His gaze drew back to the girl, his eyes widening a bit. His mind definitely settled on scolding at those words. He was being scolded by a little girl. He fought off a smile as Saph gasped in horror. Her and all of the nearby people who could see and hear what was happening now.

“Delil-”

“Well, did he get permission to touch you?” The little girl folded her arms in front of herself and maintained the frown on her face as she gazed at Saph. She wasn’t backing down.

This time, Owen couldn’t stop the smile on his face. He stooped down to her level, so they were eye to eye, and nodded.

“I suppose I should’ve done so.”

The little girl nodded. “That’s right,” was all she said.

“It’s nice to meet you,” he told her honestly. “What’s your name?”

“Delilah. And yours, sir?”

Sir?

She lowered her guard, her hands now clasped instead of her arms folded menacingly. Her tone had changed too. It was lighter and calmer. What a fascinating little girl this Delilah was…

He stood back up to his full height, formerly bowing to her.

“Owen Delca Felsha, the third. Though, I suppose most people just call me the King of Felshare.”

For a split second, as his words registered, he didn’t see surprise on Delilah’s face. But then, out of the blue, her eyes widened like saucers. Somehow, he could tell it was feigned. Delilah must’ve known from the start who he was, but she was going to play it off as if she had no idea in order to get out of trouble. She was quite smart, then. He held his tongue, waiting, and forced a new smile from appearing.

“Your Majesty. I’ve been rude. My apologies.”

She glanced quickly to Saph who gave her a brief nod. And then this little girl, this Delilah, bowed to him properly.

It was then that he realized it, with them standing side by side, her silently asking Saph for approval. The eyes. The similarities were too great.

“Stand tall, Delilah.”

I see. She’s moved on.

Delilah was her biological child.

Delilah rose to standing straight again, hesitantly.

The first things that ran through Emeria’s head were a mixture of disbelief and horror. Because she knew her daughter so well, it didn’t take any time at all to realize that Delilah had feigned her shock in figuring out Owen’s identity. But the second glance, the one back to Emeria, showed that she was a little worried about her actions, despite knowing what she was doing as she did them.

Owen wasn’t a bad person. Emeria knew that just as well as anyone. And the fact that the corners of his mouth were twitching, holding back a smile, told her that it was all going to be fine. Delilah wasn’t going to be punished for talking to the King in such a manner, even if it was on purpose.

And then she saw something in his eyes, as he looked between them.

“It is truly a pleasure to meet you, Delilah.” And then he looked to Emeria. His mouth opened and closed hesitantly a few times before he managed to find the words he needed. “I - I did not know you had children.” She recognized the sadness in his eyes as he looked down and to the side.

Oh, Owen.

It was then that she realized she made as big of an impact on him as he did to her. They’d been incredibly close for that one day. But sometimes, that was all it took.

“Though, I suppose… much time has passed since we’ve seen each other.”

“Just one.”

His eyes rose back to hers.

“Hm?”

“One child. Just my Delilah.”

He nodded with a small smile before glancing back at Delilah.

“How long? Might I ask?”

His voice was quiet, somber. And unnecessary. Emeria knew the truth. And it seemed this reunion made it apparent that he needed to know as well. In some ways, it was far too early… yet it was also far too late.

She sighed before she chose her words carefully.

“Your Majesty, you know how long.”

Pick up on my meaning, Owen, she begged silently, it’s only ever been you.

Owen shook his head a bit.

I knew? How was I supposed to know?

“No, I don’t believe–”

His words halted as his mind spun back. To then. To them. To…

If he knew, and the child was Emeria’s, it only left one conclusion. He stopped to try to make himself understand. He looked between Delilah and Emeria. The similar eyes. The similar face structure… in most parts. But the glaring difference between them was their hair. He swallowed hard, feeling shaken and nervous at this revelation.

Owen had red hair.

And Delilah did too.

If he looked hard enough, he could see parts of himself within her face too.

“I… I do?” his voice cracked at the question.

“You do.” She nodded at him, more serious than he’d ever seen her. “You’re the only I… I’ve never – not with anyone else…”

He hadn’t expected that. He hadn’t expected her to run off and remain faithful to him, a stranger. And what, he got married and had had mistresses thrown his way, one after another. Somehow, he felt like the lowest of the low, but he knew he wouldn’t have been able to change that. It wasn’t by his choice.

“Then…” He took a deep breath. Doing the math in his head, he looked back at the clearly confused Delilah, who tried to follow the conversation to no avail. She stared between the two of them, her brows furrowed. “You must be… nine years old? Almost–” his breath caught in his throat for a second. He blinked back the sting in his eyes and continued. “Almost ten?”

She nodded.

It hit him like nothing else ever had. This girl. Delilah. She was his daughter. He knelt before her, staring up at her, fighting the rising tears. Every part of him wanted to rejoice, that he had such a beautiful and strong girl. That she was smart, that she and her mother were both fine.

He was grateful just to meet her.

He wasn’t able to help them before, but now, now he could. And he’d do whatever they asked.

“May I touch your head?”

She was silent for a moment, quizzical, before glancing over at her mother. It was clear she didn’t know what to do or say to that odd request.

“You can say no. It’s alright.”

Even if it broke his heart a little.

She gazed at Owen, at her father, silently for a little longer before she allowed him permission.

“You can, but not anything more than a minute.”

He smiled, reaching up to touch her hair gently with a hand, holding back a sob. She was real. This little girl existed. He’d helped create this child. He touched her cheek as he brushed a strand of her hair back behind her ear. It was warm. She was warm, like the sunshine.

“You’re a beautiful and bright girl, Delilah…”

He stared at her in silence for a bit longer before pulling back and rising to his feet again. He turned to the mother, to his dearest Saph.

“Have you told her?” he asked, although from the first words she’d spoken to him, he had a feeling he already knew the answer.

“No, Your Majesty.”

There was a little bit of hesitation before his next words. After all, he hadn’t been present from the start of the little girl’s life, so how could he ask this of her… to bring to light who he really was in this connection between the three of them.

“Will you?”

She nodded.

“I will.”

Overwhelmed, with both relief and a flurry of inexplicable emotions, he took the time to bow to her, to the two girls he was grateful to even speak to and know of. He extended his hand to her and when she placed it in his, he let his lips brush gently over her knuckles in a kiss.

Then he turned to his newfound daughter.

“May I?” he asked as he held his hand toward her now.

She nodded her consent and he kissed the back of her hand much like he had her mother’s.

And then he was saying goodbye.

And goodbyes never ached so much for him… until this.

He climbed back up into the saddle of his horse, waiting nearby, and turned to go. It was taking all of his willpower just to move forward, to not turn back.

And right then, it crossed his mind, that he would give up the throne, give up all he had, if it meant he could live out a normal happy life with the two of them.

If only normal were possible…

Such a thing wasn’t an option for him.