The cathedral had been filled with solemnity, the air thick with the weight of grief. Christian stood quietly among his family, his mind lost in a fog of thoughts, barely able to focus on the final rites for his grandfather, King Rudolf VI. The solemn ceremony, though beautiful and fitting for a monarch, felt distant to him. He had always respected his grandfather, but today, he couldn’t help but feel the unbearable pressure of his role as heir to the throne. His thoughts were far from the ceremony, instead circling back to Lizzie—the love he had lost, the secret he could never take back.
After the funeral service, the royal family made their way to the Royal Palace of Stockholm, a stunning architectural masterpiece, standing proudly in the heart of the city. The grand halls, filled with long, oak tables, were adorned with the finest table settings, and a quiet, formal lunch was held to honor the life of King Rudolf VI. But for Christian, the opulence of the palace, the whispers of the court, and the muted conversations at the table meant little. He had lost something far more important—Lizzie.
As the family mingled, Christian found himself standing near his grandmother, the former Queen Sophia. She had always been the one person in his family who truly understood him, the one who never seemed to judge him for his thoughts, his desires, or his struggles. She was the only person he could talk to without feeling the crushing weight of expectation.
Christian glanced around at the bustling scene—his parents speaking with dignitaries, his cousins engaged in polite conversation, and the subtle exchange of royal pleasantries. All of it felt like a distant, foreign world, one that he didn’t belong to in the way they expected. But with his grandmother, there was a sense of peace, a quiet understanding that Christian didn’t get from anyone else.
Queen Sophia, with her regal poise, watched him closely, sensing the turmoil within her grandson. She had seen him grow from a young, carefree boy into a man who was expected to bear the weight of a nation on his shoulders. But even now, after all the years, she still saw him as the young man who had dreams of his own, dreams that were often at odds with the crown he was meant to inherit.
“Christian,” she said gently, her voice carrying the wisdom of a lifetime. “You’ve been quiet today. I can see it in your eyes. You’re carrying something heavy.”
He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her words. “I don’t know what to do, Grandma. I... I lost someone who meant the world to me.” His voice cracked slightly, betraying the emotions he had kept bottled up since the day Lizzie had learned the truth about him. He couldn’t even bring himself to say her name aloud. The memory of her face when she realized who he truly was haunted him.
Queen Sophia nodded, her eyes filled with the understanding that only someone who had lived through the trials of royalty could offer. “You always carry the weight of the crown, Christian. But remember, the crown is not everything. It is not what defines you. Who you are, and who you love, is what matters. Do not let this life strip you of your humanity.”
Christian’s gaze dropped to the floor, the familiar ache of loss flooding through him. “I tried to protect her from all of this. But I only hurt her.” His words were heavy, thick with the guilt that had consumed him ever since Lizzie had found out the truth. The truth about who he was—something he had kept hidden, not because he wanted to lie to her, but because he was afraid of losing her.
“You cannot protect those you love by keeping secrets from them, Christian,” Queen Sophia said softly, her eyes piercing through him with the kind of wisdom only a lifetime of experience could provide. “It is the truth, however painful, that allows love to grow. You cannot hide from who you are, no matter how much you wish it were different.”
Christian looked up at his grandmother, his heart aching at her words. He knew she was right. He had tried to shield Lizzie from his royal obligations, from the life he had never wanted. But in doing so, he had pushed her away, and now she was gone.
“I don’t know what to do,” he whispered.
“Give it time, Christian,” Queen Sophia replied, placing a hand gently on his shoulder. “Sometimes, the answers come when we least expect them. But remember, you are not alone in this. And you must learn to forgive yourself for the mistakes you’ve made. Only then can you begin to heal.”
Christian nodded, feeling the small sense of comfort that his grandmother’s words had given him. He still didn’t know how to make things right with Lizzie, but for the first time since the moment she had walked away, he felt a flicker of hope. Perhaps, just perhaps, there was still a chance for redemption.
For now, all he could do was endure the responsibilities that awaited him and hope that, in time, Lizzie would see the man he truly was, beyond the crown, beyond the lies. But in the back of his mind, he knew the road ahead would not be an easy one. And the path to forgiveness was far from certain.
