181 Chapter 181: My Blood...my Family

Hazel's heart trembled when she looked into her brother's eyes. Those sad eyes made her turn her face away as she couldn't look into his deep prying eyes. Rin's eyes widened slightly when he saw Hazel turn her head away. 

Feeling shocked, his tiny feet staggered backward as his eyes shifted from his sister towards his father, Julian who had a worried countenance. 

"Father" 

Julian's eyes wavered from guilt, pain and finally to love. He couldn't withdraw his gaze from his son's questioning eyes.

On seeing he had his father's attention, Rin took a deep breath as he asked in a calm voice while pointing at Spiros, "Can you explain what he is saying?"

Julian furrowed his brows and looked as if he ages ten years in that single question. His lips quivered as he shifted his eyes warily from him to Hazel who was staring at him dreadfully.

Feeling slightly lost, he felt his hands being squeezed which made him look at his wife, who smiled at him encouragingly. Smiling to her, he looked back at Rin who was watching them vigilantly.

'Silly boy' 

He shook his head wondering how he should break the news that Rin wasn't his son but his grandson. Looking at his grandson's face, Julian was sure he was preparing for the worst outcome, just like his father...his son, Hezekiah.

The little one in front of him carried his son's blood... the only way his family was able to move on from that loss was the presence of this child. He clearly remembered how Hazel laughed after what it seemed like months. 

Julian still remembered the incident as if it happened yesterday. He was inside his room, signing off the huge stack of documents when his son entered the room with a troubled countenance. 

He was amused at first, as he never saw his son troubled by anything till now, and yet, he entered the room with a troubled countenance.

As he listened to Hezekiah's words, Julian was astonished especially when he learned of his woman's identity. He never thought his son would have an affair which he hid completely well from prying eyes. He could see the love his son had for that mysterious woman and how he wanted to protect her. 

Knowing his son all too well, Julian knew that something must have happened for him to anxiously come to him. He was ecstatic knowing that he was going to have a grandson.

Alas!

The night he revealed the news of his grandson to his wife was the same night they lost their son. 

Julian could still remember the hidden joy in Hezekiah's eyes when he had asked him to bring his pregnant wife home. 

Yes, wife... 

His son had married the woman in secret even going to lengths to hid the matter from everyone. He could only shake his head in sorrow when he remembered how he couldn't find his daughter-in-law after his son's death. 

After what seemed like months, there was a commotion near the palace gates when a bloodied woman who was carrying a baby in her arms was stopped by the guards. She was shouting anxiously for his Majesty's name letting the soldiers alert the king.

When Julian arrived at the gates, he saw the woman whose dress was torn at some parts. Her body was full of scratches and blood showing how much she struggled to arrive here. 

But his eyes were glued to the baby in her arms, who didn't have a single scratch on him. 

His eyes widened as he moved from the baby to the woman, who had a pair of purple eyes and long red hair which would have been beautiful if she had kept her hair well. 

Hurriedly the woman leaned forward and grabbed his hand making all the soldiers point their weapons at her. But her eyes were looking at him anxiously.

Not even a moment had passed, when Julian saw the images enter his mind... not images, the past. Remembering that the lady was part of the guardians, he relaxed his anxious heart and watched the images shift in his mind.

He saw how the lady was initially clueless about his son's identity, slowly fall in love with him, and then get married secretly. Julian saw his son smiling happily in her images making his heart happy. 

He saw the ecstatic joy in Hezekiah when he knew he was going to be a Father. Hezekiah had promised her about giving her a rightful name in front of his people, ignoring the dangers which followed it. 

The woman was happy at first but later got worried when he vanished for months. By then she used her power to check on him and saw his death shattering her heart completely. 

Feeling heartbroken, she used her power over and over again to accompany him in her memories, draining her soul each time until she felt her body slowly starting to give up.

Julian gazed at the woman who had withdrawn her hands and pressed the baby onto him. She slowly kissed the baby's forehead as tears escaped her eyes. 

