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Nilsa was loved by all of Wessex and even some of the Danes. She had unmatched beauty that most royal women envied. Her smile was said to be crafted by angels, and her eyes were so alluring that men would willingly drown in her gaze. Nilsa had man after man begging for her hand in marriage, but her father refused them all.
He had promised her mother to do so, after all. He would never force her into a marriage she didn't want. Steapa just wanted his daughter to find love and be taken care of, no matter who the man was.
And sometimes, it hurt him to see her as she was. He often noticed glimpses of her mother in her, and some would even dare to say she was more beautiful than the late queen of Frankia.
Like now, Steapa had walked over to his pride, joy, and reason for living. Nilsa turned to her father with a bright smile; her happiness could scare away even the worst darkness. Or perhaps he was biased. She didn't keep it a secret that she considered him her hero and someone she looked up to, her knight in shining armor.
Steapa wrapped his arms around his daughter, and as she hugged him, he picked out the sticks in her tangled hair with an amused smile. She was more often than not found in the gardens tending to her flowers or in the woods playing with the animals. The latter concerned him most days; bears and wolves lingered during this season. Being the father he was, he would often bring her back herbs and flowers he would see along his travels. He knew nothing about the plants, but he knew she would be overjoyed whenever she saw the gifts.
"Are you leaving again, father?" She asked softly, pouting as he kissed her forehead and followed with a slight nod. He wished he could be more present in her life, but being sworn to the king makes that problematic.
"I'm sorry, Nilly. I wish I could stay." He whispered sadly.
"You just got back." She whispered with a frown. He picked a tangled leaf in her hair and showed it to her, making the girl giggle lightly. However, he felt a pang of guilt when he noticed the sadness in her gaze.
"I know, my sweet girl. Edward is king now; I cannot dishonor our family by breaking that oath." She sighed as he tapped her nose with a smile. He was too loyal, and that was something she secretly hated. She wanted her father to live in the woods with an old cottage like her mother wished for.
But even that was too much to ask. She just wanted her father, but she would never truly get him.
"Be careful, please? You are all I have." Steapa felt his heartbreak; she was such a kind soul, and he hated that the world around them would try to ruin that.
