Chapter: A King's Command, A Son's Condition
The room felt smaller than before.
Not because of walls—but because of the weight of a king's will pressing down on everyone inside.
King Orean Evercrest stood near the window, hands clasped behind his back, crimson hair catching the fading light. His presence alone bent the air. Across from him stood Leslie Heartlock, pale but unbowed, Daniel at her side. Aurelia stood a few steps behind, fists clenched, eyes wet.
Orean has been silently thinking about everything and will happen in the future after this turn of events...
And then ....
Orean: "I will not leave him here."
The words were calm.
Final.
Leslie's breath trembled.
Leslie: "This is his home our home "
Orean turned slowly.
Orean: "This is a baron's estate."
He looked at Daniel.
Orean: "You are my blood."
Aurelia stepped forward before Leslie could speak.
Aurelia: "Your Majesty… he is happy here."
Orean's gaze hardened.
Orean: "Happiness does not come before duty."
Aurelia's voice broke.
Aurelia: "Then what is the worth of a crown that crushes happiness?"
The room froze.
Baron Dean inhaled sharply.
Octavia's hand flew to her mouth.
No one spoke to the King like that.
She held Aurelia and for the first time in her life she yelled at her
Octavia: you don't talk to his majesty like this ..Say you are sorry Apologise to the King
I'm sorry your majesty she is too young and Stupid to understand pleasee forgive her
Orean : Nodes his head with No offence taken
Orean: "Child… you speak boldly because you are loved."
Aurelia swallowed.
Aurelia: "And you speak cruelly because you have forgotten what love costs."
Silence roared.
Leslie stepped forward cause the situation is going out of her hands ..She doesn't want a Kid doing what she supposed to in this situation...
Leslie: Thankyou Aurelia for Raise your voice inplace of mine ..that gave me the courage .. (Leslie starts to move placing herself subtly between Daniel and the King).
Leslie: "You already have three wives."
Orean stiffened.
Leslie: "Seven children."
Her voice trembled now—but she did not stop.
Leslie: "What will one more—one bastard—bring to your palace except hatred?"
Daniel flinched.
Leslie closed her eyes.
Leslie: "I raised him alone so he would not be torn apart."
She looked straight at Orean.
Leslie: "In your palace, I would be called a whore."
Octavia stiffened.
Leslie: "Your wives will despise me."
Leslie: "Your children will hate him."
Leslie: "Every noble will smile while sharpening their knives against both of us"
Her voice cracked.
Leslie: "I have seen this before."
Orean frowned.
Leslie turned toward Octavia.
Leslie: "My lady… forgive me."
Octavia said nothing.
Leslie: "When my lady believed my lord would take a second wife… My lady hated the woman My lady never even met."
Octavia's face went white.
Leslie: "My Lady is kind. Gentle. Loving."
Leslie: "And even My lady called her a whore." That moment I reminded myself it was right decision to hide our one night together and Daniel's true father existence
Octavia trembled.
Leslie turned back to Orean.
Leslie: "If this is how good people think… what do you believe awaits us in the palace?"
The words cut deeper than any blade.
Orean exhaled slowly.
Orean: "I will protect you."
Leslie shook her head.
Leslie: "You cannot protect us from resentment."
Daniel finally spoke.
Daniel: "Enough."
Every eye snapped to him.
Daniel stepped forward, calm, controlled.
Daniel: "Sensei."
Sensei (inside his mind): "Emotional convergence detected. Recommend assertion of agency."
Daniel nodded slightly.
Daniel: "Your Majesty."
He bowed—not deeply.
Not submissively.
Daniel: "You are not wrong."
Orean raised an eyebrow.
Daniel: "I cannot remain a maid's son forever."
Leslie turned sharply.
Leslie: "Daniel—"
Daniel took her hand.
Daniel: "Mother. Let me finish."
He looked at Orean.
Daniel: "But you are also wrong if you think dragging us into your palace will protect us."
Orean: "Then what do you propose?"
Daniel inhaled.
Daniel: "We will go to the capital."
Leslie's heart dropped.
Aurelia started breathing heavily..She is seeing her world collapsing right in front of her and she couldn't do anything about it..She wanted to shout at Daniel to shut up you have no rights to leave her behind ..but she couldn't do it
Daniel continued.
Daniel: "But not to the palace."
Murmurs erupted.
Daniel: "Give us a residence."
Daniel: "it doesn't matter Big or Small."
Daniel: "Close enough that you can see us."
Daniel: "Far enough that we can breathe."
Orean studied him.
Daniel: "My mother will live as a woman of dignity."
Daniel: "Respected."
Daniel: "Not hidden."
Daniel: "Not shared."
Leslie stared at him, tears flowing freely.
Daniel: "I do not care if the world knows I am your son and hate me as a king's bastard "
Leslie Eyes widened
Daniel: "But if you want me acknowledged…"
He met Orean's eyes, unwavering.
Daniel: "Then marry her."
The room exploded into gasps.
Octavia sat down heavily.
Dean whispered a prayer.
Aurelia's heart thundered.
Orean went completely still.
Orean: "…You ask much."
Daniel: "No."
Daniel: "I ask the bare minimum."
Silence stretched.
Then—
Orean laughed.
Not mockingly.
Not angrily.
But softly.
Orean: "You bargain like a king."
He stepped forward.
Orean: "Very well."
Leslie froze.
Orean: "Leslie Heartlock."
He knelt.
A King.
Kneeling again.
Orean: "I will marry you."
Leslie collapsed to her knees.
Leslie: "No—please—"
Orean: "Not as a concubine."
Orean: "Not as a hidden woman."
Orean: "But as my wife." I will marry you today here in The BARON's residency and take you to Capital not as a Heartlock but As a Evercrest
Leslie burst into tears.
Octavia covered her face, sobbing quietly.
Dean bowed deeply.
Orean rose.
Orean: "Daniel Evercrest."
Daniel met his gaze.
Orean: "You will live as you choose."
Orean: "But never forget—"
Orean's voice softened.
Orean: "You are not alone anymore."
Daniel bowed—this time deeply.
Daniel: "Then I accept."
Outside, the wind shifted.
Fate adjusted its course.
Because a prince had chosen Mother's love over Father's Power.
And that terrified the world more than any throne ever could.