"Rin"

Her purple eyes bore into his making him nod. Julian's tears slipped from his eyes as he kissed the baby making the woman smile. He saw the woman turn around to leave and uttered, "Sorry"

The woman understood what he meant that she smiled looking at her son and shook her head.

Her soft voice boomed in his ears, "Thank you" and she disappeared. Even after years, Julian wondered whether she was still alive. It was unlikely as from the images he had seen, he already saw how close she was to death. 

He failed to protect his son's wife but he vowed to protect his son's blood.

Now looking at his grandson's questioning eyes, he smiled, "You are my son... my blood" 

Even if he would tell Rin about his identity, he would never tell it in front of these outsiders. 

He watched how the little boy's tensed face eased a little. 

Hazel bit her lips as she knelt down to Rin's level and cooed, "Do you remember what I asked you last week?" 

Rin knitted his brows as he pondered on what his sister was talking about. Finally, he had enlightenment on his face as he nodded.

"Do you still believe me?"

Rin gazed at Hazel who only had love in her eyes making his lips curl. He nodded confidently as he spread his arms and hugged his sister tightly.

"Always"

And, that put her heart at ease as she hugged him tightly in her arms. She didn't care if she was his aunt or sister, she would never let anyone hurt him. She will protect her brother's child by all means.

She murmured, "Rin-Rin, never forget that whatever we do it is to protect you."

Rin pursed his lips as he hugged his sister while his mind was furiously thinking. He could understand from everyone's gaze that they were hiding something but he could also feel their genuine love for him, leaving him confused.

As he was figuring things out, Spiros asked in disbelief, "Are you not going to ask for any explanation, kid?"

"Don't you want to know the truth?"

Rin furrowed his brows when he felt Hazel's arms tighten around him. He patted her hand when he saw her vulnerable face. 

Turning to Brother Spiros, he spoke, "They are my family."

Seeing that Brother Spiros was going to protest, Rin interrupted, "They are my parents" pointing at Julian and Merlene and his eyes slowly shifted to Hazel and said with a smile, "And my dear sister who pampers me so much."

Shifting his eyes towards Spiros, he mumbled, "I believe them"

Hazel's smile widened as she grasped Rin and kissed his cheeks. But the next second her smile vanished when she heard one of the guardian's snarl, "He belongs with us"

She slowly stood up and pulled Rin behind her while glaring at the guardians. 

Spiros looked up in shock as he said, "Elder-"

The guardian looked at him making Spiros shut his mouth. 

"He should be with us, he is Lady Skyla's only kin"

Hearing his sister's name being uttered by the Elder, he turned towards Rin who was gazing at him confusedly. The Elder shook his head as he announced to his people, "Take him"

On hearing the order pass, the guardians moved before Spiros could rescind the order.

Immediately Jinha acted and both sides clashed against each other making Rin grab his sister's clothes tightly. Feeling the slight pull on her clothes, Hazel looked down and grasped his hand, "Wait for me, Rin"

Rin pursed his lips and nodded at her. Hazel used her feet to draw an imaginary line in front of Rin before she moved towards one of the guardians attacking Jinha. 

Hazel swiftly kicked one of the guardians away as she yelled, "Be careful" 

Moving fast, she dodged the guardian's attacks and swiftly returned the favor. She fought against two guardians at once that she didn't notice when the Elder arrived in front of Rin, who took a step back in fear. 

Merlene hurriedly hugged Rin as she pulled him back, staring at the Elder cautiously. Her eyes hurriedly searched for her husband who was fighting against the guardians. 

Just as the Elder took a step forward, a huge wall of fire appeared instantly scorching his stretched hand. Gritting his teeth, he looked at the blue fire which had the mother and son protected. Narrowing his eyes, he disappeared and appeared behind Hazel with his sword stretched to attack her.

Just as the sword was about to pierce her, a sword appeared out of nowhere and clashed against his accompanied with a frosty voice.

"How gutsy of you to attack my woman"