In the palace, Regina decided to make the first move and greet the new boy, this prince William, her brother…she was still not used to the idea.
Regina stepped forward, introducing herself politely as she was trained to do.
William greeted her awkwardly, unsure how to talk with royalty like her.
Henry stepped forward before kneeling down to William's height. He looked the boy in his eyes, seeing the unsureness in them, before grabbing him into a fierce hug. He couldn't believe it…This was his son…His boy…For years, he had dreamt of this moment.
William did not return the hug, still feeling ill at ease in the palace. Henry was heartbroken by his own son looking at him as one would look upon a stranger.
Tiring of her husband's sentimentality, Cora grabbed William by the hand and escorted him through the halls.
He was taken to a chamber, dark but lit by candles. William could make out a figure sitting on a bed, staring at him with astonishment.
Cora knelt, introducing the boy to King Xavier as his grandson, Prince William. William saw the astonishment leave the old man's face and be replaced with a cold, analyzing one. Reflexively, the boy got on his knees until his mother bade him to get up.
Later, William examined his new quarters, quite a change from his home in Papa's castle. Regina was in her own room, still struck by how much her world had changed in one day. Now, she had a brother-a brother that she did not know, but she hoped that, in time, they would be friends.
Back at Rumple's, Rumple was teaching Zelena the basics. Though polite enough to the girl, she could sense that there was something disquiet in his mind: sadness at losing his 'son' and worried if young William would be able to overcome the challenges and threats he would face in the royal court.
Throughout the kingdom, the newfound prince was announced. Royal henchmen spread the tale of how a wicked demon had stolen the boy shortly after his birth and had threatened to destroy the kingdom if the royal family pursued him, so it was hushed up. But later, the boy grew up powerful in magic, which he used to defeat the demon and win his freedom, allowing him to return to his rightful place with his family.
In the halls of Hispania's noblemen, the story was a prime topic of discussion. There, it was ridiculed, the nobles assuming that this 'prince' was merely some peasant that the witch had pulled out of her hat to gain more leverage on the throne.
This boy, they felt, could turn out to be an inconvenience to their ambitions and would have to be dealt with…