As he reached the gazebo, he put on a calm facade, though his eyes betrayed his emotions as they met Elise's. "Elise," he said softly, trying to keep his voice steady. "It's been a long time."

Elise looked up, her eyes widening with surprise and a hint of recognition. "Claude," she replied, trying to hide her own emotions. "Yes, it has been a while."

He wanted to take her hand, to tell her everything, but he held back, knowing that the timing wasn't right. Instead, he chose his words carefully, concealing his true feelings. "I'm glad to see you safe and well," he said genuinely, his heart aching at the distance he had kept from her.

Elise nodded, her gaze momentarily flickering with a mix of emotions. "Thank you," she replied, a hint of sadness in her voice. "Life has been...eventful."

Claude took a deep breath, gathering his courage as he looked into Elise's eyes. The weight of the revelation that Amaryllis and Elise were the same person had lifted a veil from his heart, and he knew that it was time to finally confront the truth that had kept them apart for so long.

"Elise," he began, his voice tender and earnest, "why did you leave? I've been searching for you, and all this time, I couldn't understand why you disappeared only leaving a note."

Elise's gaze met his, and he saw a mix of emotions flicker across her face—sadness, fear, and a hint of longing. She took a moment to collect her thoughts before she spoke, her voice tinged with vulnerability.

"I was scared," she admitted her words barely above a whisper. "I thought I didn't deserve you. You are the crown prince, destined for greatness, and I am just a commoner. I couldn't bear the thought of holding you back or becoming an obstacle in your path."

Claude's heart clenched at her words, understanding the depths of her insecurities and the pain she had carried. He reached out, gently taking her hand in his, a gesture of comfort and reassurance.

"Elise, you are not just a commoner to me," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "You are the woman who captured my heart, and nothing else matters. I love you, and I always will."

Tears welled up in Elise's eyes as she listened to his declaration. "But your engagement...," she whispered, her voice filled with longing.

"My engagement was forced upon me for political reasons," Claude said firmly. "It was never about love, and I don't want it to come between us. I want to be with you, Elise, and only you."

Elise's heart soared at his words, the weight of her fears beginning to lift. "But what if breaking off the engagement causes problems for the empire?" she asked, still concerned for his well-being.

Claude's eyes bore into hers with unwavering determination. "I am willing to face any consequences to be with you," he declared. "Your happiness is all that matters to me, and I will do whatever it takes to make things right."

As the truth spilled out, a sense of relief washed over both of them. In each other's presence, they found the strength to lay bare their deepest feelings. Emotions swelled within them, a potent mixture of love, hope, and newfound courage.

Elise stepped closer, feeling the warmth of Claude's embrace as he held her close. The walls they had built to protect themselves from pain were now crumbling, replaced by an unbreakable bond of love.

With tears of joy and gratitude, Elise whispered, "I love you, Claude, and I never stopped."

"I love you too, Elise," Claude replied, his voice full of tenderness.

As they stood in the gazebo, the air filled with a mix of emotions, Claude finally gathered the courage to ask the question that had been haunting him since they reunited.

"Elise," he began softly, his voice filled with genuine curiosity, "what happened to you after you left the capital? I've been trying to find you, but it was as if you vanished."

Elise took a deep breath, her eyes meeting his with a hint of vulnerability. "After I left the capital," she said, her voice steady but tinged with emotion, "I decided to start a new life for myself. I knew I couldn't stay in Capital, so I traveled the north, here in Visconti Dukedom. I found out I was pregnant and I established my own bakery to support myself."

As Claude listened to Elise's words, his heart swelled with a mix of emotions—admiration for her strength and determination, joy at the news of their child, and a twinge of regret for the time lost. He couldn't help but feel a sense of awe for the woman standing before him, who had faced so much on her own.

"You started your own bakery," he echoed, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "That's incredible, Elise. I always knew you had a talent for baking, but to turn it into your own business is truly remarkable."

Elise blushed, touched by his praise. "Thank you, Claude," she replied, a hint of pride in her voice. "It wasn't easy, but I found joy in baking and creating delicious treats for the people in the town."

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"And you found out about the pregnancy here," Claude said, gently resting a hand on her stomach. "Our child," he added with a mixture of awe and wonder.

Elise nodded, her eyes shining with happiness. "Yes," she confirmed, "when I arrived at the Visconti Dukedom, I discovered that I was pregnant. It was a surprise, but also the most precious gift I could ever receive."

Claude took a deep breath, his emotions still swirling within him. He gazed at Elise with a mixture of love and concern, and then, with a gentle smile, he asked, "Elise, how many months pregnant are you?"

Elise's eyes softened, and she placed a hand gently on her belly, cradling the life growing within. "I am six months along," she replied, her voice tinged with a hint of awe and wonder. "It has been both terrifying and miraculous."

