The Cursed Prince

Chapter 896: Serena And Gabrielle

***

There were a lot of things on Julian's mind that weighed heavily on him.

Not only did he know that there was some kind of secret that the royal family of Verona held… Rowena also wished to involve themselves in this matter.

As he watched Rowena and Liam together as they walked together in the palace's halls to meet with the king, he couldn't help but wonder if Rowena not only chose to stay here at Verona because she wanted to return to the life of being a royal princess.

Had she gotten fed up with their lifestyle being poor conmen?

No.

Julian knew more than anything that Rowena was someone who did not like the stifling life of a princess. She considered it as a gilded cage. So, the reason why they were here in the palace of Verona and not outside was for a different matter.

"While we don't have a rather great collection of books, it is sizable enough to entertain me," Prince Liam explained to Rowena. "After our conversation with father, and undoubtedly, after lunch… shall we head there?"

"I haven't been in a library since forever." Rowena smiled brightly at the thought. "I'm more than excited to see any new titles and what the shores of Verona have to offer."

"Then I'm sure you'll be delighted to see them," Prince Liam said. "There's a couple of books that I'd love to recommend to you."

"Well, I'm more than happy to give them a read."

Julian frowned at their exchange and didn't know how to include himself without looking like a try-hard, but all he knew was that the two seemed to get along quite well even though they only spent one night together.

One night together?!

Julian's eyes widened as his mind leapt to something… more intimate.

"No, that can't possibly be it," Julian muttered underneath his breath and shook his head to clear his mind from such an improper thought. It was utterly ridiculous… But what else could be the reason?

Even if Liam and Rowena didn't spend the night together as Julian ridiculously thought, it was clear as day that the two of them had chemistry.

This was probably because Rowena was still a princess and Liam was still a prince. They were both educated and raised in a certain lifestyle that only people from their level could understand each other.

The two of them were meant to be.

Why else would Rowena want to stay here when Julian already made it obvious through his actions and words that he didn't want to remain at the palace?

It was like someone stabbed him in the gut with a dagger and twisted it painfully as they walked towards their destination.

Now that he was exposed as someone who looked like Prince Liam, Julian started to dislike the heavy stares that everyone kept giving them as they walked to the

throne room.

When they arrived at the throne hall, the king of Verona was seated on his throne and looked anxious… but the anxiety stopped when he saw both Prince Liam and Julian.

The resemblance was remarkable.

"Liam…" the king thought he was dreaming as he stood up from the throne and then descended towards them.

"Forgive me father for yesterday," Prince Liam said. "I had run away, but then encountered these two individuals. One thing led to another, and I just got back. However, everything that happened yesterday was not of their doing. If I may introduce my guests, this one is Julian and the other is…"

The king of Verona didn't seem to pay attention to the crown prince and simply approached Julian. He grabbed the young man's shoulders and asked. "You… Do you know who your mother is?"

Julian was surprised at the king's actions, but shook his head. "No."

Those words made the king of Verona deeply inhale, and his eyes glimmered for a second before he turned away from Julian and looked over to Prince Liam. "My son, how did you come across these two?"

"They're travelers, father," Prince Liam explained. He looked over at Rowena and spoke. "You've already met Julian and this is Harlow."

Rowena curtsied and said. "It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. We apologize for any incidents that may have occurred during Julian's duration here yesterday."

"A-ah, so it wasn't you, Liam." The king of Verona flushed that he was tricked into believing that Julian was his son.

"No father." Prince Liam laughed. "Although I suppose, even you would get fooled. I was more worried than anything that something might have happened to Julian, but it seems like he fit right in. Where is mother? She's probably a bit shocked isn't she?"

"Your mother is…"

"Liam!"

***

Queen Serena was someone who had lived in the shadow of her beautiful older sister, Gabrielle, and was a member of the nobility. When King Xander met Gabrielle in a ball when she was eighteen years old… It was love at first sight.

Gabrielle was everything that Serena was not. She was perfect and wonderful.

It just made Serena hate her sister very much, but the feelings were not reciprocated.

Gabrielle loved her sister very much, and that was why, when she married King Xander Delavigne and became queen of Verona, Serena was invited to be her trusted handmaiden. Sworn sisters.

At least that was what she thought.

However, Serena never told anyone but she also fell in love with King Xander and wished desperately that it had been her and not her sister whom the king married. She secretly hoped in her heart that King Xander noticed her.

And Serena thought he did. &n

bsp;

Every glance cast in her direction, every kind smile and gentle look that he gave towards her made Serena positive that King Xander actually liked her and not Gabrielle. The problem was that it was only normal for an older sister to marry first.

So it was a difficult love story, a forbidden love that excited Serena.

However, when Queen Gabrielle was announced to be pregnant and that King Xander and her would have a child… It was an awful slap of reality in Serena's face.

She was delusional. The king never loved her in the way she thought he did.

King Xander was only kind because Serena was his sister-in-law.