Claimed By The Tyrant King

After the long hour’s drive, the carriage finally came to a slow stop in front of the towering castle. Both Julian and Rebecca had woken from their nap during the journey, and Julian immediately turned his head towards the window as he looked at the magnificent castle standing before them.

His eyes widened at the sight of it, and he could only stare in amazement.

"Is this where we live now?" he asked, and Cedric answered with a slight chuckle as he looked at the boy’s expression.

It was already evening, and although there was still a little light left in the sky, darkness was beginning to settle over the land. The sky had taken on a deep shade of blue, with stars beginning to appear above them and a crescent moon hanging quietly in the distance. Silverkeep Castle was impossible to miss, even from afar, because of its imposing size and the presence that seemed to surround it.

It stood proudly against the evening sky, with its tall towers and walls making it look like something Julian could only have imagined in a story.

Rebecca had remained quiet for most of the journey, but now she found herself looking at the castle with a strange mixture of nervousness and wonder.

As the coachman came down to open the carriage door, Julian was allowed to step down first, and he immediately looked around with curiosity as though he wanted to take in everything at once.

Rebecca turned her gaze to Cedric, and they exchanged a smile.

He then lifted his hand towards her, and she placed hers in his before allowing him to help her down from the carriage. He led her outside gently, and when her feet touched the ground, she stood beside him with Julian already waiting for them.

The three of them stood together in front of the castle, and Cedric looked at them both "Welcome home," he said.

The words were simple, yet they seemed to be exactly what Rebecca and Julian needed to hear at that moment.

Soon, the servants came outside to receive them, and they bowed their heads respectfully. "Welcome, Master... Mistress," the butler said as he regarded Cedric before turning his attention to Rebecca.

Rebecca offered a polite bow, although the unfamiliar title made her feel slightly awkward.

To be honest, it was the first time anyone had addressed her with such importance, and she could hardly believe that she was now being welcomed as the lady of the house.

She had never imagined that she would have a place like this, and although she knew she had married Cedric, hearing the servants acknowledge her position made the reality of it settle more firmly in her mind.

"Young master," the man added, turning his gaze towards Julian.

Julian quickly straightened himself before giving the man a small bow of his own.

"We have been informed of your arrival, and arrangements have therefore been prepared as ordered by His Majesty," He explained. "We hope to serve you well here, and you may call me John."

The new family smiled at John, as his approach was welcoming.

The butler continued, "It is getting late, and you’ve been on a long journey, so you must be tired and should rest. Everything has been prepared for you."

They cleared the entrance for the family and together they began walking towards the heavy wooden doors with Julian between them.

The doors opened, and their footsteps echoed as they entered the grand hall.

Rebecca slowed for a moment as she looked around, while Julian’s attention moved from one side of the hall to the other.

The castle was clean, quiet, and polished, and the warm glow from the torches along the walls made the entire place feel welcoming despite its enormous size.

Tall pillars lined the hall and stretched towards the far end, while the upper floor overlooked the entrance below. Chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, and beautifully woven tapestries decorated the walls, adding warmth to the otherwise imposing surroundings.

Julian’s mouth fell slightly open as he looked around. "Mother, look at that," he whispered, pointing towards one of the tapestries.

Rebecca followed his gaze and smiled. "I see it."

Cedric watched them both, and there was a quiet satisfaction in his expression as he saw the way they were taking in their new home.

He knew it was a great change for Rebecca, and he also knew that Julian had grown attached to the palace, to his cousins, and to everyone he had come to know there.

Leaving had not been easy for the boy, but perhaps this place could give him something different without taking away the happiness he had already known.

Rebecca reached for Julian’s hand as they continued walking, and the little boy held onto hers while looking around with growing excitement. There was no doubt that he was already imagining all the things he could explore, and the thought made Rebecca smile because she had rarely seen him this curious about a place.

As they looked at the castle, everything seemed to have been prepared carefully, and there was nothing that suggested this had been done at the last minute.

Cedric could not help wondering when Rowan had planned to give them this place.

He had known that His Majesty wanted to ensure that Rebecca and Julian would have somewhere safe to live, but he had not expected such generosity.

Rowan had given him more than a home. He had given Rebecca and Julian a place where they could begin again, and Cedric knew that he would never take such generosity for granted.

Rebecca, meanwhile, was looking at the grand hall with a quiet sense of disbelief.

She had spent so much of her life trying to make sure that Julian had enough, and now she had entered a place where she did not have to worry about whether they would have a roof over their heads or where their next meal would come from. It was almost too much to take in at once.

She glanced at Cedric, and he caught her gaze. "You alright?" he asked quietly.

Rebecca nodded, although her smile was a little emotional. "I’m just trying to take it all in."

Cedric gently squeezed her hand.

Julian suddenly turned back towards them. "Father, are we going to see the rest of the castle?"

Cedric’s face softened at the title, and Rebecca noticed the small change in his expression. He looked at Julian and nodded. "Of course. But that’ll be tomorrow, you need to eat and rest for now."

Julian’s excitement dimmed slightly at the mention of rest, but he nodded anyway. "Alright."

****

Julian was shown to his room first, which was just opposite his parents’ chamber. "If you need any assistance, young master, please ring the bell and you will be attended to," the butler, John, told him, and Julian nodded in understanding before turning to his parents to bid them goodnight.

Once the door was closed, Cedric turned towards the butler. "We’ll carry on from here, John."

"Thank you for receiving us warmly tonight" Rebecca said softly.

"It is my duty, my lady" The man bowed respectfully, and after they exchanged their farewells, John left them alone.

"We should go in," Cedric said to Rebecca, and she bobbed her head as he opened the door for her.

She stepped inside first, and he followed behind her before closing the door quietly.

Rebecca took only a few steps before she stopped, her attention immediately drawn to the decorations that had been prepared throughout the room.

The white bedding had been arranged neatly across the large bed, while delicate petals had been scattered over it and candles had been placed around the room, their soft flames casting a warm glow over everything.

There was no mistaking what the room had been prepared for, and Rebecca’s cheeks immediately burned when she realised that the servants had clearly prepared it for a newly married couple.

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