THE RISE OF THE SECRET HEIR

CHAPTER 6

He stood before the tall mansion with his mouth agape. He was trying to let the reality of it all sink in deeply.

Aside from how mighty it was from the outside, the outer decor was out of the world. It looked like those huge palaces from the Italian Renaissance, reminding him of the study of antiquities which he used to have an interest in.

“Your father is waiting, Arthur. Let's go in”, Derrick nudged his arm, flashing him one of his regular smiles.

Arthur closed his mouth and nodded in response before trudging behind his granduncle.

Arthur was walking carefully, stepping on the ground one at a time until he was at the front door which was thrown open from inside by the butler.

The butler, Henrico, bowed to them. “Welcome home, Prince Arthur.”

Forgetting for a second that he was the Prince being referred to, he finally closed his agape mouth and nodded at the butler, completely clueless about how to respond.

When he turned to his uncle for a clue, the old man just looked away with a broad smile on his face, ignoring the curiosity in Arthur’s expression.

If the outside was magnificent, then the inside was luxurious and glamorous. His already closed mouth opened up unconsciously again as he stared up at the high chandeliers dangling before darting his eyes to the sparkling marble floor.

On the walls sit different artistic paintings and decorations. The furniture was more than his expectations. It was a mixture of old and modern. 

Arthur was so sure this was the biggest palace in the whole world. He was amazed.

“Arthur!” A voice called to him, jerking him out of his thoughts.

“Yes sir”, he bowed immediately, forgetting where he was and why he was there. 

A laughter erupted from someone making Arthur remember he was home. And he was a Prince.

He was to be referred to as a Sir. He was not to refer to anyone else as that but his father only.

He was a Prince.

The word kept ringing in his ears, jolting him upright with excitement. The tingling sensation running down his spine was cut short by the cold glare thrown at him by a woman.

It was a lady. She was young and beautiful. She was dressed in a sophisticated long sparkly gown.

Arthur controlled himself. He didn't want to embarrass himself more than he had already done. Obviously, the lady was the one who laughed. He was sure he was even older than she was.

Derrick pointed at Arthur before shifting his finger back to the direction of the woman. “Diana, this is Arthur. He is your brother.”

Instead of the smile and happiness Arthur thought would radiate on her face, a look of distaste was what was dancing on her expression.

What is happening? He thought to himself.

Aren't they all supposed to be happy he was back home? Was he not welcome?

Despite the questions running through his head, he couldn't find any answers until something clicked.

He had a good memory. A retentive one.

Uncle Derrick mentioned that he had sisters. Sisters from another woman who was supposedly his father’s wife.

He mentioned Marianna, Dianna and Graciela. Then this must be his sister. 

Diana hissed and threw him another icy glare before storming off with her gown trailing behind her. 

Derrick didn't mention anything about Diana’s behaviour to him. He just directed him to follow him with his usual smile.

Arthur followed.

Then he saw lots of women in uniform moving about and bowing to them as they passed. They were dressed in a black and white uniform in contrast to the full-back uniform the bodyguards outside the house were wearing.

Another door opened and they both entered. It led to a staircase which they both took with Arthur still trying to let everything sink in and taking everything in with his eyes.

When they got to the landing, Derrick halted and pointed to a particular door. “Your father is waiting.”

Arthur figured the sickness must have made him bedridden but he was scared at that point.

His fear was back. Now in multiple folds. Everything suddenly felt like a dream that was about to be cut short. A dream he was about to wake up from.

His body trembled both in fear and sadness. If it was a dream, he didn't want it to end. He needed a new life more than anything else. He couldn't imagine going back to his old life and struggling to feed himself and also facing the same old jeers and pitiful looks from his neighbours who must have seen what happened when that car wanted to run him over.

He didn't want to think of Claire and how she would mock him for being poor and miserable.

Now, he was not only poor but also jobless.

When Derrick made to turn back to leave, Arthur grabbed his hand. “Please”, he managed not to stutter. “I can't.”

Tears filled his eyes. He was going to see his father. Not hale and hearty but on a deathbed. His life was about to change but he was going to be left with no father and mother once again.

“Follow me, please!” He finally said the word, controlling his emotions.

Derrick nodded. He wasn't smiling. He was watching Arthur with a sympathetic look.

Arthur didn't leave his hand as Derrick moved close and turned the doorknob as soon as they were close. The door opened and the first sound Arthur heard was coughing.

He knew instantly that it was his father.

The first thing he saw was a man bent over coughing out blood with a maid by his side with a bowl.

Hearing the sound of the door, they both looked up. Their eyes met and he lunged forward towards his replica.

That was his father.

They did not only share a name but also have a striking resemblance. His joy knew no bounds.

It wasn't a dream after all. He was alive. He was awake. And he was a Prince. 

Arthur raced towards the bed and pulled the frail man into a tight embrace, making him chuckle lightly before coughing out again.

Arthur disengaged quickly and he heard a sound beside him.

“Don't strangle him, you jerk!” Someone thundered, making Arthur notice the maid wasn't the only person in the room with his father.

At the far end of the room was another lady sitting majestically on a sofa with her legs crossed and a phone in her well-manicured hand.

She stood up and Arthur could see how she looked just like the lady downstairs. If she wasn't wearing a crop top and a tiny skirt, he would have thought she was Diana.

She looked younger too. Like 18 or 20.

“You wanna kill him?” She demanded with a scowl before turning back to her phone and typing on it furiously.

“Grace, talk to your brother with respect!” His father tried to sound harsh but it only came out in a whisper. The girl wasn't even threatened. She glared at both father and son before going back to sit.

Was she Grace or Graciela? Didn't Derrick mention the last girl was Graciela?

His father shifted his gaze to the man over him, Derrick. “Thank you Uncle for fulfilling my dying wish. God bless you.”

“You too, son,” Derrick replied and Arthur could detest the smile in his voice.

He was a good man, Arthur thought.

Suddenly, his father grabbed his face in between his two hands and slammed his forehead gently on Arthur’s. “My son.”

“Father?” The word came out in a whisper and it sounded more like a question.

He nodded. “Yes, I am your father. I'm sorry, son.”

Suddenly he began to weep, making Arthur let a tear drop from his eyes too. When the door shut quietly behind them, Arthur knew his grand-uncle and the maid were gone, to give them a quiet time.

Meanwhile, Grace was still in her seat ignoring them both as she continued chatting with her boyfriend about Arthur’s appearance. Obviously, she was not the only one who wasn't pleased. They were all unpleasant about his homecoming.

When his father began to cough again, Arthur quickly grabbed the bowl from where the maid kept it so he could help him when the door was thrown open again from behind.

It made a loud sound and someone walked in in long strides.

Another woman. 

She was a woman but looked more like a man. She had an angry expression on her face and when she saw Arthur, she snorted and screamed. “Get off that bed right now!”

Arthur scrambled out of the bed hurriedly and his father exclaimed with all his strength. “Marianna, what the hell are you doing?”