A loud commotion enveloped a generally peaceful households. The title-tattle of the maids rang in the hallway. The workers in the kitchen whispered loudly, the outside workers spoke loudly.
A bright-eyed young girl walked through the halls. Her brows furrowed in perplexity from the clamour present everywhere.
She looked back as she passed by maids that were supposed to be cleaning instead they were gossiping. They did not even try to pretend as if they were attending to her duties when she walked by.
The young girl walked into the room by her right, her eyes filled with confusion.
"Mother, what in the world is going on? The entire household is full of commotion." she said as a dark haired woman with brown eyes turned to her perturbed.
"Oh Brea, this is awful, seriously awful, your father has refused to eat ever since he returned from the king's court this morning." the woman replied anxiously.
"But why?" Brea asked. "Did he not declare today a day of merriment before he left this morning?"
"He did, but things did not go as planned." her mother replied.
"How do you mean?" she asked.
"Well, he received the title of viscount yes, however it was overshadowed by the news that his half brother would receive the title of Duke and his daughter is betrothed to the crown prince!"
"No." Brea gasped in disbelief.
"Yes, it was announced by the crown prince himself in court." her mother exclaimed.
Brea gasped, this was the worst news that their household could hear. No wonder her father has refused to eat since his return.
She of all people knew how happy this moment was for her father, and now it had been ruined.
"But how is this possible? How could the crown prince even frolic with that outcast of a family?!" she bellowed. Make no mistake, just because they all shared the same last name Rivethans, that family was not to be equated with theirs.
"I have no idea, Brea, no idea at all, my only concern is your father's refusal to eat, you know he has not eaten anything since he left to court early this morning, and you know, he is a a man unable to go without eating for long periods of time." the woman cried.
"Do not worry mother, do not worry, I will handle this, give me his food, I will make sure he eats." Brea said determined.
"Are you sure Brea?" her mother asked, she nodded.
"Very sure, just leave it to me, I assure you, he will eat." she responded.
"I have always warned your father of this foolish feud between he and his half brother, but does he listen? No!" her mother sounded irritated. Brea kept silent, she did not want to side with anyone at this moment.
"We should put that aside at this moment mother, what is more important is father's well-being." she responded.
"Alright, here you go, make sure he eats at least half of his meal." her mother said handing her the tray.
"Do not worry mother, I will do better than that, you know it." Brea replied smiling, the sole dimple on her right cheek appearing.
"Alright my girl." her mother replied and with that Brea exited the room.
Brea Montrea Rivethans, the only child of Endrick Rivethans, the beloved of her father, the well loved of her mother, there was no single person that was in a bad mood in their household that she was unable to cheer up.
She earned her title as the most joyful girl, and she was not about to lose that title now.
Brea stopped in front of her father's office, she knocked on the door awaiting a reply.
"Go away, I thought I told you all to leave me alone! I will not eat! I would rather die." Endrick furiously replied from inside.
"Father, it is me." Brea said softly.
"Oh Brea, it is you, come in." Endrick responded.
Brea opened the door and placed the tray on a table before approaching her father who was sitting in the armchair in front of the fire place in complete darkness.
"Father, I have heard the news, this is terrible." she said instantly bowing beside him holding his hands.
"Can you imagine?! That man, that blasted man, that bloody liar and murderer! He made a fool out of me!" Endrick said indignantly, tears fell down his face.
"I can imagine father, that man is a transgressor, always has and always will be." she replied.
"This is unfair, so unfair, I get the title of viscount but to what satisfaction? I do not even have my childhood home back because the crown prince made that very clear!" Endrick cried sounding like a child that had been treated unfairly.
"Oh father, I understand your pain, what makes no sense to me is how that man's daughter met the crown prince, and why he would choose her out of all the far better women present?" Brea frowned.
"I have no idea, at this point I am convinced that Dariel has some dark powers that manage to vindicate him of every situation!" Endrick bawled.
"Oh father, you know what, even if that man has such dark powers, they will not last for long, the truth will always come out in the end." she said.
"Father, is there not a way we can overturn this?" Brea asked.
"How do you mean?" he asked crying.
"We both know father that if any Rivethans should be in laws to the king, it should be us." she said definitely. "Is there not a way we can change the king's mind and have him choose our family instead of theirs as in laws?"
"Oh my girl, judging from how shocked his majesty was, he himself did not expect such news." Endrick sniffed. "He has no say in this matter, the crown prince made that clear."
"Maybe so, but parents always have an effect on their children whether the children are aware of it or not. I am sure if you find some way to convince his majesty otherwise, he will hear our reason." she said.
"That will not be too hard to do, there are more than enough reasons why that family is not acceptable." she said as Endrick nodded.
"Yes, yes you are right Brea." he agreed.
"I am always right father, instead of drowning in your pain, it is better we find a quick way to block this marriage from being official." she said.
"Yes, you are correct, I should not be here, I should be out there doing the best I can do to hinder this atrocity from happening." he said sniffing.
"Yes father, that is the spirit, I knew that nothing could bring you down." Brea said as she wiped away his tears.
"Thank you for your encouragement my dear girl." Endrick smiled, she was the apple of his eye, he could not imagine his life without her.
"You do not need to thank me father, what else am I to do than encourage you?" she replied smiling.
"You are correct as always, now I must solve this problem immediately." he said.
"In fact, I must go now." he attempted to stand up but Brea prevented him from doing so.
"Ah, ah, ah, not so fast father, you must not leave this house without eating first." she said grabbing the tray and she set it in front of him.
"You know how you get when you have not eaten, we cannot risk you fainting while you are solving this issue." she said coercing him.
"That is true." he admitted sniffing.
"Glad you agree, now our deal is you must finish your meal before you can even think of stepping out of this manor." she smiled softly, but her voice was stern.
"Oh alright." Endrick replied, he did not even put up a fight, he instantly began to eat.
"Lovely, that's it, eat very well father, you will need your strength." she smiled patting his cheeks as he laughed.
"That's why I love you oh dear father of mine." she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"And that is why I adore you my girl." he smiled.
"Now focus on eating your meal father." Brea replied.
"I will, would you be a dear and go prepare the carriage for me?" he asked.
"Of course father." she beamed as she turned around and left his office, the cheerful smile on her face dropping as soon as she departed.
Her eyes were dim and cold as she walked through the halls instantly silencing the gossiping maids in the corner.
Endrick smiled to himself happily, bobbing his head side to side as he enjoyed his meal. Dariel would pay for this great humiliation, he would make sure of it, or his name was not Endrick Rivethans.
"Has your father finally agreed to eat?" her mother asked as she walked into the room.
"When did you start doubting me mother?" Brea simply replied.
"I never doubt you my girl, never." her mother replied.