Eternity With You

11. Seeking memories?

Just as decided, the father and the daughter ate at the same dining table while the servants looked at them in glee and relief. After how many years were they eating together? After how many years did they see a look of relief on their Lord's face? After how many years were they seeing a contented and satisfied expression on them? They wondered.

The information about their Lady losing her memories reached all the servants in the mansion. Although they were sad for her, they were happy for their Lord. At least, he could get his daughter's love which he had been devoid of for many years. It was a miracle that the girl was treating him this well and if this was how it would be from now on, nobody wanted her to gain her memories at all. It was peaceful the way it was right now.

However, nobody dared to voice out their opinions for they feared their Lord. Although Duke Seymour Reeve was a gentle and good man to his servants, he could even turn into a monster if they ever crossed their limits and his daughter was his limit. He loved her dearly, even more than his life. Although his daughter had not given him much face all these years, he had not said a word about it or scolded her for it. He had treated her like the treasure she was, bearing with her rude behavior silently.

Nobody noticed the old matron wipe her tears in happiness. She had been serving Duke Reeve for years and had seen the young Sylvaine grow up into a wonderful lady. But this was the first time, she was seeing such a harmonious atmosphere in the mansion after Duke's wife had passed away.

"Father, what are you doing after breakfast?" Sylvanie queried as she drank another spoon of porridge.

"I will have to visit the Council, dear. The merchants had raised an issue and we need to find a solution for it." Seymour replied with a frown. "Why are you asking, Sylvaine?"

"Do you have something in mind?"

"No, Father, I just wanted to know what your schedule for the day is."

Seymour grinned in delight and his eyes twinkled in happiness. He had never felt this happy before and even though he knew he was wrong, he wished his daughter would remain this way forever. He was now not looking forward to her gaining her memories back. Sylvaine would go back to her old self and stop speaking to him again if she remembered everything and Seymour wanted anything but that.

'Please forgive me, my dear. Let me selfish this once. Let me taste my daughter's love which I have been denied all these years.' He thought to himself.

"Father," Irene waved her hand in front of the old man again, bringing him out of his thoughts on the third try. "What got you thinking, Father? Is something the matter?"

"No, no, dear. It's nothing significant. Don't worry." Seymour shook his head, clearing his thoughts from his mind. How could he reveal his true intentions to her when it would only infuriate her? He stayed mum and Irene gave him a skeptical look before she drank the remaining porridge in her bowl.

"What are your plans for the day, dear?" He queried when an awkward silence filled the dining hall.

"I was wondering if I could take a look around the mansion. Maybe a tour around the place would help me get me back my memories." Irene stated, even though she knew that it would never happen, not until she left Sylvaine's body at least. On another thought, she even wondered why she did not have any memories of the girl when she was in her body. 'Shouldn't I have her memories? Why don't I have them and why didn't I think about this before?'

Irene was so lost in her thoughts that she did not notice the change in expressions on the old Duke's face. His smile slipped and his eyes lost the sparkle in them. Not only him, even the other servants too lost their smiles.

"That's good, dear. That's good." Seymour composed himself quickly and his voice broke Irene's thoughts. She stared at him, smiling at him sweetly. "But don't overstress yourself. It is fine if you do not get your memories. You can stay this way." Irene completely missed the underlying meaning in his words and assumed the man to be worried for her.

"Don't worry, Father. I will not put you in more agony. I will try to gain memories back as soon as possible." She stated with conviction and this time Seymour did not know what to speak. He just shook his head and let her be.

'I need to find out a way to return home and I can use this opportunity now. I will just have to find the way quickly.' As soon as the thought entered her mind, Irene's heart wrenched in pain and she turned to look at the man beside her. All of a sudden he appeared to be distressed and lost and she wondered what had happened for him to be perturbed.

'Did I say something? Did I hurt him somehow?' She wondered and Irene voiced out her questions when her curiosity got the best of her.

"No, no, dear. I am fine, Don't worry."

"Father, are you lying to me?" Irene put up an act and pouted lightly in anger and Seymour just sighed as he looked at his daughter. She looked just as cute and adorable as she was when she was a baby and he could not help but cherish her all the more.

"No, dear. I am not lying." Seymour tried to deny her claims but his daughter saw right through him and she shook her.

"You are lying again, Father. Please tell me what happened." She stressed and observed the man's tense face. His body stiffened and he looked frustrated.

"Sylvaine, dear, I don't want you to get your memories back." He voiced out what he had in mind and the servants silently nodded, agreeing with their Lord.

"But why, Father?" Irene was baffled to hear his wishes and she gave him a surprised look.

"If you were to go back to your old self and ignore me again, I wish you stay this way forever. I wish you do not get your memories back at all." The old Duke revealed his wishes and watched his daughter keenly. However, Irene stayed expressionless. There was no change in her emotions as she sat still.

A disturbing silence filled the place and the old Duke could not tolerate it any longer as time passed. "Please say something, dear." He probed and Irene widened her eyes, not knowing what to say.

'Just how much did this Sylvaine ignore and torture her father that he now does not want her back? What an i***t she is. She does not know how to treasure relationships.' She stared at the old Duke who was waiting impatiently for her to speak. 'I don't know how long I will be here but let me give him the happiness he deserves. At least I can take those good memories with me when I return.'

"Father, if that is what you want, I will do as you say. I will not try to seek for my memories."