Claimed By The Tyrant King

The carriage slowly rolled to a stop before the royal palace, and Rosalind, who had been waiting patiently ever since word of their arrival reached her, could barely contain the excitement bubbling inside her.

The moment the horses settled and the coachman climbed down, she instinctively took a step forward as though she meant to run to them.

However, she caught herself almost immediately and placed a hand over the curve of her stomach, smiling to herself because she knew she could no longer throw caution to the wind.

She was heavily pregnant now, and as much as she wanted to rush into their arms, she had to think about the little life growing inside her.

The carriage door slowly opened, and King Adrian stepped down first before turning back to offer his hand to his wife.

Catarina accepted it with a warm smile, and he carefully helped her descend before Hannah emerged last, gracefully stepping onto the ground after them.

The air carried a peaceful freshness that none of them had felt in quite some time, and after everything that had happened across the kingdom, they could not help but breathe it in with quiet relief. Yet the peace around them was nothing compared to the joy that filled their hearts when they saw Rosalind waiting at the entrance of the palace with a radiant smile on her face.

Beside her stood Rowan, calm and composed as always, while several unfamiliar faces remained respectfully beside them.

The family approached with smiles lighting up their faces, and the moment they drew close enough, Rosalind wasted no time wrapping her arms around her mother. She hugged Catarina as carefully as she could, yet she still clung to her a little longer than she probably should have, simply because she had missed her.

"Gently," Catarina reminded softly as they finally pulled apart, and although her tone carried amusement, it was also filled with motherly concern.

Rosalind laughed quietly before Catarina took a proper look at her daughter, her eyes immediately falling to the roundness of her stomach. Her expression softened with unmistakable affection.

"Look at you," she murmured warmly. "Your belly has grown so much and looks so beautiful... I truly cannot wait to meet my grandchild."

Rosalind glanced down at herself before resting a hand over her stomach with a smile. She was already well into her seventh month, and with only two months left, the anticipation surrounding the child’s birth continued to grow with each passing day.

"I’m so happy you all came," Rosalind said sincerely as she looked from one familiar face to another. "All of you."

One after another, they embraced her gently, mindful of her condition. Adrian hugged her with the quiet warmth only a father could give before stepping aside for Hannah, who immediately threw her arms around Rosalind with a grin that was impossible to hide.

"I’ve missed you," Hannah whispered.

"I’ve missed you too," Rosalind replied with a laugh before they reluctantly separated.

Then, as her eyes swept over the small group once more, her brows knit together slightly.

"Um... where’s Marek?" she asked, looking toward her mother.

Catarina spoke knowingly. "He stayed behind at the palace. Someone had to remain there and oversee everything, so he insisted on staying."

Rosalind’s expression fell ever so slightly, although she nodded in understanding.

Before the silence could linger, Hannah quickly added, "Believe me, he wasn’t happy about it. He complained the entire morning because he wanted to come and see his little sister too."

That immediately drew another smile from Rosalind, who could picture her brother grumbling about the responsibility that had kept him behind.

Adrian then said, "But he made sure you wouldn’t think he’d forgotten you."

Rosalind looked at him curiously.

"He sent gifts for you."

The moment those words left his mouth, her eyes brightened, and she instinctively looked past them toward the carriage. Just then, several servants began unloading neatly wrapped boxes and carefully packed chests from inside, each one being carried down with obvious care.

A delighted laugh escaped Rosalind before she could stop herself. "Oh, he certainly knows how to make me happy."

The entire family laughed together, and even Rowan’s lips curved into a faint smile as he watched the exchange. It was obvious how much Rosalind adored her family, and seeing the happiness written so openly across her face made the long journey worthwhile.

Only then did Catarina’s gaze settle fully on Rowan, who had remained quietly at Rosalind’s side all this while, allowing the family their reunion without interrupting.

"It’s the man of the hour," Catarina said with a gentle smile.

Rowan inclined his head respectfully as they exchanged greetings, and Adrian stepped closer before placing a firm yet warm hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you for looking after my daughter," the older man said sincerely, his gratitude evident in both his voice and his eyes.

Rowan met his gaze before answering without hesitation. "She is my responsibility, and more importantly, she is my wife. Looking after her is only natural."

Adrian held his gaze for a brief moment before nodding with quiet approval. There was no need for grand speeches because everything he needed to know about the man standing before him could already be seen in the way Rowan looked at Rosalind. It was a look filled with unwavering devotion, and as a father, there was little else he could have wished for.

After exchanging greetings with their son-in-law, Rosalind’s family finally turned their attention to the other figures who had remained patiently waiting nearby. Since they had never met them before, curiosity naturally crossed their faces, and Rosalind took that opportunity to make the introductions.

"This is Rowan’s nephew, Julian, and his mother, Rebecca," she said with a warm smile as she gestured toward them. "Julian, Rebecca... please meet my family."

Rebecca instinctively swallowed as all eyes settled on her.

Ever since Rosalind had told her that her parents would be visiting, she had been unsure of what to expect.

Part of her had wondered whether she should even be present, but Rosalind herself had insisted that she come, and since Julian had become an important part of their lives, staying away would have felt more awkward than attending.

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