I'm Raising Royal Babies {ORIGINAL VERSION; BOOK 3}

Chapter 23: Compassion From a Commoner

My bathroom's almost done, you guys! And it looks lovely! :D

Chapter 23: Compassion From a Commoner

Vincent

I've never seen my mother cry so hard in her life. Ever since I came back from the States, all she did was cry. And I couldn't blame her. She loved my father with every fibre of her being. I couldn't say anything to her that could stop her from crying. All I could do is hold her. Cradling her and allowing her to cry on my shoulder always led to her falling asleep. And that was my goal.

I hated seeing the women I love cry. I hated seeing my mother cry, Genny cry, Shadé cry, and even when Valencia gets older, it'll hurt me to see her cry as well. So as a way to stop her misery, I'd help her fall asleep.

Her heavy sobs slowly, but gradually became soft whimpers against my shoulder. I rubbed her shoulder and kissed the top of her head before resting my chin there. I wanted to tell her that everything will be okay, but I couldn't. Losing the love of your life meant that nothing will be okay. If I was to lose Shadé to death, I don't think I'll be able to live with the mentality that everything will be 'okay'.

I waited until I felt her uneven breaths become steadied.

"Mother? Mother," I hesitantly croaked out, gently shaking her.

"Hmm," she moaned out, pulling her head off of my shoulder.

"Are you hungry," I asked, coming to the conclusion that she wasn't tired after all.

"No, Vincent. No thank you," she said, rising from the settee and slowly walking toward her bed.

I covered my face with my hands as I pushed my disheveled strands of hair from my face. My mother had me to comfort her. Genevieve had Erick, her boyfriend, to comfort her. Rodney had Melanie, who surprisingly was there for him in this time of sorrow. And I had no one. Melanie tried to be there for me as a friend, but I didn't want her comfort. I wanted Folashadé. I wanted her to be there for me.

"C-c-come in," I heard my mother suddenly say between her hiccups.

The door to her bedroom opened, revealing my Private Secretary, James Woodrow.

"Your Majesty, it's almost five," he said, carefully.

I quickly glanced at my mother, who seemingly had not noticed what he said. No, she didn't know that Shadé was coming to England. I felt that she didn't have to know beforehand. Based on how hurt and depressed she was from my father's passing, I didn't think it was obligatory to bring it up.

I stood up and dragged my hands down the material of my navy coat. I ran my finger through the strands of my hair and sighed exasperatedly. I finally turned to face him. "Thank you, James," I said. I stepped over to my mother, who lied in a a fetal position. "I'll be back, mother. I love you," I said, kissing her temple before heading out of her bedroom.

"How is Her Majesty holding up, Sire" James asked as we began treading down the hall, his long strides matched my own.

"No better than the day we all found out," I replied, sniffling a bit.

"It is understandable. Her Majesty truly loved her husband," he reminded.

I stopped just before we reached the staircase. "James, I must ask of you to not tell my mother of my plans. Remember, I am going to Kensington Palace with her for the night. She doesn't want to be around everyone else," I said, releasing a heavy sigh. The hostility that my family displayed when I told them of her visit was unbearable. However, they all agreed to not tell my mother about her coming.