Chapter 7 - Chapter 007: I Will Be Your Family

Esther who had been crying sobbing tried to look back and saw Arthur's presence there. Seeing Queen Caroline's child, Esther rushed over to his and hugged the child tightly.

Arthur returned the warm hug tightly. At first he didn't want to cry at all but somehow after being hugged by Esther, it felt like tears were about to fall from his eyes.

"Arthur, now your mother has passed away leaving us both. What should we do without her now," said Esther while crying in Arthur's arms.

Arthur patted Esther on the back with his little hand and tried to calm her down. "Stop crying, Madam Beatrice. My mother would be sad to see you like this."

"I'm sorry Arthur, I've been trying to stop crying but it's really hard. I really can't accept her death. I can't even believe that a woman who was still smiling at me a few days ago has returned in such a pathetic state. why must the person I love the most who always leaves me," said Esther who was still crying.

Suddenly the King's secretary came with a roll of paper. It seemed the secretary was about to read out a decree from King Lucius II.

"I have come here to read His Majesty's decree to Her Majesty Concubine Beatrice," said the Secretary, who was unrolling the paper.

Everyone who was there immediately fell to their knees including Esther and Arthur because the King's decree was the same as the King's direct order.

The master secretary began to read the decree from the king in a loud voice. "I am very sad to hear the news that the Queen I love so much has passed away. Before the death of my queen, she once said something to me. She wanted when it was time for her to die, she told me to leave her child to be cared for and fully cared for by my last concubine who was like her own sister, namely Beatrice Valentina de Nightingale. Therefore to grant her final wish, as king I will use my authority to transfer the custody of Crown Prince Arthur Harrison de Nightingale to Beatrice Valentina de Nightingale."

"I can only thank you for the kindness and wisdom of His Majesty the King," said Esther.

"Since I have read the King's decree, then I bid farewell." The secretary left the room after handing the scroll to Esther.

Esther immediately stood up and looked at the people in the room. "I ask with all due respect to everyone here, including the Crown Prince. Before the funeral takes place, I would like to give my last greetings alone with Queen Caroline who I consider like a real sister to me. This is a heartfelt request from a woman who will replace the Queen's role as the mother of the Crown Prince. Everyone will understand me, right?"

Queen Caroline's older brother who was there also immediately replied, "If that is Your Majesty's wish, everyone please leave this place."

Arthur's eyes widened when he heard Esther's words. However, out of respect for Esther who would become his mother, he left the room with the other mourners.

Now in the room there were only Esther and the Queen's corpse lying in the coffin. Cold and silent. That was how Esther felt now. The woman again walked towards the coffin of the Queen. She raised the Queen's pale and cold palm and then she pressed the Queen's hand to her forehead.

"We haven't seen each other for a few days, sister. When I met you, I even had to meet you in a lifeless condition. Isn't that very sad? Even though when the knight broke the news of your death, I hoped it was all just a bad dream. I slapped and pinched myself on the cheek to see if this was a dream or reality. Turns out it wasn't a dream, right?"

"Sister, what do you mean by arbitrarily handing over the custody of your child to me? How can you ask an 10 year old girl like me to take care of your child? After all I'm still a child. Why do you always go easy on yourself in making decisions? You're also just going to leave me arbitrarily."

"Now what should I do now? The responsibility you have placed on me is too great. I will never be able to and never will be. Don't you know how the people you have left behind? Their hearts are broken, including mine. Even your only son tried to hold back his sadness and tried not to shed a single tear so that in the eyes of the other nobles he would not look weak as the crown prince. In fact, he is the one who mourns your death the most."

Esther cried again for the umpteenth time. She felt she had already expressed all the complaints that were in the bottom of her heart. "Really, goodbye Caroline, my dear sister. May you always protect me and your child from above."

Esther immediately walked out of the room. When she was about to leave the room she met Arthur, who seemed to have been faithfully waiting for him outside the room. Esther gave Arthur a small smile and took his hand.

"Let's go with me to my palace, Tiny! Starting today you will live with me," said Esther who was still trying to smile.

"Okay, Madam Beatrice."

The two of them walked together to Rose's palace, where Esther had lived all this time. At the palace, the two of them were immediately greeted by Anne and Helena, who looked worried to see their condition, especially Esther, whose eyes were swollen from crying too much.

"Helena, can you prepare a room for Tiny now?" said Esther.

"Who is Tiny, Your Majesty?" asked a confused Helena.

"I mean Arthur. Can you prepare his room right now? I think he should rest now," Esther said as she gently stroked Arthur's head.

"Oh, you mean Prince Arthur. But I think at the earliest we can prepare a room for him tomorrow. So it would be better for His Highness the Prince to sleep in your room today."

"Yeah, that's fine. I don't mind if he sleeps with me tonight either. Do you mind, Tiny?" Esther asked.

"No, madam," Arthur replied curtly.

"Okay then. Please tidy up my room now, Helena. I want to sleep soon!" Esther's orders.

"Very well, Your Majesty." Helena immediately left from there and did her job.

Esther took a deep breath. Today was really tiring. Due to the constant crying, she became sleepy now. Suddenly she felt someone pat her back gently. Esther looked back and saw Anne standing there.

"What's the matter, Anne?"

"Duke Campbell wants to see you. He's waiting for you in the parlor," reported Anne.

Esther sighed again. "Okay, I'll be right there. Then Anne please take Arthur to sit by the fireplace and bring him some hot chocolate and some snacks. Then don't forget to give him a slightly thick blanket so he can warm himself."

"Very well, Your Majesty."

Esther immediately went into the parlor to meet Duke Campbell. Duke Campbell is the biological father of Queen Caroline. It seemed he wanted to talk about Arthur's custody which was now in Esther's hands.

Arriving in the living room, sure enough there was already an old man who was the Queen's father. Esther immediately sat down in front of the man.

"What is the need for the busy lord of the duke to meet a lowly concubine like me?" said Esther who didn't want to go any further.

"Stop looking down on yourself, Your Majesty. I came here just to chat with you as a father as well as a grandfather."

"What do you want to talk to me about?" Esther asked.