章 482: Chapter 482
"But what about the heirs? What about the titles?"
Cameras flashed left and right as Erik stepped away from the microphone. The impromptu press conference was much more than the press, the people of the country or the world had expected. He told his story. All of it. Finally. He explained the entirety of his life, his family, what Sebastian had done. Who his children were and his love for Pearl- the one thing, the one person solely responsible for bringing the corruption to light. Her strength, her fight, her … love was powerful enough to bring them all down and even though he knew deep pain and the ruination of his son Christian could be the outcome, the truth was far more important. These lies could not continue.
He placed his arm around Christian's shoulder and embraced him. Christian lifted his chin and stepped to the podium. "As you know, my father is the man standing next to me, not the man interred in a royal grave he never deserved. So much deceit, so much fear and fraud. I stand before you as the man I am now, the man that loved this country more than he could ever love himself or anything else. I have lost my crown, my wife, my home and the life I have always known for this truth you have heard today. So believe it. Augustus and Sebastian were calculating men that even if the lies they told themselves actually involved having the best intentions, to what ruin could that go for any man that wants something that isn't his? Where is the line? At what expense does it all come? In my mother's case, it was her heart and soul and child. In my true father's case, it was his life. And in your case, it was almost your country. We have to break the cycle. We have to be better. I hope one day this will not be as open a wound in the hearts of my fellow people. I know healing will take time. And I imagine my leadership will no longer be of service to you, but I swear to you my life, as I always have. I will still do everything in what little power I have left to try to comfort and heal and forge a better way than the way things have been. You deserve so much better. Thank you."
He stepped down to a silent room.
Erik and Christian walked away from the press and back to where their family waited for their return.
*************************************
"I have never laid eyes on anything more beautiful in my entire life." Erik tried to bite back the onslaught of tears falling from his eyes. "Well, almost anything." He smiled and looked down at Pearl as she laid behind the green curtain in the operating room, complete adoration in her eyes. He swaddled the screaming clone of himself in female form and held her tight to his chest.
"Rose." Erik kissed her little nose. "Her name is Rose. It just has to be."
Pearl smiled. It wasn't a name they had previously discussed but she wanted him to choose. He had little say in the last child he created so it meant everything to her to have this moment just for Erik. She wanted him to relish in it.
"Rose it is." Pearl smiled as he placed their creation on her waiting chest. She kissed her and saw the full head of black hair and blue eyes looking back at her. "I love her so much, Pearl, I think my heart might burst open and kill me." He began to sob and kissed Pearl on her forehead.
"This is the best day of my life." He said as he smiled proudly and kissed Rose again.
After things calmed down and they were settled into their room, Erik rocked Rose as Pearl watched them, glowing and happy. It was the peace she had always hoped to find with Erik. The peace she knew existed and could be made into reality. Sometimes it takes a little longer than one would expect, but in this moment, she had it. She had it and it was all worth it for this feeling of warmth and love beaming from her heart. He was the love of her life. So many men had tried to possess and love her but they only wanted their own version of happiness with her. No one ever truly loved her enough to let go of their selfish desires to own her. No one but Erik.
The last two months had been brutal. She was placed on strict bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy for premature bleeding and being high risk at her age. They had moved from the palace and into a large estate that Pearl has purchased years ago when she and Sebastian had first had problems. The property in the states had sold and it was enough for her family to live comfortably until the politics of what was exposed had fully come to light.
There had been significant government chaos but a newly formed republic had pushed to reinstate Christian as an elected leader- not by birth, but by choice. And not in the capacity of a prime minister. No, this would still keep the royal traditions alive but with an important element now the precedent.. choice. Choice of the people. A new monarch would be considered every ten years and bloodlines only made you an option, not the sole choice. It was new, modern and fair. And would easily weed out more the potential corruption in the future.
It has been a long road for her… but she forged her own way to travel it.
"I love you." Erik smiled as he kissed Rose and looked up at Pearl with the undying adoration of a man that would do anything for her. For them both.
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