INICIAR SESIÓNMARK “There is one thing I would like to know, Father.” he nodded. “I would like to know about mother, where she was from and the kind of person she was.” I never got to meet her and father or anyone in the palace ever spoke of her. it was like she never existed. Father told me everything about her.“She was truly a lovely person, and you would have loved her.” he said I had her nose and mouth. “Do you have a portrait of her.” father nodded. “Yes, come to my study sometime and I will give it to you.” I thanked him and left. I couldn’t describe what I was feeling. Disappointed? No. anger, not that either. I would say I was more curious about the borderlands than the hidden truth. I wanted to know the kind of place she grew up in. By the time I got to my manor, my messenger had already gone to my brother’s place. I wanted to rebuild our relationship, and I hoped he would take the hand I had extended. I couldn’t sleep that night. Just thinking about everything. My life, how I fought f
MARK Father took my hands in his and looked me in the eyes. I had never seen that man like that before. To me, he has always been the strong and untouchable one. But the man in front of me looked broken. Like he was holding the weight of the world on his shoulders. In a way he was, he was the king and had to care for everyone. It couldn’t have been easy. Maybe what my brother said wasn’t bad at all. At least it would lighten father’s burden. “Mark, let us go inside and talk.” We walked in and father dismissed everyone. He kept looking at me and sighing as if he didn’t know how to start or say what he wanted to say. “Mark, before I tell you this. I want you to know that I never for once thought of you as anything other than my son.”His words confused me. “I know I was not a perfect father, and I know you might resent me for my previous actions. Maybe you looked at what I had done and thought I only loved Julian or your third brother. But the truth is, I didn’t know how to be a fathe
KING I couldn’t sit still after the princes left. It was clear from the way he spoke that Julian knew something about Mark’s birth. I didn’t know how or when but he knew. The way he spoke was preparing him for a different path than what he had envisioned for himself. But Mark was not stupid either. That was why he acted in front of his brother.I called Julian back because I wanted to know exactly what he knew. “Father, I hold no knowledge of what you speak of, please speak clearly.” He was being polite. Who was he fooling? They were grown and thought I had now grown stupid. They were the ones who had brains. I glared at him. “Julian.”His name came out colder than intended. But nothing could be done. I had already said it, and it came out cold. Julian responded in kind. All the smile he wore when he came in vanished. “Father. I do not read minds, and I wouldn’t dare attempt to know what is in the king’s mind. Please enlighten me so I can give you a proper answer.”I thought I was rai
JULIAN I couldn’t stop thinking about my conversation with Mark. He looked and sounded like a different person. But I knew, a leopard never changes it’s pots. Mark was happy now but what would happen when the truth came out. I saw that small reaction in father when Mark spoke about the ministers and how they told him he was not his son. Mark might have missed it but I didn’t. How he reacted confirmed my suspicion. Mark was not our brother. He was not of Royal blood. But he was raised as one. “Your Highness, we have arrived.” I got out of the carriage and hurried inside. I needed to talk to my wife. She saw me as I walked in as she stood and led the way to our bedroom. “What happened?” she asked, worry covered her face. “Mark is not my brother.” Her eyes widened as she covered her mouth with her hands. “No time to waste, you are taking Adam to the safe house. Tonight.” She snapped out of it and quickly nodded. “What else do we need to worry about?” I was so nervous I ended up invit
MARK Julian had beautiful visons for the kingdom and they were all good. But I couldn’t help but feel like he was testing me when he asked all of that. As if he wanted to see what I would choose between being a Crown Prince and being a Duke. The Minister of Revenue’s words echoed in my head uninvited. “You are not the king’s son.”If that were true, it would make sense why Julian wanted me to be the duke. I felt a pang in my chest I didn’t know where it came from. I didn’t want to show it as I continued the conversation as if nothing happened. I kept glancing at father, but he showed no emotion. He was busy with memorials as Julian, and I chatted in the study.Father didn’t even react when I mentioned not being his son. I watched him closely, but nothing changed. That confirmed that those ministers had lied to me. but then Julian. He spoke as if he knew something father and I didn’t. “Brother, if father wants us to be this kingdom’s guardians, then that is what I will do.” I glanced
KING “Father, I am back,” he handed me a gift. With a smile on his face, he said. “Father, the kingdom now no orphans living on the streets. I plan on opening a house for the homeless now. what do you think of that idea, father.” I had not noticed before, but when he smiled. He looked exactly like his mother.I still regretted bring her into the palace. Mather targeted her often. I protected her but I couldn’t be there with her all the time. When I brought her in, I wanted to get mother out of my way but I got her hurt instead. “Father, is something wrong? Are you not happy with the gift?” the smile on his face had vanished.“That is not the case son, I am just wondering what your mother would have said if she saw you now.” his smiled returned. “I am sure mother would have been proud. I had disappointed the both of you for so many years. It is good to hear that father had not given up on me.” I stood and went to pat his shoulder.“A parent could never give up on their child. Our chil
HELENAHe was back, panic flared. Should I run? stupid thought. Where would I go? How far could I get with a broken body and no strength? Begging? Maybe that would work. He was alone now. That had to mean something. He had lied for me. Maybe, just maybe he meant to help. I looked up at him, searchi
HELENAPain surged through my body as I tried to sit up and get myself off the ground. The pain was sharp and sudden. Chasing away the last traces of weakness I had. Along with it, the hope of survival. In my condition, it didn’t matter what I did. I couldn’t fight my way through what was coming. I
HELENA I thought I could go on after that. But I didn’t even take five steps before my body refused to cooperate. I looked back, I was already far from the palace, it wouldn’t hurt to rest. I spotted bushes not far from the road. I slowly walked there, dragging my throbbing foot. When I got to the
HELENA “Fire, everyone out! there is a fire.” Smoke choked me before I was fully awake. I coughed rushing out of the servants’ quarters. When I got outside it was chaos, maids and guards running around like headless chickens with buckets of water trying to put out the fire. I stood there in daze w







