NoGift

A NONDESCRIPT carriage entered the premises of Hanover estate. Sitting silently inside were Winter and one of his trusted aide - Nikolai. They were travelling towards the young duke's manor because of the sudden message Winter received from Argent. That's why they went here in a very quiet manner so as not to attract unnecessary attention. But even without the duke's message, Winter was already planning to visit Argent. Especially after he heard what happened when the Blackbourne twins visited the palace the other day.

There was still a tense atmosphere between the King and Queen. Understandable, considering how they all knew the King wanted to make a good relationship with the duke. Due to the Queen's action, that chance might now go down the drain. Winter couldn't understand why she would do that. He's been dealing with the Queen's nasty attitude for the past 12 years and he has never seen her act so stupid. It's like she suddenly lost all her inhibition and just acted on instinct. Which was so unlike the scheming witch she was.

Based on the report that Robin - another one of his trusted aide - gave, everything was more or less staged by the first princess. The Queen should have at least noticed that. But according to Robin, the queen just straight up blamed Lady Aurum without even waiting for the girl to explain. Like she was on a personal vendetta or something. Whichever the case, this incident might actually be good if one looked at it from a different angle. Because this way, Argent would have a concrete reason to reject the King.

Winter looked out of the carriage's window.

He was not in the palace during that incident. He needed to go to Greth because Aspen called him and told him that he found someone that matched the description of his mother. But when Winter got there, the woman Aspen found was not his mother. It was just another false alarm. He could no longer count the number of false alarms he got for the past two years. But no matter how many he received, he would still go and check it. Even if the chance was low, if there's a slight possibility that he could finally reunite with his mother, he would accept any information that went his way.

The King promised Winter to give reports about his mother if he became an obedient son. But those reports stopped two years ago and Winter just knew that something was wrong. The King simply told him that his mother ran off, but he knew it wasn't as simple as that. The King said that he already has people looking for her. But Winter just couldn't trust him, not when his mother's well-being was concerned.

Winter really regretted that he didn't go to her sooner. If he did, then he could have had taken her from that place the King put her before she disappeared. But he was busy, solidifying his political power and influence. Which was now currently only slightly higher to that of the first princess. The only reason he had that advantage was because of the King's blatant support. But even at the possibility of losing that support, he still mobilized people to look for his mother.

Because she's his mother and he loved her.

"Your Highness, why do you think the Duke of Hanover asked to meet with you?" Nikolai suddenly asked, pushing his glasses up.

"I don't know but it must be something important," Winter simply said.

"You're not worried that he might retaliate because of what happened to his sister?"

"He will retaliate. But not at me. After all, I have nothing to do with what happened. He's not the type to do unnecessary revenge."

Nikolai sighed. He knew the prince looked at the duke through rose-colored glasses. It probably has something to do with the incident that happened seven years ago. But trusting someone like Argent Blackbourne unconditionally was a big no-no. Especially if one was trying to be a king of a country.

He watched that video of the duke. Nikolai could immediately tell that he's crafty, good to be friends with but very difficult to have as an enemy. If he could be an ally to the prince, then good. But that didn't mean that the prince should give him all his trust. That's probably where Nikolai comes in. As one of the prince's three trusted aides, he should make sure that every decision his highness makes in regards to the duke would not be disadvantageous to him. That's the least Nikolai could do.

The carriage soon entered the Hanover manor's driveway. Soon, the carriage stopped. Nikolai went out followed by Winter. The butler was waiting for them at the door.

Gregory bowed at them. "Welcome, Your Highness. Sir. His Grace is waiting inside."

Winter nodded.

The butler lead them inside and they immediately saw the duke standing there.

Nikolai's steps faltered a bit when he saw the duke. [Well, look at that. He's really a pretty bloke.]

"I heard what happened to your palace visit," Winter started.

"Oh, I didn't call you because of that. Someone wanted to see you. They've been waiting for you in the drawing room for quite awhile now." Argent looked at Gregory. "Gregory, could you bring His Highness to the drawing room, please."

"Yes, Your Grace," Gregory answered.

"Your Grace, could you tell us first who this person is?" Nikolai asked, intercepting the butler from moving.

Argent ignored the smart-ass looking guy and just continued to speak to the second prince, "I assure you, there's no assassin waiting for you at my drawing room. So, don't waste time and just go. And I suggest you go there alone."

"Your Highness--"

Winter was still confused at what was this all about but he believed that the duke wouldn't caused him harm. At least not in this place, the duke's home. "It's alright, Nikolai. Stay here."

Before Nikolai could speak, Winter already walked away and followed the butler. Just as the duke said, he lead Winter towards the drawing room. The butler opened the door and gestured for Winter to go inside. And so he did. But the moment he stepped inside the room, he immediately stopped because of the woman standing at the center.

She was standing with poise, wearing a simple lavender gown. Half of her face was covered by her blue-black hair. But even with that, the eye, the nose, the lips, these were all features he was very familiar with. He found himself walking towards the woman, not even noticing the silent tears that fell from his pale blue eyes.

"Mum...?"

Merissa stared at her son. It felt like a dream, standing here in front of him. Her baby was already so big. He was tall and so handsome. But just like as the young duke told him, there was no smile on his face. Only coldness. Then she saw him suddenly crying and she immediately felt distressed. She walked towards him. Both of them met halfway.

Merissa raised her hands and cupped Winter's face, gently wiping his tears. "Don't cry. Seeing you cry makes me want to cry too," she said but there were already unshed tears in her eyes.

Hearing the voice he wanted to hear for the longest time and feeling the familiar warmth from her palms, Winter was now certain that he's not wrong. This woman was really his mother. He no longer stopped himself and immediately hugged her.

"I missed you, Mum. So, so much."

Merissa hugged her son back. The moment she did, she realized how real this moment was and she could no longer stopped her tears from falling. "Me too, my son. No days passed by that I'm not thinking of you. I'm sorry, for not going to you sooner."

"No, Mum. It's me. It was all my fault. If only I wasn't so stupid back then. Maybe we might be still living quietly in that village, away from the fights and the intrigues of the court."

Merissa separated herself from Winter and gently admonished him, "Winter, even if you didnt choose to go with your father that day, he would still bring you with him. So don't blame yourself for something that was not in your control."

"He's not my father," Winter coldly said. "Yes, if there's someone to blame, it's him."

Merissa stared at her son's cold expression. She wanted to tell him not to say things like that but she just couldn't find it in herself to defend the man. Not after everything that has happened.

"How did you end up here, Mum?" Winter asked. "I've been continuosly searching for you for two years. I didn't imagine that this is where I would eventually find you."

"It's a long story. But we have all the time in the world now. I could tell you anything you wanted to hear. Because I'm not leaving. Even if other people wanted me to. I'll be here for you from now on," Merissa declared, her voice full of conviction.

Winter's lips tilted upward, his eyes bent into crescent shape. For the first time in years, he showed a full-blown smile. The coldness on his face immediately thawed because of that, making him looked like a gentle prince instead of a cold one. "Yes."

She smiled and gently patted Winter's cheek. "Look at you, you're taller than me now and so, so handsome."

"And you're still as beautiful as I remember, Mum."

Merissa's smile cracked a little when she heard that. Winter immediately noticed the change in her expression. Then he had a slight glimpse of the part of his mother's face being covered by her hair. If he was not mistaken, those were burn scars. He parted her hair and what lay beneath just confirmed what he saw.

The smile on Winter's face immediately vanished and his face darkened. The temperature inside the room even started to get lower. "Who did this?"