When they reached the door to her father’s study, Serena tried to reach inside for the courage she lacked. She needed to be brave. No matter what happened now, she’d done everything she could to protect Karl.
Her lady-in-waiting curtsied and went to announce her presence to the king.
“Enter,” came her father’s voice. Standing to the left of the king was Albert von Meinhardt. The smug look on the Freiherr’s face left her cold, but she kept her expression neutral.
For a long moment, the king said nothing. He settled a stack of papers upon his desk and stood. Serena held her ground, but her eyes swept over the room. There was a tea tray resting upon a table, with a single cup and saucer waiting. A small chaise longue with a square pillow was nearby, and a low fire burned on the hearth.
“I have made arrangements for your wedding to the Freiherr,” her father began. “Though it may not silence the gossip, it is—”
“No,” Serena interrupted. “I won’t marry him.” She sent a pointed look toward the baron, letting him see her disapproval of what he’d done to bring her back.
Her father’s face blazed with fury, and he rose from his seat. Serena seized the pillow from the chaise longue and held it with both arms, in readiness to shield herself.
“I’m giving up my throne,” Serena continued, her hands digging into the pillow. “And I will leave the palace this day. You will not send any men after me. You are going to let me go.”
“How do you dare to give me orders?” The king advanced upon her, ordering the Freiherr to leave the room. Von Meinhardt didn’t bother trying to defend her but abandoned her to the king’s rage.
Serena backed away, trying to move closer to the door. “It’s clear to me that you hate the very ground I walk upon. I was never the daughter you wanted, and yet, you punished me at every turn. I won’t be your victim any longer.”
Though his fists were clenched in readiness to strike her, he didn’t. Instead, his voice thickened with venom. “You aren’t worthy to hold a throne. But I won’t allow you to cast a scandal over my rule.”
“I’ll go quietly,” she said. “Make Anna your heir.”
“Anna was always going to be my heir,” he countered. “Not you. Why would I want a bastard daughter to rule over Badenstein?”
The pillow dropped from her hands as his revelation sank in. Was that why he hated her so? Because she wasn’t his daughter?
“A bastard?” she repeated, hardly daring to hope it was true. “What do you mean?”
“I learned of your mother’s affair a few years ago.” He continued speaking of Clara’s indiscretion, but Serena could only feel a widening sense of joy. If the king was not her father,then it made sense why he hated her so. And why he hadn’t begun beating her until a few years ago.
“I am glad to hear it,” Serena heard herself saying. “I would rather have any other father in the world than you.”
His hand raised out to strike her, and the motion blurred. She reached for the tea tray to shield herself from his blow. China shattered, and she was dimly aware of the door slamming against the wall as it flew open.
Karl tore into the room, his hands encircling the king’s throat. He sent a look toward Serena. “You didn’t arrive when you were supposed to.”
To King Ruwald he ordered, “You’re going to let her go. She won’t endure your abuse any longer.”
But Ruwald suddenly broke free of Karl’s grasp and lunged forward. The two men fought, and Serena searched for some way to help him. Before she could do anything, the Freiherr returned with seven guards. Although Karl struggled hard, the men overpowered him.
“Take him below,” the king ordered. “I want him in chains.” His reddened face turned murderous as he stared at Serena. “And as for you…you’ll wed the Freiherr without argument or question. Or I’ll have your lover hanged before your eyes.”
She couldn’t breathe. As the men dragged Karl away, she sank to the floor, unable to fill her lungs. Darkness clouded at her consciousness, and when her father left the room, a searing pain ripped her heart in half.
Even though the king hadn’t laid a hand upon her.
That night, Serena was resting when the door opened. Queen Clara appeared, surrounded by her own ladies.
“My sweet girl, what has he done?” Clara struggled to walk closer and sat upon the bed, touching Serena’s face.
“Is it true?” Her voice cracked as she struggled with the words. “He said I’m not his daughter. That I am…a bastard.”
Her mother let out a slow breath. “It’s true that I took a lover when he was away, many years ago. I suppose it’s no secret that our arranged marriage was not a happy one.” Her hand stilled upon Serena’s shoulder. “But your blood is royal. Make no mistake of it.”
“Then who is my father?”
The queen’s eyes closed. “Ruwald is still your father. I was already carrying you inside of me when I took a lover.”
