Natalie proceeded to tell Mikhail many things about her childhood. As he listened attentively to her stories, Jennie’s life gradually formed in his mind like puzzle pieces coming together. However, the more Natalie described her past with her mother, the more he mourned the loss of his lover. At the moment, he felt as though someone had carved his heart out of his chest.
Tears streamed down his cheeks endlessly. Ever since ascending the throne, Mikhail had seldom shed a tear. Yet, at that moment, he didn’t even realize his face was completely drenched.
After Natalie finished her story, Mikhail remained silent for a long while as he tried to calm himself down. They sat across from each other and stared at the vapor rising from the coffee.
I’ve told him everything he wants to know. Now, it’s my turn. She took a sip of her coffee and broke the silence. “What about you? Since you love my mother so much, why did you abandon her? How could you?”
Upon taking a deep breath, he narrated, “Much like many cliche dramas, there’s a gap between. your mother and me due to our status. When I met her, I was already the king of Loang. On the other hand, she was just the daughter of a royal physician. His father was an excellent, reputable physician, but he’s just a physician in the royal family.
I met your mother in the suburbs while strolling around there to relieve my immense pressure as the new king. She was collecting medicinal herbs halfway up at mountain when I saw her. We didn’t know each other’s identity, but we did have a wonderful time together and quickly fell in love.”
A smile was visible on his face when he mentioned that last part. Then, he continued, “Back then, to secure my position as the king, I had to succeed in the many tests my father imposed on me and survive my brothers’ schemes. It was the reason I selected and brought my three consorts into Luna Palace.
Your mother was a very good woman, so it was natural that I fell for her. I loved her, so I didn’t want to aggrieve her. Thus, the idea of getting rid of the three consorts popped into my mind. However, the goal I was trying to achieve by bringing them in became the reason I couldn’t send them away.
My mother didn’t want me to do anything that would affect my position for Jen, so she kept trying to ruin our relationship. In fact, due to my mother’s ploys, your granddad’s family suffered greatly. Not only did your granddad lose his title as the royal physician after she framed him for a wrongdoing he didn’t commit, but his reputation was also destroyed. Jen thought I tacitly permitted my mother to do all those things, but I didn’t. I just didn’t have enough evidence to prove your granddad’s innocence.
Hence, that was the only possible outcome. After what happened, I investigated your granddad’s case again to clear his name, but then your mother died due to a fire. I always thought your mother passed away during that incident. From that point onward, joy never returned to my cold heart. I admit I’m not a good person. My hands are stained with the blood of many, but I always genuinely loved your mother. If I knew your mother was still alive back then and gave birth to you, I absolutely wouldn’t have let you two suffer…”
Now that I’ve learned his side of the story, I think I understand why Mother used the fire to escape! It’s possible she was aware of the truth, but it wouldn’t change anything even if she did. She probably knew that if she did return alive with his baby, the attacks on her family would only increase in severity and frequency! Natalie thought.
