Mabel continued with more questions, her curiosity about her mother evident. "But why did she leave me? Why did I end up at the orphanage? Did my mother hate me? Where is my father? Why isn't he here too?"
These questions weighed heavily on Duke Caius's heart. He couldn't reveal the painful truth to a child so young, the truth about the mistakes and complexities of the adult world that had led to her unfortunate circumstances.
Instead, he opted for silence, gently wiping the tears from Mabel's deep purple eyes, which reminded him so much of her mother.
Each glance at those eyes filled him with guilt, a reminder of the secrets he held and the promises he had yet to fulfill. He couldn't reveal everything to Mabel just yet, but he vowed to himself that someday he would share the truth.
Duke Caius spoke softly, his fingers brushing through Mabel's slightly disheveled silver hair, a result of her recent tears.
