Chapter 166

Kieran's POV:

I swallowed hard, my eyes burning.

“We weren’t there when it mattered most,” he continued. “And I don’t know if we can fix that, but we will try. We need you to know... you are not alone."

"Thank you, Dad... Mom." I glanced at them and forced a smile. So did they, with teary eyes.

My mother kissed my temple gently. “You are our son. We just want you to be okay. We will figure the rest out together.”

I nodded and did not say anything in response. Perhaps it was for good. Now they will try to understand me and not force me into doing things that I don't want to do.

They both stayed for a while, speaking softly, asking how I felt, telling me the kingdom didn’t matter right now but only I did. But I didn’t say much in return. I let them say what they needed to say. For the first time, they didn’t talk to me like a prince. They talked to me like a son. And that… that made the ache worse. My mother stroked my hand, her thumb brushing gently over my knuckles while my fa