Page 142 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown

The son he always wanted but never had the chance to see or even know. Tears pool in my eyes at the thought, and I blink them back. Now is not the time to cry. I can cry later when I am all alone and it’s nighttime.

Walking up to the door, I open it as a knocking sound appears. Prince Archie is there, four guards behind him, as he fills up the doorway.

“Oh, I wasn’t expecting you,” I whisper. “Can I help you?”

“I wanted to congratulate your mother myself since I heard she actually had her baby yesterday,” Prince Archie replies.

“Oh, thank you so much, but that wasn’t needed.” I chuckle and look away.

Prince Archie grabs my chin and places his face right in front of mine.

“I want to, and you can’t tell me no again. Do you understand?” His voice is low and deadly.

I nod and take a step back, opening the door to allow him in. My whole body is shaking as nerves run through me. I didn’t think Prince Archie would come and threaten me. The guards stay outside, and I leave the door open, not wanting to anger anyone.

“Mother, Prince Archie is here,” I announce as I walk into the kitchen, the prince following me.

“Oh, give me one second to stand.” Mother’s voice is full of panic.

“Please, Ma’am, you don’t need to stand up. My mother taught me that women who just had a baby should be resting.” Prince Archie smiles as he stops right in front of my mother. “A boy.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I had a son,” Mother replies as she relaxes into her chair.

But anyone with one eye can see my mother isn’t relaxed. Her whole body is stiff as Prince Archie stands close, looking at my baby brother. I hold my breath and stare at him, wondering what he is going to do.

“I had the pleasure of meeting with your daughter the other day and talking about things.” Prince Archie strikes up a conversation as he looks at my mother, his eyes looking over her face.

My hand instinctively reaches up to my neck. It’s still covered with the scarf, but the bruising is slowly getting better. The salve Henry gave me has been no good on this bruise and it makes me wonder why. He said it would be good to heal anything and yet it has done nothing for this. Does Prince Archie have some type of magical powers against the salve? No, he’s human just like me.

“I heard about that. Did you have a good time with her?” she replies, looking down at the baby.

Prince Archie looks back at me and arches an eyebrow. I shake my head, lying to him. Mother knows not to tell anyone about how I got the bruises, and she knows it would do her no good if Prince Archie found out she knows.

“We did have a good time. We got some things cleared up.” He smiles sickly at me. “Your daughter will be needed at the palace for her tutoring sessions still.”

“Could.” Mother takes a deep breath. “Could Adeline have a couple of weeks off so she can help me around the house? I can’t get out of the chair much or my bed and her being gone for a whole afternoon will pull her away from me when I may need her.”

Prince Archie smiles at my mother and nods. “But of course. That is the least I can do for you and your daughter. Congratulations again.”

Mother bows her head, and the prince walks over to me, leaning in.

“You owe me,” he whispers before pulling away and walking to the door.

I suck in a breath and lean against the wall before my legs give out and I crumble to the ground. The door shuts behind him, and I close my eyes as the tears fall down my face.

“Adeline?” Mother calls out.

I hum but don’t dare open them, not wanting even more tears to stream down my face.

“What did he tell you?” she asks.

Shaking my head, I push off the wall and wipe away the tears. “Nothing for you to worry about. He just wants to meet up in a couple of weeks so we can have lunch.”

It’s a lie, and from the look on my mother’s face, she knows it as well.

“I am going to go take a short walk in the forest,” I whisper. “Are you going to be okay here? Do you need anything before I go?”

I need to get out and calm down my head before I do or say something I am going to regret.