One day, as Elsa sat in the palace garden with her three children, Novel and Ersia giggled happily, playing with their younger sibling. Elsa's heart warmed at their bond, but her peace was shattered when she overheard a conversation among the palace maids.

“The rumors about the third prince are true,” one maid whispered.

Another maid nodded. “Yes, after that night, His Majesty has never once come to see him.”

“But why?” a third maid asked in hushed tones.

“No one knows,” the second maid sighed. “I feel terrible for the little prince.”

“And it’s been nearly two months,” another added. “They still haven’t given him a name, a royal title. It’s as if the King refuses to acknowledge his existence.”

Just then, the head maid appeared, her voice sharp. “What are you all doing here? Get back to work at once!”

The maids scattered instantly. The head maid turned toward Elsa and bowed deeply. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. This won’t happen again.”

Elsa said nothing. She simply looked down at her child, her expression unreadable, but her grip around him tightened protectively.

That night, Elsa and Karl lay side by side in their chamber, though an invisible wall seemed to separate them. The silence stretched between them until Elsa finally spoke, her voice laced with sorrow.

“Karl, I know you don’t like the third prince. I won’t ask why. But please, I beg you,” she turned to face him, tears welling in her eyes, “don’t show your dislike so openly. Please, Karl, I don’t want my child to suffer.”

Karl’s voice was cold. “I can’t tell you why I feel this way, and I won’t pretend otherwise.”

Elsa reached for his hand, her grip desperate. “Please, Karl. He is our child.”

Karl pulled away. “I’m sorry, but I can’t.”

Tears streamed down Elsa’s face. When Karl reached to comfort her, she pushed him away.

“You should stay away from him, too,” Karl said, his tone unwavering. “It will be better for you.”

Elsa gasped in disbelief. “How can you say that, Karl?” she cried. “He is my child—our child! How can you be so cruel to your son?”

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Karl said nothing, his expression one of silent command.

Shaking with anger and heartbreak, Elsa stood tall before him. “Even if you refuse to love him, I will give him all the love he needs.”

With that, she turned and left, running to the nursery where her son lay sleeping. She sat beside him for the entire night, watching over him with unwavering devotion.

The next morning, in his office, Karl turned to his secretary. “Adios, where is Elsa?”

Adios bowed. “Your Majesty, the Queen is with the children.”

Karl’s expression darkened. “She should return to her duties instead of wasting time. Tell her she is to resume her responsibilities immediately. If she refuses, remind her—it is an order.”

Adios hesitated but finally nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

He approached Elsa later that day and relayed the King’s command.

Elsa smiled bitterly. “So it’s an order, hmm?” She met Adios’s gaze firmly. “Tell His Majesty I will obey—on one condition.”

Adios inclined his head. “What condition, Your Majesty?”

She took a deep breath. “He must name our son.”

Adios’s eyes widened slightly, but he composed himself. “I will inform the King.”

Back in the royal office, Karl listened as Adios delivered Elsa’s message. His expression grew thunderous, his voice filled with fury.

“Fine,” he growled. “If that is what she wants—so be it.”

Three days later, the naming ceremony for the third prince was held. Unlike the previous ceremonies, this time, no one was invited. When Elsa saw this, her heart sank.

"My baby, please don’t be sad. Mom will make everything right," she whispered to herself.

Karl named the third prince "Lucian Al Pestelio" and then left the ceremony without another word.

The following day, Elsa resumed her royal duties, leaving her with little time to spend with Lucian. She barely managed to see him at the end of the day, having not laid eyes on him since morning.

Elsa became even busier as the social season began, managing events and preparing Ersia for her introduction to society. Meanwhile, Karl officially declared Novel as the crown prince and dedicated his time to training him. No one spared a thought for Lucian. A child neglected by his father and ignored by the palace.

Years passed, and Lucian turned three. Sitting alone in the corner of his dimly lit room, he stared out of the window, watching the gardens he was never allowed to visit.

“I want to go outside, but no one lets me,” he murmured.

Chloe, his nanny, entered with a tray. "Prince, it’s time to eat. Come here."

Lucian turned to her with hopeful eyes. "Can I go outside and play in the garden after I eat?"

Chloe hesitated. "I’m sorry, Prince, but you can’t go outside."

"Why?" Lucian asked, his voice small. "I’m so bored. No one plays with me. Mom is always busy, Dad doesn’t let me see him, and my brother and sister never come to see me."

Hearing this, Elsa, who had been standing outside the bedroom, felt a pang of guilt. She longed to rush in and embrace him, but she couldn’t. She turned away, her eyes filled with sorrow.

Aria, the headmaid, approached. "Your Majesty, why don’t you go and see the third prince?"

Elsa shook her head. "You know Karl doesn’t like Lucian. He has done everything to keep me away from him these past three years. I can endure it, but I won’t give him another reason to hurt Lucian."

Everyone in the palace knew the truth: the king despised his youngest son. As a result, the staff began neglecting their duties towards Lucian. The maids no longer cleaned his room properly, the servants harassed him, and even Chloe, once his only source of comfort, began avoiding him. Karl was well aware of what was happening, yet he did nothing.