Forbidden Love✧⁠*⁠。

Episode 25

The room was still, the echoes of Santa's heartfelt words lingering in the air. Queen Laila, her heart heavy with guilt and sorrow, took a slow step forward, her gaze softening as she looked down at her son. She knelt beside Santa, reaching up to gently cup his tear-streaked face, her thumb brushing away the dampness on his cheeks.

"Ta…" she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I’m so sorry… for everything. Your father and I… we never realized how much we were hurting you and Becky." Tears began to pool in her eyes, and she let them fall freely, a sob escaping her lips. "We’ve been blind, so focused on tradition, on preserving what we thought mattered. But we didn’t see you. We didn’t see how much you and Becky were suffering."

Santa’s eyes searched her face, a mix of sorrow and lingering hurt flickering in his gaze. "Mother," he began, his voice filled with a pain that had been buried for so long, "you and Father hurt us both… Are we really your children?"

Queen Laila’s heart broke at his words. She nodded fervently, her hands cradling his face with a tenderness that had been missing for years. "Of course, Ta," she replied, her voice trembling. "Of course you and Becky are my children. You’re my heart, my soul. I’ve been so blinded by my duty… I lost sight of what truly matters." She pulled Santa into a tight embrace, her sobs quiet as she held him close. "I’m sorry, Santa. I’m so, so sorry."

Santa allowed himself to lean into her embrace, feeling, for the first time in years, the warmth of a mother’s love. It was fragile, tentative, but it was there. For a moment, he closed his eyes, letting himself believe that this apology was a new beginning.

King Adun watched the scene, his expression unreadable. But as he saw his wife’s tearful apology and the broken look on his son’s face, something shifted within him. He cleared his throat, his voice softer than usual. "If Freen is the one Becky wants to see, then we should respect her wish." He looked over to Pond. "Pond, can you go and bring her here?"

Pond nodded, standing tall. "Yes, Your Majesty." He turned, making his way quickly out of the room.

As Pond hurried through the corridors, he could feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. He’d always felt protective of Becky and Santa, and he knew just how much seeing Freen would mean to Becky in this fragile moment. He reached the front courtyard, his steps quickening as he approached the stables.

Est and William, who had been stationed near the front gates, noticed Pond’s urgency and moved to meet him. Est reached him first, his eyes filled with concern. "Pond, what’s going on?"

Pond took a breath, his gaze steady. "I need to bring Freen here. Becky… she’s unwell. She has a fever, and she wants Freen by her side."

Est’s eyes widened, the seriousness of the situation sinking in. "I’ll come with you." He glanced at William, who immediately nodded in understanding.

William placed a reassuring hand on Est’s shoulder, then turned to Pond. "I’ll head to Becky’s room to check on her."

William shared a brief but reassuring glance with Est before leaning in to give him a quick, gentle kiss. "Be careful," he murmured.

Est squeezed his hand, nodding. "I will, don't worry."

Without further words, Est mounted a horse, matching Pond’s urgency, and the two of them set off, riding hard through the castle gates and down the path leading to the village.

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Back in Becky’s room, the atmosphere was tense yet softened, the weight of Santa’s confession still heavy in the air. King Adun took a tentative step forward, reaching out to place a hand on Santa’s shoulder. "Santa…" he began, his voice almost unsure, "I didn’t realize you had been carrying this burden for so long."