Augustus and Gregoria exchanged a brief, knowing glance before Augustus responded, “It’s not a matter of forgiveness, Regina. It’s her pride, and the wounds of the past run deep. You know better than anyone how much she was hurt.”
Gregoria added, “The queen’s heart has always been unwavering, but also unforgiving. The betrayal she suffered from both your father and mine left scars that won’t heal easily, especially when she sees Julian as a reminder of those past.”
Regina’s voice wavered with frustration as she continued, “How can she hold onto that resentment for so long? She is trapped by her own pride, refusing to let go of the past. It’s not about betrayal—it’s about her unwillingness to move forward, to see things as they truly are now. We have all changed, but she refuses to see that, even when the world around us has evolved.”
Alden stepped forward, his tone firm but tinged with concern. “Regina, you cannot force her to change her heart. We all have our own burdens to carry, and hers is heavier than most. If she cannot accept Julian, then so be it, but don’t lose sight of what truly matters.”
Gregoria nodded slowly, her eyes softening. “Regina, I know you want unity, but some things cannot be forced. Your mother, the queen… she is a product of her experiences, just as we all are.”
They were all under the assumption that it was some kind of trap set by the queen to strike at Alden and Augustus by harming Julian.
It was possible that she could mask the incident as an accident on their journey to Apollo and with her position as queen, no one would question her.
Augustus sighed deeply, his voice heavy with the weight of years gone by.
“Regina, when we were young, the queen would follow me around, always sticking by my side, desperate to be in my company. She was always there, hoping for my attention, but I never saw it.”
He paused before continuing, “I was so consumed with my own thoughts that I never acknowledged her feelings. Before I even realized it, I was already in love with Gregoria.”
His gaze turned distant, lost in the painful memories. “To this day, it feels like a dagger pointed at my heart when I remember those days.”
Gregoria placed a gentle hand on Augustus’ arm, her voice soft and understanding. “Yes, I know,” she said quietly, her eyes filled with regret.
“I took something from her. More like… I stole it. Her dreams, her hopes, and her place beside you. I never meant for things to turn out this way, but I can’t change the past.”
Regina’s frustration boiled over as she listened to her mother-in-law and father-in-law. She couldn’t understand how they could continue to blame themselves for something that wasn’t their fault.
The queen’s bitter rejection of the Easvil family had been a heavy burden on all of them, yet they were accepting it as if they deserved it.
The entire kingdom had become aware of the queen’s disdain for the Easvil family, and it seemed like no one was doing anything to address it.
Her frustration only deepened as she glanced at her husband, standing silently beside her. It was as if he had adopted himself to being a passive observer, quietly blaming himself for the mess their lives had become.
After all this time, Regina knew that he would just keep accepting the situation, never truly standing up for himself, let alone for their family.
They were all so pitiful, so wrapped up in their past mistakes, unable to see that they were not at fault.
Regina’s frustration boiled over, and she blurted out, “Let’s fight for what’s right!”
But before she could say more, Alden’s voice cut through, calm but firm, “Regina, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Father and mother have taken this all because of their guilt and regret. We cannot push them any further.”
Her heart clenched in anger at his words. Instead of being the man who supported her in this moment, he stood there offering nothing but self pity and acceptance of their fate.
Just then, Julian’s voice rang out cutting through the tense silence. “But what does their guilt have to do with us?”
Regina turned to face him, feeling a mix of confusion and relief. His gaze met hers, and in that moment, there was an understanding between them.
Julian wasn’t interested in playing the game of self-pity or dwelling on past mistakes. He wasn’t about to let his family’s guilt dictate their future. His focus was clear, and Regina couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration for his strength.
Alden’s voice raised, his tone laced with frustration. “What do you mean, Julian?” He stepped forward, his gaze hardening as he faced his son.
The air in the room thickened as father and son locked eyes. Alden’s patience had been stretched thin, and Julian’s dismissal of the family’s struggles hit him harder than he expected.
“You think it’s that simple? You think we can just ignore everything that’s happened?”
Regina’s eyes flickered between the two men, feeling the tension rise in the room.
Julian’s own voice raised with a sharpness that made everyone pause. “And what do you mean?” he demanded, his eyes flashing with a cold intensity.
“What does their regret and guilt mean to us? To those who were not involved in any of it?”
He swept his gaze across the room, hinting that he was speaking not only to his father but to everyone present.
Even Augustus and Gregoria, the powerful Grand Duke and Grand Duchess could not help lower their eyes. The sheer force in Julian’s words made them uncomfortable, as if he was revealing something they had avoided confronting for years.
They had borne the weight of their past, and now their own blood was challenging the very foundation of their guilt. The room fell silent, each person feeling the sting of his words.