The queen, who had been pacing around, finally stopped and hurried towards the entrance of her residence. She saw a masked woman sitting in a wheelchair, a man in a suit behind her, and a few security guards, as the cars had already driven away.
The queen froze in her place the mont her eyes laid on her daughter. So many emotions gripped her heart, and not one she could put a finger on. All she knew was that her daughter was alive — and finally back.
Caryn’s wheelchair moved ahead as she pushed the button on it. Unlike the queen, Caryn was no longer emotional but was her usual self. When she looked around the place, she could rember those vague mories of this place, but she brushed them off.
"Carn?" the queen called her softly as they finally faced each other.
"Mother," Caryn said as she removed her mask, her voice firm, no emotions in her eyes.
"How have you been?" the queen asked.
"Just as you can see," Caryn answered.
Queen’s moist eyes couldn’t accept the sight of her daughter in the wheelchair.
The caretaker said, as she sensed the Queen’s emotions. "Your Majesty, how about we head inside. The night breeze is chilly."
The queen imdiately agreed and they all entered the queen’s residence, with only Eric and two bodyguards following her while the rest security was instructed to stay outside.
In the drawing room, other than Queen and her caretaker, only Caryn and Eric were allowed to stay.
The queen couldn’t help but feel guilty towards her daughter, who seed to have suffered a lot.
"I am sorry that I couldn’t find you sooner..."
"It’s not your fault. I was the one who didn’t want to be found," Caryn answered matter-of-factly.
"Why? We could have been together earlier," the queen said.
"I enjoyed my life as an ordinary person who lived on their own terms, rather than being a trapped royal," Caryn replied. "So, you don’t have to feel bad for ."
Others watched the encounter between mother and daughter. The ones on the queen’s side had thought there would be a lot of crying and sobbing, especially given how emotional the queen had been before. But the daughter — this cold-looking woman — broke their expectations. She didn’t hug her mother or show any emotions, and there was no regard for the hurt caused over the years.
Eric, on the other hand, was not shocked at all. What happened was entirely within his expectations. The woman who didn’t show any emotions to the daughter she had given birth to — what emotions could she possibly show to her old mother, whom she hadn’t seen in the last four decades?
Caryn was truly the definition of an emotionless and heartless person. The only emotions she seed to know were either being too calm or too angry.
"As long as you were happy," the queen managed to say, collecting her emotions.
She only had the mories of that sweet little girl who always followed her around, calling her mother. But she was no longer the sa girl — though still, she was her daughter.
The caretaker inford them that dinner was prepared. Caryn was allowed to spend limited ti among people, so her visit was said to be kept short.
At the dinner table, the queen sat at one end of the long dining table, while Caryn sat at the other end.
As they talked for a while, enjoying the al, the queen spoke, "Back then, I knew you were alive, and the man who was sent to protect you had successfully taken you away. I had to keep it that way so the enemies wouldn’t find you again. I thought keeping you away from was the safest option."
"I know. He had told that back then already," Caryn replied.
"When he contacted after so many years, when you were grown up and he must have thought it was ti for you to return to Belvorn, I lost you again."
Caryn humd as she said, "Our enemies found before you could reach . So, I decided to fake my death to end it all. I had my own daughter to protect as well."
"As a mother, I can understand your decision," the queen said. "Sotis we have to keep our child away just to protect them. But now, I am glad I can reunite with you — and my granddaughter."
Caryn humd again as she heard her mother. "That man, I am not sure how to repay him. He had to be in seclusion as well to protect you. If he were alive today, I would have thanked him."
"You don’t have to feel bad about him. He lived a good life and had a family," Caryn added. "The man with , Eric, is his son."
"No wonder he felt familiar," the queen comnted with delight. "Can I ask you sothing?" she asked with caution.
"Yes."
"Is he Natalie’s father?" the queen asked, as she recalled how Eric took care of Caryn.
"No. He is not," Caryn answered, unaffected by the question. "Eric is like my younger brother."
The queen nodded lightly and said again, "Then, who is her father?"
"That man is not worth ntioning," Caryn replied straight away. "All you have is a daughter and a granddaughter. There is no third person we should relate to."
The queen understood Caryn didn’t want to accept that man and decided to follow her wishes.
After dinner, the queen and Caryn sat in the queen’s study.
"Caryn, I wanted to talk about sothing really important," the queen said as she sat in her chair behind her desk.
Caryn was in her wheelchair. "Feel free to say it."
"I want to hold the coronation ceremony soon, and I have already started the preparations," the queen said. "As you are back, I want you to take your rightful place."
"Natalie would be more suitable for it," Caryn suggested.
"But, just like you, your daughter seems not to be interested in it anymore," the queen inford her. "She said you are the right person, and I feel the sa. After all, you are my daughter."
"I need to think about it," Caryn added.
"I know you are yet to recover fully, and I do not wish to burden you with anything. But trust , I will make sure you recover first and will take care of all the work until then," the queen assured.
Caryn remained quiet for a while. This was the best way to escape Jas Harper. If she was officially a princess, he wouldn’t dare to trouble her.
"Alright! But I want you to keep it between the two of us until the last day," Caryn comnted.
"Of course. Everyone will know only on the day of the coronation. Till then, we will let them think Natalie is going to be crowned as a princess."
The mother and daughter agreed on the sa.
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