Claimed By The Tyrant King

As the many celebrations gradually came to an end and Rebecca noticed that almost everyone was preparing to leave after their stay at the castle, she drew in a slow breath before knocking gently on the chamber door.

From inside, she could already hear the cheerful sound of laughter and tiny giggles, and the warmth of it alone brought a faint smile to her lips. "Come in," Rosalind called.

Rebecca quietly pushed the door open and stepped into the room and the sight before her instantly softened her expression.

Verity was laid on the bed facing both babies as they tugged at strands of her hair with their tiny fingers, laughing and cooing happily without a care in the world.

"I don’t think they want me to go home," Verity said dramatically while trying to free a strand of hair from Leander’s determined little grip.

"You can take them with you," Rosalind suggested with a playful smile, amusement dancing in her hazel eyes.

Verity gasped theatrically before turning to the twins. "Did you hear that? It looks like your mother is giving you away... and who am I to refuse such a generous offer?" she said with an exaggerated smile as she looked from one baby to the other.

Estelle responded with a loud, delighted coo, a little trail of drool slipping down her chin as she reached eagerly toward Verity’s face. Leander, on the other hand, remained much calmer, though the tiny smile spreading across his face was enough to show he was enjoying every bit of the attention just as much.

"Who’s ready to go on an adventure with Aunt Verity? Who is? Who is?" she asked playfully, moving her gaze between the two of them.

Their sweet laughter echoed throughout the chamber, filling every corner of the room with warmth and happiness.

Rebecca couldn’t help smiling as she crossed the room and joined them, her heart feeling unexpectedly light at the sight before her. "I think they’ll definitely miss you," she said with a quiet laugh.

"Definitely," Rosalind and Verity answered together.

Rosalind’s lips curled as she watched her friend continue entertaining the twins. It was difficult not to feel amused. The graceful, refined Verity she had known for years had always carried herself with effortless elegance, yet here she was making silly faces, letting two babies pull at her hair, and laughing along with them without caring how undignified she looked. It was such a gentle side of her that Rosalind had never truly seen before.

Rosalind’s smile gradually faded as she turned her attention to Rebecca, sensing from the look on her face that something weighed heavily on her mind. "What is it, Rebecca?" she asked gently.

Rebecca lowered her gaze for a moment before answering. "I... um... wanted to talk about something important," she said quietly.

Rosalind immediately sat up properly on the bed, her expression growing serious. Beside her, Verity slowly withdrew from playing with the twins and rose to her feet.

"I’ll come back later," she offered, thinking it would be better to give them some privacy.

"No... you don’t have to leave," Rebecca said quickly.

She already knew Verity well enough to understand that the woman was only trying to be considerate and that she was family, someone Rosalind trusted completely, and Rebecca didn’t mind speaking in front of her.

Verity glanced at Rosalind silently as if asking for confirmation. Rosalind simply shook her head with a small smile and Verity quietly returned to her seat without another word.

Rosalind then looked back at Rebecca, her voice calm and patient. "What did you want to talk about?"

Rebecca hesitated at first. The words had been weighing on her heart for days, yet now that the moment had finally come, she wasn’t sure how to say them without sounding ungrateful. Her fingers unconsciously tightened together before she felt Rosalind’s hand gently rest over hers.

The simple gesture eased something inside her. "Don’t worry," Rosalind said softly. "You’re safe here. You can tell me anything."

Rebecca slowly nodded before taking a deep breath. "I’ve been thinking..." she began quietly. "I think it’s time for Julian and me to leave the palace." The words escaped in one hurried breath.

For a brief moment, silence settled over the chamber.

Rosalind simply blinked, the surprise evident on her face as she hadn’t expected those words.

Beside her, Verity gently pressed her lips together, choosing not to interrupt as she quietly observed the two women.

Rebecca swallowed nervously.

Finally, Rosalind broke the silence. "Why?" she asked softly before quickly shaking her head. "I mean... I know you’re free to make your own decisions, and I’ll always respect them, but... has someone been pressuring you to leave?"

