The tense, heavy silence in the room only served to amplify the storm brewing violently in Olivia's chest. She ceased her pacing, her steps quick and sharp, and delivered the final, devastating question. "And the child? Were you not aware of her?"
"What are you talking about? I don't understand."
She swallowed hard, articulating the truth in a slow, measured voice: "Your child, Kyle. You have a child."
Kyle froze, held captive in the sudden, blinding flash of revelation. His expression was a volatile mixture of profound shock and disbelief. "I… I have a child?"
"Yes, you have a child."
A wave of violent, conflicting emotions—crushing regret, overwhelming joy, and deep-seated pain—washed over him simultaneously. His eyes began to well with tears.
Olivia stared at him, astonishment cooling her temper. "Are you… crying?"
He quickly turned his face away, offering a dismissive, muffled reply. "That is none of your concern."
She extended a stark white linen handkerchief towards him. "Here. Wipe your face. If anyone were to walk in and see the mark of my hand upon your cheek, they would think I had driven the Crown Prince to tears."
He took the handkerchief in silence and scrubbed fiercely at his face. Then, with desperate urgency, he fixed his gaze on her. "How do you know all of this? Do you know where my wife is?"
"She is in the next room, and do not fret. I used a silencing stone to block the sound. She did not see you when you entered through the rear passage."
He surged to his feet, driven by an instinct to run to her, but Olivia seized his arm and shoved him back forcefully into his chair.
"Oh, of course! Go right in and announce yourself: 'Hello, Leila! I am your husband who abandoned you, lied about being a mere soldier when I am, in fact, the Crown Prince, and left you alone with our child!'"
He froze, swallowing hard. "What is the matter? Why have you stopped? Go on, then!"
Suddenly, he sank to his knees before her, his voice breaking into a sincere, heartfelt plea. "Please, sister… help me. For the very first time, I am asking you for something—not as a Crown Prince, but as your brother. Please!"
Olivia sighed, pulling him back to his feet.
"Stand up. I summoned you here to solve this problem, not to complicate it further. Now, do you have any suggestions? That scoundrel of a Baron has filed a lawsuit against me, accusing me of unlawfully detaining his wife. And tomorrow, Mathias returns. Trouble, it seems, never travels alone!"
"He filed a lawsuit? I will make him pay dearly for that audacity!"
"Yes, we shall, but tomorrow, we will discuss vengeance at the Imperial Palace. This place is not entirely secure."
"Fine, I will leave. But… can I at least see my child?"
She regarded him with a cool, detached gaze. "Very well, stay here. I will bring her to you."
Olivia stepped into Leila's chamber, her smile carefully composed. Leila was seated on the edge of the bed, the baby cradled securely in her arms, looking weary but possessing a quiet, fragile calm.
"Hello, sister-in-law. Here you go," Olivia said.
"Thank you, Miss Leila."
Olivia broke the brief silence. "You look utterly exhausted. Would you allow me to hold the baby for a moment?"
Leila shook her head gently. "No, thank you. I know you do not care for children. You refused to hold her the last time we met."
Olivia offered a tight smile.
"I assure you, I adore children. I was merely… nervous back then."
"Very well, then, go ahead," Leila conceded.
Olivia took the infant, adjusting her grip before offering a genuine smile. "She is beautiful. What is her name?"
"She does not have a name yet. I haven't found the right time to choose one," Leila replied softly.
"That is fine," Olivia said. "When the right name comes, you will know."
She returned to Kyle. The moment his gaze fell upon the child, his eyes ignited with immediate, raw paternal love. He gently reached out, touching the tiny hand, his voice thick with emotion.
"She is so small and adorable. I cannot believe she is mine!"
"Yes, and quite clearly, Leila did not conceive her all by herself," Olivia remarked.
He took the baby with astonishing delicacy. "She looks so much like you, and our mother."
"That is precisely what her mother said, too."
"What has Leila named her?"
"She has not chosen a name."
His joyful expression dimmed. "And Leila? Is she truly well?"
"She is fine now. Now, hand me the baby; I have delayed her return long enough."
"Here you go. I shall take my leave now."
"Very well. I shall see you tomorrow."
The room was left heavy with tension as Kyle departed. Olivia returned to Leila's room, the child carefully cradled in her arms.
