"Were you reading that?" Alexander asked pointing at the book lying on the table. Elle turned to face the other side and noticed what Alexander was pointing at. A surprised look settled on her face. Oh Lord no! Why would that be lying on the table just at this time? She knew how protective Alexander was. Would he take it when she told him she was interested in politics?

"Actually... I, I’m currently reading that book," she said, her gaze darting everywhere else but at Alex. She could already sense the tense atmosphere in the air coupled with the silence that followed. Why had she even done that in the first place? She should have lied or something.

She slowly lifted her face to look at Alexander, her heart beating in anticipation with every passing second. Her blue pair of eyes settled on Alexander’s making her swallow the lump in her throat. But this was not what she had expected. A frown now settled on her face when Alexander smiled sweetly at her.

"Feel free to do anything that you like Elle," Alexander said. He wanted what was best for his sister, and so, if reading a political book was what made her happy, so be it.

"Really?" Elle asked in disbelief. It was abnormal for a lady to read such a book in Valoria. Political matters were meant for the males, with women offering support only when necessary, just like what her mother had done when her father got bedridden. It must have been tough for her considering that she had received no teachings on political matters. As a queen, she was expected to sire an heir to the king and nothing more. That was the cold truth, but Alexander wanted to change this for the better. Women too had potential!

"Yes," he replied. "I want the best for my sister. Feel free to do what makes you happy," he added, running his fingers through Elle’s cute hair.

"But your brother here gotta go," he said after a while of silence. Elle craned her small neck to look at Alexander, disappointment written on her gorgeous face.

"Now? Can’t you stay a little longer?" She asked with dropped shoulders and huffed cheeks.

"I wish I had more time Elle. Please understand your brother for once," Alexander begged holding his hands in a pleading manner.

"Okay. But promise me you’ll visit me in the evening. Don’t be gone for that long again because I’ll definitely pull your ears next time, okay?"

"Okay, siz. I’ll definitely come this time," Alexander replied simply. "I’ll be going now," Alexander said, pointing at the door nervously as if Elle would block his way if he didn’t inform her beforehand.

"Alright," Elle said in almost a whisper. Alexander just stared at her for a while and walked closer to the door. Elle just sat back in her chair and sank her nose back in her book. Alexander looked at her back one last time before he closed the door behind him softly.

Walking through the familiar hallways, Alexander narrowed his gaze as he made his way to the queen’s chamber. So many questions were going through his mind and only she could answer. And how was she doing by the way? The last time he had left her, she was in a really bad condition.

And before he could even know it, he was standing in front of the queen’s chamber. He didn’t even knock on the door. He pushed the door open revealing a maid tending to Victoria’s hair. She looked up and when she saw that it was the crown prince, she smiled seductively at him but Alexander ignored her. He looked at his mother through the mirror and when their eyes met, he didn’t need to explain that he wanted to talk with her.

"Leave us!" Victoria ordered the maid. She curtsied and left after throwing a quick glance at Alexander. Of course, he noticed it but assumed the maid. He had got used to it by now.

"What is it?" Victoria asked standing from the dresser. She was now tying her hair perfectly into a ponytail.

"Are you my mother?" Alexander asked all of a sudden making Victoria halt her actions on her hair. She looked at Alexander, eyes wide in disbelief. She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out, so she ended up closing it like a fish.

"And I want you to tell me the truth!" Alexander demanded, sending a stern look to Victoria.

"Yes, I am your mother. Why would you doubt that?" Victoria asked, a tear almost falling from her eye. She couldn’t believe Alexander was asking this. What had gotten into his mind to even think of it?

"If you are my mother, can you explain to me what is happening to my body?" Alexander demanded. All he wanted was answers to his unending questions.

Victoria was stunned by Alexander’s question. What the hell had happened to his body? He looked at him from head to toe but saw no change in his physical appearance. He looked just as she could remember. Then what was with this change he was talking about?

"I don’t understand what you are talking about Alex," she said after a while of silence.

"And neither will you," Alexander sneered. He raked his fingers through his hair. He could have known before that she would not help him. Why was he even wasting his time on her when she couldn’t even know what had happened to his body?

Victoria’s heart hammered wildly inside her chest. Why was Alexander suddenly bringing up this topic? She had made sure the contents of that letter were burnt to ashes so why was this happening? She was certain no one else knew about this, but still, there was a possibility now considering how Alexander was acting.

She shifted her gaze to him and saw him pacing uncomfortably in the room as if he would leave any time soon. Was he... hurting? But why? She didn’t like to see him confused but it was her fault. Should she tell him the truth? She was not going to hide it forever anyways, especially now that Alexander started acting this way.

Alexander shot one last look at his mother and decided to walk out of the room. He didn’t know why but he had a gut feeling that she had the answers to his question and was simply choosing to keep it to herself. Right! He declared in his mind. Not that he was going to choke the words out of her or something. She was still his mother for heaven’s sake.

But right now, what he wanted was answers, and she failed to give him some. So there was no need of staying here any longer. It would only hurt him more now that he thought she was actually hiding something from him.

"Alex?" Victoria called his name softly halting him in his tracks. He turned around to face her and what he saw nearly made him lose his sanity. His mother was crying! But why would she cry? He wanted to rush to where she was and embrace her while whispering endearing words to her but something inside him told him to stay rooted on the spot.

"I’m sorry," she said and broke into sobs. Damn it! Alexander cursed. Why was she even crying in the first place? Did he make her cry? Damn! He cursed again. And what was she sorry for? Had she wronged him? He couldn’t remember her being on his wrong side. In fact, he was always the one on her bad side since childhood. She would pull his ears every time he bullied those small boys.

"For what?" He finally managed to ask. Victoria looked up at his eyes as more tears streamed down her chubby cheeks.

"For everything," she said in a whisper. "I’m sorry." Alexander clenched his fists tightly. Why was she making such a scene out of nothing? She was just okay a while ago and now she was a crying machine that he didn’t even know he would be able to control.

"Okay," he simply replied. He didn’t want her to cry anymore so saying that was only the best thing he would do for now. Maybe it would calm her down for a while.

"You don’t get it Alexander," Victoria pressed on relentlessly. She had to tell the truth now that she had the courage. She however was afraid of how Alexander would take it. He might even hate her for the rest of his life, considering the fact that he was short-tempered. But she didn’t care. She would have to do this now if she wanted to take the weight she had been carrying for years off her shoulders.

"I understand everything, Mother. Just take some rest. I’ll be taking my leave now," Alexander said. He didn’t want to watch this drama of his mother crying for no purpose. He had already turned to face the door when,

"I’m not your real mother, Alex!"

(Suspenseful Music Plays)