Tyranny of Steel

914 A Father and his Daughter

Zara was pouting as she strolled through the halls of the Imperial Palace. Despite her age, or perhaps because of it, the little girl was as brilliant as she was mischievous, and she enjoyed making use of her adorable facade to manipulate others into lavishing her with praise and affection.

However, there was one person whose attention she desired most of all, and that was her fatherʼs. Zara, like all of Berengarʼs children, knew that the man was the most powerful person in the world. Unfortunately, that also meant that her father was dreadfully busy all seven days of the week.

There were only so many hours of the day the man had available to spend time with his family, and much of that was spent satisfying his multiple women. Berengarʼs children were forced to contend with one another for his love and affection. Zara knew this well, and when she was not in school, would commonly wait outside her fatherʼs office door, hoping to be the first to capture his attention the moment after he was finished with his work.

Unfortunately, Zara was not expecting him to take a half day, which was a rarity in his line of work. Thus, before she could meet up with her father and monopolize his free time, Helga had struck first. Now Zara was in a pitiful mood. Despite the man promising to spend time with her after he was finished being painted by his eldest daughter. She knew it was entirely possible that some other matter would come up, and he would be forced to neglect her.

As a result Zara was sulking in her room alone, when her mother appeared in the doorway. Yasmin was the only one of Berengarʼs wives who was older than he was. She was currently in her mid-thirties, and was going through a crisis, feeling that she could no longer have another child.

Thus, she spent the overwhelming majority of her days spending as much time with what few children she had. When she saw her only daughter in such a sour mood, the caring woman approached the girl and inquired about what had caused her to be so distressed.

”Zara, whatʼs wrong? You look like youʼre about to cry!”

The girl sniffled, as if to choke back the tears that were pooling in her amber eyes, before responding to her motherʼs question.

”Itʼs nothing mother, I just fear that daddy wonʼt be able to spend any time with me today, like most days... Stupid Helga, how come she beat me to him!”

Yasmin could understand her daughtersʼ feelings quite well. It was not only Berengarʼs kids who were competing for his affection. His wives often had to vie with one another for intimacy. Some of them had even adopted strategies of pairing together. Adela and Henrietta being the most notable duo, who almost always spent time together with Berengar rather than be alone by his side.

The mature Moorish beauty could only sigh and wrap her arms around her daughter before whispering some advice in her ears.

”If you want your father to pay attention to you, you need to do something that will draw his attention. Helga can get your fatherʼs love because she is a talented painter, Hans because he is a brilliant young man who has pursued a similar path to his father. You are just as intelligent as that boy, but rather than apply yourself to some field that your father can take pride in, you use your wits to manipulate people.

Perhaps you should find something you enjoy doing that your father will also want to participate in. Youʼre still young, so you have plenty of time to spend with your father. So I donʼt believe you should be worried so much about chasing after him.”

Zara nodded her head and wiped the tears from her eyes. Just as she was about to say something to her mother, Berengar entered the room, and gazed upon the emotional scene of his wife and daughter both having depressed looks in their eyes. He couldnʼt help but question if he had done something to offend them.

”Am I interrupting something?”

The moment Zara heard her fatherʼs voice, all of her sadness dispersed within her heart, and a warm smile appeared on her face as she ran out of her motherʼs arms in an attempt to tackle Berengar with a hug.

”Daddy!”

Berengar merely chuckled as he caught the young girl and lifted her in the air, where he swung her around. Her golden dress swaying as she spun in the air. Berengar kissed the girl on the forehead before letting her down.

”So Zara, now that daddy is finished spending time with your sister, what is it that you wanted me to do?”