Calix

"What do you mean?" I can't help but frown, mixture of emotions attacking my senses from all sides.

Carlos nods at the woman—our aunt, who gazes at me, "He is correct, Calix. I am your aunt, Richard's younger sister. Or rather, half-sister."

As the secrets are revealed, I stagger back. If not for Isha's hand gripping mine, I would've surely fallen down. "This is all...this is all too much to take in." Why is she back now? Why after all these years? And why did she pretend to not know me, when she had clearly recognised her nephew, even through the mask, that day. I should've had inquired why she had gazed at me with such longing in her eyes, and stepped up to help me out of nowhere, that very day. "How did you even find her?" I ask Carlos.

"This villa's previous owner was her," Carlos explains, "The housekeepers reported to me of an unknown portrait they had found in the library last week; you see, I had decided on renovating the villa, hence the cleaning. I was curious, finding Aunt's name written behind the back of the portrait. And then began my research throughout the royal library about this unknown family member I had been unaware of.

Coincidentally, while I was searching for her, Aunt Arisella appeared in front of this villa on her own. She revealed something to me, which will be of help to us. In fact, Aunt Arisella has been waiting for the right chance to speak up."

"I know," Aunt Arisella stares down in guilt, wrinkles appearing more in her partially wrinkled skin, "You have every right to doubt me, be angry at me, not want anything to do with me. But please understand, I am here to help. Both you and Carlos, my two nephews." Her voice trembles with wetness looking at us both. "You have both grown so much and I can't believe...I wasn't here when those two were making your lives a living hell.

However, now I am ready to fulfil my duties as your aunt and be here for you two. I know the truth that can help you put an end to the Council. All I ask for you is to listen to me."

"Please," Carlos pleads with a softening gaze to my doubtful eyes.

Meanwhile Isha tightens the hold to show she is here, whatever I decide.

"Alright," I say, as Aunt Arisella leaves a breath of relief, "I'll hear you."

As we all proceed to take seats with Carlos and Aunt Arisella sitting opposite to us, Isha whispers questioningly, "Should I leave?"

I immediately shake my head in denial. "No. Stay please. I need you."

"Okay," she smiles, "I'll be here with you."

And then Aunt Arisella begins the tale of the dark past of the so-called royal family.

"What I am going to reveal today, is not known to Richard. In fact, I don't think excluding me anyone knows about it, at present," her voice takes on a serious note, "The late former King, our father himself had a relationship with a, as they have always termed the citizens, a commoner. It was a clandestine relationship, as you can imagine, and just what he had feared. Their child, a son was born. Who do you think he was?"

My eyes widen in disbelief, a gasp leaving me. "Father."

"Yes," she confirms, "Your father was the very son, born out of the late King's relationship with a common Syncitian. However, he was also supposed to be wed to a noble lady at the same time. The noble lady I am speaking of, is my late mother.

And like the coward he was, in order to protect his royal reputation, he broke off his relationship with the other woman while posing Richard as his and his fiancée's son, born before their wedding. My mother was a fool, blinded by 'love' that with sweet nothings, she agreed to play along with Father's schemes.

I was born three years later."

"May I ask a question, if you don't mind?" Isha asks, receiving an instant "Of course, dear" from Aunt Arisella. "Well, how do you know about such a secret of the royal family?"

She smiles bitterly. "I overheard my parents when they were having an argument one night. Perhaps when I was twenty-one years old. In the heat of the moment, without their knowledge, I went through Father's study, looking for documents that could prove the truth I wasn't ready to believe. And I found it. Richard's actual birth certificate which was forged, and other documents like letters Father used to write to his ex-lover, copies of the letters where he threatened her not to contact him anymore, and her desperate pleas to not abandon their relationship, evident through the words on the old papers.

I was furious. Furious at Father for abandoning Richard's biological mother. Furious at Mother for knowing the truth yet playing along with his charades. And so, I wanted to approach Richard and even though our relationship as siblings wasn't that great, hoped for his support to confront our parents together. But I couldn't find the right time, as Mother passed away not long after.

How ironic. A year later, when I still had the documents hidden with me while Father had appeared to have forgotten about it all after turning his entire study upside down in search of them, finally I had decided to take some action. For, I needed answers and Richard needed to learn the truth. Even though, he could've been heartbroken.

On the day I had decided to do so, a major argument between Richard and Father had taken place in Nirvana. The subject of the argument was your birth, Calix."

I gulp, already able to connect the dots as I whisper. "My birth."

"Yes, your birth. I should've had known, that Richard would follow in Father's footsteps and without thinking of taking any responsibility in mind, he impregnated one of his maids. Your biological mother, even though he was already married to Veronica."

Isha's touch brings me to life from the void I was slowly moving in, as she wipes the tear that I hadn't even realised had managed to slip out.

Aunt Arisella's gaze softens. "Your birth had caused an uproar in the palace, but like foolish humans they pointed fingers at the maid who seduced a royal. No one even dared to blame Richard. Why? It was Father again who suppressed even the slightest of rumours by blaming everything on your mother.

It was saddening to see how pathetically my own family acted when it came to protecting their damn royal image. But I knew I wasn't going to let another poor woman be abandoned, like Father's ex-lover. I wanted to bring justice to your mother, Beth. As you already know, she was being prepared to be banished out of the country. I approached her, she told me how it was Richard who had given her false hopes even before his engagement with Veronica. But she was trapped in his charms and blind love.

