Claimed By The Tyrant King

Julian’s eyes widened in disbelief before they lit up with excitement. "Cedric?" he called loudly.

The sudden voice pulled everyone’s attention towards the doorway, including the physician, as they had all been focused on Cedric. Before anyone could stop him, Julian rushed across the room as fast as his little legs could carry him and threw his arms around Cedric.

"I’ve missed you," he said, his voice muffled against Cedric’s chest.

"Julian," Rebecca called at once when she saw how enthusiastically her son had flung himself into Cedric’s arms.

Cedric let out a light cough from the unexpected impact because his body was still weak, yet as he recognized the little boy clinging to him, the discomfort quickly gave way to a faint smile.

"Little friend," he murmured softly as one hand slowly rose to stroke Julian’s hair with surprising gentleness.

Julian beamed from ear to ear, and the happiness on his face made it impossible for anyone in the room to interrupt the moment.

Rebecca, however, couldn’t stop herself from worrying. Cedric had only just awakened after months of unconsciousness, and the last thing she wanted was for Julian’s excitement to accidentally strain his healing body. Even so, when she saw the warmth in Cedric’s eyes and the way he gently returned the embrace despite his weakness, she found herself smiling in relief instead of pulling Julian away immediately.

After a few quiet moments, Cedric slowly lifted his gaze until it settled on Rowan.

"Your Majesty..." he began hoarsely before pausing to gather enough strength for his next words. "The... rebels..."

Even now, after everything he had endured, his first concern was still the kingdom.

Rowan looked at him steadily before giving a small shake of his head.

"They’re no longer something you need to concern yourself with, Cedric," he answered calmly. "Everything is under control, so your only duty now is to recover."

Hearing those words, Cedric visibly relaxed. He didn’t ask another question because he trusted Rowan completely, and if the king said the situation was under control, then that was enough for him.

For a while, no one hurried to leave the room. They simply remained there, quietly watching the Lord Commander as though reassuring themselves that he was truly awake. After so many months of uncertainty, seeing him speaking lightly and responding again almost felt unreal.

The physician turned to Rebecca without thinking because, over the past months, she had become the one most familiar with Cedric’s treatment. "Continue changing his dressing twice a day, and make sure he takes this after every meal," he instructed as he handed the medicine to her.

Rebecca accepted the medicine with both hands. "I understand."

Satisfied that Cedric’s condition was stable, the physician finally gathered his belongings before offering a respectful bow.

"If there are any changes, send for me immediately."

"We will," Rebecca replied.

The physician nodded once more before quietly taking his leave.

As the room gradually emptied, Rowan stepped closer to Cedric and rested a gentle hand against his shoulder. The gesture was brief, yet it carried more meaning than words could have expressed. "Focus on getting better now, Cedric," he said quietly. "The kingdom can wait."

Cedric nodded without hesitation. "Yes... Your Majesty."

Rosalind stepped forward as well, offering him a warm smile. "We’re all relieved to have you back," she said sincerely. "Now do exactly what the physician told you and recover properly."

Cedric inclined his head in silent acknowledgment, grateful for her concern.

Not long afterward, Rowan and Rosalind quietly left the chamber together, giving Cedric the peace he needed to rest.

Rebecca remained where she stood, silently watching Cedric and Julian. The little boy still held tightly onto Cedric’s hand as though he feared letting go might cause him to fall asleep for another several months, while Cedric looked back at him with unmistakable affection shining in his tired eyes.

Rebecca couldn’t bring herself to interrupt them immediately. She simply stood there, taking in the sight before finally speaking with a gentle smile.

"Julian, come now. Lord Cedric needs to rest."

"Oh... right," Julian replied, his excitement fading into reluctant understanding.

Although he clearly didn’t want to let go, he slowly released Cedric’s hand before taking a small step back.

Cedric’s gaze then shifted towards Rebecca, and this time his vision had cleared enough for him to finally see her face properly.

"You should get some rest too, Lord Cedric," Rebecca said softly.

Cedric gave a quiet nod.

Without another word, Rebecca carefully supported him, helping him ease himself against the pillows. She adjusted the blankets over him before making sure he was comfortable. "Do you need anything else?" she asked gently.

Cedric looked at her for a brief moment before giving a small shake of his head. "No..."

Rebecca nodded quietly, almost awkwardly, because after waiting so long for this moment, she suddenly found herself unsure of what to say.

****

The next day passed, and then another followed, and things around the palace gradually became brighter simply because the Lord Commander was finally awake.

It wasn’t as though everything had been bleak before, but his absence had been deeply felt by the knights and everyone who worked alongside him.

News of his recovery spread quickly, and although many people came hoping to see him, they were politely turned away because Cedric was still weak and needed as much rest as possible.

Over the following days, Cedric began to notice that Rebecca was always the one who came to attend to him personally.

Whenever he opened his eyes, she was there, changing his bandages, preparing his medicine, replacing the damp cloth on his forehead, or making sure he had everything he needed.

She rarely spoke unless it was necessary, and she simply went about her duties with quiet care as though it had become part of her daily routine. As she wrung out the cloth in the basin that morning, Cedric’s gaze slowly found her again and lingered on her face for a moment longer than usual.

Rebecca noticed almost immediately, and her fingers suddenly felt unsteady as she squeezed the excess water from the cloth.

She avoided meeting his eyes altogether, her heart thumping strangely against her chest, and she couldn’t understand why she had suddenly become so self-conscious under his gaze when she had spent months caring for him without giving it a second thought.

Cedric’s vision had cleared enough now for him to see her properly, and although many of his memories still felt scattered, he remembered enough to know that she had been there long before he opened his eyes.

"Have you... been taking care of me this whole time?" he asked quietly.

Rebecca’s eyes lifted to him for only a brief moment before she gently laid the cool cloth across his forehead. "It wasn’t just me," she replied almost awkwardly. "Their Majesties came often, and Julian visited you every day."

"Oh..." Cedric thought to himself.

A quiet silence settled between them, and Cedric found himself looking at the ceiling for a moment.

Somehow, hearing those words made him feel guilty because he had unknowingly worried everyone around him and had become a burden they all carried while he lay unconscious.

Yet, despite that thought, Rebecca had never once looked at him as though caring for him was an obligation. Since waking up three days earlier, she had always been there before he needed anything, arriving on time with his medicine, changing his bandages with gentle hands, and making sure he was as comfortable as possible without ever complaining.

"Thank you," he finally muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Rebecca paused as her eyes slowly settled on his again.

It was as though she hadn’t expected him to thank her at all, and she was unable to find the right words.

In the end, all she could manage was a small, genuine smile before she quietly continued tending to him, although the warmth that settled in her chest lingered long after his words had faded.

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