The Duke's Bed Warmer

Chapter 190: End Of An Illusion

"And I..." her voice cracked. "Who spent her entire life believing I was a princess was an illegitimate child."

Alina didn’t know what to say. But she understood that feeling more than everyone else in the chamber. Just a few months ago, she had discovered that she was the princess of Arcasedia. But Audrey’s situation was even worse. Alina had gained an identity while Audrey had lost hers.

The heavy silence filled the chamber. Audrey stood in the middle of the room, her whole body trembling as tears continued to fall down from her eyes.

Her heart was a mess. Anger, betrayal, pity, sadness crashed together inside her. She couldn’t breathe anymore.

Without another word, Audrey turned sharply and walked towards the door.

"Audrey!" the king called out, his voice filled with worry. "Let’s talk!"

But she did not stop. Her footsteps echoed loudly on the floor as she pushed open the door with trembling hands.

Crane took a step forward towards her.

"Audrey, please... let me explain..."

"Leave her alone," the king shouted. "Let her go. She needs time."

Crane froze. This was probably the first situation in his life that he couldn’t control or fix. Audrey, ignoring everyone, slammed the door shut behind her as she walked out.

The four of them stood in the chamber in awkward and uncomfortable silence. No one spoke for a long time. The king looked devastated. His shoulders sagged under the weight of everything that had happened. On the other hand, Crane kept staring at the closed door, his usual confidence was nowhere to be seen. He was genuinely shaken and lost.

Though Austin felt bad for Audrey and had never wanted her to know the truth, let alone like this but he couldn’t forget the reason why they were in the chambers in the first place. He knew this was probably not the right time to continue that discussion but he wasn’t sure whether they would get another chance or not.

"Your Majesty," Austin said, breaking the silence. "Audrey needs time to process the truth. And I understand it’s not easy. But...but we still need an answer."

The king nodded and rubbed his face, sighing heavily.

"You are right," the king said. "We cannot avoid this discussion any longer."

The king stared at the documents on the table before speaking.

"My biggest concern is not the personal scandal," he said. "It is what the truth will do to the kingdom. If this becomes public, Audrey’s legitimacy as princess will be questioned by everyone. The late queen’s reputation will be destroyed. Ambitious nobles will use this secret as a weapon against the crown, and our enemies from other kingdoms may see this as weakness and challenge us."

He sighed again.

"The kingdom I have spent my life protecting could fall into chaos and war."

He then looked at Austin and Alina.

"So after everything that has happened... I can no longer force you into a marriage you do not want."

Before Austin could say something, Alina spoke.

"Your Majesty, we never wanted to expose this scandal to the whole kingdom or destroy Audrey’s life. We do not want to ruin the memory of the late queen or bring suffering to the innocent people," Alina said. "We only wanted the truth acknowledged, in private, so that Austin and I can finally live freely without fear or hiding."

The king was genuinely moved by her words. Despite all the pain and danger she had faced, Alina was still being kind understanding. Even Crane looked at her with a flicker of surprise.

Crane had spent his entire life fighting and manipulating. And now his own daughter had walked away from him in disgust and horror. The daughter he had done everything for now saw him as a monster.

At last, the king announced his decision.

"The wedding preparations would stop immediately. You both will not be arrested or hunted any longer. And the documents will remain secret for now, he sighed. "But this is a temporary decision. I need more time before I make a final ruling. Perhaps a few days. Or until Audrey decides what she wants."

Austin and Alina looked at each other then nodded in agreement. Although it was not the decision they had hoped for. But it was better than whatever was happening right now.

Meanwhile, Audrey made her way back to her room alone. She had dismissed the maids who used to follow her like shadows every time she walked in the palace. The long corridors of the palace she had grown up in felt colder and emptier now.

When she finally stepped inside her room, even the room felt unfamiliar now. She walked slowly and looked around with wet eyes.

The royal paintings hanging on the walls now looked unfamiliar. The expensive dresses in the wardrobe no longer brought her joy. The beautiful royal jewellery on her dressing table, the exquisite furniture, and the luxurious bed all felt like they belonged to someone else.

She stopped in front of the wardrobe and opened it. Dozens of beautiful gowns hung inside. She reached out and gently touched one of them. Tears streamed down her face once more.

"Do I even deserve this?" she whispered.

The empty room had no answer. She stood there for a long time, surrounded by the things that had once defined her. That was a part of her identity. But now she wanted to just run away from all of them.

Then,her gaze drifted toward a small drawer beside her bed. She slowly walked over and opened it. Inside lay a portrait she had treasured her entire life. With her trembling hands, she picked it up.

It was a painting of her mother. Audrey sat on the bed and held the portrait against her chest.

"Mother..." she whispered as she traced her face gently. "I wish you were here. "It would have been easier if you were here. I could have been angry at you. I could have cried and demanded answers."

She lowered her head.

"But now I can’t do any of that," she wailed. "You are the only person who loved me for who I was. I miss you. I miss you so much."

She hugged the portrait tightly as though she could feel her mother’s embrace again.

"If you were here, maybe this wouldn’t hurt so much."