Chapter 473 Sophie Moves Back
Seeing Sophie looking so upset, Nicholas decided to change the subject.
"Until we can find out more about who they are and why they did what they did, can I please beg you to stay close to me? It pains me to think that you and the children could be targeted by the enemy, whoever they are, and I am not there to protect you all," he said with a pleading tone.
Nicholas looked at Sophie with concern filling his eyes. Sophie could see how the man was worried sick about her and her children.
This revelation was shocking to her too and now she was equally worried about her family's safety. Who knows what the fake Catherine had done while she was around them?
Was it maybe... the reason why Anne was sickly? That was possible, right?
The memory of Dinah who poisoned her while being her maid and caused Sophie and Leland to lose their first children came back to her and haunted Sophie with so much pain. They still couldn't find evidence that Dinah did it because Isolde ordered it. Even though it happened many years ago, the pain was still felt deep in her heart.
What if the fake Catherine did something to her precious children and they only had not seen the impact?
Sophie didn't know what actually happened, but her instinct as a mother told her that Anne's sickly body might have something to do with the fake Catherine.
Without a second thought, she nodded. "I will stay close to you. For the safety of my children."
Nicholas was surprised to hear her response. He was not dreaming, wasn't he?
Did she just say yes to his offer for them to stay in the palace?
"You will?" He asked her in disbelief.
Sophie nodded again. She didn't look happy with her decision, but she knew she had no choice. No matter how much she hated people gossiping about her and how much she wanted to be independent and not rely on Nicholas, she had to be realistic. Her children's safety was paramount.
She would bear the gossip. She would fight tooth and nail for her children. What was her pride compared to her children's safety?
"Oh, Sophie..." Nicholas looked so relieved. He instantly hugged her tightly. The weight on his shoulders felt like it was lifted. When he realized he was hugging her, the young king stepped back and removed himself from her awkwardly. "I am sorry. I... I am too happy. I've been worried sick about you ever since I found out."
Sophie smiled faintly and nodded. She understood him. She touched his arm to calm him down. "It's okay. Don't be too uptight around me. I know our relationship is not conventional, but I am trying to find the best way to navigate this situation."
She was referring to their new arrangement where she would live in the royal palace as his... ex-wife? They were never divorced. His wife? No, people already knew her as the wife of Duke Ariam Romanov. It was truly a very complicated situation.
"Thank you for your graciousness, Sophie," Nicholas said. "I know it's not easy to be in your position and I really appreciate everything you have done. I will do everything within my power to make your experience in the royal palace a better one."
"Thank you, Nic." Sophie smiled. "I still would like to keep my tavern. Will that be okay with you? I will go there maybe three times a week to check on everything. However, the children will stay in the palace so they will be safe."
Sophie worked so hard to get her tavern. She didn't want to lose it just because she moved back to the palace.
"As long as you agree to get the king's guards' protection," said Nicholas. "I will assign them to go with you undercover. You can do whatever you like outside the palace, just let me protect you."
"That sounds good," said Sophie. She let out a relieved sigh. This was a good arrangement. "I might bring the little one with me when I go to my tavern sometimes."
Her human baby was different from her wolf pups. She needed Sophie most of the time. At least, until the baby turned into a toddler, she would always rely on Sophie.
Sophie added, "I will be careful. Max will be there too."
Nicholas knew he shouldn't push her and asked too much. Sophie was a bit stubborn when it came to her independence and her business. She might think protecting five children was hard, that's why she agreed to return to the palace. However, if she only need to bring her youngest, things would be easier for her and the knights who would be protecting her.
Nicholas couldn't say no. He nodded. "Very well."
"Great! I will ask my maids to prepare our stuff and move back to the palace," said Sophie.
She had been staying in the palace for six weeks now. So, they had basically moved back, but since they came here without the intention to stay, most of their stuff was still in the tavern. She would ask her maids to get all her stuff and the kids' stuff to the palace.
"You can keep staying in your apartment," said Nicholas. "I can also build a separate property for you and the children. I mean... if you're going to live in the palace permanently, you might want to have your own place, the one you design and decorate according to your own taste and preference."
At this point, Nicholas had dismissed the possibility of Leland ever returning. Since Sophie had agreed to move back to the palace, he would make sure she would feel happy there and stay there permanently.
Maybe...
Just maybe... she would finally open her heart for him again and gave him a second chance.
Sophie thought about Nicholas' offer to have her own place which she designed and decorated according to her taste.
She did that with her old homes with Leland. Leland let her do whatever she wanted at their castle in Hastings and then their manor outside of Lievstad, even the castle in Frisia was all decorated by her. She did the same thing with her tavern.
However, she knew her place and never even suggested getting anything done on her apartment in the royal palace. Here she was just a guest and she appreciated everything provided for her without any complaint. She thought about the offer seriously and bit her lip. It was such a kind gesture.
IF she would really live here permanently... if Leland truly didn't return for her and the children... it would be nice if she could settle in the palace in the home she created for herself.
"I would like that," said Sophie. "Thank you."
At that moment, Nicholas felt like celebrating. Who knew that the fake Catherine situation would lead to Sophie returning to the palace? Maybe this was fate.
However, there was also another thing. Karenina.
From Noel, Nicholas found out that Viscount Verhoeven had apparently died last year. This made him feel surprised and concerned. Karenina never mentioned her father's death. Wasn't it a big thing not to tell the man you were once engaged to? Karenina's strange behavior made Nicholas feel that something was wrong, though he didn't know what it was.
So, he immediately asked Noel to investigate further but they couldn't find Karenina's traces anywhere. This made Nicholas on his toes. He didn't know why but he wanted to tell Sophie to also avoid Karenina as much as possible should the woman come to her.
"I think all is set now," said Nicholas, looking happy and relieved. "I will talk to the butler to get the designer to talk to you and help you design your apartment with the children."
"Thank you," Sophie said.
She was sad to move back to the palace, but she tried to see the bright side of it. Her children would be safe, and she could also rent out the rooms upstairs in her tavern.
There were two big rooms that she and her children used. Since they no longer stayed there, she could turn the tavern into an inn as well and rent out the two rooms. They had the third one that could also be rented out. It was initially a lounge for the family to spend time together. Now, it could be redesigned into a bedroom.
That way, she could make more money and her business would attract more guests.
Sophie was already busy with her new plans in her mind that she didn't notice Nicholas was staring at her with eyes filled with love.
At that moment, Nicholas was reminded of the time when he and Sophie were sitting down under the tree in his uncle's castle in Hastings and she passionately told him about her plans to open her own business.
He was glad that she could keep her tavern and stay with him at the same time. He didn't want to shoot down her dreams and passion.
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From Missrealitybites:
Gosh, I am sorry for the lack of updates in November. I was working every day in conferences and after each day, I was mentally exhausted and just wanted to sleep. I will try my best to publish daily again for this book. Wish me luck! If I failed, please know I have tried my best.
PS: I don't have time to write "The Dragon Prince's Replacement Bride" but I really want to get it out there, so I hire a group of artists to make the comic. You can read it on W e b t o o n. Just open this link on your browser:
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The comic will be published weekly and it's FREE. Please show your support by reading it on W e b t o on, commenting, and rating 10 stars. It will make me so happy. THANK YOU!
PPS: The reason why the female lead is named "Ines" is that I just read the love story between Ines De Castro and King Peter of Portugal. Please look it up. It's so heartbreaking, yet beautiful.
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