Leila was seated on the bed, her exhaustion still evident, yet she managed a faint smile as Olivia approached.
"Did you enjoy your time with her?" Leila asked softly.
"Yes, she is indeed wonderful." Carefully, Olivia handed the infant back to her mother. "I just wanted to give you a moment to rest. Take care of yourself, Leila."
Leila took the child back into her arms and murmured gratefully, "Thank you, Your Grace. I truly appreciate the kindness."
Olivia hesitated near the door, her expression turning hard.
"Leila, tomorrow will be difficult. If you need anything at all, do not hesitate to rely on me."
Leila offered a faint smile, her voice steady despite her fatigue. "Thank you, but what do you mean? What is happening tomorrow?"
Olivia's expression hardened, all trace of gentle concern vanishing. She stepped fully into the doorway, her shadow falling across Leila and the child.
"Tomorrow, Leila, the reckoning begins."
The office was steeped in silence, broken only by the faint rustling of papers between Duchess Olivia's fingers. The tranquility shattered as soft knocks echoed from the door.
"Excuse me, Madam. May I come in?"
Olivia lifted her eyes deliberately, her gaze sharp yet composed. Her voice, calm but commanding, filled the room:
"Come in, Isabella."
The woman entered gracefully, bowing slightly in deference. Olivia set her pen down and asked, her tone unexpectedly warm:
"How was your journey, Isabella?"
Isabella hesitated, not anticipating the question. A faint smile tugged at her lips as she replied:
"It was good, Your Grace. Thank you for asking."
Olivia rose from behind her desk, her movements measured, radiating an air of quiet authority. She approached Isabella, her gaze steady.
"Follow me. There's someone I'd like you to meet."
The two women walked through the ornate corridors of the grand estate, their footsteps muffled against plush carpets. Gold-encrusted carvings adorned the walls, whispering stories of a glorious past. They stopped before a modest door. Olivia opened it gently, revealing a cozy, dimly lit room where Leila sat quietly.
Leila rose the moment she saw Olivia, her posture respectful, her voice soft:
"Your Grace."
Turning to Isabella, Olivia gestured toward Leila.
"Isabella, allow me to introduce Leila, sister to Mathias and Leon."
Leila extended her hand with a shy smile.
"Welcome, Isabella. You must be Leon's wife."
Isabella nodded, her smile polite but reserved.
"Yes, I am. Leon has spoken of you before."
From the edge of the room, Olivia watched the interaction with a keen eye. The air between the two women was cordial but laden with an unspoken tension. Isabella knew more about the family's past than most, thanks to Leon's stories. Yet, Leila remained entangled in the shadows of memories she wished to forget. As for Olivia, she had long chosen to distance herself from such entanglements, justifying it with excuses of busyness. Deep down, however, she knew part of the blame lay in her indifference.
Breaking the silence, Olivia cleared her throat softly, drawing their attention back to her.
"Isabella, I'll be away for a while at the Imperial Palace. I'm entrusting Leila to your care until I return. See that no one disturbs her. Understood?"
Isabella inclined her head respectfully.
"As you wish, Your Grace."
Satisfied, Olivia turned and left the room, her steps purposeful despite the weight of her thoughts.
Seated in her luxurious carriage, she rested her head against the cool glass of the window, watching the winding road stretch endlessly ahead. Her mind raced, searching for a solution to the turmoil surrounding Kyle and Leila. She had promised herself she would be a better sister, vowing to shield Leila at all costs. This time, she wouldn't let history repeat itself.
Her musings were interrupted as the carriage slowed to a halt.
"Your Grace, we've arrived," the coachman announced.
Straightening herself, Olivia stepped out, the grandeur of the Imperial Palace towering before her. The promise she had made echoed in her heart, propelling her forward.
The coachman's voice interrupted her train of thought.
"Your Grace, we've arrived."
Olivia stepped out of the carriage with purposeful strides, her destination clear: the Imperial Palace. The grand halls buzzed with activity, but her focus remained unshaken. She headed directly toward Kyle's office.
Upon reaching the door, Kyle's assistant greeted her with a quick bow.
"Your Highness, the Duchess is here to see you."
Kyle looked up from his papers and smiled, gesturing for the assistant to step aside.
"Let her in."