11 His Woes

"The queen mother doesn't seem to approve of this marriage." Athena remarked a while after Hanson left.

Kaia was feeding Alba dried meat when she heard Athena. She wasn't surprised. She knew there must be at least few people who would not like this marriage in Hanson's family. What she was most intrigued about was the animosity between the Queen mother and the Prince. She turned to look at Catherine who was sitting on the arm chair next to Alexandra.

"Catherine, why does the Queen Mother dislike His Highness?"

Catherine wasn't startled at this question. Instead, she seemed quite calm as if she was expecting it.

"Her Highness must know that the current Queen of Clarines, His Highness' mother, Queen Helena Voire is the second wife of His Majesty, King Herbert Voire."

Seeing Kaia nod, Catherine decided to tell the Princess everything without permission. Anyway His Highness never prohibited her from revealing anything.

"The Queen Mother was rather fond of the first Queen, since she was a descendant from the Queen Mother's maternal family. The first Queen gave birth to the first Prince, His Highness Peyton Voire and a year later, the Only Princess, Her Highness Pricella Voire. She died during child birth, when the princess was born. Thus His Majesty married Queen Helena a year after."

"Ah, so Prince Hanson is the current queen's son?" Athena exclaimed in understanding.

Kaia left Alba to perch on her stand. She walked over to the long couch placed opposite to the arm chairs Catherine and Alexandra sat on and took a seat next to Cynthia and pulled her in a hug onto her lap, placing her chin over the little girl's head as she listened.

"So does the Queen Mother dislike him because His Highness is the current Queen's son?" Alexandra inquired narrowing her eyes. She had her fore-finger folded over her chin in contemplation.

"Then how is he the Crown Prince and not His Highness Peyton?" Athena asked in confusion sitting from other end of the long couch.

Kaia had heard that the First Prince can no longer walk. It would not be a problem in Wales as long as he could sire a child but the others would not take to his plight too kindly.

"This isn't exactly a secret but people prefer not to talk about it. The first Prince isn't exactly in good health. He was crippled in a revolt few years ago and lost his position as the Crown Prince. And since His Highness was next in line he was crowned the title later." Catherine explained.

"So that is why we couldn't meet the First Prince." Kaia nodded in understanding. "So the Queen Mother did not exactly have a choice?"

"Yes"

"I heard there was a third prince after His Highness Prince Hanson?" Alexandra asked in slight curiosity and a little contemplation.

Catherine's eyes visibly dimmed at the question. She clenched her jaw and released it, trying hard to calm her turbulent heart. The other women could visibly feel her melancholy. But Alexandra did not regret asking. The only person she cares about is Kaia so she do not mind using others for her benefit.

Catherine heaved a long sigh before she began speaking, she could not hide it anyhow and it is better to break it sooner than later.

"His Highness Prince Hamish was the youngest and the most treasured in the royal family. Even the Queen Mother loved him and doted on him, not to say the two Princes and the Princess. His Highness Hanson was the only one harsh on His Highness Hamish but when asked why, he used to say that there must be at least one person firm enough so as to not let him grow up spoiled."

Catherine chuckled as she reminisced the past.

"But everyone could clearly see the love in his eyes whenever Prince Hanson looked at Prince Hamish. He was far younger in age after all and was an adorable child." Catherine's smiled as she thought of the past when His Highness Hanson would secretly fight with His Highness Peyton to have the chance of carrying the youngest Prince over his shoulder during playtime. Her expression turned dark soon after as she thought of the incident.

"During the same revolt by the starved refugees, where His Highness Peyton lost his ability to walk, His Highness Hamish went missing. His body was later recovered, in an unsightly state, that not even an adult, more so a child should deserve as the way to die." Catherine's hands clenched tight as she remembered the scene. She was with Stefan when they found the young Prince. She could never forget the scene in her life. The haunting memory, the guilt in failing to protect such an innocent child, she could never forget.

Kaia raised her head from Cynthia's. Her expression was indescribable as her hands tightened around the young girl. Her body was slightly trembling and Cynthia could clearly feel it. The younger girl looked up at Kaia and gave a reassuring smile when their eyes met. Kaia smiled back at her when she felt Cynthia's small hand hold her own. When she lifted her head, she saw Alexandra and Athena smiling at her softly but understandingly.

She was glad to have these girls with her. And she forever will be grateful to them.

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After Catherine excused herself to calm down, Kaia sat on the chair next to the tea table in the balcony. She was sipping on her cup of Earl Grey as she absently looked at the blooming cherry blossoms while contemplating Catherine's words.

Although her own life was tragic, she felt bad for Hanson. However she didn't pity him. She doesn't have the right to pity others. Her life had been unfortunate but she knew the worst of it all were brought by her own choices.

Choices-

A person's life is determined by the choices they make, a person's fate is determined by both the choices they and the people around them make.

Fate-

If there's anything she wished for, it's the chance to turn over her fate, her fate of meeting him, her fate of losing him as a consequence.

There isn't a day that goes by without her missing him. His gentle smile, his warm touch, his deep voice, his ardent love.

Love-

Such a conflicting emotion.

It gives immense happiness, yet it also gives undeniable sadness. Like two sides of the same coin, love thrives with pleasure and pain, yet love is essential to the whole world. With love there will be happiness. With happiness, there will be peace. If all the people in the world could love unconditionally, then there would have been no reason for her to feel this melancholy.

Kaia will never forget.

The happy memories she shared with him and the loving days she spent with him.

Kaia will never forget.

The painful separation she felt with him and the memories as she held him when he died.

Kaia will never forget.