It was late one evening when Anastasia found herself seated across from her parents in their grand study. The weight of the world seemed to rest heavily upon her shoulders, a heavy burden that only those born into such power could truly understand. Her parents, who had built their empire with ruthless precision and intelligence, were silent as they exchanged a glance.
She had grown used to their cold, calculating expressions—expressions that always seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words. But tonight, there was something different in the air. The usual sharpness of her father's gaze softened, and her mother's usual impassive demeanor gave way to something almost... gentle.
"Anastasia," her father's voice broke through the quiet, a deep, resonant tone that carried both authority and an unspoken sadness. "There is something we need to tell you."
Her heart skipped a beat. Something they need to tell me? She'd been expecting this moment for days now. After everything that had happened between her and Vincent—everything that had changed—it was inevitable that they would find out.
Her mother, Valeria, who had always been the more distant and calculating of the two, leaned forward slightly, her hands resting gently on the table. "We've known about you and Vincent. For a while now."
Anastasia's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't expected them to know so soon, but then again, nothing about her life ever went unnoticed for long.
"We had hoped that it was just a phase," her mother continued softly, her voice carrying a weight that was both maternal and authoritative. "But you've never been one to follow the rules, and neither is he."
Her father's gaze, usually so calculating and cold, now held a depth of understanding that she had never seen before. He looked at her not as a ruler, but as a parent—someone who had lived through the same complexities, the same temptations, the same impossible choices.
"We know what you're feeling," Lucian said, his voice unwavering despite the emotions brewing beneath it. "What you're experiencing... it's not the first time."
Anastasia's mind raced, but before she could speak, her mother interjected. "When your father and I met, we were the heirs of two of the wealthiest families in the world—the Vasilievs and the Raventhorns. We were bound by the same expectations, the same responsibilities that you carry now. Our families built empires on our shoulders. But when we were younger, we too fell in love. Just like you and Vincent."
Anastasia stared at them, her mind struggling to piece together what they were saying. She knew their love story was legendary, but never had they spoken of it with such raw honesty, as if it were more than just history.
"Your father and I, we too were caught between the love we shared and the families we were meant to serve. It was against the rules, against the expectations of our world, but we chose to follow our hearts," her mother continued, her eyes softening for the first time. "And we paid the price for it. We knew it was wrong in the eyes of the world, but we did it anyway. We chose each other."
Her father's face darkened slightly. "The rules were clear. Heirs should not marry other heirs. The political and financial ramifications of such an alliance were... dangerous. But we did it anyway. And we've never regretted it."
Anastasia sat back in her chair, her heart pounding. Her parents were confessing something she had never expected to hear. They were the living embodiment of the very rules they had raised her to follow, yet they had defied those rules themselves for love. The realization was as unsettling as it was enlightening. They were not the untouchable figures she had always believed them to be. They, too, were human—flawed and imperfect in their own way.
"But we did it in secrecy," her father added. "No one knew for years, and it was our decision alone. We kept our love a secret because we understood the consequences of what would happen if the world found out. The pressure, the expectations... it would have torn our families apart."
Anastasia swallowed hard, her emotions swirling inside her. She had always respected and admired her parents, but hearing their story—hearing that they, too, had made the choice to love against the grain—changed everything. She was no longer just a princess in an ivory tower; she was part of a legacy that had once defied everything to preserve something more precious.
Her mother continued, her voice growing more solemn. "You, too, must keep this a secret—for now. Your relationship with Vincent cannot be known. Not yet. There are too many dangerous forces at play. Too many alliances and rivalries that could threaten everything."
Anastasia nodded slowly, the weight of her parents' words settling in. "I understand," she whispered.
"And there's one more thing," her father added, his gaze intense. "We haven't had a proper conversation with Vincent since he was fifteen. It's time for that to change. You will bring him home soon. It's necessary for the future—for both of you."