Nicholas looked concerned while the queen continued her story. The woman told him that King William once fell in love with a princess named Grace but his love was one-sided because Grace loved Prince Gabriel, William's older brother, who was also the crown prince of Riga back then.
Prince Gabriel and William were two very close brothers and they loved each other very much. When he learned that his brother also loved Grace, William gave up his love for Grace for his brother's sake. He steeled his heart and tried to be happy to see the two people he loved happy.
However, over time, whenever he saw his brother and Grace together, William felt suffocated and his heart ached. It turned out that giving up Grace for his brother was not as easy as he thought.
Heartbroken, William, who at that time was still the second prince planned to leave Riga and travel to various places, thinking that over time he would forget Grace. However, unfortunately, a tragedy befell Prince Gabriel.
He was tragically killed by a lycan. Reportedly, Prince Gabriel was found in a pitiful condition. His body was torn apart and his heart was ripped out of his chest.
According to the information of the prince's guards who survived the incident, Prince Gabriel's heart was eaten by the lycan that killed him.
His brother's tragic death made William very sad but not long after he lost his brother, he had to go back to losing the one he loved.
Grace died in grief, lamenting the death of Prince Gabriel. William again felt very deep sorrow. He ascended the throne in place of Prince Gabriel and by then he vowed to kill all the lycans he encountered. He would not allow the lycans to set foot in the Riga territory.
"Now you know the reason why your father hated lycans so much," Queen Marianne said after explaining. "That was the beginning of the decades-long war between us and the lycans."
Nicholas was silent. He did not expect that his father had experienced such a sad event in his life. Now he understood why his father hated lycans so much.
If he had been in his father's position at that time he would probably have done the same. He was very concerned about the death of his uncle which turned out to be so tragic.
Nicholas was still silent when his mother spoke again.
"I was so scared when I saw you turn into a lycan. Your father might have loved you as his son, but his love was not as big as his hatred for the lycans. I was so afraid of losing you." Queen Marianne started crying again and Nicholas immediately got up and hugged his mother warmly.
In Nicholas' arms, the queen wept. She poured out all her sadness and the burden of her heart that she had kept to herself and never shared with anyone.
Nicholas tightened his arms then stroked his mother's head lovingly. He realized she must have suffered so much.
Now he understood how the animosity started between his family and the lycan race. Now, he had to think of ways to fit himself and his children in the tangled mess. Could peace be an option since Nicholas and his children were actually lycans?
Their family was truly entangled in a big messy web. His heart felt sad when he thought that his father didn't love his mother all this time. Nicholas continued to hug his mother and let her pour out all her heart's sorrow. He didn't say anything.
After a few minutes, Queen Marianne finally rose from Nicholas' arms. She was relieved after crying and calmed herself down.
Nicholas wiped his mother's tears and kissed the hand of the woman who had given birth to him. He was also relieved because now his mother had found out everything about him. He no longer had to pretend and lie.
"Don't cry for father's love anymore because you have me, mother. I will always love you," he said with a smile.
"You told me you love me, but you often argued with me," said the queen, trying to make light of their situation. She smiled faintly.
"That's because sometimes you can be annoying." Nicholas smiled back. The queen patted his back.
"Yeah, I am sorry, son. I know I can be annoying at times," the queen admitted.
***
Day after day changed. The queen stayed at the royal villa for a few days to take care of Nicholas and during that time, their relationship became very close.
Suddenly, a week had passed, Nicholas was much better and recovered from his injuries. The queen still wanted to be in the villa until Nicholas recovered one hundred percent but she had to go back to the palace soon.
If she was gone too long people would start asking questions and then they would spread gossip. She didn't want that.
She asked Nicholas not to worry about the people in the palace, she would find an excuse to tell them why the king had not returned to the palace.
"Thank you, mother." Nicholas hugged his mother. He couldn't go back to the royal palace yet because the scars on his body were still visible and he also wanted to meet Sophie.
Queen Marianne smiled then cupped her son's face.
"Take care of yourself. I'll be waiting in the palace," she said then turned to enter the carriage and Nicholas quickly opened the door for her.
"Take good care of my mother," Nicholas ordered the guards who would escort the queen back to the palace.
After his mother's carriage disappeared in the distance, Nicholas immediately entered the villa and prepared to go to Duke Romanov's manor. He was sure Sophie and the fake duke had returned from their 'romantic getaway'.
He felt very irritated at the thought of Duke Romanov and had no interest in meeting the man but he had to put those feelings aside because he wanted to meet Sophie and see his children again.
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