THE HEIR THEY TRIED TO ERASE

Chapter 22: Hidden Legacy

Shockingly, Elera had given birth to Kael’s son—a precious baby boy.

She looked at her son with tears in her eyes. “I thought that after your father came back from his fight with Aurelion, I would take you to him so he may name you,” she whispered. “But it seems that will not happen… your father has left us without saying goodbye.”

Carefully cradling her child, Elera returned to the palace. Everyone was in mourning, and no one noticed her arrival or that she was carrying a child. Even Aurelion mourned deeply, for Kael had been his closest brother, teacher, and friend.

The King and Queen were heartbroken. This time, Aurelion had greatly disappointed them. No one dared speak of what had truly happened. The court whispered that it was the enemy—after all, who could speak for a dead man?

Elera, still carrying her baby, went to Aurelion’s wife and asked gently, “Where is your sister and my brother’s child?”

Aurelion’s wife, to keep Kael’s son safe and hidden, did not admit anything. She said instead, “The child and your sister were lost in the fire.”

Elera wept bitterly at this, holding Kael’s son close to her chest. “Elder brother, look… this is our son. He looks exactly like you. I am sorry, brother. I came too late. I cannot fulfill the responsibilities you entrusted to me. Your wife and daughter… they were lost in the fire. But my love, I promise… I will raise our son carefully, and he will be capable like you.”

She whispered to him over and over, her tears falling freely. “I will protect you, my son. I will raise you strong, wise, and brave. One day… you will take what belongs to you. I will make sure of it.”

No one in the palace knew of Kael’s son. Not Aurelion, not the King, not the Queen, not even the servants. Only Elera carried this secret in her heart.

Meanwhile, Kael’s daughter—born to Princess Consort Miravel—was being raised secretly by her aunt, Lady Lysenne, disguised as a boy. Everyone in the palace, including Aurelion and Elera, believed this child to be a boy and heir. This arrangement ensured her safety and protected Kael’s legacy, while no one suspected the truth.

Elera held Kael’s son tightly, feeling both the weight of loss and the spark of hope. Though the palace mourned Kael’s death, she knew her son carried his father’s blood, his strength, and his courage. “You are the last piece of him here,” she whispered softly. “I will keep you safe, no matter the cost.”

The palace continued in mourning, unaware of the quiet promise Elera had made. She moved carefully, keeping her child hidden from all eyes, ensuring that Kael’s son would survive in a world that had been shaken by betrayal, war, and loss.