Cassius pov.

"The food is bland"

"The food is just like it is daily, stop throwing tantrums, Killian" i said for the 10th time in this 3 days.

"Mother always makes sure that I have at least a few of my favourite dishes on the table." he replied as he moved his fork on the food umpteenth time without taking a single bite, and I sighed.

It had only been 3 days but all i heard from his mouth was Marianne, Marianne.. Yet he had not accepted the defeat and realised that he was missing her so much. If only he had done that I could have gone and brought her back. Even I was missing her glares and brooding eyes. The way she would look at me with that fake smile while I could see her cursing me under her breath.

I never knew I would yearn for her eyes to look at me even if it was filled with hatred for me. I closed my eyes as i realised she was going to leave me permanently one day, then what would i do!

"Father, I miss mother. Shall we go to meet her or write a letter to request her to come back early." he said as he finally put the fork down and looked at me.

"Why, there are so many maids to serve you. What else do you require from her?" i asked hoping that finally he would give me an appropriate answer.

"Mother used to wake me up and take a walk with me in the morning. She shares all the meals with me and even asks me how my day was! She always takes care of my mood and always tries to make me laugh. You remain busy with your work.

I know that you are putting an effort to be with me. But without mother the whole palace had turned still" he looked at my face with all seriousness and when he didn't get a reply he pointed towards the garden.

"See, even the birds are not chirping these days."

Really! So Marianne had the ability to control nature too..?!

"Why don't you say that the wind is not passing, the leaves are not moving. Why, is she your mother or mother nature?" he instantly puffed his cheeks as he took the piece of cake and filled his mouth.

Though i rebuked him, i felt better that he was realising her importance just a bit more push and soon he would be ready to give her the charge of his education to bring her back. And I was assured that she would make him realise the true meaning of education.

I took the piece of cake too with an assured smile. I was about to eat it when he added,

"Even aunt Isabella was saying that mother should not leave the dukedom alone. It is her responsibility to be here and take care of everything."

And the cake fell back on the plate from my hands.

"Killian De Luca, you are going to be 12 soon. You are not a one year old kid that my wife would take the responsibility of waking you up and feeding you. What are you, a baby?"

"She does all that because she loves you and yet you make it sound like it is her responsibility, and if your aunt is so right why does she not come here and take care of you? Did she even know what you like to eat or what your habits are?!"

"Killian, I am truly disappointed with you for thinking like that!" i did not want to shout but this boy was not giving me a chance to control myself.

"I didn't mean it like that father, and I took care of her too.." he defended himself and I sighed, did he really think that!

"Oh, really.. So you think that she is a kid who does not know how to take medicines or doesn't have servants to take care of her when she is sick. She tries to be a kid and throw tantrums so that you spend more time with her. So that you get closer to her. Killian, that lady is investing her feelings in you. Can you really not see it and think that she is a kid who needs your assistance and support!! She is 26 not 2 or 6"

He looked thoroughly embarrassed and ashamed as I berated him.

"Father, I didn't mean it that way. I mean to say i love her too."

"But you did not trust her?" I cut him in between and he pursed his lips.

"I do trust mother, why do everyone think that I do not. I accepted her even when you doubted her father." he said with tears as he stood up ready to go back.

I knew he was right, and I have no embarrassment in accepting it. I have been haunted by my past. Moreover her behavior was suspicious in the start so i had doubted her but i had learnt from my mistakes!

"Wait here, Killian," I ordered as I saw him walking out.

His footsteps halted and he turned back towards me reluctantly. I could see his eyes were welled up and he was trying hard to control them. I knew it was for the first time that I had scolded him. I had always let him decide and chose for himself like my father used to do. But I had learnt from our mistakes that parents didn't need to support their child and accept his every whim. Sometimes it turns fatal for the whole family.

"I know I have not accepted her and maybe even now I have not accepted her fully, but I know her worth and at least I am not crying and blaming her for everything. So be a man, and accept it that you need her and if you would do that. You have to understand what she is in your life or else she is not going to come back anytime soon. Better get habitual to it"