Unforgivable (Helsa)

Chapter Twenty

John could barely sleep the night before. He woke up early that morning and was sitting in the inn, thinking about the new piece of information he had just learned yesterday.

"Hey, John?", Rochelle called him worriedly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"I-I'm alright", he lies forcing a smile. "Just tired."

Rochelle nods though she seemed still worried about him. She grabs a cup of tea and hands it to him. "Here, drink some tea."

"Thank you", John says to her before she gives him a warm smile and pats him on the back.

Once she left, John takes a sip of the tea before thinking about yesterday. Ivar...Prince Ivar of the Southern Isles is his father. He scoffs at the idea. So that must mean his name must be Prince Johnathan of the Southern Isles or something.

For sixteen years of his life, he thought his father was some Maldonian native who left him and his mother at a young age. He had never thought in a million years that his father would be a prince of the Southern Isles and that this whole time, Hans had been his uncle.

There were so many questions in his mind that remain unanswered. He knew the only way to answer these questions is by asking Prince Ivar himself. But how? How does one approach a man and claim 'i'm your long lost son, Johnathan.' Anyone could claim that!

Although they did share similarities. John had brown hair like Ivar, green eyes too, slightly tanned skin just like him and upturned nose. You could quite tell that John was indeed a Westergard.

John stood up from his chair. He needed the answer to these questions...and he also thought about Hans and Helena. John didn't want Helena falling into the hands of Queen Annette while Hans will be taken. He knew he had to bargain...and although it wasn't a very good thing, a very moral thing to do, he was going to use his power as Ivar's son to do so.

He marched towards the Southern Isle ship. His heart was racing in his chest while his hands were shaking. He approached ship and the guard immediately stopped him.

"Boy, what do you think you're doing?", the guard asked him.

"I need to speak with Prince Ivar", John says. "Please, it's urgent."

"Hold up, we don't just let anyone in here. Who the hell do you think you are kid?", the guard scoffed at him and John pursed his lips feeling his fists clench.

"I'm his nephew", he blurts out and the guard gave him a look of disbelief before letting out a humorless laugh.

"Very funny, kid. Run along before I have you arrested-"

"Stop, let him in", a deep voice suddenly interrupts the guard.

John looked up and saw Ivar standing by the ship, peering down at them. John hitched a breath nervously looking at his father. The guard gave John an annoyed look before letting him in. John made his way to Ivar and when he stood in front of him, he was frozen. He still could not believe that the man in front of him was his father.

"What? Are you here to beg me not to take your father away along with you and your sister?", Ivar sneered and John pursed his lips, taking a deep breath. He was tongue-tied. He didn't know what to say or how to break it to him that he was his long lost son. "What? Can't say anything can you? You're just like your father-"

"Juliana", John blurted out and Ivar's expression drastically changed the moment he heard that name. "Juliana Andersen-Westergard is my mother..."

"W-what?", Ivar asked, confused and shocked by John's words.

"My name's Johnathan Andersen Westergard...I'm your son."

-

Hans gawked at Elsa in disbelief and shock. He was caught off guard. It took him a moment to recover before he tried to play it down and asked, "what are you talking about, your majesty?"

"Hans, please, tell me the truth", Elsa begged him. Her eyes yearning for an answer. "I know there is history between you two. I want to know what happened."

"Your majesty...", Hans trailed off nervously. He bit his tongue and looked away. It was not his place to say it. He means hell, yea Frederic has been a complete asshole to him for the past several years but there was point where they were good friends.

It was that one mistake of Frederic that broke their friendship completely both from Annette and the incident with his niece. They did stupid things in the past together that Hans himself is not proud of.

"Hans?", Elsa begs him once again. This time her eyes were wide, as if she was really desperate to know the history between them.

Hans sighed, looking into the eyes of Queen Elsa. "With all due respect, your majesty, I think you should ask your husband....I think it should be coming from him rather than me. But if I may add your majesty, whatever Frederic tells you...about his past and my past with him...I want you to know that he and I both regret it."

Elsa merely blinked, absorbing what Hans had just told her. She let out a defeated sigh nodding her head. "Alright...I respect that. Thank you anyways....I'll let you speak to Queen Annette soon before things go out of hand."

"Thank you, your majesty", Hans says to her.

Elsa glances at him one last time. Their eyes lock for a moment, there was several unspoken words between them but of course, not one dared to speak up. So, Elsa walked out the door leaving Hans alone.

Hans leans back against his bed as the bitter memories between him and Frederic began to resurface..