#2 days after Agneo died

[anriwritess]

The body had long grown cold when he found it.  

Battle worn hands trembled as he gingerly picked his daughter up, pulling her into his embrace. 

“Agnes” 

The body remained still. 

“Child” 

Her red eyes, always tinged with mischievousness when he called her so, remained shut. 

“My lioness” 

‘Ha! What lioness? I’m a dragon!’ 

“Didn’t you say you wanted to see the beach on your next birthday..”

Drip

Tears trickled down his cheek. Raphael barely felt anything. His heart had long since grown numb. 

“... It’s all father’s fault that he took so long.”

Drip

One drop fell on Agnes’ forehead, then another and another…

“Isn’t it pitiful that you had such a foolish father, Agnes?” 

Raphael gently carded his fingers through her coarse hair, just like he had done a thousand times ago. The lustrous hair had lost all its sheen, just like its owner. 

Like a candle that had been snuffed out. 

“Would you still be here if I hadn’t left..ha.” 

His voice cracked. Red eyes continued staring at the wall, unable to look at his child’s face. Unable to see her pallid face, so devoid of life, of arrogance, of joy..of everything that made her Agnes. 

“Your father doesn’t deserve to ask for forgiveness anymore.”

‘But I would always forgive father,’ Agnes fake sniffed, ‘as long as you buy me ten chicken skewers hahaha! And don’t say it's unhygienic! ’

“.... I’ll become the greatest swordmast..”

“Papa! You lost!”

Lost…indeed he did. He lost everything. In the span of a few days, his world flipped over completely.  

Everything slipped through his fingers as if it was nothing but sand. His wife, his children, his family..

What was the point of being the duke when he couldn’t even save his family? What was the point of a kingdom he sacrificed so much for when it took away all that he held dear? 

“Agnes…” 

Raphael’s lips curled upwards, insanity bleeding into his eyes. 

“..you’ve always said your father was a crazy bastard..” 

Hands holding Agnes tightened, pulling her even closer, afraid that she would disappear if he let her out of his arms for even a second. 

“Isn’t it time,” Raphael’s eyes glowed with unsuppressed bloodlust, “for the world to see what happens when you take the leash off a crazy bastard and let him run wild?”