Chapter 47: The Castel

Eldric

I sat in the castle office, watching the flames dance in the fireplace. My mind was restless, filled with worries and decisions to be made. By my side, Connor, my most trusted advisor, waited patiently.

"You won't ask me where I've been?" I looked seriously at Connor, who pretended not to care what I was doing.

"It's not a good time for Your Majesty to disappear like this, but who am I to question anything?" I smiled slightly.

"I have something to tell you, and I need you to be more open-minded than I am." Connor came closer, and I noticed tension running through his body.

"What happened, Your Majesty? Is it something to do with the Queen?" Rumors that Rachel might have escaped from me had spread throughout the castle even before I left to find her.

"It has to do with her, yes, but the situation is different." I looked at him again. "You know the Evergreen family, don't you?" Connor snorted and started to laugh.

"The traitors—who doesn't know them?"

"Rachel is their daughter." Connor turned pale at that moment, and I had the impression that all the blood had left his body.

"I...I...and...how?" He had been responsible for choosing the candidates, and now he didn't know what to say.

"Our story didn't start here. I met Rachel over 8 years ago, as you must remember." He nodded, then shook his head.

"She's not the same woman."

"No, she's not. But I knew who she was even before I discovered her last name. I got involved with her the night before I arrived." I got up from the chair, remembering how that slender body had attracted me in a strange way. "I possessed her that night, Connor. I marked her as mine even before I knew who she was."

"Can we call off the wedding, sir? I can bring other suitors, I can..."

"Don't let your queen hear that, or you'll be a dead man..." I tried to laugh at the situation.

"You won't refuse her?" I looked directly at him. "Your family betrayed you. They tried to kill you."

"I have two children with her." Again, the man turned pale. "Two boys, and one of them is a worse version of me." I wanted to laugh at the conflicts Oryon had already brought into my life in such a short time.

"Children? And she's only coming to tell you now? Sir, I don't understand anything anymore."

"She couldn't say anything, her family was marked." I sat down and the man in front of me did the same.

"Sir, how is that possible?" Connor's whisper was all the proof I needed that the entire kingdom would react similarly to the revelation.

"There is a prophecy. Something that connects us to all of this and connects my son Oryon to our lineage and continuity. You must find it. Bring whoever it takes and tell us why this is happening. Why Mother Moon has made us this way, and confirm if Oryon is who I think he is.

"Do you think the boy is..."

"Yes, Connor, I believe he is the legitimate Alpha of our land." The man put his hands to his head, frightened. "Prepare a spacious room for Rachel's mother and the children. I don't want them to be alone right now." He agreed and stood up. "And I want the room to be in the same corridor as mine and Rachel's. I also want you to tell everyone that they are Rachel's nephews until things can be told properly." Again, the man agreed.

"One more thing, we know that Nathan will not stand still after he finds out about the marriage and the existence of the children. He will do anything to claim the throne he believes is rightfully his. And Sebastian, a traitor who has fled and is now plotting revenge... I cannot allow them to endanger my family."

"I understand your concern, Your Majesty. We must act with caution and speed. First, we'll strengthen the castle's security and redouble our efforts to track down Nathan and Sebastian's activities. As for Queen Rachel's children, they need additional protection."

"Yes," I agreed, thinking. "The boys are too young and innocent to understand the intrigues surrounding them. They are my blood and I have promised to protect them at all costs."

"Furthermore, we should seek allies among the other kingdoms, those who can support us if the situation worsens. We cannot face these threats alone."

I nodded in agreement. "You are right. I will send discreet envoys to explore possible alliances. We must prepare for the worst."

Our voices merged as we discussed strategies, assessed risks, and planned actions. The tension in the air was palpable, but so was the unwavering determination. The future of our family and our kingdom was at stake.

As the conversation progressed, I realized how much my life had changed. I was now a king, with responsibilities beyond what I could have imagined. But most of all, I was a husband and a father, determined to protect those I loved with all my strength.

Once the room was ready, I returned to the small room with Connor behind me.

I slowly opened the door and saw Rachel sitting on the floor with the two puppies on her legs. This sight gave me even more strength to destroy anyone who dared lay a hand on them.

"I think I'll stay like this until they wake up. The night has been long for them." I crouched down and stroked their heads.

"I can carry them, you know?" She blushed and smiled, making my heart pound in my chest.

I slowly picked up Syrius and cradled him to my chest. I motioned for Connor to take Oryon, who snarled in his deep sleep, making everyone laugh.

"Really, Your Majesty, this one is a perfect copy of you." I looked at my sleeping pup and saw my queen get up and help her mother do the same.

"I have prepared a room for the three of you. I don't think you'll want to be separated for a while."

"No, sir." Elysa didn't look at me, and I didn't blame her. I took away everything she loved most in life, and yet she cared for mine as if they were her own.

"Thank you." It was all I could say.