5 Disguised Deal (1/2)

The stupefied faces of Alaric and Lyana was something that Chalice would remember for days. She also reminded herself to ease up on the surprises or else such expression would be permanently pasted on her parents countenance.

She pursed her lips and waited for them to get back their composure. Chalice heard her father clear his throat and look briefly at her mother.

”Explain, Chalice.”

Chalice peeked lightly at them and steeled herself. She needed her father to consent to this. If not she'd be living the rest of her life uninterestingly from then on. And that was something she would not take lying down. Chalice will not be able to explore her kingdom-building, or in this case fiefdom-building abilities. She had always wanted to try being a ruler and this is as close as she could get to it.

'This is my chance to a glorious life, ah!'

”Well Papa, it is true that I have offended the crown prince. I must have been possessed and seriously muddled to have done what I did. I fiercely regret it. However, to avoid implications I need to be punished. And in all certainty, I'd rather take the initiative to ask it from you Papa than have other people punish me.”

Alaric gazed at her thoughtfully, slowly digesting her words.

”Well, you are correct in that. And what punishment do you have in mind, daughter?” Her father replied after a long pause.

'Oh hoh. Her father really is fitting to be the Prime Minister. Nothing gets past him.'

Of course, Chalice volunteered to be punished, in this way she could butter up to her father and negotiate as to how she would be penalized.

”Papa, please banish me from the imperial capital and send me to the fief for three years.”

Her father's brow scrunched up, as if asking her to further clarify. But before she could say anything, her mother cut her off.

”Banish you?! Chalice what are you saying? You are asking us to banish you? You just turned 16. If we send you to the fief, you'll miss out on everything. How will you find a husband then?”

Chalice cringed. She seemed to have forgotten to put her mother's reaction to her calculations. She was so focused on obtaining Alaric's approval that the possibility of Lyana's opposition slipped her mind.

”Mother, hear me out first will you?”

Chalice said while holding her mother's hand to pacify her.

”To be honest, all I want to do now is to improve myself. I've let down all your hopes in the past. And even more than that I've let down myself. What I did previously was unbecoming of your daughter, of the Lady of House Amaranth. I am asking you to send me to the fief because I want to give myself a chance to start again. I have said earlier that I do not want to disappoint you this time. But I cannot do that if I don't take any action to redeem myself.”

”Also, I hope you'll understand, Mama. I am not thinking of marrying for now. I want a marriage like what you and Papa have. And I can't have that when I hastily marry some guy who I don't even love. I remember that it was you who told me that love is serendipitious. It comes when it is meant to come.”

Lyana looked at her blankly. Even Alaric couldn't find words to refute her. Chalice heard her mother sigh.

”How do you expect me to argue with that, my child? Not when it's so indisputably sensible.”