"I don't understand what you're trying to say?

" Roselyn asked, knitting her eyebrow.

"I'm just thinking out loud about my considerations.

" Sharron replied, shrugging in a hinted smirk.

"Now my specialty.

" Ginevra tried to ease the apparent tension by placing on the table a pastry and chocolate cake that looked very delicious.

John smiled,

"did you make it?

" he asked as he admired the cake.

Ginevra cut the cakes in several slices and put each slice on everyone's dish, reserving the biggest one for the King.

"Very delicious,

" he commented tasting the cake.

After finishing the meal, they stood up to say goodbye. Roselyn embraced both her sister and kissed and hug her mother in a thigh embrace.

"Thank you again.

" John greeted the family one more time before placing his hand on Roselyn's back as they walked outside.

As soon as they stepped on the carriage, Roselyn folded her arms.

"How did you know about her pregnancy?

" She asked. This time she kept her calm and patience.

"The day Lord Victor visited me he told me.

" He replied, sighing.

The lady made a shocked face.

"So it's quite a long time you've kept it from me.

" she considered as her eyes showed all the disappointment she was in.

John had no excuses; he didn't know what to answer. He breathed out, trying to think of a justification.

"Victor said Abigail didn't want you to know and ...

"

The lady gestured with her hand as she didn't want to hear no more.

"I'm sorry. Hurting you was the last thing I wanted to do. I know you don't trust me but this is new to me.

" He murmured, gazing down as he looked very sorry.

He took her hand as he leaned closer to her.

"I really am sorry. But you have to understand that your Victor and Abigail were in a dangerous situation. I've never seen him that miserable before and I didn't know what to do besides helping them and respecting their decision to keep it secret.

"

Their gaze met, and Roselyn nodded.

"Maybe I would have done the same. I just felt to be excluded from...

" She hesitated for a second before finishing the sentence,

"from the people I care most.

"

Her cheeks heated when she pronounced those words, as it was the first time she implied the way she felt for him.

"I promise I will tell you the truth next time.

" He smiled as he stretched his hand. Roselyn shook it as he repeated:

"I promise.

"

Roselyn smiled and laid her head on his shoulder.

"Why do you think she didn't tell me?

" She sighed.

"Maybe she was just scared and didn't know what to do.

"

Roselyn nodded.

"All I can do is try to be there with her and be aware that she may be in an unstable condition.

"

John smiled. She seemed to care a lot about her family.

"Stop here.

" John said while he turned around as if he had spotted something. The carriage paused, and he pushed Roselyn down from the carriage as he began to run toward a small hut in the middle of the village.

She lifted her dress to run faster, and he knocked on the door, smiling hugely.

Nobody came to open to the door, so he lowered the door handle multiple trying to open it, unless he exhausted his patience and kicked it open. The door was old and its resistance was low. Few people in the street gazed at them puzzled, probably wondering why the Royal couple would try to beat the lock to enter an abandoned house.

His smile intensified when he walked inside. He spread his arms as his gaze darted to admit every little detail of that house. When entering the small bedroom, his smile faded to welcome a wistful expression.

He sat on the bed, staring at an empty spot in the room. His smile curved forcefully. His voice lowered in a murmur,

"This was the house...

" He swallowed down as his mouth dried up,

"where my mom lived in, before meeting my dad.

"

Roselyn's eyes widened, surprised. She placed her hand on his, crawling with their fingers together.

"Your mother wasn't part of the high society?

"

He smiled, more genuinely this time, but his face remained sad.

"She wasn't. He met there during a visit in the village. It was love at first sight. He brought her in the castle after one week of secret meeting convincing everyone she was raised in a high ranked family outside the town to avoid scandalous gossip.

"

Roselyn's heart withered seeing him so miserable when talking about his parents. He must have suffered a lot. Maybe that could be the reason why he preferred to keep people distant and avoided emotional attachment.

"This was the house we usually visited during the weekend. My mother wanted to show me how normal people lived and occasionally travelled back here just to donate food and goods to help the families that weren't as lucky as us.

"

Roselyn's eyes sparkled,

"that is a splendid gesture.

"

He smiled.

"It remembered me of you. When you asked the maids to bring the food to villagers. She would have liked you.

"

Roselyn blushed.

"a girl who sanctioned an agreement to marry his son?

" she broke the embarrassment she was in by making a joke. But he rolled her eyes,

"no, silly.

" He shook his head, and they both giggled.

She pushed him down onto the bed, but on his way down, he stretched his arm to pull her down with him.

He bit his lips before flipping over; he pushed her onto the bed and he was the one standing on top of her. Roselyn's heart raced as she blushed. His gaze lowered down in search of her lips. She felt his breath on her skin and unconsciously her breath quickened as she could hear her heartbeat pulse through her breast.

He wiped off the hair she had on her face to spread across the pillow.. Then he leaned his head closer to the crook of her neck as he gently and slowly kissed her there.