Chapter 15.

Bring him back.

Time passed so quickly that six months seemed to have been a sigh, Ciprianito had adapted perfectly to the duchy, everyone knew him as the protégé of the ladies of the mansion and some men were somewhat envious of him for being so pampered by new women in the mansion and those who were already there, and even his friend Brett with whom he spent day and night not only studying and training, but also venturing around the city playing, with some poor people in the area who were to his liking, But just because they liked it didn't mean they weren't poor.

When Duke Blake received an invitation to the wedding of King Cyprian V with Miss Peyton Dunne in 15 days and the king's son was asked to attend that magnificent event, the duke, seeing the situation, didn't know how to handle it, so he told Mrs. Maggie so she could tell the boy what was happening and why he would have to travel back to the kingdom in 12 days.

Maggie understood the situation and told the duke not to worry, that she would take care of speaking to the boy carefully. Then, when they were alone in the house, Maggie prepared him some warm water with honey, which is used to calm nerves and anxiety caused by stress or strong news…

After making sure that Nari had taken the water with honey, she gave him some cookies, took him by the hands and said: Darling, I know that you are upset by the pain you carry in your heart, however, I hope that you understand that your father, being king, needs a woman by his side to govern peacefully as he has done until now.

Cyprian, wrinkling his face, said to her: Maggie, are you okay? Did the food upset you? why do you talk to me about the rabble, but she answered him: your father is getting married in 15 days with Miss Peyton and you as heir to the throne have the obligation to attend the ceremony, but putting a grimace of disgust on her face she said: I do not have to attend the ceremony of the rabble, it is fine that he wants to get married, it is his right and he has the power to do so, but why involve me? It is not as if after what he did I could forgive him, but she answered: it is not that you have to forgive him, but remember that hatred kills the soul and poisons it and your mother if she were alive would not want you to live resentful and full of hatred towards your father; you can do this as an act of charity towards your father and Miss Peyton, because in 12 days you have to return to the kingdom. The boy's expression was one of astonishment and disbelief, as he answered: I can do this act of kindness and charity for my mother because I know she was a fair, calm and loving woman and she had no bad feelings, but as soon as that circus is over I want to return to the duchy again, this place feels like home, there you can't even breathe easily; Maggie nodded and replied: I understand your decision and I will let the king know as soon as we arrive, remember something: where you go I go and as your mother taught you, your name before the world is Cyprian VI and only for those with whom you have a true emotional bond you will be Nari, do not allow your father, or Miss Peyton, or anyone within the kingdom of Hars to know the identity of Nari, because it is the only thing that remains of your mother's memory, do you understand?

The boy nodded, the woman hugged him and after a while they both fell asleep on the piece of furniture with the fireplace lit and an open window, the weather was pleasant, which made it perfect for the moment, since without being covered they felt sheltered.

***

The 12 days practically flew by and between laughter, games and disciplines, Ciprianito had begun to establish bonds far beyond the familiar, they were emotional bonds because for him, the duke was like a funny and liberal uncle, the women of the mansion were the classic annoying cousins ​​who advise you, but also show you what the real world is like; Maggie felt like something much more than a mother, she probably felt like a grandmother who is raising her only grandson, the guards who imparted disciplines were good friends, and in some way, they were like the kind of friends who are part of the family without being one, but Brett was different, he did not feel like a brother or a cousin, but he was not so lazy to feel like a friend, perhaps he was just a part of his environment that he could not define, but he liked that he was there.

When Maggie and Cyprian left, the women of the house could not help but shed a few tears and in the distance you could see them clapping their hands goodbye with the promise that they would return, the duke would arrive two days after them directly to the celebration, since he had urgent matters to attend to in the duchy in relation to some barbarians who were stealing slaves in the area, but no matter how many hours passed in that carriage, silence was the only thing that could be heard, Maggie was asleep and the guards who guided the carriage were focused on the road, so it was just him in that little cardboard box as he used to call it, so he pulled the curtain back a little and dedicated himself to seeing the landscape that was pleasant and beautiful, they had passed through a forest on the way and in the blink of an eye there was the notice that welcomed them to the kingdom of Hars, it was evident that they had already arrived and there was commotion in the town, flowers on every corner, people eatinging and dancing, slaves being transported to other areas and then, there was the palace in front of him welcoming him like a jailer receiving a prisoner.

There was no one to welcome Cipriano and this was evident, the servants were completely busy running from one side to the other carrying a lot of arrangements to the cathedral of the palace where that marriage would be celebrated, and although everything was apparently fine, something did not feel right in the environment and it seemed to be the child the only one who realized that everything was heavy as if he carried a great weight on his shoulders, which when walking increased double, and almost as if by instinct, he ended up reaching the room where that tragedy had happened, he entered calmly and closed the door, there was still a stain on the floor that indicated that the corpse had spent there at least three or four days without picking up, but despite everything it was the only room in which he seemed to be able to breathe calmly, and squatting down, the child touched that stain and with a smile said to his beloved mother: I'm here mommy, in the place that is supposed to be my home, but I don't know why this place doesn't feel like a home, suddenly, the air began to circulate and a window opened, then a butterfly landed; and the child interpreted this as a greeting from his mother whom he loved so much and whom he could not forget, but who would forget those dull, glassy eyes that saw him that night without seeing him, since the body that hugged him without hugging him? There are feelings that simply do not go away with time, they simply remain there in silence, secretly like a small guardian.

The king met Maggie in one of the hallways and asked her about the child, the old woman answered that he was probably in the room resting from that trip, but at that moment two girls holding hands and humming a melody absentmindedly collided behind the king's back and fell sitting on the floor... turning around the King saw them and said: little ones, you must not run carelessly through the hallways, you can trip over someone carrying something dangerous and get hurt; Bianca, one of the girls smiled and said: Your Highness, you look bigger today, I hope you will forgive us for being so distracted, my sister Lina and I did not do it on purpose, Cyprian V smiled at both of them, made himself the size of them, touched their heads and said: Why don't you go to the kitchen to eat cake, I'm sure that's where you were headed, and timidly Lina answered: Yes, Your Majesty, we were on our way to the kitchen to try some sweets, and stepping aside the king said to them: Then ladies the way is clear for you to arrive safely, just be careful with the stairs so you don't end up falling, the girls nodded, shook off their dresses, straightened their backs and went towards the kitchen in complete silence. Maggie watched all this, but did not dare to intervene, she just listened and remained silent. The king said to her: Don't you think that children grow up very quickly? Soon they will be women and my son will be a man by then. Time flies by and we do not realize that childhood seems to be very short and adulthood very long; The old woman laughed softly and said: remember that old age is short, but very wise, your majesty, the king nodded and said: in the morning I will go see the child alone, I hope you understand that I do not want anyone to enter his room, then the old woman smiled and said: don't worry your majesty, it will be a secret between you and me and you already know what they say about two keeping a secret when one is dead... the king wrinkled his brow and said: are you cursing me Maggie? but she quickly brightened her face and said: no, I would never dare to do that, I am only commenting that I am practically leaving this world while you still have a long way to go; if you need someone to keep a secret tell it to someone on the way out, because they will never reveal the truth, since the dead cannot speak and those who are alive, but in line to leave, only watch and remain silent, do you understand what I say your majesty? The King smiled and said to her: if you were a man you would surely be my personal advisor, it is a shame that a woman with great talent like you only serves to take care of children and help women give birth, perhaps if you were a man you would have gone very far, but only perhaps it would have worked out that way, the old woman nodded and the king continued on his way, no one was observing the situation and he continued searching through the hallways and in each room for the child whom he had lost sight of as soon as he arrived.