Born of Secrets Loved by a King

chapter 6: Midnight Intruder

Prince Albert returned to his chambers exhausted from the long night. After taking a warm bath, he slipped into bed, hoping sleep would come quickly. But no matter how many times he turned, sleep refused to claim him.

With a frustrated sigh, he sat up and ran a hand through his damp hair. His mind kept circling back to the same problem—finding a wife.

Finally, he rose from the bed and stepped onto the balcony. The cool midnight breeze brushed against his skin as he lit a cigarette. He stood there silently, lost in thought while the city lights flickered below the palace walls.

Suddenly, his thoughts drifted to his elder sister.

A faint smile tugged at his lips as he reached for his phone, intending to call her. But just as his finger hovered over the screen, his sharp senses picked up something unusual.

Someone was hiding in the shadows.

His expression darkened instantly.

"Come out," he said calmly, his deep voice cutting through the silence. "I know you're there."

No movement.

No response.

Albert narrowed his eyes but slowly relaxed. Whoever the intruder was, they didn't seem to carry hostile intent. Still, he wasn't foolish enough to lower his guard completely.

He casually put out his cigarette and deliberately turned away as though distracted. Then, in a flash, he lunged toward the shadows with terrifying speed.

But the figure was quicker than expected.

The shadow darted past him and slipped into his bedroom.

Albert chuckled softly.

Speaking into the tiny microphone hidden inside his pajamas, he ordered, "Keep watch outside. We have an intruder."

"Understood, Your Majesty," a voice responded before the line disconnected.

Curious now, Albert adjusted his robe and walked back into the room.

A thought crossed his mind.

Could it be one of those noble ladies desperate enough to sneak into my chambers?

He quickly dismissed the idea. No outsider could bypass his royal guards so easily unless they were someone familiar with the palace itself.

Which left only one possibility.

His sister.

The moment he stepped into the room—

"Surprise!"

A cheerful voice rang out as a woman suddenly threw herself at him in a tight embrace.

Albert laughed softly, instantly recognizing the familiar warmth of his older sister. Like siblings long separated, the two held onto each other happily while the tension in the room melted away.

The room gradually filled with warmth as the two siblings caught up after months apart.

Princess Erin sat comfortably on Albert's couch, rambling endlessly about her recent travels while Albert listened quietly, occasionally responding with short replies.

Unlike Erin's lively energy, Albert remained calm and reserved, his cold aura never fully disappearing even around family.

Just then, the bedroom door creaked open softly.

A small figure stepped inside rubbing his sleepy eyes.

"Big bro…" Adrian mumbled groggily. "I can't slee—"

The thirteen-year-old froze mid sentence.

His sleepy eyes widened in shock.

"SISTER ERIN?!"

Erin gasped dramatically before opening her arms wide. "My favorite little prince!"

Adrian instantly ran toward her.

"That's a lie," Albert said flatly from the sofa. "You forgot his birthday last year."

"I was busy," Erin defended shamelessly while hugging Adrian tightly.

"You forgot my birthday?" Adrian pulled away with betrayal written all over his face.

Erin quickly grabbed his cheeks. "But I came back alive, didn't I?"

Adrian burst into laughter.

Albert merely shook his head, though a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Still sleepy, Adrian climbed onto the couch beside Erin and rested against her side comfortably like a spoiled child who missed his sister dearly.

The three siblings spent time talking and teasing each other.

Or rather…

Erin and Adrian talked while Albert mostly listened.

But despite the relaxed atmosphere, Erin noticed something was off about her brother.

His answers were shorter than usual.

His gaze distant.

His expression tense.

Albert could fool the entire kingdom with that cold unreadable face of his…

But never her.

She studied him carefully before narrowing her eyes.

"What's bothering you?"

"Nothing."

"Liar."

Albert sighed quietly.

Adrian looked between them curiously while munching on snacks he had stolen from Albert's table.

After a long silence, Albert finally spoke.

"Grandfather wants me married soon."

Adrian immediately burst into laughter.

Erin joined him a second later.

"A whole King Albert?" Erin teased dramatically. "The kingdom's most desired bachelor, richest man alive, feared businessman—and you can't find a wife?"

Adrian grinned mischievously. "Maybe women are scared of your face."

Albert shot him a cold stare.

The boy instantly straightened. "I was joking."

"If only it were that simple," Albert muttered tiredly.

The amusement slowly faded from Erin's face when she noticed the frustration in his voice.

Albert leaned back against the sofa, exhaustion evident in his eyes.

