New World, New Life: I Became A Bigshot In The Ancient World
Chapter 43: CHANGING VIEWS

Chapter 43: CHANGING VIEWS

They had almost arrived at her room when Wilson halted his steps.

"Tia," he called her name.

Aristia stopped walking too to hear what he had to say.

"Yes, Papa?"

Wilson bent to her height, one knee on the ground and a hand on her shoulder.

"Sometimes, you should stop trying to do things all by yourself. We are your parents and are doing what we can to provide the best for you and your brother. Your mother and I would really appreciate it if you tell us how you feel and what you want, and we will help you and provide it for you." He paused for a moment for his words to sink in, and then continued,

"Even if you want to do something by yourself, you can always tell us and not exclude us. We are your parents and care very much about you and will try our possible best to help you Tia, as long as you won’t get hurt."

Wilson knew now that his daughter had suddenly become a little too mature for her age, even more than the other royal children, but she was still his beloved baby girl and would always remain so.

It was something he and his wife had been worried over. Suddenly, their daughter seemed like she was not their daughter anymore. She had become distant and independent when she should not be at this age.

They were worried that if there was something she could do without their permission or help, she’d readily do it without including them.

That was why his wife had objected to her term that if she did succeed in her business, they would no longer interfere.

Aristia’s words also strengthened the feeling that their daughter was slipping away from them. It made them very uncomfortable.

Aristia was surprised at his words and paused for a moment, but then she nodded.

"I will, Papa."

It was a short answer, but Wilson could somehow tell that she meant it.

He nodded, satisfied as he resumed walking in the direction of her room, and she followed suit.

He pushed open the door to her room, and nodded for her to go in. "Goodnight, Tia."

"Goodnight, Papa."

As she lay on the bed, her mind replayed the earlier conversation with Wilson. Yes, she mostly referred to them as mother and father but that didn’t mean she considered them that.

But now, she was beginning to think differently. They were now her parents, and she had to treat them as such for the duration they remained her parents.

They were good parents, and if not herself, they cared about Aristia. That was enough for her. Maybe she had to reconsider her view of them.

’Your mother and I would really appreciate it if you tell us how you feel and what you want, and we will help you... We are your parents and care a lot about you and will try our possible best to help you, as long as you won’t get hurt.’ Wilson’s words once again echoed in her mind.

"I will try."

It was a silent promise spoken into the air.

[Maybe I should just let go and experience the feeling and freedom of being a child once more without having to worry about anything.]

She yawned, giving in to the closing of her eyes as she was pulled into sleep.

***

In the Grand Duke and Duchess’s Chamber.

Wilson entered his room to see that Catherine had moved from the mini parlour to the bedroom.

He joined her in the bedroom and Catherine looked up to see him.

"You’re back?" It was more of a statement than a question.

Wilson nodded and climbed into the bed. He scooped his wife into his arms and hugged her close to his body. "I talked to Tia," he said as he took in a whiff of her scent.

"Mm." Catherine hummed, allowing her body to lean into his. "Will," she called after a few seconds of silence.

When Wilson voiced that he was paying attention, she continued.

"Tia, she seems to be growing up quickly. I feel like she is becoming distant and I don’t know her as much as I did before, like we are drifting apart. I worry she will no longer include us in whatever plans she has. I want to support her in whatever unique plans she comes up with, just like how my parents supported me when I expressed my desire to learn to cook."

Not to mention that for most of the time ever since she turned five, she almost always had on a blank or uninterested look on her face and she was no longer as expressive as before. Both Catherine and Wilson could no longer tell what she was thinking, and Catherine was greatly disturbed at the sudden change.

"Yes, I know, my love. She is our child, if we do not support her, who will? But I also know that she is not intentionally keeping us out." Wilson assured his wife, caressing her hair comfortingly.

He was right about that, as Aristia really wasn’t intentionally keeping them out of her plans, it was just a subconscious reaction toward them. She only approached them when she needed help with things she couldn’t achieve on her own.

"I hope so," Catherine said, staring up at her husband who continued to stroke her hair.

"W-what are you doing?" She stuttered when Wilson started to place little kisses on her neck.

"I want to kiss your worries away." Wilson stated with an innocent expression on his face.

A moan unconsciously escaped her lips when he bit on a sensitive spot on her neck, coupled with the soft, sensual touch of his hand on her hair.

She gasped when his hand slipped under her gown and trailed upward.

"S-stop, Allie is here." She held her hand over his mouth and held his other hand to stop it from continuing its path up her gown.

Her words made Wilson, who was just about to turn over and pin her hands to the bed, pause.

"Tsk, why is he sleeping here again? He has his own room." Wilson complained grumpily, slowly slipping his hand out from her gown.

"He’s our son, Will." Catherine chuckled, her mood had indeed improved. "Goodnight, Will." She leaned up and gave him a shy kiss on the lips, turning around immediately and closing her eyes. She blushed even more when she heard him chuckle deeply behind her.

"Goodnight, my love." Wilson responded, pulling her closer and holding her tighter, trying to ignore the pressing need that made itself present.

***

The next morning...

Aristia woke up with a yawn. As expected, Adeline was there to help her get ready for the day.

She left for the dining room and stood before its double doors. This time, it was only the butler standing in front of it with no other guards or servants in sight.

Aristia took a deep breath and nodded at the Butler to open the door.

[Alright, they are family now. I should treat them as such. Why am I so nervous?] She put on a smile and walked into the dining room.

"Good morning, Mama. Good morning, Papa." She greeted as she took her seat.

"Good morning, Tia." They replied as they began eating.

Aristia left first, since she had classes to attend. After her last class, a maid informed her that her mother had requested for her presence.

She went out to the pavilion in a different section of the garden with fewer flowers, her mother’s favourite place.

Catherine was alone without her lady-in-waiting.

"You called for me, Mama?"

Catherine looked up from what Alaric was doing when she heard her daughter’s voice.

"Oh, you are here, Tia." Catherine smiled.

Aristia returned the smile as she sat on the empty seat opposite Catherine.

"Hey, Al," she smiled at Alaric.

He waved at her before going back to what he was writing.

On taking a closer look, Aristia saw that he was seriously completing the homework she had assigned him.

[He is really trying hard and studying. What a good boy.]

Catherine herself poured tea into a teacup placed in front of Aristia, and adding two spoons of sugar, she stirred the tea, before handing the teacup to her daughter.

"Thank you, Mama." Aristia smiled, collecting the filled teacup from Catherine and taking a sip. She looked up at her mother, waiting for her to speak.

But after a while and another tea drinking later and still not a word from her mother, she asked, "Is there a reason you called for me, Mama?"

Catherine looked taken aback, but then she opened her mouth, "I called you because I wanted to spend time with you. Is that not alright with you?"

Now it was Aristia’s turn to be taken aback.