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"She was a beauty to behold when she was angry," her uncle said. Her facial expressions were cute, he always added. Little did he know that as she grew older, so did her wisdom. Emilia's uncle, Mr Rogers, was a very strict and straightforward, egotistical, controlling human being. He never considered the feelings of others, as long as he thought he was right. Emilia was an orphan, made so by a terrible accident that took her parents from her when she was just two years old. Mr Rogers, being the only living relative, took her under his care. Mr Rogers was a rich, young, well-built bachelor. He had everything that would give him a comfortable life. "He is handsome but arrogant," Mrs Kim would say behind his back; she was Emilia's nanny.
Emilia grew in love and beauty; at eleven, she was a force of nature, and now she was sixteen. Her uncle considered her a threat; she had become too wise and demanding. Emilia always wondered why her uncle never had children or took a wife. This dawned on her when she had no one to play with except Mrs Kim, who was now getting old. She would ask him sometimes, but he always changed the subject.
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It was a rainy night, and the cold weather was suitable for conversation. She waited after dinner and then said to herself, "I will storm the castle, take siege of the royal treasury, and loot all the information I can get from him tonight." She was poetic and dramatic in her expression. Mrs Kim could only smile in silence, seeing that Emilia had grown into a courageous young lady. Mrs Kim thought to herself that if Emilia could get her uncle to spill the beans or agree to marry, that would be a great thing. He was a good man; he only let his arrogance get the best of him. She hoped Emilia's courage wouldn't be put out by his great wall.
Emilia went up to Uncle Roger's study, knocked, and he said, "Come in." "Ah, I have broken through the city's gate," she thought to herself; normally, he didn't allow her into his study late at night. Emilia approached her uncle and greeted him; she got him talking. Then she threw the question at him: "Uncle, how come you don't have a child or a wife?" The uncle couldn't understand why she would ask such a question; like every empire under siege, he put up a defence. Emilia didn't give up; she was determined to take the crown, so she pressed on for hours. The uncle couldn't stop wondering; his defences were failing him. How could he shout at her? She was only satisfying her curiosity.
He thought long and hard; his silence only boosted Emilia's courage. She then sat on the chair facing her uncle, with a table separating them. Mr Rogers' wall fell. He then told her it was a long story, one he should have told her years ago, but couldn't, seeing she was a child. Emilia cut in, "I am no longer a child." "Indeed, you are not," he replied. Emilia thought to herself, "Wow, the war is won; the king has been slain; I can now head for the treasury." Her imagination was so loud she could hear the great walls falling.
Mr Rogers then started telling Emilia that he was married once, long before she was born. At that time, Mr and Mrs Clark were newlyweds when his wife told him she was pregnant. Three months into the pregnancy, she started complaining of pain, so he rushed her to the hospital. The doctors ran some tests, and the results were ready. Mr Rogers and his wife were told she had cancer; it was devastating news. The doctor recommended an abortion, but Mrs Rogers couldn't stomach the news; she refused to let any harm come to her baby. Mr Rogers was confused but always supported his wife, so they didn't start cancer therapy.
Eight months gone, and her condition grew worse; they never missed an appointment with the doctor. At that same month, Emilia's parents came with the news they were pregnant. Mr Rogers never told them about the dilemma he was in; his wife encouraged him not to, seeing they were newlyweds. Mr Rogers let the cat out of the bag, and the environment became chillier; it was as if they had moved from Sahara to Antarctica. While they were talking, Mrs Rogers called out in pain, so she was rushed to the hospital.
At that point, the doctors wanted to operate on her to save the baby, but Mrs Rogers was far gone; it was stage four cancer. The tumour had grown and would soon compress the womb, killing the baby and her. In an attempt to save the baby, Mrs Rogers died. The baby didn't survive either.
Mr Rogers had gone through that much; he became distant after the experience. At this point, Emilia Clark couldn't stop crying. Her uncle left his chair and went to hug her, trying to stop her from crying while holding himself back, so he wouldn't join her.
Some months later, Emilia was born – a beautiful baby. "Emilia was the name I gave her, with her parents' permission," he continued. "That was the name I had planned to give my daughter." A year or so later, he was told that his brother and wife had had an accident that claimed their lives; Emilia was the only survivor. He took Emilia in as his own, giving her the best of everything, just as a father would. He spared her the traumatic story so she could grow into a fine lady.
Emilia couldn't stop feeling bad; she wondered if she had done the right thing. Was that majestic castle worth the siege? She went to her room and wet her pillow with tears. She couldn't stop the story from re-echoing in her head, along with her uncle's concluding statement.
That's why I was overprotective and controlling of you," he said. "I couldn't bear to call another woman my wife, so I didn't even try. I've got you; what more do I need? You are the daughter I was meant to have. So cheer up, go to bed. Know that I have and always forever love you, Emilia Clerk Rogers.
She stormed the castle and found out that the castle had her as its only treasure.
Thank you for reading.
