PROLOGUE

King Alexander's face darkened with concern as he turned to the maid. "Who did you say got you pregnant?" he asked, his voice firm but controlled.

Queen Victoria's eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with disdain. "My Lord, you can't possibly believe a mere common maid."

King Alexander's expression turned stern. "Allow her to speak!"

Amelia's voice trembled as she spoke, "It is Prince Henry." The public gasped in shock.

Queen Victoria's face turned red with rage. "That's slander! Blasphemy! A punishment deserving of a beheading!" she spat, her voice venomous.

King Alexander's voice rose above the commotion. "Fetch the prince immediately!"

Queen Victoria grasped her husband's arm, her eyes pleading. "My Lord, I don't see any need to involve our son in this blasphemy."

The king ignored his wife's rantings, his eyes fixed on the door until Prince Henry arrived.

King Alexander's expression turned serious. "Son, do you know this maid?"

Prince Henry nodded, his eyes avoiding Amelia's. "Yes, I do."

Queen Victoria snorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Of course he will, My Lord. She's a maid in this palace."

King Alexander's voice remained calm. "She claims she's pregnant for you, and I'd like you to confirm that."

Prince Henry's eyes widened in shock, his face pale.

Queen Victoria's voice rose to a hysterical pitch. "No, she's lying...!"

Prince Henry hesitated before speaking, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know, father."

Amelia's eyes dropped, her body trembling with fear.

King Alexander's face turned grave. "We also don't know the truth. So, a DNA test should be conducted, then?"

Queen Victoria's eyes flashed with anger. "It shouldn't. Prince Henry here had no carnal knowledge of her, so it doesn't involve the prince."

Prince Henry's face turned bright red as he contradicted his mother. "I do, mother... but it's just one time."

The room fell silent, the tension palpable. A pin could be heard if it fell on the floor.

Queen Victoria's voice turned shrill. "What? How could... a mere maid? She seduced him! This sneaky pig seduced the prince!"

Prince Henry's face turned defensive. "What, mother? That's ridiculous! She doesn't have what it takes to seduce me. I ordered her to..."

King Alexander's voice boomed through the room. "Enough! Everyone outside!"

The room emptied, leaving only the king and queen. But then, the king called out, "Amelia, come back here."

King Alexander looked serious. "Amelia, I'm sorry for what happened to you in the palace. Please forgive the royal household. You and my grandchild will be safe and have the best life as long as I'm king. Take care of yourself and my grandchild. You don't have to work as a maid anymore. You can go."

Amelia left with her head down, feeling sad. She could feel Queen Victoria staring at her with hatred.

As soon as Amelia was gone, Queen Victoria spoke up. "My Lord, we should make her get an abortion. If people find out about this baby, it will ruin our family's reputation."

King Alexander frowned. "No, we won't do that. Our tradition says that royal children must be born within marriage. We'll plan a royal wedding instead."

Queen Victoria and Prince Henry exclaimed, "What!"

Prince Henry looked angry. "No way, Father! I won't marry that maid. It's a joke. She's not good enough for me."

King Alexander looked stern. "You should have thought of that before you hurt her, Henry."

Queen Victoria spoke with hatred. "She's not innocent, my Lord. She planned this to trap our son. Think about our family's reputation. What do we tell the Windsor's family? We've publicized the engagement party already. It will be a disaster!"

King Alexander remained firm. "We'll still marry into the Windsor family, but Henry will marry Amelia instead of Charlotte."

Prince Henry looked furious. "No, Father! That's not fair. I won't marry her. I agreed to the arranged marriage at first because Charlotte is totally my style not that maid. I can't marry her!"

King Alexander's expression turned cold. "If you don't marry her, Henry, you'll lose your inheritance. Your sister Alicia will become the CEO of Montague Imperial Holdings."

Prince Henry looked shocked. "What? Father, that's not fair! I've worked hard for our family's business. Alicia doesn't know anything about the company. You can't do this to me!"