"Your majesty."

Y/n greets Claude.

Claude returns the greeting.

"Beast."

Y/n almost pops a blood vessel. Ah, what a kind man. What a lovely father! Gosh it's no wonder Athanasia was terrified, even an interaction such as this one can be so utterly draining.

"My name is Philippa." She says still keeping the same polite smile on her face, the smile was purely a formality though, and did not reach her eyes.

Truthfully Y/n did not have the necessary acting skills, nor cared enough to actually put effort into this little charade, of a father daughter relationship.

Claude looked down at Y/n, resting leisurely on the sofa across from her. Before looking away his gaze seeming to lose focus.

"Your name ought to be changed." He scoffed. Looking reminiscent, perhaps he was thinking of Philippa's mother and how much he envied her. For being able to bear her own child and live. I'm sure if he had the opportunity he would take her mothers blessing and bestow it upon Diana. I could not blame him, though it's a selfish thing to wish for, it's also very human of him. Better he has human wants and needs and emotions rather than who he became after Diana died. When he killed all those people in Ruby Palace, and then abandoned the daughter Diana had gave her life for. He's a terrible, albeit human person.

"Well..."

"What would you suggest, your majesty?" Y/n inquired, slowly drinking from her teacup.

"Name yourself, it won't mean anything in the end." Claude uttered the words like a stony verdict, his gaze cold and unwavering as he looked at Y/n. "At least not when you are buried in the ground."

Dude.. really?

Y/n's face contorted into an annoyed grimace that went unnoticed by Claude as he spoke; it would have been clear to anyone else that this was not something appropriate to say to a child, let alone your own child, mind you! but for him, there was no consequence of saying those words. Ah the joys of being an emperor, you can quite literally say and do anything!

His eyes finally returned to meet hers as if nothing had happened; "I do not care about something as meaningless as your name. But noble society, they will." He said again with unyielding intent. "You will listen to me and change your name. That woman damned you the moment she named you Philippa."

Claude spoke harshly, as if he expected an argument from Y/n. The suggestion of a potential name change left a sense of unease in her and she imagined that Philippa would have been livid at the prospect. She bowed her head slightly in acquiescence, but inside she was torn between shock and outraged disbelief.

Having her identity stripped from her.

Having the only gift her mom gave her before she committed.

But Y/n,

She's not Philippa.

She knows that in a way she is betraying her but she must do what it takes to survive.

Until she is capable of standing above Claude, or perhaps standing with him, and Athanasia.

She was uneasy, knowing she must be strong to withstand Claude's power. Sacrificing her beliefs and life temporarily was necessary to survive, although it took its toll.

Strength was mandatory until the moment arrived when Claude could no longer suppress her, then peace within herself could be restored.

Truthfully Y/n was conflicted.

She doesn't care much about the possibility of being the empress. She doesn't need a particularly wealthy life. But she also didn't want to hide in this false identity.

All she wants is to make it out of here alive, and see her family again.

Y/n looks back up at Claude. Determined

"My name is Y/n." She finally said, smiling genuinely for the first time near Claude.

She may not be able to continue on with Philippa's identity but if it's her own.

She knows she can do so with confidence and change how things will progress.

Yn reached out her hand, offering it in an open gesture of peace and reconciliation. She kept her face collected, although her insides were quivering with the hope that Claude could see what she was proposing: a partnership for his Empire's benefit.

"Let's work together," she said, the words spilling from lips as if rehearsed yet unfamiliar to their movement around them. "Dad."

Claude's face was like a frozen marble statue, unwavering and still. There seemed to be no signs of recognition or feeling emanating from his expressionless countenance. A heavy, oppressive atmosphere filled the room as she waited for him to speak, watching his motionless figure with bated breath. Honestly she's not sure if he was even capable of feeling emotion but whatever he is showing on his face, she sure hoped it wasn't negative.

Y/n panicked, felt her feet taking a step in retreat, away from Claude and the conversation about to take place. Her heart began to race and she was overcome with an intense feeling of anxiety. But, before she could turn away completely.

Claude had reached out his hand towards hers. His hand was warm as he slowly clasped her hand in his own, shaking gently before him with a look of satisfaction upon his face – more like a smirk than an outright smile – faded into view. "Good," He said softly while still holding onto her soft hand firmly within one of his own rough palms.

She knows that she's letting him have his way and be in control but what point was there in being rebellious like Philippa, and only causing mistrust and eventually hatred? No; she decided it best not to rock the boat. With a heavy heart, she conceded what seemed like victory for her father's wishes. There must have been another way – some path of freedom between icy obedience and desperate rebellion – yet she could see none from this impossible tightrope walk on which all their lives hung suspended.

Y/n placed her hand back down on the desk, still trembling from the tension. Claude's expression shifted for a spark of joy before he returned to his earlier stoic demeanor. It was over in an instant, but Y/n was just grateful to still have her head...

"If you carry on like this, it will be easier for both of us," Claude said, pushing himself off the sofa and standing in front of her. He began to turn away from her when he suddenly stopped and looked back over his shoulder.

"Before I forget," he said evenly, "Return to the Emerald Palace, and pack everything." With that statement hanging in the air between them, Y/n almost drops her teacup worried for a split second that he had changed his mind and was planning to exile her or something!

"You will move into the Ruby Palace with your sister."

"Athanasia de Alger Obelia."

HUH?

Her father says no more and briskly leaves the room she was so caught up in the shock that she didn't even notice he left.

Once she collects herself and calms down. Y/n slowly gets up and walks back to the Emerald Palace, still numb from Claude's words. She was beyond shocked and couldn't process what had just happened, but one thing that kept replaying in her head was that she would be living with Athanasia.

Y/N's heart thumped in her chest as she walked home. The sun setting on the horizon, Prim holding her hand softly. Looking at her with concern etched in her expression.  She was relieved to be closer to Athanasia, but she couldn't help but feel anxious about what awaited her upon arrival.
Would Claude be waiting for them at Ruby Palace? It hadn't been so long ago since Y/n had read the manhwa.

Yet Y/n could still vividly recall all of his cruel words and threats of harm. Her grip on Prim's hand tightened as she watched out over the passing gardens and statues outside. This place was so beautiful but for all the beauty it could never erase the fact that this place is a cage, at the moment at least.

Y/n knows Athanasia can encourage Claude to change. But Y/n was not going to sit back and let the plot progress the way it had before, she couldn't take that risk and depend on Athanasia, without protecting herself and those she cared about here.

She wasn't going to depend on Athanasia. She couldn't.

She already had so much pressure on her already, and Y/n wanted to support her.

—

i don't remember if i named the palace Y/n was in the emerald palace.... Too eepy... can't be bothered re reading🥲... anyways father daughter bonding chap... lol kinda. They shook hands.. that's progress right... THATS BONDING TIME RIGHT?😭 jk anyways I miss wmmap