Returning Reign

Chapter 29

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Back to present time:

"Shes my daughter," Hugo states in disbelief while staring at me closely to make sure I am real. Now its my turn to be in shock. Nathaniels hazel eyes widen in shock and he looks between me and the king.

"No, I am looking for my parents, Diego and Alice. Where are they?" I ask the King and Vivian. I need to get information out of them now before this blows up in my face.

"You had a daughter with Josephine!" Vivian breaks out in anger and the crowd is stunned by the use of the banned name.

"Where are my parents?" I ask them again. "They disappeared and told me not to look for them here so this is where I came."

"I should have known that wretched snake-" Vivian doesnt finish her sentence as she collapses onto the floor loudly and I smirk. Lizzy was standing next to her with a spiked wine glass in her hands. Nothing dangerous, just to make her pass out in case she got like this.

"You've got this wrong my dear Cartia," Hugo shakes his head. "Everyone out! The ball is over." The king announces loudly and the attendees dont need to be told twice to leave the ballroom.

Once the room is empty of guards, guests, and staff, I finally let go of Nathaniel and put my sword back into its strap on my leg. Nathaniel drops the act of being scared and continues to stand next to me as Hugo walks near us to explain. Nathaniel stands next to me to make sure I wont get hurt.

"Help me grab your mother and I can explain this in my office." The king tells Nathaniel and they grab an unconscious Vivian off the floor and carry her to Hugos office.

The office has cream walls and dark brown wood accents with dark green decor scattered around. Hugo ties Vivians hands and feet together and then straps her torso to the chair so that she cant get up.

"Why are you tying her?" Nathaniel goes to stop Hugo but Hugo shakes his head.

"In case she wakes up and tries to harm more people out of vengeance." Hugo explains and then walks over to the chair across the desk and sits down. Nathaniel and I sit on the chairs across from him and listen.

"I need the two of you to listen carefully and not to ask any questions until I am done. Its a long story and its complicated but you will get all your answers by the end." The solemn looking king Hugo instructs Nathaniel and I. We nod in agreement and he begins after taking a long deep breath.

"As you may know, I was married to a woman named Josephine Laurelli many years ago. When we were in our courting age, we both knew we would end up together. She was dear friends with Vivian." The king explains. I furrow my brows a bit at the last piece of information. How is talking about Vivian and his deceased wife going to lead me to my parents?

"Josephine was a very loving, kind, and trustful person. She trusted Vivian with everything and they seemed to have the best of friendship. Little did we know that Vivian had been consumed by envy. She wanted the crown and to get it she had to marry me." Now it's Nathaniel's turn to seem skeptical. His relationship may be strained with his mother but to think that he has been a pawn in a game that started before he was even born must be cruel.

"After a couple of short sweet years of marriage Josephine and I were expecting a baby. This baby would become the heir to the kingdom of Zemira, to my reign. We had to protect this baby at all costs. Many horrible people would end the life of a child if it meant creating chaos in the kingdom and to make the rulers seem unfit." I never heard of king Hugo having any biological children. Interesting.

"Before Josephine and I even announced it to the kingdom our fairytale was cut short. Vivian betrayed us by having Josephine kidnapped by a powerful witch to conceal her location. Since Josephine was kidnapped by the witch Vivian never saw that Josephine was pregnant and due any day. Josephine was able to give a note to my brother Diego and told him where our child was.

Josephine gave birth to our child a few days after being kidnapped alone and had to find a way to hide the baby before the witch came back. Diego brought the child to me and I told him he must leave the kingdom and protect it from Vivian. She had already demonstrated the great lengths she would go to get to the crown.

Vivian was living in the castle with me on the condition that if I obeyed her Josephine would remain safe and alive. She was black mailing me. There was no way to hide a baby that resembled me in the same castle that Vivian was living in. Vivian was a bit preoccupied to notice this all going on since she had given birth to Nathaniel a few months prior from her previous marriage.

Diego and his wife Alice were given a key to another portal by a powerful witch friend of mine that allowed them to take the baby somewhere safe. They were given fake names and lived a normal life. We knew it was only a matter of time until Vivian or another enemy found them but this was our safest option." The King finishes his story. Or should I say my father? Nathaniels hand grasps mine for comfort underneath the desk as we all process this information.

"I dont care if they are not my biological parents. I want to find the people that raised me as their own. And to right all the wrongs that Vivian has made. I want to find Josephine too." I speak with a determined voice.

"I think I know a place where we can start." King Hugo replies with a warm welcoming smile. Hes getting his life back after nearly twenty years.

Authors Note:
Hope you enjoyed this chapter!!
-xoxo Ellie Violet