"Nathan! Wait!"
Violet was shocked when her eyes met Nathan's that she wanted to run towards him at once when the Emperor grabbed her arms.
" Empress. It is unbecoming of the Mother of the Empire to run after a child throwing a tantrum like a fool."
" A tantrum, you say , Your Majesty?
Your son , His Royal Highness Prince Nathaniel Lee Schidmt who just found out that his birth mother is Lady Olivia is a child with feelings still untainted by society.
He is allowed to be scared , to be angry, to be sad and to be weak.
He is allowed to have such feelings and
he is allowed to show them.
His thoughts and his feelings are validated , Your Majesty.
Now, let me go.
The Prince needs me." , Violet said with gritted teeth as she attempted to withdraw her arms from the Emperor.
" He is a Prince! He must learn how to control his feelings."
" Your Majesty, let me go .
Your Majesty has already given me full rights on the education of the Prince.
Your Majesty, I will teach the Prince on the importance of reason , clarity and rationality as a ruler, but I will not teach my child to hide or suppress his feelings .
That will be too exhausting on the child. Unexpressed emotions do not die , Your Majesty. They will eventually swallow you alive.
Now , release my arms."
To Violet's surprise, the Emperor let go of his hold on her.
Violet ran towards the door and sighed in relief to see the Prince in Daniel's arms.
Violet tried to talk to Nathan but he was unwilling to even look at her.
Violet felt a crushing pain as Nathan continued to reject her.
But Violet understood that the child needed space and time as the events of the day were
far too shocking.
" You're not my mommy! I don't want to see you."
Violet knew that Nathan said those words in a fit of uncontrolled emotions and she didn't blame him.
That did not mean that her feelings weren't hurt by his words.
But what was important right now was for Nathan to calm down so Violet allowed Nathan to go with Daniel.
" Daniel, can you please take care of him for the time being?"
Violet was grateful to Daniel who did not ask any questions.
She was sure that he had a lot of questions in his head but he chose not to ask because the situation did not permit it.
She would surely answer his questions later.
" Sure."
" Nathan, I am really sorry.
I won't come to meet you if you don't want to see me.
But remember, Nathan darling, no matter what anyone say , I will always be your mommy. And I will always love you."
Violet reminded Nathan that she would always be his mother no matter what people said.
She had to.
Because she was sure that right now Nathan was feeling scared and insecure.
Violet went to visit Nathan late at night when it was way past his bedtime.
Violet sat down on the side on the bed and gently stroked Nathan's hair.
Violet was extremely touched at Daniel's company and his understanding.
He was there for her unconditionally.
" Nathan darling, I'm sorry that I had to come see you while you were sleeping.
I was afraid you wouldn't want to see me yet. Mommy loves you , darling.
I will always love you and choose you to be my son.
I hope you'll forgive mommy for lying to you. Whenever you're ready to speak , you can come find me. Or I'll come to you.
Mommy will always be here waiting for you." , Violet reassured the sleeping Nathan before she left the room.
"Daniel?"
Violet looked at Daniel who was standing in front of her.
They were the only living souls present in the dimly lit and quiet corridor.
" Yes?"
" Can I get a hug from you?"
Violet saw a flicker of surprise and joy in Daniel's eyes at her question.
" Sure ."
Violet looked at Daniel as he opened his a took a step towards her.
Violet took two steps and hugged Daniel tightly who embraced her tightly while patting her back as if to tell her that it would work out .
" Violet , don't let your heart be too troubled. Nathan just needs a little time to accept the truth."
" It's amazing , Daniel."
" Hmm? What is?"
"Just a word..a word from you.
No, your presence itself and it feels as if the gloom and heaviness in my heart will disappear." , Violet confessed.
Daniel's presence made her feel stronger and surer.
He was her rock.
" I'm always here , Violet."
" Thank you." , Violet answered as she detached herself from the hug.
" As you can guess, Nathan is not my biological son .
Lady Olivia gave birth to him. She..she didn't want him. The Emperor and Lady Olivia gave him to me.
Like he was just a thing of no value that can be passed to someone else.
I don't understand why the Emperor suddenly decided to announce the fact that Lady Olivia gave birth to him."
" I do not see the intention behind the announcement either .
You must have already guessed as well.
The one pushing for the announcement is Lady Olivia.
The Emperor would never make a rash and inconsequential action if not for the sake of Lady Olivia."
" Yes. But why? "
" Maybe it is Lady Olivia's last attempt to shake your position as the Empress. " , Daniel replied.
" My position as the Empress?
It is true that the nobility will express their discontentment and dissent if they learn that I do not have a biological heir .
They might push for my dethronement and put pressure on the Emperor to select a new Empress.
Do you think, perhaps, Lady Olivia is no longer satisfied with merely being the Emperor's woman?
And now she desires to be the Empress?" , Violet asked Daniel as they stood leaning on the walls of the empty corridor.
" There is a high possibility. But does Lady Olivia truly believe that she can become the Empress that easily simply because she's favoured by the Emperor? The nobles will not support such a decision." , Daniel smirked and chuckled mockingly.
" It will be extremely difficult for the nobles to support her to be the Empress even if she has a royal heir. I don't believe the Emperor is stupid enough to offend the higher nobility class for a woman. "
" But doesn't the Emperor love her immensely? I thought he would at least take a risk despite all the opposition he would surely get ."
" I guess that is the extent of his love for her ", Violet chuckled and continued , " Because at the end , if the Emperor had to make a choice, power will always be more important to him than love. That was how he was taught and brought up after all."
" To choose power over a loved one.
I will never do that.
I will always choose you , Violet.
No matter what.
You are precious and you are the most important person to me."
Violet simply looked at Daniel as she did not know how to reply.
" And Violet , don't worry about Nathan. I will take care of him. "