Chapter 122: Till my last breath
Roman’s brow furrowed as Rosaline’s words sank in. A cold fear began to take root in his mind, replacing the entire excitement.
"My mama isn’t like that," Roman said, his voice trembling but firm. He squeezed the ball in his hands. "She is my mother. She is lovely, and she gives me all the love she has."
Rosaline realized she had pushed too hard. She quickly dropped to her knees, bringing herself level with him to appear less threatening. "You’re misunderstanding me, Roman," she said, her voice dropping to manipulative him. "I was speaking about stepmothers in general. I didn’t mean yours specifically."
"Miss Rosaline, what are you discussing with the young master?" Louis’s voice cut through the air in a suspicious gaze.
The moment Roman saw his uncle, he dropped his ball and ran. He threw his arms around Louis’s legs. "Uncle, I want to go to my mama. Now."
Louis placed a protective hand on the boy’s head, his eyes remaining locked on Rosaline with a clear warning. "Of course, Roman. I’ll take you to her." He reached down and hoisted the boy into his arms, feeling the child’s heart racing against his chest. Without another word to Rosaline, Louis turned and carried him toward the Eilika’s chambers.
As they walked through the corridor, Louis looked down at the boy in his arms. "What did Rosaline say to you, Roman?"
"She said she was my aunt. Then she said stepmothers aren’t good and that they only show love at first," Roman explained. "She even said that Mama hates her. It’s not true, is it, Uncle? I told her my mama loves everyone. She loves me."
Louis felt a surge of anger at how easily Rosaline had tried to poison the child’s mind on such a big day. He tightened his hold on Roman, offering a reassuring nod.
"You were right to defend her, Roman. Stay away from that aunt," Louis said firmly. "Your mother is exceptional, and she cares for you deeply. Don’t let someone who doesn’t know your home tell you how it feels to live in it."
Roman nodded and leaned in, resting his chin on Louis’s shoulder as if trying to hide from the words Rosaline had planted.
’Inviting that family was a mistake,’ Louis thought.
They reached the heavy oak doors of Eilika’s chambers. The guards stepped forward to block the path, citing the day’s traditions, but Louis didn’t budge.
"The boy won’t break any tradition. He needs his mother right now," he asserted.
The guards exchanged a hesitant look before bowing and pushing the doors open. As Louis stepped inside, the distant sound of women’s laughter drifted from the inner dressing room.
He stopped a passing maidservant and asked her to inform the Duchess that he needed to speak with her.
The maidservant nodded and disappeared behind the silk partitions. A few minutes later, she returned and gestured for them to follow. Louis carried Roman into the light-filled sitting room.
Eilika was seated before a tall mirror, her hair partially pinned and her bridal gown draped elegantly around her. When she saw Roman’s crying face in the reflection, she immediately turned in her chair, her expression shifting from calm to concerned.
"Roman? What’s happened, my love?" she asked, reaching her arms out for him.
Louis set the boy down, watching as Roman practically lunged into Eilika’s lap.
"He had an encounter with your sister in the garden," Louis said shortly, his eyes meeting Eilika’s. "I think he needs to hear from you that everything she said was a lie."
Eilika felt a shock as Louis bowed and stepped out, leaving her alone with Roman. The mention of Rosaline made her blood run cold, but she immediately pushed her own emotions aside.
She dropped to her knees, ignoring the way her silk bridal skirts bunched on the floor, and took Roman’s small, trembling hands in hers. "Baby, look at me. Tell me exactly what happened."
"Mama, you won’t leave me, will you? You won’t forget me when you have your own children, right?" Roman’s voice was small, filled with a vulnerability that broke her heart.
"Never, Roman. Look into my eyes," Eilika said. She cupped his cheeks, forcing him to see the sincerity there. "You are my son. I did not give birth to you, but in every way that matters, you are mine. Relationships don’t need shared blood to be real or to flourish. You were the first person to make me a mother in this house, and nothing will ever change that. And before that, you were the person who showed such a deep care for me. Mama loves you. Keep that in mind and I will till my last breath."
Roman let out a shaky breath, the tension leaving his shoulders. "I told Aunt Rosaline my mama wasn’t what she said." He leaned forward, wrapping his tiny arms tightly around her neck, seeking the motherly warmth.
Eilika held him close, her gaze hardening as she looked toward the door. She realized now that her family wasn’t just there to witness her wedding, they were there to dismantle the peace she had built.
She stroked Roman’s hair, whispering promises of safety, while silently resolving that Rosaline would not get another moment alone with her son.
After some time, Eilika pulled away first and called for Joanna.
"Look at you, Roman. You’ve not even dressed up. You have such a big role to play today," she stated.
"Mama, I thought there was a lot of time."
"There’s not."
"Oh, no!" Roman exclaimed in worry.
"Don’t worry." Eilika flicked his tiny nose. "Mama will help you dress you up. You’re the future of Varos, baby. And you must walk with such a confidence that everyone will admire the Duke’s son."
Roman nodded, though he didn’t understand how they would admire him just by the walk. He then looked at his mother’s dress. "You look beautiful in this dress, Mama. It’s so different from your regular dresses." He leaned in and pressed a kiss on Eilika’s cheek, who smiled.
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