Everyone was stunned.


    Ivan was so shaken by the p that he could only clutch his swollen cheek, speechless.


    "This isn''t Kontina, and you''re not in your royal court. Watch yournguage," Alyssa said coldly, poking Ivan''s stiff, ashen face as she fixed him with an icy stare.


    Then she shot Anthony a frosty nce. "Keep your dog on a leash, Mr. Stewart. If you can''t, I''ll have to step in myself."


    Axel burst intoughter, pping his hands. "Nice one, Lyse! But let me handle it next time. I don''t want you hurting your hand."


    "I know who you are, youngdy."


    Not only was Anthony unangered, he even smiled warmly at Alyssa. "Princess Yuliana speaks of you often. She''s very fond of you."


    Alyssa''s voice turned t. "Princess Yuliana, you say? Seems you and your daughter have grown distant. Since she isn''t your biological daughter, you''re no longer willing to acknowledge her, is that it?"


    Anthony''s expression stiffened at once. He pressed his lips together. At the same time, Liam''s heart sank, his worry for Yuliana surging.


    "Mr. Stewart, I have no interest in the royal family''s secrets. But Yules is my close friend. She''s someone very important to me. If you mistreat her or push her around just because she isn''t your daughter, just know that the Taylors won''t stand by and watch."


    "Your Majesty."


    Liam stepped forward, stopping in front of Anthony. His gaze was steady,ced with concern. "My name is Liam Whitaker, the third son of the Taylor family. I am also Yuliana''s suitor."


    Anthony narrowed his eyes, studying the young man who dared to confront him. As he looked closer, something struck him-Liam''s eyes felt familiar. Strikingly so. They resembled the eyes of a woman he had buried deep in his heart, one he had never dared to speak of.


    "If you no longer wish to keep Yules by your side, I''ll go to Kontina and bring her back with me."


    Sincerity shone in Liam''s clear, unwavering eyes. "Let me love her, protect her, and care for her for the rest of her life."


    Everyone''s jaws dropped, including Alyssa''s. No one had expected Liam, usually gentle and unassuming, to confront the king so directly and dere his intentions so boldly.


    "Who is your mother?" Anthony suddenly asked, his eyes lighting up.


    Liam frowned. For some reason, he had no desire to answer. This wasn''t the first time he had seen Anthony-ner was it for Jonah, Ss, of Axel Yet never once had this man felt like a father to him.


    The truth was too shocking-almost unbelievable.


    So what if the king was their father? Because of him, Felicity had suffered so much


    while he had shown them no care at all. He didn''t deserve to be called their father.


    In a hoarse voice, Jonah answered, "We are biological brothers. We share the same mother."


    Anthony''s eyes widened. "What do you mean?"


    Jonah met his gaze coldly. "Our mother was pregnant with all four of us. Ss and I resemble each other, while Liam and Axel look more alike."


    The revtion hit Anthony like a blow, forcing him to stagger back He couldn''t believe his ears. He had always thought Felicity had given birth to twins. Never had he imagined she bore quadruplets.


    If Felicity had remained in the royal family back then-if she hadn''t been condemned and hunted down-he would have gained four outstanding sons at once. What a blessing that would have been for the Stewart family.


    But now...


    Perhaps this was his punishment. His sons had grown up calling another man father, despising him to their core, unwilling to acknowledge him at all.


    Was this Felicity''s revenge? How cruel.


    Tears welled in Anthony''s eyes as he looked over his four sons again and again. They had been raised well-each of them remarkable, each bearing traces of him.


    He wanted to tell them the truth. He wanted to tell them he was their father, to speak


    of the days when he and Felicity had loved each other so deeply...


    But the weight of his regret sealed his lips.


    If not for the royal family''s current crisis, he would never havee here, risking everything just to see them.


    It wasn''t because they were illegitimate that he had stayed away. It was because he hadn''t wanted to disrupt their peaceful lives. If Felicity were still alive, she wouldn''t have wanted that either.


    He truly had no other choice.


    "I''m afraid your trip here has been in vain, Your Majesty. None of us will return to Kontina with you."