is Anne suddenly so curious about my outings?”
“I’m correcting a misunderstanding. Today, Bella was looking for Luciel for quite a while.”
Anne, realizing Luciel had been at the castle for quite some time, mentioned how Isabella had been searching for him all day.
As soon as the young Lady’s name came up, Luciel’s face turned pale.
“Anne, playing with Bella might just be the end of me.”
“You said Bella was so pretty when you looked at her every day.”
When Bella was just learning to walk, he never wanted to leave her side. He was so attached that Daymond had to tell him to back off. And now he was saying being with her might endanger his indefinite lifespan?
Luciel gave an awkward laugh.
“Again… I think being a parent is incredible. It’s amazing to see how Daymond, who was usually so stoic, plays with Isabella.”
“Daymond is an excellent father. He did a great job raising Eroel too.”
He truly devoted himself to his family. He did his best being a husband and father giving no shame, and a Master of the North who was deeply respected.
Recalling what happened a moment ago, a sigh mixed with confusion escaped Anne’s lips. Luciel asked, noticing the shadow over Anne’s expression.
“But why does it sound like you’re more frustrated about it?”
“Daymond is too lenient with the kids. He hardly ever thinks of disciplining them.”
For the most, Daymond followed her advice on everything, but he became stubborn when it came to parenting. Even when Isabella threw tantrums over unreasonable matters, Daymond would coddle her. He would treat her as if she was a delicate flower that could die from too much handling.
There seemed to be too much leniency for his own reasons.
“I’m starting to wonder if what I thought was right might actually be wrong… I’m not sure anymore.”
Both were new to parenting, and so it was natural to be immature. But doubts kept recurring as they were parents to growing children. Questions about whether they were doing the right thing or if they were doing a mistake.
Luciel muttered while propping his chin on one hand.
“Daymond probably… wouldn’t scold Eroel or Bella too harshly, no matter what big mistake they made.”
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