Chapter 259: Fiona’s Frustration and Stella’s Persuasive Skills
Seated together on the carpet, Charlotte, Iris, Stella, and Lyra engaged in a lively and cheerful conversation.
“Lyra, have you seen Empress Athena?”
Munching on the sponge cake, Charlotte couldn’t hide her excitement as she curiously asked Lyra, who sat in front of her.
Lyra, sipping her tea, gave a small nod as she slowly placed her teacup on the saucer.
“I’ve met and seen the Dragon Empress of Athena, Young Lady Charlotte,” Lyra replied calmly, surprising Charlotte, Iris, and Stella.
“Then, what does she look like? Is she as beautiful as the rumors say?” Stella, sitting beside Charlotte, asked, her round eyes blinking with curiosity.
Back when she lived alone in the capital, she often heard rumors about the Dragon Empress from the demons who gathered in the taverns.
They said the Dragon Empress was a woman of extraordinary beauty, unmatched by any other woman except for the Demon Emperor Liliana.
To describe her flawless beauty, the demons in the capital even gave her a famous moniker—the incarnation of the goddess of fire.
Although the moniker might seem exaggerated, no one denied or rejected it, a testament to how stunningly beautiful the Empress of Athena was.
In response to Stella’s question, Lyra paused briefly before nodding and replying in a nonchalant tone, though with a hint of admiration: “Empress Athena is indeed very beautiful, rivaling even Her Majesty, Demon Emperor Liliana. Her striking features and fiery red hair truly embody her title as the incarnation of the goddess of fire.”
Stella was slightly taken aback by Lyra’s words, and her curiosity to see Athena grew immensely. However, with Leon’s restrictions on leaving the bedroom, she could only bury her curiosity.
Charlotte and Iris were also surprised by Lyra’s statement, and a deep curiosity blossomed within them.
“Lyra, do you think we could meet Empress Athena?” Iris asked.
Lyra shook her head and replied, “Unfortunately not, Young Lady Iris. His Majesty Leon must have told you not to leave your rooms while Empress Athena is in the palace, right? So, you certainly can’t see her unless His Majesty Leon gives permission.”
Charlotte, Iris, and Stella exchanged disappointed glances before letting out a collective sigh. They couldn’t understand why their father forbade them from seeing Empress Athena, and they were eager to ask him the reason.
However, recalling their father’s stern expression and the gravity in his voice, they couldn’t help but suppress their questions and agree without hesitation.
After all, it was the first time their father had shown such a serious demeanor, underscoring the importance of Empress Athena’s arrival.
Lyra, aware of their disappointment, remained silent, offering no words of comfort.
This matter had been decided by both Her Majesty, the Demon Emperor, and His Majesty Leon, leaving her with no authority to interfere beyond fulfilling her duty to keep them in the room.
While Charlotte, Iris, Stella, and Lyra gathered in the center of the room engaged in conversation, Fiona lay alone on the bed with a pouty, sad expression, staring at the ceiling.
The disappointment of missing her planned walk to the capital with her father weighed heavily on her, leaving her feeling discouraged and upset.
“Stinky daddy! You lied to Fiona again,” she mumbled, her chubby, adorable face marked by sadness.
She had eagerly anticipated this day, creating a list of activities she wanted to enjoy, and had been so excited that she barely slept.
However, with the arrival of someone named “Athena,” all her plans were ruined, deepening her frustration and disappointment towards him.
Fiona let out a small sigh as she sat up and glanced at Lyra and her three sisters in the center of the room, though she had no intention of joining them because of her sour mood.
‘I’m so bored…’ she muttered with a frown.
She looked around for something to do but found nothing interesting, causing her to puff out her cheeks in frustration.
Just when she felt at a loss, her gaze was drawn to the slightly open door, which caught her attention.
‘Maybe I should go out and find Daddy?’ The mischievous thought crossed her mind, making her heart race with a mix of nervousness and excitement as she considered the possibility.
She remembered her father’s prohibition clearly, but the boredom and frustration from having her walk plans canceled today drove her to escape the room.
Swallowing nervously, Fiona glanced at her three sisters and Lyra once more, feeling relieved to see they weren’t paying her any attention.
With a sense of ease, she carefully slid off the bed on her small, chubby feet.
She then crept toward the door, glancing back occasionally to ensure she wasn’t being watched.
Soon, she reached the door with a beaming smile that she couldn’t hide.
‘Hehehe! Now I can finally go out and find Daddy!’ Fiona whispered excitedly.
Although she knew she was breaking her father’s rules, her desire to leave her room was stronger than any guilt she felt!
Just as Fiona was lost in her happiness and about to push open the door, a large black shadow suddenly appeared before her, startling her.
Turning slowly, she saw Lyra with an indifferent expression and her arms crossed over her chest.
“Young Lady Fiona, where are you going?” Lyra asked.
Fiona’s face flushed with nervousness and panic at the question.
“I…” She was about to come up with an excuse when Charlotte suddenly approached, narrowing her eyes and interrupting.
“Fiona, were you trying to sneak out?”
Fiona, overwhelmed with panic, could only remain silent and lower her head in sadness.
Seeing this, Charlotte was about to ask further, but Stella stepped in from behind her to stop her.
“Alright, Charlotte, don’t pressure Fiona like that; you’ll only scare her,” Stella said gently, causing Charlotte to immediately calm down.
“I’m sorry,” Charlotte said, her voice filled with guilt.
She was usually calm in any situation, but Fiona’s attempt to sneak out had made her lose her composure.
Stella smiled softly and then turned her attention to Fiona.
“Fiona, can you explain why you’re doing this?” Stella asked gently.
Fiona looked up, tears pooling in her round eyes, and replied, “Sister Stella, I…”
She began to express her frustrations, causing Charlotte, Iris, and Stella to exchange concerned glances.
While they knew Fiona was upset about their father’s decision, they hadn’t anticipated how deeply it affected her.
Stella quickly composed herself, offering a warm smile as she gently stroked Fiona’s hair.
“I understand your frustration, Fiona. However, we must follow Uncle Leon’s orders,” Stella said calmly.
She then added in a lighter tone, “But if you’re looking for something to do, I have a new puzzle game that Uncle Leon gave me recently.”
Fiona, still feeling down, looked up at Stella with a hint of surprise.
“A new puzzle game?” she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Stella smiled and nodded. “Yes, it’s a new puzzle game. Would you like to play with me?”
Fiona’s eyes brightened at the offer, and she nodded eagerly.
“I’d love to play!” she said, her sadness quickly forgotten.
Puzzles were a game she loved, as they were the first game her father had introduced to her.
Completing them always filled her with a sense of joy and accomplishment, which she found thrilling.
“Great, let’s play and solve it together,” Stella said, gently taking Fiona’s hand.
Charlotte and Iris, watching how effortlessly Stella had persuaded Fiona, exchanged looks of admiration.
“Sister, I didn’t expect Sister Stella to be so skilled,” Iris remarked in astonishment.
Though Fiona usually obeyed her and Charlotte, there were times when she was particularly rebellious and difficult to persuade, as demonstrated just moments before.
To see Stella achieve it so effortlessly was quite surprising.
“Yes, I agree, Iris. I’m surprised too,” Charlotte said, nodding in approval.
Meanwhile, Lyra, who had been quietly observing, couldn’t help but gaze at Stella with newfound admiration.
“This girl is indeed something special…”
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