Chapter 35
HELGA'S BREATH caught in her throat as she finally caught sight of the island and the grand mansion that stood upon it. The sheer size of the structure was enough to make her gasp, but it was the stunning surroundings that truly took her breath away. Tall trees loomed over the expansive grassy fields, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze, White sand stretched out from the island's shore, meeting crystal clear water that sparkled in the sunlight. "Woah," Helga managed to utter in awe. "It's absolutely beautiful"
"Right." Siegren nodded in agreement, feeling a wave of nostalgia wash over him as he saw the familiar spot where he used to spend his summer vacations. It was also the place where he had last spent time with his mother when he was just five years old. "When was the last time you visited this place, Your Majesty!" Helga asked, obser while they approached the island. as he took in the in the surroundings
"Hmm... When I was around 12 years old." he answered, his mind drifted back to a distam memory, one that still left a bitter taste in his mouth. It was when he was only twelve years old, and he had begged his father for a final vacation before being forced into the duties of the royal family, But the memory wasn't filled with sunny days at the beach or laughter with friends. Instead, it was marred by the sharp sting of his father's whip, inflicting punishment upon him for not returning to the palace in time for a celebration dinner with important delegates. The feeling of fear and helplessness as he endured an hour-long beating was etched into his body and mind, leaving scars that would never fully heal. He shuddered at the thought of subjecting his own future children to such treatment, determined to break the cycle of violence that plagued his family When he became the King, he promised himself that he would break the cycle of cruelty and trauma that his father, grandfather, and previous Kings had inflicted on their children. With him and his sister being the only remaining pure royal bloodline in the country, he wanted to redefine the ways of royalty and bring about positive change. "Ren
"Siegren!" Helga's urgent voice brought him back from his memories. He saw her waving her hands in front of his face and blinked twice to snap out of his reverie and return to the present moment. "What's
's wrong? Did my question trigger some unpleasant memories?" she asked, concern etched on her face, especially when she sensed that something was troubling him. Siegren firmly shook his head, causing strands of his dark hair to fall across his brow. As the boat neared the island, Helga could see that their arrival had already been anticipated; royal guards and servants lined the shore, eagerly awaiting their arrival. Helga could sense welcoming respectful sense others ushered them along the path, with the rest of the group following closely behind. "Prepare a light meal for us on the bridge and have it served right away," Siegren ordered one of the servants who bowed to them in acknowledgment before going to carry out his orders. "The bridge?" Helga asked as she trailed behind Siegren's confident stride, taking in the opulence of the mansion with her darting gaze. Though not as grand as the palace, there was still an air of royal elegance and immense wealth that permeated every corner of this simple villa. "It's located outside, right above the sea," he explained, looking at her just as they were about to approach the stairs leading up to the second floor, "I thought it would be lovely to have a meal there and enjoy the breathtaking view."NôvelDrama.Org owns © this.
Do you want to rest a bit in the room, or would you prefer to walk around?" he asked, his hospitality catching her off guard. It was strange to see the powerful king playing the role of host and herself as a guest, especially since this was her first time visiting. Yet, she couldn't help but feel grateful for his thoughtfulness and consideration in asking for her preference.
I'd love to go for a walk with you," she responded, causing Siegren to let out a small laugh. He had a feeling she would
choose to wander through the island rather than simply relax in their lavish bedroom, after all, they had been on the ship for three hours without doing anything at all All righ
then, Siegren nodded and motioned for the royal guard to not follow them. He then led Helga outside, and they began to walk around the area. It was quiet at first, but then Siegen remembered his beta's advice to get to know Helga better, so he started asking her some questions. "You're well aware that I ran a background check on you before, right?" he began, looking at her as she turned to look at him with confusion written all over her face.
"Uhm yes, why? Are you curious about something?" she asked, her voice wavered slightly Instinctively, her gaze dropped to her feet, and she observed how the white sand crunched underneath her shoes. She knew he would ask about her past sooner or later, after all, he hadn't known much about her despite running a thorough background check.
in her tracks and meet his intense oment, she couldn't think of the
"Which pack were you born into?" His question caught her off guard, causing her se gaze. Her green eyes locked with his red ones, and her breath caught in her throat right response as the wind suddenly picked up, blowing a gentle breeze between them and causing dust to fly into Helga's eyes, making her wince. "Aw!" she closed her eyes, and Siegren, ever attentive, gently turned her chin to face him. In the distance, the powerful crash of waves against the shore could be heard, a constant and soothing soundtrack to their moment together.
"Don't rub it," he cautioned, and Helga simply nodded in response. She felt him gently pry open one of her eyes and blow away the dust that had settled on her lashes. "Is the pain still there!"
"I'm fine now, thank you," she said, smiling awkwardly as she silently hoped that the previous conversation would come to an end, but unfortunately Siegren seemed determined to keep it going, especially when he still hadn't let go of her face. "Your Majesty?"
"Based on the information David reported to me, you were already seven years old when your parents abandoned you and you began wandering around. Surely, you must still remember which pack you were born into." Siegren stated, his tone serious as he looked at her emerald eyes that shone brightly in the sun. "So, tell me, which pack are you originally from?"