Chapter 1059

Helen had tried to reach him, but had failed. When she saw Ryan eagerly running toward her, something inside her softened. Her nose tingled, and tears welled in her eyes. She quickly embraced him.

“Good boy, you’ve had it rough,” she said.

Ryan nestled in her arms, waving to Carissa to leave. Then, he began to comfort Helen.

“Don’t worry, Your Grace. I’m not upset at all. The king gave me so many gifts! I’ll have Mr. York send them here for you. You can pick out whatever you like, or take them all if you want.”

Helen’s heart ached at his words. Tears flowed freely. “We’ll go pick them ourselves. When you come back from the academy, we’ll go together.”

Carissa quietly left. She hadn’t realized Ryan was so adept at comforting others.

Rafael had been watching from a distance. Seeing Carissa emerge, he approached and softly asked, “Is he alright?”

Carissa met his worried gaze. Without hesitation, she slipped her arm through his. “He seems fine. Let’s go; we’ll leave him to spend time with Mother.”

The casual gesture felt different to Rafael than holding hands—a sign of trust, an unspoken connection drawing her closer. Holding hands, after all, maintained a certain distance.

“Prince Connor’s temperament…” Carissa began slowly, choosing her words carefully. “I didn’t know he was so spoiled.”

Rafael hummed, not eager to discuss it, but given Ryan's mistreatment, he offered an explanation.

“The queen favors him greatly. She believes his position as crown prince is secure, so she dotes on him excessively. As a mother, sometimes it’s hard to see your child’s faults. Even when she does, she may minimize their importance.”

Carissa, never a mother, analyzed it rationally. “The king must know about this, right?”

“I’m not so sure. Even if he does, his awareness is likely limited. How often does the king see him? His Majesty is busy with state affairs and rarely visits the palace. Even when he summons Connor, it’s only for a few words or a meal. Connor would never misbehave in the king’s presence.”

Carissa hummed thoughtfully, her brows furrowed. A seven-year-old could be playful and mischievous, but how could he harbor such malice? And he was to be the future crown prince!