Silence fell until Démic broke it with a thump on the table. He suddenly stood up and said, "Damn it, I forgot my child!"

Evering calmed him down, saying, "Brother, sit down. I've spoken with your siblings, and we will bring him here, but after the celebration."

Démic sat down quietly, wiped his face with his hand, and sighed. Evering then asked, "What is his name?"

Démic replied, "Lucio."

Evering commented with a smile, "That's a lovely name."

Evering then added, "Brother, you must go to that kingdom as Grand Archduke Démic of Cassial. You need to show them who you are.

After breakfast, the brothers went to their private meeting room to start a special discussion.

Alex looked tense and suddenly asked, "By the way, how did you get married?"

Démic replied with sadness, "It was the worst thing that happened to me. She constantly pursued me, and I resisted her until my brother invited her to dinner at our palace. There, she drugged my drink, and when I woke up, she was next to me in bed... No need for details."

Kailos asked in surprise, "And what happened after that?"

Démic continued, "After a while, she came and said she was pregnant, claiming it was my fault. So, I had to marry her despite my doubts. Later, the child was born... Lucio looks so much like me, even though his hair color is different. I didn’t leave her because I didn’t consider her a wife; she was only the mother of my child."

Phoenix asked, "Then why did you divorce her?"

Démic replied angrily, "Because she betrayed me with my brother in my bed!"

Everyone screamed in unison, "Whattttttt?!"

Evering said angrily, "That’s not your brother, nor your family. Stop saying that!" 

Démic responded sadly, "I know, but habits persist. William and I were close, even though his father didn’t like me."

**Alan** had headed to the garden, one of Judith's favorite places, without her siblings noticing. He had excused himself from the meeting room, claiming he had a headache.

As Judith strolled through the garden, enjoying the tranquility and calm surrounding her, she suddenly felt something unusual. She then discovered that **Alan** was watching her from between the trees. **Alan** took swift steps until he stood before her, gently but firmly taking her arm, making her stop in her tracks.

Judith sensed something was happening, but before she could respond, **Alan** gently pulled her towards him and embraced her tightly. The hug was filled with emotion, showing how much he missed and longed for her after years of separation. Judith felt her heart race, and the warmth of the embrace filled her with feelings she had buried beneath layers of caution and apprehension.

**Alan** said in a trembling voice, "Judith, I can't describe how much I've missed you. I've been through tough days, and I had no one to talk to. I tried repeatedly to escape my prison at first until that curse managed to seal me. I drifted in the void for many years without purpose."

Judith pulled away slightly from the embrace and looked at him with tear-filled eyes and mixed emotions. She responded with a voice filled with pain, "Alan, the situation here is extremely complicated. I didn’t expect us to meet like this. The laws here are very strict, and I fear we might get into trouble."

**Alan** took a deep breath and said with a tone full of determination, "I know, but after all these years, I need to hear from you and be near you. We need to find a way to handle this situation together. Judy, I am already your fiancé, and we will marry soon."

Judith realized the depth of his sadness and pain, and how the lost years had truly broken her heart. She began to regain her composure. As their conversation continued, it seemed like they were lifting the veil from years of separation and longing.

Judith said, "Alan, my siblings will cause problems because we are meeting in a place away from their eyes. If I asked them to talk, they wouldn’t mind. We are, after all, engaged." 

**Alan** responded, "I know, but they will be sitting with us, and then we won’t be able to talk." 

"And what do you want to discuss, you rascal?" 

Suddenly, **Alan** felt someone pulling him by the ear. 

"Dad, what are you doing? This is embarrassing in front of my fiancé!" 

Judith was laughing at the sight of her uncle scolding her fiancé. 

"And you, how dare you talk to him in this secluded place? Go back to the palace quickly," her father ordered. 

"Oh, Uncle Alan did nothing. We were just talking. Besides, he is my fiancé," said Judith. 

"Dad, let go of my ear! Look, I didn’t do anything." 

"Yes, yes, I saw how you embraced each other. Do you think I’m stupid? As soon as you left, I followed you." 

Max pushed **Alan** away and said, "And you, go to the palace. I will set the date for your wedding soon." 

"But—" 

"Judy, don’t argue." 

Judith went to the palace without further dispute. 

"Dad, why are you like this?" 

"Prepare for tonight’s party. Gina will be coming too." 

"Gina? Oh, Dym will be sad to see her with her husband. It would be better if she didn’t come." 

"Yes?! Gina didn’t get married. It’s a silly prank by Ivy. I don’t understand why she acted this way." 

"What???" 

"Don’t tell Dym anything." 

"But—" 

"Let things go as Ivy wants. Tonight, Elias will be attending the party; he was in the neighboring kingdom, Elanthia, visiting an old friend. It seems she needed some time away from all the pressures here... That friend, do you remember her? She was always close to Gina since childhood. But what I heard is that the visit is not ordinary." 

"What do you mean?" 

"They say her friend is facing major issues. It seems her father intends to marry her off to a wealthy old man, and Gina went to support her in this difficult crisis." 

"Oh... I’m relieved that Dym didn’t lose her. Poor guy loves her so much. The scheming woman he married... Thankfully, he divorced her." 

"Do you remember her?" 

"Not exactly, Dad. Most of the time, I was unconscious in one of the corners of his mind. I only woke up once when she was cheating on him with that scoundrel named William. I tried to help him remember or break the spell, but the enchantments were so tight that I nearly lost my identity and memories. I suspect if it had continued longer, I would have been lost in his mind forever." 

Max suddenly embraced his son and patted his back. "Well, my handsome boy, all that is behind us now. We’re back together. Let’s make today peaceful, and tomorrow we’ll bring your nephew." 

He and his father sat on one of the garden benches. 

"Will Gina accept his child?" 

"Yes, her father told her everything. She doesn’t mind." 

"What a lovely woman! If it were Judith, she would have broken my bones." 

The two laughed heartily, their laughter filling the place. 

Servants moved busily around the palace, preparing for the evening's party. No one could stop moving; everything had to be ready and befitting Cassial's status in the continent. 

...to be continued