Hiding My Twin Heirs from the Ruthless Prince

CHAPTER 59

POV: Evangeline

William lies limp in my arms, breathing softly, freed from the curse at last. The runes behind him are still fading, their last sparks drifting like ash in the air. I brush a strand of hair from his forehead, then turn to Rosemary.

“Take him,” I whisper. “Get him out of here. Slowly. Carefully.”

Her eyes widen. “Are you sure you don’t want to hold him longer?”

I shake my head. “Marc is still somewhere down here. I can’t leave him alone another moment.”

Rosemary cups William gently into her arms. The boy stirs only slightly, exhausted beyond measure. She nods once—firm, loyal—and starts toward the tunnel that leads upward. Behind her, two knights secure Henry in enchanted iron cuffs. He doesn’t resist. He only watches William with hollow eyes.

Sebastian touches my arm. “We have to go. Marc needs us.”

I nod and follow him deeper into the labyrinth.

***

It takes only a few minutes before we find a narrow hallway leading into an isolated chamber. The door sits slightly open, and inside—

Marc.

My little boy sits curled in a corner, trembling, arms wrapped around his knees. His face is blotchy from crying, and when he lifts his head and sees us, his entire expression crumbles.

“Mom!” he sobs, scrambling to his feet and running into my arms. “I’m sorry—I’m so sorry—I didn’t mean to—I didn’t know—”

I kneel and pull him against me tightly, resting my cheek on his hair. “Marc, sweetheart, you’re okay. You’re safe.”

Sebastian kneels beside us, placing a gentle hand on Marc’s back. “You didn’t do anything wrong, son. We’re here now. Everything’s going to be fine.”

Marc shakes his head violently, tears streaming down his face. “I trusted him. I thought he was my friend. I didn’t know he’d take me to scary places. I didn’t know…”

“Shh.” I cradle his face in my hands. “You didn’t know. You’re a child, Marc. You were tricked. You are not at fault.”

He sniffles. “Are you mad at me?”

Both Sebastian and I speak at once.

“No.”

“Never.”

Sebastian squeezes his shoulder. “All that matters is that you’re safe. We’re taking you home.”

Marc wipes his eyes and nods. “Okay.”

We lead him out of the chamber, his small hands clinging tightly to both of ours. Every few steps, he glances up at me to make sure I’m still there. I squeeze his hand each time.

***

When we finally emerge from the labyrinth, Rosemary is waiting near the exit. William is still in her arms, unconscious but breathing evenly. The knights flank Henry, keeping him restrained as we prepare to make the journey back to the palace.

Sebastian lifts William carefully from Rosemary. The boy lets out a faint whimper but doesn’t wake.

Marc clings to my side, burying his face in my dress.

We start walking.

For several minutes, no one speaks. The air is heavy with exhaustion and the remnants of fear. The sunrise bleeds over the horizon, washing the world in pale gold.

Then Henry clears his throat.

Everyone immediately tenses.

He doesn’t look proud or triumphant anymore. The man who once seemed carved from arrogance now appears hollow—like something essential inside him has broken.

He looks up at Sebastian first. “You loved her.”

Sebastian stiffens. “This isn’t the time—”

“No.” Henry lowers his gaze. “I mean it. You loved her. And she loved you. I… didn’t want to believe it.” His voice cracks for the first time. “But I saw it in that necklace. In the way your wife spoke. In William’s reaction.”

Sebastian’s jaw tightens, silent.

Henry swallows hard. “I spent years thinking you stole her from me. That you were the monster who ruined everything. But all along…” His voice trembles. “All along, the real monster was the curse. Not you.”

Rosemary looks at him with visible empathy. Her voice softens. “Henry… you were grieving. Twisted by revenge, yes. But grief makes people do foolish, horrible things.”

Henry meets her eyes briefly. Something vulnerable flashes there before he looks away.

Sebastian’s tone turns sharp. “Grief doesn’t excuse endangering my kingdom. Or harming children. Or causing Alexandro’s death.”

Henry flinches.

I step forward, placing a calm hand on Sebastian’s forearm before his anger deepens.

“Sebastian,” I murmur, “enough.”

He glances at me, still stiff with fury.

I keep my voice steady. “Henry will face justice. He will be punished for every life he endangered. But I will not take his life the way he took Alexandro’s. We are not killers driven by revenge.”

Henry’s breath hitches—silent, stunned.

Then he whispers, barely audible, “Evangeline… I am sorry. For your brother. Truly.”

Pain stabs my chest, but I nod once. It is not forgiveness. But it is acknowledgment.

We continue walking.

When the palace comes into view, Sebastian shifts William in his arms and steps closer to me. Marc walks between us, gripping my hand tightly.

“Evangeline,” Sebastian murmurs low so only I can hear, “I need to ask you something.”

I look up at him. “What is it?”

“How did you know?” he whispers. “The seals. The curse. Everyone thought there were two left. We thought Henry bore them. But the necklace… it broke the last one. So there was only one seal left until now.”

I breathe slowly.

“When William collapsed,” I answer, brushing Marc’s hair gently, “the runes made it clear. The curse passed through Cordelia’s bloodline. William witnessed his mother’s death—he saw it with his eyes. You don’t forget something like that. It shatters you, even if you’re small.”

Sebastian stops walking, realization dawning. “Witnessing her death… that broke one of the seals.”

“Yes.” I meet his gaze. “Henry’s grief broke another. And tonight you witnessed William break completely… and then heal.”

Sebastian exhales, the weight finally lifting from his shoulders. He looks at Marc, then at William sleeping in his arms, then at me.

Slowly, he reaches out and squeezes my free hand.

“From now on,” he says, voice steadier than it has been in months, “everything will be okay.”

For the first time, I believe him.

We survived through everything. His betrayal with Cordelia, then remorse, then distance and refusal to get back to each other, thinking I could never forgive him. Then reuniting. Kingdom’s duties and pressure, our family falling apart, the pain and difficulties of routine life. Then my brother’s death. Dangers, hate, guilt, fear. But now… now I know it was all worth it in the end.

If I have learned anything from this—it is that hate, revenge, or fear won't get you far. Henry hated Sebastian and wanted to get revenge for Cordelia. William feared his father and desired to avenge his mother. I myself hated Sebastian, my love, for allowing Alexandro to die. And I wanted to avenge him by killing Henry.

Now? Now all I want is peace.