Touch of Flame

Richard had anxiously awaited Andrew\'s return home after his sudden departure. He understood the reasons behind his impulsive decision, even if it was reckless. Now, as he sat lost in his thoughts, Richard couldn\'t help but wonder how long Andrew had known and why he hadn\'t confronted him about it.

Meredith\'s silence was easier to comprehend. Richard knew the pain he had caused her, the disappointment and betrayal she had experienced. But with Andrew, the confusion lingered. A heavy sigh escaped Richard\'s lips, and his head drooped slightly as he contemplated the damage he had caused. 

Disappointment seemed to follow him wherever he went, casting a shadow over his relationships. And soon, the truth might come to light, and he would have to face the disappointment of everyone who had believed in him.

"Father?" Corinna\'s gentle voice broke through his thoughts, her concerned expression drawing him out of his reverie. She stood in the garden, a mix of worry and affection in her eyes.

A faint smile tugged at Richard\'s lips as he welcomed her presence. "Come," he said, motioning for her to join him on the bench. Corinna complied, taking a seat beside him.

"What\'s troubling you?" she inquired, her voice filled with empathy.

Richard sighed, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "There are many relationships in need of repair," he confessed.

Corinna nodded, offering reassurance. "It will be alright," she said, her voice imbued with quiet optimism.

"But soon... everyone may discover who I truly am," Richard began, his voice heavy with apprehension.

Concern etched across her face as she voiced her worry. "That won\'t bode well. People may lose their trust in you."

Taking a deep breath, Richard nodded, acknowledging the truth in her words. "I know, but I fear I may not have another choice. Andrew knows now."

Corinna\'s brows furrowed, her mind racing to find a solution. "I have a suggestion," she offered. "Spread the rumors yourself, before anyone else has a chance to. By doing so strategically, you can control the narrative and gauge people\'s reactions. It will give you insight into whether they accept or dismiss it, and if they accept it, how they might react."

Richard contemplated her suggestion. "That might be a good idea," he admitted.

They sat in companionable silence for a while, and then Richard decided to take Corinna on a tour, visiting places that held special memories and sharing stories of their past. He took her to his chambers, the ones he shared with his wife, and looked through their belongings to show Corinna a portrait of her mother.

Corinna reached out, taking hold of one of the portraits, her eyes filled with a mix of longing and sentiment. "She\'s so beautiful," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.

Richard nodded, a fond smile gracing his lips. "She was the epitome of beauty, inside and out."

With a hopeful glimmer in her eyes, Corinna asked, "May I keep this?"

Richard\'s heart swelled. "Of course," he replied

Corinna\'s gaze remained fixated on her mother\'s portrait, her fingers gently tracing the delicate lines captured on the canvas. Her mother looked radiant with her long, fair hair cascading around her shoulders in soft waves. Her eyes held a warmth and kindness that Corinna longed to remember, and her graceful posture exuded an air of elegance that seemed almost ethereal.

As Ester regaled Corinna with stories of her childhood, and the happiness and bond the whole family shared, Corinna suddenly felt a tug of empathy in her heart. She couldn\'t help but feel for Andrew and Meredith, both families having suffered the loss of a beloved member. Despite her protectiveness over her mother\'s memory, which wasn\'t there yet, Corinna couldn\'t ignore the happiness she saw in her father\'s eyes when he danced with Meredith. She wanted him to find happiness and companionship, even if it meant moving forward without her mother.

As the sun began its descent, Andrew still hadn\'t returned, and Meredith paced anxiously in their room, her worry palpable. "Where could he have gone?" she fretted, turning to Richard, who shared her concern. Determined not to let fear consume them, Richard dispatched his men to search for Andrew.

"He will come back. I\'m certain he has slipped away from the castle before," Richard reassured Meredith.

A knock at the door interrupted their restless pacing, and Richard called for the visitor to enter. It was a guard, bringing news that Andrew had returned. Meredith\'s eyes lit up with hope, and she instinctively moved toward the door, but Richard gently held her back, whispering, "Let me talk to him." Meredith\'s concern was evident in her eyes, but she nodded in agreement. 

