Flashback continued…The burdens of bearing the King a child weighed heavily on Alicia, who became exhausted.Then he stopped coming one day. Alicia's grief rose rather than her joy at the realization that she had been abandoned by him.Alicia sat on the garden one day, persuaded by the maids, and gazed out at the blooming flowers and deep-green trees; birds and butterflies happily played with the plants.From behind her, she heard a playful song.She prefers chubby rabbits, but rabbit meat is the best thing in the world.Yum, yum, so tasty!Alicia jumped out of her seat and spun around.Dimitri was her cousin. He performed the song for her.She remembered him tease her as a child when she went to Coulson. Alicia's capable cousins caught a small, white rabbit while exploring the forest with her cousins, unaware that they were on a rabbit hunt.The novelty and cuteness of the rabbit awed little Alicia. It was the first time she'd seen it. When she followed her cousins to the water's ed
(Flashback continued)"If you don't mind, I'd like to spend some time alone with my wife." Please excuse me."Alicia looked at Ivan, surprised, at his sudden remark. She'd only just met her cousin for the first time in ages, and she didn't want her and Dimitri to split up so quickly. She hadn't spoken to any of her Coulson relatives since her mother died.It wasn't until she was an adult that she discovered her father deliberately interrupting their conversations in the middle, fearful that Alicia would escape his grasp and the power of her foreign family.She couldn't, however, afford to turn down Ivan.Alicia bowed her head in surrender.Dimitri noticed her agitation right away, but there was nothing he could do to stop Ehrlich's king. He didn't have the authority to oppose him, at least not right now."Alice is a lovely young lady. Please look after her. She's priceless."Ivan laughed."I appreciate your advice, but my wife is no longer a child. It's past time you stopped referri
Present day…***********"I'm sorry, Miss. Let's get out of here as soon as possible."Latty quickly consoled Alicia after noticing her face darken."I'll prepare and pack the clothes and other necessities. You don't have to worry about the rest.""Thank you very much, Latty.""You are most welcome, Miss. If we need to leave in two days, I can start packing right now if you want.""First and foremost, we need a ship. Please find one for us, Latty. Thank you very much. You do not need to book an entire ship for us. It would be preferable if there were other people present. That would be enough.""Indeed, Miss. Don't worry, you can count on me."Latty smiled and rested her hand on her chest."Could you please request that James come inside on his way out?""As you please, Miss."Latty exited the room in search of the old butler, James. The butler knocked on the door a short time later, indicating his timely arrival. Alicia motioned to the chair next to him as he entered."Have you been
After finishing, James looked at Alicia, who would be leaving for Coulson in two days. It was not easy to leave Ehrlich and settle in another country. After all, no matter how close she was to her relatives, she was still a child.James was concerned about her, but after today, she seemed different, and he thought she'd be fine in Coulson.He had faith in her."Do you think you'll return to Ehrlich, Lady Alicia?""Perhaps, yes. "I'm not sure."“I see…”James sighed slightly. He'd been watching her since she was a baby. It pained him to know that the child he had known for so long would be leaving so soon."I had hoped all along that you'd marry a good man and have a child with him, but I just can't bring myself to do it."Alicia let out a short laugh in response to James's regretful words."I have no plans to marry. What about a child? I'm not interested.""What exactly do you mean?""You think I'm young and don't know much, but that's not the case. I don't want to get married or have
(Flashback continued…)Alicia spun around and dashed down the hall. So they'd been meeting in private for sexual encounters. Without a doubt. She should have known better. He had not sought her body in a long time because he had found another to satisfy his crazed desires.“Ah…”Her mind was wrought with pain, headaches, and dizziness as she walked downstairs. Her body jerked forward slightly, her strength drained away from her. Maybe it was stress, maybe it was shock, but she didn't want to lose consciousness at this point, but she did, and everything went black.The life in her belly had vanished by the time she regained conciousness. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She caressed her stomach in sorrow. She was unable to cry. She should have, but there wasn't an ounce of it.The maids, who were crying, tried to console her by telling her she could have another child.But Alicia was certain it would never happen. She had lost the new life in her stomach due to carelessness.
Alicia and Latty exited the carriage and strolled to the VIP check-in line. Alicia looked at Latty and nodded briefly."Yes, Miss," Latty replied.Latty shuffled the tickets from her trouser pocket and handed them to the sailor, whose eyes widened in surprise as he examined the ticket."Please excuse me...M’lady…” The sailor dashed outside and summoned the captain of the ship.The captain arrived soon after."It's a pleasure to meet you, M'lady." The Count was supposed to be here to see you off. I was hoping to meet his illustrious presence as well."The captain bowed gracefully and extended his hand. Alicia smiled, picked up her dress, placed her hand on his palm, and followed him into the ship."I'm surprised someone of your high status would take a ferry instead," the captain commented."I wanted to leave the country without knowing eyes," Alicia stated flatly."Ah, I see," the captain coughed, surprised. We're delighted to have you."His mind was racing with questions, unable to
Alicia internally refuted Anna's words at the time, but she did not speak her thoughts aloud and instead drank the tea quietly. Anna, on the other hand, laughed lightly, reading the lines in Alicia's face."You don't believe me, Alicia. Look, I put on my battle armor shortly after the birth of my child and dashed across the battlefield to reclaim the crown that was rightfully mine. What about your mother? Wasn't it true that your mother, who was usually so gentle, did everything she could to keep her beloved man by her side? Remember what I said. Ivan is exactly the same. He's not going to give up on you so easily."But the Queen was mistaken. She was wise and wiser than her years, but she knew nothing about her son.Her words only raised Alicia's hopes for a happily ever after.He was a cruel man, Ivan Corty. He abandoned her, using her as a scapegoat to remove her power, and stripped her of her status until she had nothing.As a result, while the sailor believed in Ataraxia, the yo
The sailors' grim and ghastly expressions immediately brightened when they heard coins jingling inside the bulky bag. One sailor grabbed the bag from the man right away."Aye, I agree, friend. We can settle this like men," one of the sailors said. "You've got to learn to discipline that boy, my friend, or he'll die young.""Ha-ha, yes..." the man laughed nervously.The sailor looked over his shoulder at his comrades.We're not mad, are we?" he questioned."Of course not. I was just out here wondering if the little boy had gone insane," one sailor said. "Everything is fine. We're doing well here."The others agreed, nodding vigorously. Someone suggested they go to the bar for a drink, which they did; later, they were discovered drunk as a fiddler.Only the man and the boy remained in the dock.The man wiped the cold sweat from his brow and turned to face the boy gazing out at the blue sea. "Your Majesty, what is going on? I'm as confused as a bee without nectar! Please, Your Majesty