Page 93 of Dueling the Suitors

He laughed this time, his gaze still on the red pandas. “I assure you two, I only have the best interests at heart for both the Emperor and the Empress.”

“I’m sure it will take time to gain their trust,” Astoria said with a forced, friendly smile. “Cyrus has told me about you; that you were sent to the human realm to find his mother and fell in love with a non-mage woman.”

“Oh.” The man looked surprised. “I had no idea he would tell you that, but I’m honored he thought I was worth mentioning.” He chuckled at his own joke. Then he smiled tenderly; not even Astoria’s father had smiled at her that way.

He told her his story, how he found his wife in the woods, alone and crying, and how it was love at first sight. They met each other there again and again until they couldn’t live without one another. When he told the High King about this, Cyrus’ father didn’t deny him the favor, but he made a condition that she couldn’t go back to the human realm once she entered Windlewade. Ever again. The woman was willing to leave all her loved ones behind for him. Though she missed them to this day, she didn’t regret her choice. Now, they had five children—the only Half-bloods in all of Windlewade.

He finished his story with a fond smile.

“That’s so sweet,” Astoria said with a genuine smile. The unease had to be just her feelings; there was nothing suspicious about this man who loved to talk about his family with a big smile on his face.

“You love him, don’t you? Cyrus?”

His sudden question caught her off guard. Astoria stared at him for his straightforwardness.

He smiled kindly, almost fatherly. “That’s alright; you don’t have to answer that. Cyrus sure loves you. I mean, I have known him since he was a boy and have never seen him look at a womanthe way I saw him look at you in there. Or smile. He hadn’t smiled with his heart in his eyes after the loss of his mother.”

Astoria was tongue-tied. Even a third person could see what was between them?

General Sean chuckled, shaking his head. “There’s no need to look so shocked, Your Majesty. It’s obvious what Cyrus sees in you. Clearly, Joaquin understood that, too. He’s not exactly the friendly type, but he has taken a liking to you. You heard him say,‘Stay with my brother and my sister-in-law.’”

His impersonation of Joaquin made her chuckle. “I’m glad to hear that. Thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

General Sean barely had any grey in his dark hair, but the crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes and laugh lines said he was clearly in his late forties. He was good-looking, with chiseled features, striking grey eyes, and a square jaw with a neat beard that wasn’t too thick. He was dressed in black and sea green like Joaquin.

And his eyes were on her most of the time.

Astoria ignored it at first, as she no longer felt uneasy being with him. But as this continued into the night, the hold on her tongue weakened, and she wanted to snap at him to stop looking at her. Rowan noticed her discomfort during their dinner in the sitting room and asked if she was alright. She assured him with a smile. Even Joaquin noticed the tension in the air. He shot the man meaningful looks, but the General shook his head at him.

After dinner, Astoria snapped. “Stop looking at me like that, alright? The last thing you want is for my husband to catch you. He wouldn’t take it kindly, no matter your history, trust me.”

The General had the audacity to arch his eyebrows and look amused. “Stop looking at you likewhat, may I ask?”

“Like how you’ve been looking at me since you entered the room, according to my pets,” she told him sternly, folding herarms. Behind her, Joaquin stopped flipping through the papers Rowan had given him.

“According to your pets, hmm…” he hummed as if pondering it. “Like a father looks at the daughter whom he is seeing face-to-face for the first time, they mean?”

Astoria snorted sarcastically. “Pardon me. I don’t know how a father looks at his daughter. Mine only ever looked at me as if I were of great value to him for his own purposes, with hate, disgust, and disappointment.”

“Most importantly, fear,” the man added with a tender smile, his eyes shining. He was no longer amused. “And I have never been more proud of you.”

Astoria swayed back in surprise. “How did you know that?”

General Sean’s eyes turned utterly gentle and sincere. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“Oh? Try me.”

He looked pleased by her challenge. He stared at her for a moment, further annoying her, before he spoke.

“He was never your father, Astoria,” he began softly. “I’m so sorry you never had the chance to know your real father, but he never abandoned you. He’s always been with you.Heleft that note in your crib from the seer so your family wouldn’t think you were anything abnormal, but blessed.HekeptPrince of Larsin the library so you would find it and train yourself.Heplaced the mystical red panda cub in the garden amidst a downpour, knowing you liked to run through the wet ground after each rain and would happen upon him, so you could have an animal sidekick from Windlewade. Your father has been watching over you all these years, ready to step in if you need him. And now, he is here, right here.” General Sean took a step forward to her, eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I am here, my daughter.”

Astoria stepped away from him. “W-what are you talking about?” she stuttered in shock. “My mother died birthing me.She was the wife of the king of Daliston.Youare not my father.” She whirled around to Joaquin. “What is he talking about?”

Joaquin’s eyes held concern. “The truth, Astoria. I didn’t know this until before we arrived here. He told me you were his daughter. That’s all I know.”

Astoria laughed in disbelief. This had to be some joke.

---