Claude's heart skipped a beat, realizing that Elise had been carrying their child during their time apart. A wave of tenderness washed over him, knowing that he had missed so much of this precious journey.

"You have been so strong, Elise," he said softly, his eyes locked with hers. "I am sorry I wasn't there for you during these months. You shouldn't have faced this alone."

Elise gently placed her hand on top of his, offering him a reassuring smile. "It's alright, Claude," she said softly. "You had your responsibilities as crown prince, and I didn't want to burden you with my problems."

"But you're not a burden," Claude replied, his gaze unwavering. "You're the love of my life, and our child is the greatest blessing. I should have been there for you, to support you and share this journey with you."

Elise's smile softened, and she leaned in to place a gentle kiss on his cheek. "You're here now," she said, her voice filled with love and understanding. "And that's all that matters. We have the present and the future together."

Claude nodded, his heart swelling with love for the woman before him. "You're right," he said, his voice filled with determination. "From now on, I will be by your side, to cherish you and our child, and to create a beautiful future together."

~~~

Inside the duke's office, Crown Prince Claude and Elise stood side by side, their hands tightly clasped, as they prepared to reveal the truth to the duke and duchess. The atmosphere in the room was tense, and the duke's face turned red with anger while the duchess looked shocked and surprised.

"Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?" the duke demanded, his anger evident in his voice. "You dare to come here with such audacious claims?"

Prince Claude stood his ground, though he was nervous in the face of the duke's wrath. "I speak the truth Duke Alastair," he replied firmly, correcting the duke's address. "I've always loved Elise ever since I met her and she is carrying our child. I take full responsibility for my actions."

Elise looked down, her voice filled with remorse. "I apologize for hiding the truth from you, Mother and Father," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was afraid of the consequences and the judgment I might face."

Duchess Simone's eyes softened with compassion as she looked at Elise. "My dear, it must have been a difficult situation for you," she said gently. "But honesty is essential in such matters."

The duke's anger seemed to intensify, and he glared at Prince Claude. "You, a prince of the empire, have impregnated my daughter and left her alone while she traveled to the Visconti dukedom?" he seethed. "And to add to this scandal, you are engaged to another?"

Prince Claude's jaw tightened, and he maintained his composure. "I understand the gravity of the situation, Duke," he said with a hint of remorse. "The engagement was a political arrangement, and I will do everything in my power to annul it. But my feelings for Elise are genuine, and I cannot deny them."

Duchess Simone looked between her husband, Elise, and Prince Claude, her shock evident in her expression. "Elise, is this true?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Have you been seeing Prince Claude?"

Elise nodded, her voice steady despite her own anxiety. "Yes, Mother," she admitted. "Claude and I love each other deeply, and we've been through so much together."

The duke's anger seemed to subside slightly, replaced by a mix of disappointment and concern. "We need time to process this," he said firmly. "Leave us now, Your Highness,"

Prince Claude nodded, sensing that he needed to give the duke and duchess space to process the news. He squeezed Elise's hand reassuringly before leaving the room.

~~~

As the sun cast a warm glow through the windows of the sitting room, Duke Visconti leaned forward, his gaze focused on Elise. "Elise, if you're comfortable sharing, could you tell us about your life when you were living in the capital?" he asked, his voice gentle and inviting.

Elise met the duke's gaze, her expression a mix of nostalgia and uncertainty. Taking a deep breath, she began to speak, her voice soft yet steady. "I had the privilege of attending the royal academy, and during that time, I became friends with Prince Claude," she started.

Duchess Simone listened attentively, her curiosity evident in her eyes. "Friends with Prince Claude?" she repeated, her tone intrigued.

Elise nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Yes, we were close friends, and then I was appointed as a knight serving Crown Prince Claude," she continued. "But... things changed between us. We developed a relationship."

The room fell silent as Elise's words hung in the air, carrying a weight of unspoken emotions. Duke Visconti's brow furrowed, and he exchanged a glance with his wife, their expressions reflecting a mixture of understanding and concern.

"I left the capital and ended our relationship," Elise admitted, her voice tinged with sadness. "Claude is betrothed to another, and I didn't want to be in the way of his duty as a prince. It was a painful decision, but I believed it was for the best."

Duchess Simone reached out and placed her hand on top of Elise's, offering a gentle squeeze. "Elise, my dear, you've been through so much," she said softly. "I wish we had been there to support you during that time."

The duke nodded in agreement, his expression empathetic. "You shouldn't have had to face those challenges alone," he added, his voice sincere.

Elise's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she looked at the duke and duchess. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude. "Being here now, with both of you, means more than I can express."

Duchess Simone smiled warmly, her compassion evident. "You're a part of our family now, Elise," she said, her words carrying a sense of belonging. "And we're here to support you, no matter what."

Elise's lips trembled into a grateful smile as she felt the weight of their words, the comfort of their acceptance. At that moment, she realized that she had found not only love but also a family who truly cared for her well-being and happiness.