To Dance with a Prince

Untitled Part 32

Oliver paced outside of his father's chambers waiting to talk to him. He wanted to finish their conversation from earlier because he had some questions that remained unanswered. He knew there had to be more to the story; more to what his father was NOT telling him. He heard the door open and his father looked at him before stepping back to let him into the room.

Both were silent as King Robert walked to the sitting room and he let out breath before he looked at Oliver. "I know why you are here son. You want the whole story." Oliver nodded, and Robert sat forward, his forearms sitting on his knees and he closed his eyes. "I don't want you to hate me."

Oliver frowned, "Why would I hate you?"

King Robert finally looked at him and his eyes were so haunted that it almost hurt for Oliver to look into them. "What I tell you today cannot leave this room. You cannot tell your sister."

Oliver felt his stomach turn at his father's words, but he agreed.

King Robert sighed and then started talking. "When your Uncle James approached me about giving some titles and land to Max there was a reason I said no. Your Uncle had been working for me as a council and he worked closely with me on many bills that were being passed at the time. He was doing a great job and I wanted to reward him with more responsibility, but I had been hearing some rumors and so I had the head of our security at the time look into them."

King Robert paused, and Oliver looked at him in concern. His face was pale and for the first time in a long time he looked tired. "The head of security came to me one day and told me that they had uncovered that Max was not James's biological son. They said he found a prostitute who was a single mom and faked a marriage to her in hopes of gaining more lands for himself. If I had given Max those lands they would have been under James's reign until Max was of age. He knew that."

Oliver sat surprised as his father revealed his Uncle's charade. "Can you imagine the scandal if I had given him lands and this story had come out? Our family would have been a laughing stock. I told James that he needed to leave England and stay gone. I have been sending the woman a stipend every month to help her and Max and I pretty much disowned James."

Oliver blew out a breath. Wow, that was a lot to take in and it made him wonder even more if it was James and not Max that was sending the threats.

"Dad based on what you told me this makes me wonder even more if it is Uncle James that is sending those threats."

King Robert looked at his son and then he walked over and took a file out of his desk. He walked over and looked down at it before handing it to Oliver.

"I have been keeping tabs on your Uncle and his travels since he left. Maybe these papers will help Cisco and Felicity track him down. There is also contact information int here for Max and his mother."

Oliver looked up at his Dad. He had to ask. "Is there anything else I should know?"

"No. That is everything. I had been keeping it a secret because I was concerned that it would be leaked, and the scandal would come out." He placed is hands on Oliver's shoulders and looked him in the eye. "But nothing is more important than your safety son. Nothing."

Oliver searched his father's face and seeing the sincerity he gave his father a hug.

"Thanks Dad."

***

James Queen paced in his living room. He had been sending threats for months now and they did not seem to be making a difference. His family almost seemed to be ignoring them. He thought about stepping up his game but had been hesitant. They were family and even though he hated his brother, he had always loved his nephew.