THAT F*CKENING KING! HOW DID HIS SON END UP BEING HERE?

Gabriella shouted in her mind while looking at the Crown Prince. She is sure that this boy is the King's son, from his hair and to his eyes, she can't doubt the striking resemblance!

This must be the Crown Prince!

Gabriella already saw King Ian once when she was just a child. To be precise, it was a week before she decided to run away with her only 6-year-old brother. 

How can she forget that cute face?

Ahem!

Well, of course, her brother is cuter...

That happened on the Previous King's birthday. Her family, who just broke apart were invited to the King's Birthday. Gabriella saw a child crying in the corner. When she asked him why is he crying, he told her that his favorite pet was killed by his father.

As a good citizen who was also a sister of a cute little boy, Gabriella told him that he doesn't need to be sad because his dog became a star, and then she sang him the nursery rhyme that was famous in her previous life called 'Twinkle, twinkle little star'.

The child's mood became lighter and he played with her. When it was time to go home, the child told him that he is a Prince and promised to find her to make her his bride.

Anyway, Gabriel didn't know about this...

She won't tell him anyway... 

Who knows how will he react...

Gabriella slapped her forehead and took a deep breath, Why is she remembering these things again?

"Twinkle, twinkle little stars. How I wonder what you are~" Gabriella's eyes went to the child who was singing beside her. A warm smile appeared on her lips.

The child is actually smart, he memorized the song after Gabriella sang it three times, and now the child didn't stop singing when he memorized it. He really loves stars.

"Up above the world so high. Like a diamond in the sky.~"

Gabriella's eyes dropped when she remembered something.

In the novel, this child wasn't supposed to be born...

Maria accidentally killed this child when he was only in her mother's womb.

It was also the main reason for her execution.

"Twinkle, twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are~" The child finished the song. When the child was about to sing the song again. Gabriella spoke.

"Aw, you really like that song?" Gabriella asked the singing Prince. She went to the oven and took the freshly baked cookies. "Do you want more star cookies?" She asked. The child nodded his head.

Gabriella took a small basket and put some cookies on it. "Here, take it," then she gave him a bright smile. "This sister will go now to deliver the cookies to my friend, do you know where your parents are? I can't just leave you here."

"Leaving?" The Prince uttered, his face became sad when he said that. "I still want to be with the pretty lady..." He said.

Gabriella placed her hands in her cheeks, trying to stop herself from pinching the cute prince. Just where did he got this personality? "Thank you for the compliment. You are also cute," Gabriella replied. The child's face turned pink when she said that. "But I can't take you with me..."

"Why?" The child asks.

"You shouldn't come with a stranger..." I said.

"Aren't you unclwe's wife?" 

Gabriella tilted her head. "I-I don't have a husband," She replied with a confused face.

"Sow pretty lady is not unclwe's wife?" He asked and Gabriella just nodded. "What is the pretty lady's name?" The Prince asked.

"Gabriella?" She replied.

"Oh, you're not yet unclwe's wife," The child said. Gabriella noticed that the Prince is starting to be more talkative. "Then I'll marry Gabriella!" The child announced with determination.

Gabriella choked from her breathe when the child said that. She almost said yes because of this child's cuteness. 

'Looks like the Prince got his personality from his father,' Gabriella thought as she remembered that Ian told him the same thing.

"Ehrmm, You can't, I-I'll marry your uncle, whoever that man is," She whispered on the last part. "How about you marry my future daughter. That's good right?" She asked. "My daughter will be prettier than me."

'PWE! WHAT DAUGHTER? I DON'T EVEN HAVE A HUSBAND!' 

"Gabriella and unclwe's dauwghter?" The child asks, then Gabriella nodded in hesitations.

 "Owkay..."

••••••

"Where's Yohan?" The Duke asked Ian who was sitting right in front of him. Evan crossed his legs as he took a cup of tea to his table. His cold face glanced at the man with golden hair. His cold face was very different when he is in front of his daughter or Gabriella.

"He's looking for the Uncle's wife," The king replied.

Evan choked from the tea that he is drinking. At first, he looks surprised but he immediately wiped that expression as he coldly glared at the King. "What wife? I never had a wife," Evan said in an aloof tone.

The King who was listening to his 'Uncle', became amused because of his sudden expressions. He always sees Duke Evan as a stiff and cold man, He always has his own world and he wasn't a friendly person.

Ian glanced at the swollen cheeks of the Duke.

"He heard that you used the black carriage, Uncle," Ian explained to the Duke. He noticed that Evan became stiff for a moment. "I even wonder why Uncle used that especial carriage, you are only supposed to use that when it is really important and only a family member is allowed to use that."

"My daughter's husband," Evan only replied.

He didn't even bother to tell that only Gabriella came with him.

"Lady Maria is married?" Ian asked. He suddenly remembered the daughter of the person he respected the most. "The news is surprisingly true," He paused. "I went here to confirm it since I know that you won't reply to my--"

"I won't let you see her," Evan's lips twitched. "and don't call me uncle anymore. Yohan is allowed but you are not."

The King shuts his mouth when Evan said that to him. He'd been calling the Duke Uncle since the day he supported him to bring down the Previous King. He respected this man because of his contribution to his kingdom.

That respect was to the extent that he just pardoned Maria for hurting his beloved.

And yet Evan just told him to not call him Uncle anymore. 

How funny, He wonders what's his reason.

He took a deep sigh. Ian knows that he won't be able to change the mind of the Duke. "What happened to Lady Maria? Who is her husband, Duke Evan?" He asked in curiosity. 

In the past, his only memory of that Lady was Maria chasing him and clinging to him. He can also remember how she hurt Cheska by pushing her down the stairs. That's why knowing that Maria has a husband already, sounds different in his ears.

It was actually a relief for him.

"I believe you that don't have any rights to know that," Evan coldly replied and there was a frown on his face.

Ian took another breath. The Duke is really straightforward and blunt even if he is facing his own king. Ian can only let this pass. He was even letting the Duke address him without any honorifics when they are alone.

"Alright, I won't ask anymore," He said with respect in his tone. His eyes went to the window outside.

Chavez Duchy was his favorite place. It was the most peaceful and cheerful place in his kingdom. There was almost no problem in this place. It was all thanks to Duke Evan who has known because of his great leadership.

"I heard that Cheska is pregnant again," Evan asked. 

When Ian heard that question, his eyes went to the Duke. "Indeed," he replied. "Why did you suddenly became curious, Unc--" Ian was interrupted when Evan glared at the King "Duke?" Ian continued.

"I don't want to tell you." 

What a stubborn man.

A chuckle escapes from Ian's lips. "You never changed, Duke Evan," he took his tea on the table as he relaxed his body to the couch. Ian motioned his hand and a man wearing an all-black suit suddenly appeared.

"You called for me, Your Majesty," the man said.

"Where's Yohan?" Ian asked in a serious tone.

"Replying to the King. The Crown Prince is on his way here, he is carrying a suspicious basket," The man replied politely.

Ian rubbed his chin as he motioned his other hand to signal the man to leave.

Yohan, the king's son is smart. He won't just take things that aren't that important in his eyes. Ian wonders what's the thing in the Duke's place did his son finds interesting.

"How peaceful..." Ian uttered. 

Ian's eyes turned cold when he suddenly remembered the problem and issues that his kingdom is currently facing. The Duke of Chavez Duchy is such a great leader.

Sometimes he is scared of this one fact. 

If Duke Evan decided to be more greedy in the future and become the King himself, he's not sure if he'll be able to defend his throne.