Sophie noticed Nicholas was looking at her with a weird expression. So, she asked him what he had in mind.
"Sophie, maybe it's not a good idea for you to leave the palace?" Finally, Nicholas voiced his concern. "You are carrying a human baby and it will give you a lot of hassle and extra problems."
"My child is not a problem," said Sophie, immediately turned sour because Nicholas seemed to imply that her youngest baby would give her problems.
She was a human herself and she understood that life would be harder for them but she didn't want to see any of her children as burdens.
"I didn't mean it that way," said Nicholas. "I just want you to think more pragmatically this time. Haven't you always been a pragmatic woman? You cared more about survival than your pride. Why changed now?"
Sophie knew Nicholas was right. Gosh... the king really knew her inside and out, perhaps because they were so alike. In the past, Sophie didn't hesitate to sell herself to the stranger duke, Ariam Romanov as long as she could have protection and make sure her children have a good life.
She was just lucky that the man she married for convenience turned out to be Leland... She and her children had such a good life that she had never imagined possible before.
However, everything changed now. She no longer knew if their marriage was real as she thought it was. Leland's actions destroyed everything. A small voice in her heart still tried to convince her that something ominous happened and Leland was forced to do it to her.
She wanted to believe that Leland didn't really mean to insult her and abandoned her and their kids.
However, another voice started to fill her heart and it became louder and louder as each day passed without any news from Leland after he left. She had to start accepting reality. Truth hurts but she must learn to live with it.
So, no... even though she could be pragmatic and let go of her pride to get an easy life in the palace, she didn't want to. She was now no longer the same girl from eight years ago.
She was not as weak as she was back then. Not only she had a family, her children who were her rock and her reason to survive, but she also had some resources. She was not penniless. She could really support herself and her children.
"I don't want to rely on anyone right now, Nic," said Sophie sincerely. "I think I will be okay. I am just pregnant, not disabled. Please don't treat me as such. I can do things on my own, plus I have Luciel and Jan to help me, not to mention Max."
Nicholas became frustrated. He knew Sophie could be stubborn, but not like this.
"What should I do to make you change your mind?" he asked her pleadingly. "I have disappointed you in the past and it always haunted me with regret and guilt. This time, I thought I could finally make up for it by helping you when you are all alone. And I can also support Leland's children to pay back his deed when he helped you raise Luciel and Jan."
"So, you are doing this to make you feel better about your guilt?" Sophie asked Nicholas flatly.
She was unhappy to see Nicholas suddenly become pushy and wanted her to cancel her plans to leave. She had gotten rid of her awkwardness when they were together, and slowly trusted him to help her because he was so understanding and supportive. Why did he suddenly become patronizing like this?
Nicholas replied, "Yes, and no. I do feel guilty to you, but I am doing this not to make me feel better and ease my guilt. I care so much about you and the children and I can't bear to see them live in hardship, not when I am alive and can provide for them."
He added, "Please, think about the children, not your pride..."
Sophie took a deep breath. This. She didn't like it if Nicholas tried to make her change her mind by using her children as the reason. He was not wrong, but she didn't like it. It almost felt like she was bullied to stay.
"Awwooo!!"
"Rrrr...!"
Jack suddenly came to them and stood between his mother and the king. He looked up and bared his teeth to Nicholas who looked at him in surprise. Jack was less than a year old, right? But he was already looking big for his age, the opposite of Anne, and he was very expressive with his feelings.
Nicholas could immediately tell that the boy didn't like him. Why all of a sudden? He remembered he had no problems with any of Sophie's children. Of course, Luciel and Jan loved him because they were his sons, but Jack and Anne were nice to him too before today.
What made Jack change? Nicholas was wondering.
"Aaarrgghh!!" Jack made his displeasure with this stranger uncle known and Nicholas immediately understood what he meant. He was a lycan too and could understand the pup well.
Nicholas looked at Sophie apologetically. "Jack hates me now."
"Hates you? Why?" Sophie asked. She crouched down and rubbed her son's head. "Jack, what's wrong?"
The pup immediately rested his head and front paws on his mother's arm. Then, he looked up and gave Nicholas a threatening gaze.
Nicholas sighed. He could see this boy was Leland's son through and through. Their wolf forms looked very alike if Leland was pictured in a chubby and smaller version. Nicholas thought once Jack transformed into a human when the time came, he would look very similar to his father.
Look, their personalities were already similar too. Both were quick to anger and were very possessive of Sophie. Nicholas could never forget how Leland intentionally had sex with Sophie all night long when Sophie first came to stay in the palace because Leland wanted to go to Armeria.
He did it intentionally to show his possessiveness over the woman they both loved. Nicholas looked at Little Jack with a heavy feeling.
Jack was angry at him because Nicholas wanted to woo his mother. The boy didn't want to see another man get close romantically to Sophie. Only his father alone had the right to be with his mother.
But your father left, Kiddo. He abandoned your mother and you two.
Maybe it was hard to believe it now, but if he didn't mean it, he would have returned by now. He would have said something.
He would be here to protect you all. But he didn't.
Nicholas held back from saying all those words to the little boy who was confused and angry. He patted Jack's fur and then turned to Sophie. "Jack doesn't want me to get close to you. He is very possessive of you."
Sophie looked down and furrowed her brows at her son. "Jack, this is Uncle Nic. He is Luciel's and Jan's father. He is not a stranger. Please don't be rude to him."
Jack shook his head curtly and went back to nuzzling his nose on Sophie's arm. Seeing the boy looking adorable but angry at the same time melted Sophie's heart. She couldn't possibly scold Jack for expressing his mind.
Sophie turned to Nicholas and spoke firmly. "I know you mean well, but Nic, please give me space to be with myself and do what I see fit. I don't want to owe anything to anyone. I promise if things get too rough, I won't be too prideful to ask for your help."
She looked at him sincerely and Nicholas felt like crying. Why did she have to be so stubborn now? It must be his fault and Leland's. They both had disappointed her and hurt her so bad that she no longer wanted to trust men.
He almost got down on his knees and begged her to listen to him and stay. He would do anything to make her stay and be safe by his side. If she was worried about other people talking bad about her, he would silence them and punish anyone who dared to hurt her with their words.
If she was feeling uncomfortable with the thought that he wanted to get back together with her by staying close by her side in the palace, he would move out of the royal palace.
He would find a place for himself outside and rule from there. Sophie could stay in the palace with his mother, leading an easy life with maids and staff, and protected by the knights and soldiers of Riga.
Finally, Nicholas could only relent. He sighed and nodded. "Promise me that you will come to me whenever you need help. Promise me that you will not pretend to be strong when things get tough..."
Sophie nodded. "I promise."
Jack growled and gave Nicholas a scolding gaze.
Nicholas took a deep breath and said, "Very well. You can leave the palace."