"My Queen"
I glance at the guard as he enters the office and bows "Yes?"
"There seems to be a Tyler at the gate and he said he won't leave until he speaks with the Queen herself"
Romero's oldest son?
I frown and open my mouth to tell the guard to call Hayden out of habit but then I remember he left this morning, I ask "Is he alone?"
"Yes and he seems rather…..grey"
"Sick grey or hungry grey?"
"Could be both."
I tap my fingers on the table as I think what to do before standing up "Bring him through but stay close to him and don't take your eyes off of him"
"Of course, Your Grace" he bows before walking out and I glance around the office before taking the letter opener and stuffing it into my dress pocket.
I'm not taking any chances.
The door opens again and Tyler walks in with the guard and I have to stop myself from gasping. I always thought Romero Junior and Raya looked like their father but Tyler looks almost identical. He immediately bows "My Queen"
"Tyler." I frown "What are you doing here?"
"I need help"
"Help with what?"
He glances around the office nervously "Prince Lincoln is planning to kill me"
My eyebrows shot up and I gesture for him to take a seat before telling the guard "Have the maid bring him a plate of food please"
The guard looks hesitant but I nod in reassurance and he leaves, I glance back at Tyler whose leg is bouncing anxiously "What happened, Tyler? And tell me from the beginning"
He nods "Well Prince Lincoln said that I should be King because I'm the King's first born son and he said he would get me the crown, all I needed to do was go to his castle"
Sneaky. "And what happened after?" I ask gently
"I told him I would go with him if I could bring my mother with and he agreed." He swallows "He said no one would get hurt but then we heard about what happened to your son and I'm sorry. I swear I didn't know Lincoln was going to hurt him" he says as tears fall down his cheek
I blink away my own tears before saying "It's okay"
"You have to believe me, Your Grace" he cries harder as he drops to his knees at my feet "Please believe me"
"I believe you, Tyler" I say softly as I drop to my knees in front of him and pull him into my chest "It's okay, I believe you"
"I'm so sorry"
"Shhhh, it's okay."
I don't know how long we sat on the floor with him crying in my arms and me biting my bottom lip to stop myself from sobbing with him but eventually the maid comes with his food and I watch as he all but shoves the food in his mouth, I notice how pale his skin is "How did you get here, Tyler?" I ask gently
"I walked"
I frown "From Lincoln's castle? That must've taken days." My chest tightens when he nods in confirmation and I ask "You mother?"
His eyes fall to the floor "He killed her." I suck in a sharp breath "We tried running away from his castle together but we both couldn't make it out, so she used herself as a distraction for me to get away."
"I'm so sorry"
He nods before saying softly "I had nowhere else to go"
"You came to the right place." I put a hand on his shoulder "Lincoln won't hurt you, you're safe here."
He sighs heavily "Thank you, Your Grace"
"You're welcome, now finish your food so that you can take a bath."
Later that day Simon asks "Where is the boy now?"
"He's sleeping in one of the bedchambers. I have a guard outside his room to keep an eye on him"
"Are you sure we can trust him?"
I sigh "I don't know but I would rather take the chance of him being untrustworthy than Lincoln killing him"
He nods "Lincoln is getting greedy and desperate, it's not good."
"I know but if he were to do anything, we are prepared"
He frowns "Where is Sir Hayden?"
"Oh, uhm…he had other business to handle but don't worry he'll be back in a few days."
He hums "Okay then." We both glance to Raya as she approaches us and Simon bows before leaving her and I alone
"Who is the boy sleeping like he haven't slept in years? I'm concerned a few flies flew into his mouth"
I let out a laugh before glancing at her as I say hesitantly "He's your…..brother"
She blinks about a thousand times "Pardon me?"
"He's your father's first born son. Tyler."
"I see" she frowns "Did you know about him?"
"Well I only found out when I read your father's diary but today is the first time I met him"
"I don't know how to feel about having him as a brother" her lips downturn in this sad way "I've always only had one"
I take her hands into mine "It's okay if you're not okay with it, sweetheart. Romero Junior will always be your little brother and he will forever be in our hearts but Tyler shares blood with your father which makes him share blood with you." I cup her cheek "You don't need to get along with him but you also don't need to be mean to him"
She nods "I can do that"
"My brave girl" I press a kiss to head as I hold her against me. I hear footsteps and we look towards Tyler who's heading to us and the guard who's walking a few steps behind him. "Did you sleep okay?"
"The best sleep honestly. Thank you" he glances at Raya and holds his hand out "I'm Tyler, you must be Raya."
She glances at me and I raise an eyebrow, she huffs before shaking his hand "Nice to meet you"
He nods and glances at me "I know this may be weird but do you mind….telling me about my father?" He rubs the back of his neck "My mother didn't really have much to say about him"
I smile "Sure, have a seat" I gesture to the couch and he sits down, I sit opposite him before glancing at Raya and she takes a seat next to me "I was under the impression that he visited you over the years"
"He did. But my mom would always try…getting with him" he says awkwardly "I think that made him uncomfortable because he was married and he visited less until he just stopped"
"Oh." I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear as I say "He never did like women attention"
"Really? I thought he would be into it"
"Perhaps was when he was younger yes but not when he reached adulthood." I sigh as I think what I share about Romero "He hated honey because it was too sweet for his liking but he loved honey scented things because it reminded him of his mother."
Tyler smiles and Raya pipes up "His favourite horse is the black stallion who he named Ryder"
"He hated the colour gold because he always had to wear it" I say and for the next hour we sit by the fireplace and sip tea as we share stories about Romero and Romero Junior.
The King and the King who never was.