Was it Possible?

"Oliver," she asked, looking at the older one.

"Mother's kids were saying to call his mother to tell her that he was rude, so I just informed them he was not attached to his mother the way we are. That's why he called her mother, your highness."

Whispers and smirks filled the room when he finished speaking, while Meredith looked at Marianne with apologetic eyes but she did not even notice it, as she was busy staring at the boy whose face was still downcast.

"Kids, you have a misunderstanding here. Killian did not call duchess Marianne, mother because she is not his mother.

His mother died two years ago due to illness. Duchess Marianne is the second wife of the archduke.

So there was no need to complain to her alright.

If there is any problem, you can come to me, his aunt. I promise, I will handle the matter properly." Isabella explained and everyone nodded. Her tone was kind and full of motherly love. She continued to hug Killian as if she did not want him to feel bad as he did not have a mother like others.

Now everyone's eyes were scrutinizing Marianne. Poor girl! Even if she was not treating the kid well, the insult she faced today would affect her image which she was trying to make that hard.

I could silence them in a minute but this matter was about her, she had to decide how she would handle it.

"Alright, lady Isabella. We would keep that in mind." said both boys nodding their heads.

"You are such a kind boy. Killian, now go and apologise to them," Isabella ordered him in front of everyone as if she was the mother. It was clear that she was trying to challenge the rights of Marianne as mother.

But Killian still did not move, he was standing there frozen. Like he was physically present there but mentally he was not.

What was he thinking that he was so lost, Marianne took a step forward but Isabella was still standing there in between.

"Move" she ordered in a cold tone.

Isabella widened her eyes but continued standing there.

Marianne stared into her eyes with the coldest glare as she repeated

"Move aside, or I promise you would not be able to walk ever." Marianne was looking pissed off. Her nasty temper was leaking but it was far better than the beautiful deception Isabella was giving to Killian. But would the poor boy be able to differentiate in both?

Isabella looked at me but I feigned ignorance towards her pleading eyes. She bit her lip as if she suffered a heavy grievance and finally moved aside, her face was telling she was scared at the way Marianne was looking at her. She was no less than a ferocious Lioness who roared when it came to the security of her children.

But when she turned and looked at the kid all the fire in her eyes was gone and was replaced with a calm lake that was devoid of any ripples due to the stones thrown on her.

"Who am I, Killian?" she asked, touching his cheeks with love and affection.

Finally, he looked at her, his eyes were wet, there were complicated emotions in his eyes, much more for a kid should have.

"Who am I to you, Killian?" she asked again, slowly calmly, giving the boy time to ponder over her question. As if she was sitting in her garden and she had all the time of the world to gain his reply. I wonder if the leftover party would even be continued. But then, it was much better than looking at the artificial smile of everyone.

But completely opposite to her calmness, when the boy finally looked at her, he sobbed hard hugging her and whispered,

"Mother" and the lady hugged him back and started crying like the pair had met after being separated for years. Everyone was looking at each other with a loss of words. They both were crying and crushing each other in their arms.

Isabella fumed and gritted her teeth as she looked at the kid with utter astonishment. It made me surprised that she was that affected with simple mother words.

"Say it again" Marianne urged the crying child, her voice was as moist as his.

He used his hands to rub his eyes as he repeated,

"Mother, you are my mother." Finally a happy smile formed on her lips as she nodded her head while wiping her eyes.

"Yes, I am."

Finally, she looked at Isabella who was still in disbelief. Her face was ashen, it was looking like she had seen the ghost.

"Duchess Meredith. I am sorry for what Killian did to Oliver. But you know how our family is trying to adapt. He is just a child, I hope you understand." she spoke gently, wiping the tears of Killian with her handkerchief.

Meredith nodded, "I understand, archduchess, and I apologize for my kid's mistake."

"It's alright, they are just children, after all." With a smile, she cleaned his face.

"Have you eaten, Killian?" he asked once he looked better.

He shook his head.

"Would you like to have your favorite pineapple fruit pie?"

He nodded.

"Come"

"Your majesty." I nodded, before she could speak further since she had already promised him.

"It's alright, you can have snacks here with your son. We will continue our conversation some other day." That was enough drama anyway. Giving her a final nod and a quick glare to the knights who bowed their heads in embarrassment, I walked back and so did other ladies who had followed us here. But when I looked back to call Philip, he was still looking at Marianne with his golden eyes, which was strange. For a moment it felt like he knew her or he was searching for her. but then how was it even possible!