Needless to say I was determined to help Beth and so, I made arrangements for her to leave the capital by changing her name, bought her a nice house at a small town. I handed over those documents wanting her to demand justice for the wrongs done to her but, she with a golden heart, refused saying she didn't want to make things difficult for you, Calix. Beth was able to live freely knowing at least you were living a lavish life.

Unfortunately, I was caught by Father. Thankfully he didn't find those documents even after searching my room and everything I owned because I had already left it with Beth. I was also able to stop Father from conducting an investigation on Beth's whereabouts. Those days were similar to a hellish nightmare.

But Father once learnt I somehow knew the truth of Richard's birth, in order to silence me, began arranging a marriage with a Duke who was old enough to be considered my father.

Refusing to be used as an object with no say in her own life, giving up my title, status, everything, I walked out of Nirvana that day, and never looked back. Honestly, I am rather happy now." She smiles, her fingers grazing on her wedding ring. "I am married to the love of my life and we have three wonderful children."

Aunt Arisella laughs, wiping her own tears that had pooled in her eyes, "Blind love is dangerous and I learnt it from seeing three women's terrible conditions. My mother, who spent her days following Father's manipulative commands like a dog; Richard's mother, who was abandoned as a punishment for loving someone genuinely; and Beth, your mother, trapped in foolish hopes by the one she thought was her prince charming.

Don't resent your mother, Calix, for never contacting you. She assumed you were living a comfortable life at the Royal Palace, believing everything shown on TV, and watched you silently as a bystander. She has forever wanted nothing but your happiness."

The moment she finishes speaking, I find myself shedding silent tears with Isha's embrace engulfing me. The tears shed but no sound comes from me except for a question. "Are you still in contact with her?"

"I am," she smiles tenderly.

"Then please, tell me where she is. Where my mother is."

"Is this the right address?" Isha asks, as we stand at the doorstep of a two-storey house, with a beautiful front garden and backyard, a parking space with a family van parked. According to Aunt Arisella's words, this should be my mother's present residence at this small town in South Syncitia, named Remarsa. It is a two-day travel by train but we reached within six hours by my private jet.

I didn't want to take Isha, urging her to take rest, but the woman refused bluntly.

My heart clenches in slight envy at the thought that my potential half-siblings have received the love of their mother, while I received none. Ever. I shake my head, clearing off the negative thoughts, preparing myself for what is to be expected.

"Hey," Isha's loving call and her touch against my face melt the stiffness I was showing, "Think positive, okay?"

"Okay," I nod. Aunt Arisella did say she would've been informed of our arrival by the time we reach this town, but I can't help but feel nervous. What if she gets uncomfortable with my presence?

My worries come to an end as before we can even ring the doorbell, someone yells from inside the house, "Mom, I think they're here!"

And then footsteps pad against the floorboards like thunder, the door flinging open. And I...my mother's teary gaze meets mine.

"Calix," she whispers, stepping close. She looks—I look, just like her. She is my mother. Beth. The woman I have always searched for, yearning for, in days of loneliness and now she is here in front of me.

"Mom." The single word takes for her to pull me in a tight hug, as we both break down into never-ending tears.

"My Calix, my baby, I am so sorry, I am sorry," she keeps apologizing, shedding tears with me, "I never meant to not look for you, Calix. I always watched you from the side."

"Mom, I always wanted you beside me," the broken whisper tears apart my heart, her hand patting my hair and back over and over again.

"I know, I know but now your mother will help you. Arisella has told me everything. If only I had known how miserable your life was, I would've..."

Then more tears appear and we cry until our eyes are swollen and we can't help but laugh at each other.

"Mom, this is Isha. My girlfriend." Isha quickly wipes off her tears, as I pull her close to me and introduce the woman I love, to my mother.

Mother's face brightens as she holds her hands, "Isha. You are so pretty."

"Thank you," Isha says, the red hue evident in her cheeks making her look even more adorable than she already is.

"She is," I chirp in, "And she is also the one who taught me love and happiness. Isha is the woman I love and will always love."

"Stop it," she grumbles under her breath, face on fire as she glares at me but we only laugh it off.

Mother doesn't let us go, just how we had expected and insisted we stayed at least two days there.

Before coming here, I was unsure how our reunion would be. But now I am not anymore. Besides, I was introduced to Mom's husband, the man whom I am grateful for keeping her happy all these years and my half-siblings, a twenty-year-old brother named Louis and two fifteen-year-old twins. The boy's name was Max whose first impression on me was a glare when he had blatantly tried to flirt with Isha. And his twin sister's name was Louisa, a rather calm and polite girl.

I wanted to scold my past self for even thinking of being jealous of them. In fact, I even forgot my worries as I began spending time with my three siblings (and keeping Isha away from that sneaky Louis).

But at the end of the day, I enjoyed my stay there not as a prince, but my Mom's son, as Calix.

And when the time of our departure arrived, along with Isha and I, accompanied my mother, to the capital. For, it was the D-Day.

As Isha had said, we are ready to teach those fucking aristocrats that they should learn to mind their damn business. And should've never messed with us.