🌷The Duke and The Widow🌷

{32}Like Mother, Like Son

🌷Chapter 32🌷
Like Mother, Like Son

⚠️WARNING⚠️
Themes of Colonisation, Forced Marriage, Sexual Assault and other mature themes will be mentioned. Reader's discretion is advised.

            It was a morning like any other, the King lay weakly in his bed. His eyes twitched at the soft sound of footsteps approaching his bedside.
"Your Highness," Greeted a servant, "Your son, the Crown Prince, wishes to speak with you."
The King's eyes fluttered open as he raised his hand out in gesture to the servant. "Let him come."
"As you wish, your Highness." The servant bowed, signalling the guards to open the doors.
"Father, I hope I haven't woken you." Said Ashton as he sat near his father's bed.
"I'll always have time for my son." The King smiled weakly.
Ashton nodded, "Thank you, father."
"I'm just here to brief you of what happened at our last meeting."

The King nodded, urging him to go on.

"Louis spoke quite boldly," He started. "Saying that our laws were outdated."

"Outdated? Which laws?"

"Hmm, he listed quite a few but one in particular he was rather interested in. The property ownership laws for commoners; that first-born women are not allowed to benefit from their parent's birthright unless married."

"Seems rather straight forward. I see nothing wrong with this decree?"

"Baby Brother met a woman the other day. He was walking through town with the Palace Guard and her son, soiled in mud, collided into him. She begged for his forgiveness, offering to clean him. She cleaned him off, served him tea, and heavens know what else and.. He hasn't been the same since, I'm afraid. The wench singlehandedly bewitched my brother."

"I had a feeling that this time would come." The King muttered softly, his eyes downcast and regretful.

"I beg your pardon, Father. What ever do you mean?"

"Nicholas' mother, was a commoner."
Ashton's eyes widened in shock, "Tell me more, Father." He leaned closer
"She belonged to a colony on the outskirts of this kingdom. It was a thriving colony, consisting of a few dozen persons.

this was post-war when we were recovering and trying to better protect the Kingdom. So we thought a mighty wall with one large, guarded exit was the key.  Any neighboring towns were bought over and the locals found residence in our Kingdom. All except one little colony near the sea.
We tried bargaining with them but they refused, a stubborn set of people.

We bargained with them, offered them all the money you can think of; all just to relocate elsewhere or accept refuge in of Kingdom. All to which they declined.

So I had to make a hard choice, it was either them or my people.

So one night, I set out with my troops to their settlement and destroyed everything. The women scampered to save the children and what was left of their belongings while the men along with their leader bought time for them escape.

With the  leader dead and men fallen, just a young boy remained. With my blade drawn, about to end him, a girl called for a halt. Throwing herself before me and my Royal Guard, she begged for her brother's life.

And she was beautiful. Her eyes were such a striking shade of blue. Her slivery-blonde hair framed her meek little face. Her name was Bellesima. In exchange for her young brother's life and her people, I took her hand in marriage."

"But father the law clearly states that those of Noble blood are forbidden to marry a commoner. How did you get past that?"

"I kept her status a secret among the palace, wives and subjects; anyone to ever speak of her nobility will be banished."

"I see." Ashton nodded.

"The remainder of the colony spread themselves out in to the Provinces, while Bellesima requested that her brother and friend stay with her in the Palace. With tutoring and time they became her Advisor and Lady In Waiting.

I favoured her most than my other wives and she still seemed to hate me. I was hopelessly infatuated with her.

Soon enough, she fell pregnant.. But she did not survive the childbirth.Her final wish was to leave our son in the care of her brother and friend. Cherine and Jacques raised him well, he's just like his mother."

The King sighed, turning to his son. "Knowing this I hope you don't see him differently. He is still your brother, Ashton."

"Of course father, I love my brother the same even now." He said as he took his father's hand.

"Thank you, Ashton. I knew you'd understand. You'll make a great King."

"I should be thanking you, father. I've now come to understand my baby brother on a deeper level. I should be off now, it was great speaking with you, father."

And with that being said, Ashton left his Father's chamer.

"I can't believe it. My half brother is half commoner, barely even my brother at all."

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Author's Note

Hi everyone I'm SO sorry for the late update life has been life-ing unfortunately.

For the next chapter I might write a flash-back about Nicholas' upbringing and how he was socialised as a child with Cherine and Jacque as his primary caregivers. What do you think?

Thank you for your patience and I loom forward for your continued support of this book!

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