Married To The Enemy Kingdom's Illegitimate Prince-Chapter 109 — New Name

"We made a promise. Do you remember? You better not forget it," the dark-haired young woman said in a stern tone.

Lyon lowered his head, his cheeks puffing slightly in protest. He knew the promise would hold until he turned twelve.

But isn’t that still a long time away?

As he wondered, a knock came at the door.

"Who might it be at this hour?" his mother muttered, brushing her hands on her dress. Her gentle gaze shifted sharply, guarded now. "Stay here. I’ll see who it is," she said, offering him a small smile before heading toward the entrance. She opened the wooden door.

"Yes?"

Lyon waited, straining to hear the conversation, but the voices were too faint. Only fragments reached him.

"I see..."

"I’ll talk to him."

Although curious, he stayed put, his mother’s teachings about eavesdropping echoing in his mind. She always said it was bad manners, though everyone in the village seemed to do it.

Why was he the only one who had to behave differently?

Hearing his mother’s steps grow closer, Lyon straightened his posture, putting on a bright smile.

"Who was it?" he demanded, noticing her pale face filled with worry. It wasn’t the first time she wore such an expression. She looked like this whenever he fell sick, when they didn’t have enough money for food, or when winter came and she could barely manage enough clothes to keep them warm.

"Well..." the woman hesitated.

Seeing her falter, Lyon grew anxious, his chest tightening. He gulped, nervously jumping off his seat.

"What’s wrong, Mom? Who was at the door?" Lyon asked, looking up at her.

"They are from the... palace."

"The palace? But we don’t have a king or any palaces here."

"Remember the land I told you about? Selvarys? They came from that kingdom."

"But why would they come here?"

"My child..." The dark-haired young woman knelt to look into her son’s eyes. "They came to bring you with them."

Lyon frowned. Her words made no sense.

"What are you saying, Mom? Why would they bring me with them? And why are you saying they are here for me only? Aren’t you coming with me?"

His mother sighed, her lips trembling. "Listen to me... You need to go with them."

"Is it... because of my eyes?" Lyon clenched his jaw, brushing his bangs aside to expose his golden left eye. He didn’t understand why he had to hide it, especially when it resembled his mother’s. But she constantly stopped him from exposing it.

"No... It’s not because of your eye. And I will not accompany you."

"But Mom!" Lyon shouted, gasping when he realized he had raised his voice at her for the first time.

"I am not your mother." Tears began to fall from the woman’s eyes.

Lyon wasn’t shocked to hear her say it. He had known all along. She had already told him the truth last year when he turned seven. So what if they shared a similar hair color? That was only because she had dyed her hair dark. He faintly remembered her bright white hair and golden eyes. But she had to change them because people in Tervland called her a witch for her distinctive features.

"I don’t care. You are my mother," Lyon burst into tears, his emerald and golden eyes begging her not to let him go.

"But your father is looking for you. I don’t have the right to keep you," the young woman said, looking down, her tears falling freely.

"I don’t want to go. I only want to stay with you," Lyon’s voice shook, his breaths ragged.

The woman wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. He clung to her, sobbing into her shoulder.

Inhaling deeply, she pulled away, placing a kiss on his forehead.

"I love you. I will always be here, waiting for you. Just do as the king says for now. I am certain he will allow you to write to me at least. Send me a letter once you arrive at the palace. All right?" She clasped his small hands in her cold ones, her gaze firm despite the tears in her eyes.

Unwillingly, Lyon nodded. He had known a day would come when she would no longer keep him, but he never thought it would be so soon.

"If Jason comes and bothers you again, tell him I’ll come back to deal with him," Lyon said, wiping his tears with trembling hands. "And if Grandma asks you to do more work than you’re supposed to, refuse her. Take care of yourself, Mom."

Tears flowed down his cheeks, but Lyon continued. He had always tried to look after her in his small ways. But now, worry overwhelmed him—not for himself, but for her. He knew that once she decided something, she wouldn’t listen to him, especially when it came to his well-being. Her love wasn’t hidden, and even as a child, he understood why she was so stern.

She wanted him to hate her.

But which fool would think she didn’t love him after seeing her cry? She was a strong woman who had raised a child alone for years.

Just like that, Lyon had left her, the woman who sacrificed her whole life for a child she didn’t even give birth to.

***

Another flash and Lucian found himself in the Solar Palace. Everyone around him passed through him as if he were a ghost.

The grand doors had opened over the small boy as he entered, making him feel smaller with every step. His heart was heavy, his tears barely held back. He cried for hours during the journey.

When the carriage first entered the kingdom, his eyes widened upon witnessing magic everywhere. He only saw his mother back in Tervland use magic. The sight of everyone being able to use it amazed him.

However, despite the large castle in which he now stood, nothing about it amazed him. He recalled his mother telling him to greet the king as soon as he reached the castle.

The king must be this man, right?

The little boy mused, looking at the man ahead of him.

Behind him, Lucian followed closely, as if he were experiencing the same sensation as the small boy.

The king sat on the throne, his legs crossed, his face younger than Lucian had imagined—no wrinkles of age, just the same sharp, disdainful eyes he has, even in the present.

"Hah," the king sighed, his gaze filled with disgust. "This is the child?"

Lyon, who couldn’t hold back his tears any longer, nodded.

"Weakling," he scoffed. "How can this thing be my son?"

"Your Majesty, only royalties have emerald eyes. You are the only one among the men in the royal family who had once travelled to Tervland," the general standing behind the king whispered, although his voice was loud enough to echo in the large room.

"His left eye. Have you seen it?" The king said with a repulsed expression.

Lyon frowned, unable to understand why the king was making such faces toward him. His mother never looked at him like this. Since she repeated to him that was what made him special.

"Shall we proceed with a mana test?"

"No need. He looks too small now to awaken any powers. If he has mana, he should be able to get through the Yune soon. When that happens..." the king paused. "We shall we what happens then."

The generals nodded in agreement with a slight bow.

"What’s his name?"

"That—"

"Lyon," the boy spoke firmly, after managing to stop his tears.

The king tilted his head to the side. Then, he burst into laughter as if Lyon had told him a joke.

Seeing the confused expressions on the child, Valerian stopped laughing.

"Your name shall be Lucian. Lucian Von Gwyndor."

Hearing so, Lyon frowned, unable to hide his displeasure.

"You are now part of the royal family. I can’t possibly give you such a lame name."

"My mother chose it for me!" Lyon shouted.

"Dare raise your voice at me, do you? Low-lives will forever be low-lives," the man scoffed. "Take him away from my sight until his powers awaken."

Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om