Was it a dream, or some kind of psychic connection between father and daughter? Emeric's brow furrowed in his sleep, his fingertips twitching reflexively.
"Mom, was she royalty?" Bennett's breath hitched.
Evadne shook her head gently. "I don't know. If she was a member of the royal family, even if she was exiled or disowned for some reason, there would be some record of it.
So, I suspect she might have been someone from the palace, or someone related to the royal family. But the specifics, I'm not sure, since we really don't know much about the situation in Helgen. But one thing is certain."
Her eyes sparked with a cold light, her delicate fingers clenched tightly. "Mom must have had some feud with the Helgen royal family, forcing her into exile, and then, by some twist of fate, she ended up in Skyrim and, coincidentally, was saved by Bevis."
The word "feud" struck Bennett's heart like a cruel and invisible dagger.
"Dad always doted on us, letting us make our own life choices. Coming from a wealthy family, he never pressured us into arranged marriages, allowing us to seek our own happiness."
Bennett knelt by the bed, grasping his father's much-too-thin hand, his eyes brimming with tears. "But the situation with Stella and me, he opposed so strongly. It shows Evadne, your speculation must be on track. There must have been some bad blood between Mom and the Helgen royal family to cause such a stir in Dad's emotions."
Hearing this, Evadne pondered deeply.
Indeed, from a young age, their father had only shown excessive tolerance towards his five children, spoiling them. But towards Suri and Myra's kids, he acted more like a strict patriarch.
He would vehemently oppose Debby marrying into Helgen, had arranged for Nydia to marry into the Chambers, and constantly urged Aaron to settle down.
But for them, even when she went off to be a doctor without borders, no matter how rebellious, father had always seemed strict but ultimately indulgent and compromising.
Father truly loved their mother the most, his affection extending to all her children.
But with such deep affection, why would he remarry again and again?
If mother and father were truly in harmony, why watch him take another wife after another, never interfering, even being friendly with these other wives?
As a woman, she couldn't understand her mother.
How could one not feel jealous? Unless there's no love, otherwise, how could she tolerate a polygamous life, let alone have children with such a man?
"Evadne, if Mom really had a feud with the Helgen royal family, then I will cut ties with Stella completely. There'll be no further contact with her."
Bennett's breath was ragged, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "While there's still time, it's not too late."
"Bennett, all this is just my speculation. To give up on your happiness because of it now would be too cruel," Evadne said, her heart aching for him.
"I lost my mother early, I can't lose my father too. I can't gamble with my father's health."
Bennett bowed his head, turmoil and guilt swirling within him. "Evadne, I, Bennett, might not be destined for greatness, nor do I have the courage to defy everything for love. I just want Dad to be okay, for all of you to be okay. That's all the meaning I have left in living."
The siblings sat in silence, watching over Emeric a while longer before Bennett, his figure defeated, left the room.
"Dad, what exactly happened with Mom? When will you be able to tell me honestly? I really want to know."
Evadne sat by the bed, sighing heavily.
Just then, as her gaze fell back to Emeric's noble face, her pupils suddenly dilated—
Two trails of tears streamed down from the corner of their father's eyes, soaking the pillow.
Their father, was crying in his dreams.
Late at night.
Bennett took his military uniform out of his suitcase, hanging it up and carefully polishing his medals and insignia.
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