Richard made his way to Andrew\'s room, his steps weighted with a sense of responsibility. He lightly knocked on the bedroom door and, upon receiving a muffled acknowledgment, pushed it open and entered.

Andrew, seated at his desk, didn\'t bother to look up as Richard entered. "There is no need to say anything," he stated, his voice laced with a mix of resignation and frustration. "Your secret is safe. But I am not doing it for you. I am doing it for Mother."

Richard\'s heart clenched. Taking a deep breath, he asked, "Since when did you know?"

"It doesn\'t matter," Andrew replied curtly, his gaze finally meeting his.

"Why didn\'t you say anything before?" Richard inquired, his voice gentle yet filled with a longing for understanding.

Andrew\'s lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Maybe... I didn\'t want to believe it," he admitted, his voice cracking with emotion. "All these years, I wondered why you changed so suddenly. Why you became distant, why your love for me and mother shifted? I thought it was just grief consuming you, but now I know... now I understand why."

Richard\'s heart shattered at the realization of the impact his actions had on his nephew. He longed to go back in time, to erase the pain he had caused. But all he could do now was face the truth, seek redemption, and rebuild the fractured bond between them.

Richard shook his head. "You were not wrong. I was different. I was distant. I really don\'t know who I was. I did not even acknowledge my own daughter. It was not only you, Andrew. I wronged all of you. You did nothing wrong to me. There is no shred of hatred I have toward you that made me behave that way. It was me." 

"Why then?!" He hit his fists on the table as he stood up, his face burning with fury. "Why did you let us all suffer like this?" 

"I am sorry. I wish I had an answer, a good reason, but I don\'t." 

"That is not enough!" Andrew bit out. "Father died in your place just so you could be like this!" He gritted. "He loved you. He would always tell me to be like you instead of like him. You don\'t deserve it. I don\'t want to be like you. I will be everything you are not." 

Richard shook his head, now understanding Andrew\'s rebellious nature. 

"I don\'t want you to be like me, Andrew," Richard admitted, his voice trembling with regret. "I have made mistakes, and I have hurt everyone who cared for me. I lost sight of the values your father cherished, and I let the darkness consume me. I understand why you don\'t want to follow in my footsteps."

His eyes filled with tears as he continued, his voice filled with genuine remorse. "But I want you to know that your father\'s spirit lives on within you. You carry his love, his wisdom, and his values deep within your heart. I know that. Despite my shortcomings, I implore you to honor his memory by embracing the qualities he admired in me and using them to forge your own path."

Richard\'s voice wavered, his emotions raw and unfiltered. "Your father believed in me, Andrew. He saw something in me what I failed to see in myself. He believed that I had the capacity for goodness and greatness. And even though I faltered, his love and faith in me still linger in my soul. It is my greatest regret that I let him down, and I can\'t change the past. But I can promise you that I am committed to rediscovering the essence of who I am and becoming the father, brother, husband and king he wanted me to be."

Andrew\'s jaw tightened, his emotions conflicting within him. Richard knew that healing their relationship would take time, patience, and consistent effort.

"It is too late for these words," Andrew said, shedding tears. "You should have thought about that before," he whispered, his voice laced with bitterness. "You should have considered the consequences of your actions."

"I understand that my words may feel empty to you right now, Andrew," Richard said. "But I want you to know that I am fully committed to making things right. I will do whatever it takes to earn your respect and forgiveness."

Andrew\'s eyes met Richard\'s, his gaze filled with a mixture of skepticism and longing. "I want to believe you," he said softly, his voice tinged with sadness. "But, I don\'t."

Richard nodded. "I hope my actions can change your mind."

"They won\'t!" 

**********

A/N

Some of you have already noticed and expressed that we are close to the end. Yes, we are. Touch of Flame will come to an end next month. For those who have followed me on this journey so far, thank you so much for all your support. I hope you enjoy the full final arc of the story.