"They're all the same," he said coldly. "Every woman grandfather introduces me to only sees the crown… the money… the title."

His jaw tightened slightly.

"None of them see me."

The room became quiet.

Even playful Adrian sensed the heaviness in Albert's tone.

Erin tapped her fingers thoughtfully against her chin before suddenly snapping her fingers.

"I know!" she exclaimed excitedly. "Let's hold a press conference! You publicly announce you're searching for a wife and only eligible candidates—"

"No."

Albert rejected the idea immediately.

Erin frowned. "You didn't even let me finish."

"I already know how it ends."

He stood and walked toward the balcony.

"I'm tired of fake smiles and rehearsed personalities."

The cold night breeze blew against his dark hair as he spoke quietly.

"They never look at Albert."

"Only the king."

Erin stared at him thoughtfully.

"Hmmm…"

Albert lazily stretched himself and return to the sofa while waiting for whatever ridiculous idea his sister would come up with next.

A few seconds later—

"Aha!"

Both brothers looked at her.

Erin jumped up excitedly.

"How about you hide your identity?"

Albert raised an eyebrow.

"You leave the palace for a while," she continued proudly. "Live like an ordinary man. Meet people as just Albert—not King Albert."

Albert remained silent.

For the first time that night…

He actually considered it.

Meanwhile, Adrian—who had been quietly listening the entire time—had slowly fallen asleep on Erin's lap.

His tiny hand still clutched her sleeve.

Erin looked down and smiled softly.

"He still sleeps like a baby."

Albert walked over quietly before carefully lifting the sleeping boy into his arms.

Adrian instinctively rested his head against Albert's shoulder without waking up.

Despite his cold nature, Albert carried him gently toward the large bed and laid him down carefully.

Erin watched her brothers with a soft smile.

Then she stood up stretching lazily. "I'm exhausted. I'm going to freshen up before sleeping."

Albert gave a small nod.

As Erin walked toward the door, she paused briefly and glanced back at him.

"Think about my idea, Albert."

Then she exited quietly, leaving the room peaceful once more.

After Erin left the room, Albert remained standing quietly for a moment, her words replaying in his mind.

Live as an ordinary man…

The idea sounded ridiculous.

Yet strangely tempting.

Pushing the thought aside, he walked toward his desk and opened his laptop. The soft glow from the screen illuminated his sharp features as he buried himself in work.

Documents.

Emails.

Business reports.

Anything to distract himself.

Meanwhile, Erin had gone to freshen up in the guest room connected to Albert's chambers.

Nearly thirty minutes later, the bedroom door opened quietly again.

Erin stepped inside, drying her damp hair with a towel.

She paused immediately upon seeing Albert still working.

Her brows furrowed slightly.

The man hadn't moved an inch.

His full attention remained fixed on the laptop screen, fingers typing rapidly as though the entire kingdom depended on whatever he was doing.

He didn't even notice her presence.

Erin sighed softly before walking over.

Without warning—

Snap.

She closed the laptop shut.

Albert instantly looked up, irritation flashing across his cold face.

But the moment his eyes landed on Erin, his expression softened almost immediately.

"Do you need something?" he asked quietly.

Erin crossed her arms dramatically.

"Yes. I came for Adrian." She pointed toward the boy sleeping soundly on the bed. "Unlike some people, children actually need sleep."

Albert ignored the hidden jab.

His gaze drifted toward Adrian whose tiny body was curled beneath the blanket peacefully.

Then suddenly, the boy stirred slightly in his sleep.

"Mom…" Adrian mumbled weakly. "I miss you…"

The room fell silent.

Albert and Erin slowly looked at each other.

Only then did Albert truly notice what she was wearing.

His eyes lingered briefly on the familiar silk pajamas.

Their mother's favorite.

For one fleeting second, with her damp hair and gentle expression…

She looked so much like her.

Even Erin seemed to realize it at the same time.

Her playful smile faded into something softer and more emotional.

Neither sibling spoke.

Some memories hurt too deeply for words.

After a while, Erin smiled faintly and gently patted Albert's shoulder.

"You should sleep too sometimes," she murmured softly.

Then she carefully lifted the sleeping Adrian into her arms.

The boy instinctively cuddled closer without waking up.

Albert silently watched them walk toward the door.

For the first time in a long while, the coldness in his eyes weakened slightly.

And just before Erin exited the room, she glanced back at him with a small smile that reminded him painfully of their mother.

Then she quietly left the room.