Even as she asked the question, countless unpleasant possibilities flashed through her mind. She knew how cruel gossip within a palace could become. Had the servants whispered that Rebecca was living comfortably only because of the King and Queen? Had someone made her feel like she no longer belonged here?

Rebecca immediately shook her head."No... definitely not."

Rosalind searched her face carefully. "Then..." she said quietly, unable to understand.

Rebecca lowered her eyes before finally explaining. "I’ll never be able to repay everything that you and His Majesty have done for Julian and me. You’ve given us safety when we had nowhere to go, and you’ve treated us like family from the very beginning. I’ll be grateful for the rest of my life." She paused briefly before continuing.

"But I think we’ve stayed long enough. Julian and I shouldn’t spend the rest of our lives living beneath your kindness as guests. We have to find our own place in the world. We have to build a life that’s truly ours." Her voice remained steady, although the emotions behind it were impossible to hide.

The rebellion had long since ended... No one was hunting her anymore, and no one could exploit either her or her son the way they once had. The danger that had forced them into the palace no longer existed.

Rebecca wasn’t leaving because anyone had driven her away... These were simply thoughts that had been growing inside her for a long time.

Everyone who had gathered for the celebrations would soon return to their own lives. Marek would return to Merovia and continue his duties as Crown Prince. Hannah would resume her responsibilities as a princess. Verity would also go back to the life waiting for her beyond the palace walls. Cedric had his own duties as the Lord commander.

Everyone just had somewhere they belonged.

Rebecca couldn’t help wondering whether it truly made sense for Julian and her to remain here indefinitely when they, too, should be building a future of their own.

"Rebecca... if this is truly what you want, then I completely respect your decision," Rosalind finally said after a long moment of silence.

Rebecca let out a quiet breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding. After a brief pause, Rosalind spoke again, her voice softer this time. "But what about Julian? I think he’s really happy here."

"It certainly seems that way," Verity couldn’t help but add gently.

Rebecca smiled faintly before lowering her gaze."I believe he’ll come to understand eventually. After all, I’m doing this for both of us," she said. She wanted Julian to grow into a man who could stand firmly on his own two feet instead of believing he was entitled to royal privileges simply because he had spent his childhood in the palace.

Rosalind slowly nodded, understanding the thought behind her decision even if it saddened her.

Without another word, she closed the distance and wrapped Rebecca in a warm embrace. Verity followed soon after, giving her a gentle hug as well, and Rebecca couldn’t help feeling grateful for the kindness the two women had always shown her.

When Rosalind finally pulled away, she looked at Rebecca thoughtfully. "Did you tell Rowan?"

Rebecca shook her head. "Not yet... I came to you first."

"I should probably tell him when he returns," Rosalind murmured.

Rebecca nodded in understanding before rising to her feet. Just as she was about to take another step, Rosalind suddenly reached out and caught her hand.

"Cedric?" she asked, her eyes widening slightly. "Don’t tell me you haven’t told him either."

Rebecca silently shook her head once again.

Rosalind stared at her for a moment before giving her a knowing look. "You’ll have to tell him eventually," she said quietly.

"I know," Rebecca replied. There was a hint of uncertainty in her voice, but she offered them a small smile all the same before excusing herself and quietly leaving the chamber.

The room fell silent for a moment after the door closed behind her. "What was that about Cedric?" Verity finally asked, turning curiously to Rosalind.

Rosalind looked at her in surprise. "Don’t tell me you didn’t notice anything during your stay here."

Verity frowned thoughtfully as she replayed the past few days in her mind. Then, almost all at once, realization crossed her face and her eyes widened.

Rosalind answered with nothing more than an amused nod.

Verity let out a quiet laugh and shook her head."What terrible gossips we’ve become."

"We didn’t even say anything," Rosalind laughed.

"The look was enough," Verity replied, rolling her eyes playfully as she turned back toward the twins. "Your aunt..."

She had barely begun speaking when Rosalind hurriedly covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

"Shh." The babies had finally fallen asleep.

After spending the entire day playing and demanding attention, boredom had eventually overtaken them once Verity had stopped entertaining them, and they had drifted peacefully to sleep side by side.

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