Time seemed to have stood still for both Alexander and Victoria. Everything that she had said so far was meant to hurt Alexander. He had even planned on forgiving her but this... He pinched the skin between his brows, his nostrils flaring wide. How could she?

"You burnt a letter meant for me?" He asked just to confirm what she had said was true. The guilt on her face was clearly visible as she shook her head, more tears streaming down her face now, her makeup completely ruined now.

"I’m sorry," was all she managed to say.

Alexander’s insides were boiling with anger now. The cold temperature in the room turned beyond freezing point and he could see goosebumps developing on his mother’s skin. She deserved it! A smirk settled on his face when he thought how cruel the person he believed to be his mother was.

"Stop Alex, please! I’m freezing!" Victoria begged. Alexander just stared at her coldly. Would he ever find a place in his heart to forgive her? After everything she had done to him? He could not blame his father though he was also a part of it. He had decided to tell him the truth but his mother burnt the letter. The thought multiplied his anger and now wraiths began forming in the room. For some odd reason, he was not affected by the wraiths himself. Maybe it had to do with the fact that he was the cause of it.

Victoria’s teeth rattled together as she held her shoulders to generate some warmth. The temperatures in the room were below freezing point and if Alexander did not stop anytime soon, she would die! But she deserved it, all of it. She deserved to die in Alexander’s hands after taking hi through all this pain. She wanted to tell him to stop again but with the mentality of she was the cause of all this, she succumbed to freezing. She was wearing a robe only that was covering her from shoulders to her lower knee, leaving her legs and arms bare. Her hair looked messy as one coming from a world war despite tying it into a ponytail a few minutes ago. How that happened, even she couldn’t tell.

"Alexander?" A familiar voice called, catching the attention of the mother-son pair. Their gazes shifted towards the door and found Lord Richard standing there, in a worse condition. No, not worse. Worse was an understatement of how he was looking right now.

His usually combed jet black hair looked... messy. His robes were open and his face was the perfect definition of sad. He was reaking of alcohol and with just one glance, one could tell he was drunk. Taking a few steps towards where the duo stood seemed to be the most difficult task he had right now. How the hell did he even make it this far?

This side of Lord Richard stunned Alexander. Never had he seen Lord Richard in such a vulnerable state before. He was always composed, and even if he drunk, he never exceeded a certain limit. This was a version of him he had never expected to see, even in the future. But now that it had happened, he couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to Lord Richard.

Victoria was more than glad when Lord Richard stepped into the vicinity. He had caught Alexander’s attention diverting his concerns to him, hence the wraiths and the cold temperature had gradually disappeared. But she wanted to be punished by Alexander. If that was what would make him happy, and eventually forgive her, then she was up for the punishment. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

But what was Lord Richard doing here? Oh Lord no! Was it what she was thinking? Alexander was already in a sour mood and adding more weight on his shoulders would certainly make him hate her forever. And what was wrong with Lord Richard? Didn’t he care for his damned life that she was so much trying to protect?

"I have been looking for you all over the palace, Your Majesty," he said. He was so tipsy now that his words came out like a mantra’s recitation.

"Thank God I found you here," he said and shot a quick glance at Victoria, "the both of you." He added, letting his finger dance in between Alexander and Victoria. And now Victoria’s worry intensified. What the hell was going through Richard’s mind, she won’t let him do it.

"Aaah!" She grimaced in faked pain. Alexander shifted his gaze to her, a concerned look on his face.

"Are you alright?" Alexander asked. But Lord Richard knew why she was acting this way. Either she fakes death, or pretends to be at hell’s gate, he was going to tell the truth today. The guilt was eating him and he couldn’t pretend he was not hurting. He didn’t care what would happen to him afterwards. All he wanted was to be honest with Alexander, and himself too.

"Alex?" He called his name softly. Alexander was now confused. Didn’t Lord Richard see that his mother was in pain? He was just about to take a look at her and Lord Richard was calling his name as if he didn’t care about anything in the world!

"Let me check mother’s condition first. Can’t you see she is in pain?" Alexander asked but Lord Richard just gave him a blank stare. Agitated by Lord Richard’s behavior, Alexander turned to Victoria with the same concerned look on his face. She was still his mother even though she had kept so many secrets from him. She had raised him as her own child, and made him the crown prince at that!

"Are you alright?" He asked again with the same intensity.

"I’m freezing Alex. I guess I caught a frostbite!" She said rubbing her shoulders to generate some warmth. Alexander took her hand and started rubbing it to generate some heat. And yes, she was cold. Damn cold! But what Alexander didn’t know was that his mother was a drama queen, and acting was just but one of her many talents!

"Snap out of it Alex!" Lord Richard said trying to regain his composure. Alexander turned to face him with creased brows. What was he trying to say? Was he in some kind of spell or what? No. It was him who should snap out of it given that he was drank. Didn’t he see that he was taking care of his mother? Furthermore he was the cause of this, all of it.

"It is you who should snap out of it Lord Richard. Go take a rest or do something. You are still drank, remember," he told him, as if Lord Richard didn’t know he was drank himself. He continued rubbing Victoria’s hands now unconcerned with Lord Richard.

Victoria offered a meek smile at Alex but her smile faded the moment her gaze settled on Lord Richard’s face. He was still standing in the same place as if he had not heard what Alexander had said. And he was now staring back at her with that look on his face. She swallowed hard this time contemplating on what was going on his mind. She could only guess for the worse.

"Are you okay now?" Alexander asked after rubbing Victoria’s hands for a while, drawing her attention back to him. She smiled meekly at him, but deep inside, her heart was hammering like a wild stallion.

"It’s good now. The cold is gone but I still feel cold in the insides. I will just sit by the fireplace," she said.

"I’ll get a maid to make a fire on the hearth," Alexander said, now standing up but Victoria was quick to catch his arm. What was she doing? She should just let him go now that she had the chance to. But why did it feel so wrong? Alexander was the one preventing Lord Richard from spitting out the secret right now. What would happen if he goes out? What if Lord Richard follows him and tells him everything? Oh Lord no!

But again, keeping Alexander with her wouldn’t act in her favor either. He would definitely question her about it, and he did.

"What is it, mother?" Alexander couldn’t understand why she was holding his hand as if he could vanish anytime. He wanted some peace of mind for now and some distance far away from his mother. But she was doing the exact opposite. But surprisingly, she let go of his hand.

"I’m sorry," she added, all the while her gaze avoiding Alexander’s. Alex sighed silently. He still couldn’t comprehend the meaning of that action. Turning around to leave, he nearly bumped into Lord Richard, who was standing there like a tree all the while.

"What are you still doing here? I thought you left," Alexander asked, a frown settling on his face. He had told him to leave but he was still here.

"I’ll check over the queen as you go to fetch the maid," Lord Richard answered calmly.

Alexander did not want to put up a fight so he simply nodded at Lord Richard before he walked past him. Gods! The guy was reeking of alcohol.