Claimed By The Tyrant King

Rebecca noticed some of the glances directed at Cedric before turning to him. "Should we head to the garden?" she asked gently.

Cedric considered the suggestion for a brief moment. The fresh air, the scent of flowers, and the peaceful atmosphere might do him some good. More than anything, he simply wanted to be somewhere that didn’t remind him of the bed he had spent so many days confined to.

"Alright," he replied, and Rebecca guided him towards the palace gardens.

The side they entered was particularly quiet, with only a handful of attendants tending to the flowers in the distance. Cedric’s eyes instinctively searched the surroundings before settling on a familiar little figure.

Julian was in the middle of the garden, enthusiastically swinging his wooden sword through the air. Sweat clung to the boy’s forehead, and from the determined look on his face, it was obvious he had been practicing for quite some time.

Cedric watched him with curious eyes before saying, "Is it just me, or does he look taller?"

Rebecca couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped her. "I honestly can’t tell," she admitted. "I see him every single day, so I hardly notice those things anymore."

They remained standing side by side as Julian finally lowered his wooden sword after finishing another imaginary battle. Wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, he glanced around, and the moment he spotted them, his entire face brightened.

"Mother... Cedric!" he called excitedly as he hurried over.

He came to a stop in front of them and looked up at Cedric with wide, delighted eyes. "You’re walking now," he said in amazement.

"I have to," Cedric answered simply.

Julian nodded in complete agreement, as though there could be no better reason than that. His gaze then shifted between Cedric and his mother, noticing how Rebecca was still supporting him without either of them seeming aware of it.

A thoughtful expression crossed the boy’s face before he innocently remarked, "If someone saw you now, they’d think you were married."

Silence immediately settled over them.

Rebecca froze.

Cedric did the same.

Neither of them seemed to know how to respond as they both stared at Julian, who looked back at them with complete innocence, seemingly unaware of the effect his words had caused.

"Julian..." Rebecca finally said, her tone carrying a quiet warning.

She truly had no idea where her son had picked up this habit.

Lately, every time he opened his mouth, he managed to say something that left her wishing the ground would open beneath her feet.

"Yes, beautiful Mother?" Julian replied sweetly, flashing her an affectionate grin.

Rebecca let out a helpless sigh. "You should go back to your practice," she said, trying to sound firm. "And this time, don’t say another word."

Julian blinked before smiling even more brightly. He clearly didn’t see her words as a scolding. If anything, he seemed rather pleased with himself, secretly enjoying the little bit of mischief he had caused.

"As you wish," he said obediently, giving a small bow before turning around.

Meanwhile, after Julian had gone back to his practice, the two adults quickly became aware of just how close they were standing to each other. "I think I should be able to stand on my own now," Cedric muttered quietly.

Rebecca’s lips parted in embarrassment. "O... okay," she stammered before slowly withdrawing the arm that had been supporting him.

She stepped aside and folded her hands in front of herself while Cedric steadied his footing beside her. With neither of them knowing what to say, they naturally turned their attention towards Julian, who had already resumed his practice in the garden.

He swung his wooden sword through the air with determination, proudly demonstrating how much he had improved over the past few weeks.

Rebecca couldn’t help stealing a glance at Cedric from the corner of her eye, but the moment she did, she quickly looked away again as warmth crept into her cheeks for reasons she couldn’t quite understand.

Before she realized it, her thoughts drifted back to an afternoon a few days ago when she had fallen asleep after looking after him.

She had dreamed about him.

In that dream, Lord Cedric had been standing in the palace garden. He looked strong, healthy, and completely recovered, as though he had never been injured at all. He didn’t need anyone to support him, and there was no trace of weakness in his posture. Somehow, she had gathered enough courage to ask him to meet her there.

"You asked me to come here?" he had asked after she walked up to him.

Rebecca had immediately grown flustered. "I... yes..." she answered nervously. "There’s been something I’ve been meaning to tell you."

Cedric had simply waited, his expression calm and patient, although it was obvious he had no idea where the conversation was heading.

Rebecca lowered her eyes as her fingers nervously played with the fabric of her dress. Heat spread across her cheeks, and she struggled to meet his gaze.

"I’ve come to realize that I care about you, Lord Cedric," she began softly before finally looking up at him through lowered lashes. "Not just in a friendly way... but in a way that’s much deeper than that."

Cedric blinked in complete surprise.

For a brief moment, he seemed unable to find the right words. Even his own face grew warm as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.

"I... I don’t know..." he murmured quietly, almost to himself. "No one has ever looked at me that way before."

Rebecca bit the inside of her lip as she waited for his answer, her heart pounding harder with every passing second. Hope quietly settled inside her chest, but it didn’t last for long. As the silence stretched between them, Cedric gradually regained his usual composure before looking at her apologetically. "I truly appreciate your feelings... But," he said gently.

The ’but’ alone was enough to make her heart sink.

"I have duties," he continued, "and I’m not sure I could ever think of something like this."

Rebecca felt as though something heavy had dropped into the pit of her stomach, yet she forced herself to hide every trace of it. "It’s alright..." she lied with a faint nod. "I understand."

An awkward silence settled between them, and after swallowing the lump in her throat, she forced out another question. "We can still continue being friends... right?"

"Of course," Cedric answered without hesitation.

Just friends.

When she woke from the dream, she instinctively reached up to touch her face, only to realize it was damp. Tears had escaped without her even knowing.

Even now, remembering it made her chest tighten.

This feeling had become much deeper than she had ever expected. It had reached the point where it followed her into her dreams, and that frightened her more than she cared to admit. What if she truly gathered the courage to tell him that she had begun to see him differently, only for him to reject her exactly as he had in that dream?

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