Yep, exam season has started, got evening exams, morning ones and I'm tired as hell. Had this chapter written up and then forgot about it and wondered why I was missing a chapter when I started chapter 56. I'm tired, haha!

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Sav.129 [chapter 54]: Your review didn't show! ;(

BlerBlerBler [chapter 54]: She is when she's caring! Deep down, she loves her siblings. All of them.

Guest (1) [chapter 54]: Indeed! A little bit of Papa Bear Francis down below. He'll confront his son's abuser soon!

Guest (2) [chapter 54]: Thank you so much, glad you thought so! More Anne and John moments will definitely come in the future. They need to repair their broken relationship. That will not be so soon but when Francis returns from his little mission, we get some father/children bonding time! I missed Kennash too. Won't be the last we've seen of them and when they come to the castle, reunited as a family with Robin, Francis will have things to say about that ;) That is coming up really soon because nobody touches our little John!

Guest (3) [chapter 54]: Here's the next chapter and thanks!

"It is true!" Robin cried out, watching Anne and John enter the castle together. "You're friends now."

Anne scowled. "Who says?"

"The royal dressmaker for Uncle Francis's second son's best friend's cousin," Robin replied. "He's the hunting squire who scouted the area for me and my lessons this evening after dinner."

"Did you really need to add all that information?" John asked lightly as they walked on together.

"No, but it's fun," Robin said. "You should try it."

John chuckled. "I guess it helps to know who's who," he said, pointing to a noblewoman walk by with her two, bored children. "Who are they?"

Anne grinned. "The Lady Roche and her annoying twits of children, Hercules and Jennifer. Spoilt brats."

"And you?"

"I resent that," was Anne's reply as they headed up the stairs to Rose's bedchamber. "What do you both think of King Oskar?"

Robin pulled a face. "He's very boring."

"Well, he doesn't enjoy swordplay but that means he is a smart king."

"Or lazy," John replied, receiving a nod from Robin. "Even Papa fights battles for France."

"He's only thirteen-"

"Yet, I've had more experience with weapons than he has had with girls," John told her. "You're better off with someone exciting."

Anne rolled her eyes. "You're boys. You'll never understand."

"No," John admitted. "Because I'm a bastard and Robin's only the Marquis of Avon, someone who's destined to be a knight than a member of politics. We'll never be wedded."

"Speak for yourself," Robin told him. "I'll be a soldier like my papa and marry a beautiful woman too like my mama. Then we will have lots of children and be happy in the middle of the woods where our life supply is the wild animals we've hunted."

"You're a strange boy, Robin," Anne said, giggling with John. "Do you really want children? Either of you?"

John shrugged. "I don't know. I will be fine being a cardinal or something."

"Why a cardinal?" Robin asked him.

"I think they take vows of life-long virginity."

"Do they?" Robin asked, mortified. "Oh, at least soldiers get to bed women."

"Boys," Anne muttered, shaking her head as she pushed the doors open and stepped inside to see Rose and Elliot, hidden underneath sheets. "Oh. Dear. God."

"We weren't doing anything!" Rose quickly said, lifting up a book. "We were identifying different species of birds for our test. Elliot knows his birds."

"And more," Robin and John muttered.

Anne grinned. "I see," she sang, coming to sit down at the dining table. "Why don't you bring that book over, where everyone can see it clearly?"

Rose blushed a bright pink as she got up from the floor with Elliot and slammed the large book onto the wood. "You won't tell Mother and Father, will you? We were just... kissing."

Anne crossed her arms. "One afternoon with the Prince of Gothenburg."

"Fine," Rose snapped, sitting down at the table as the boys took their seats. "Elliot and I will be honest. We're in love."

"And...?" Robin asked, amused.

Rose glared at him. "We want to elope."

"You're only twelve!" John cried out in shock.

"B-But Mother and Father were engaged since they were the twin's age! They fell in love and led a happy life."

Robin bit his lip. "Not so happy," he mumbled. "Elliot, your mother is looking for you. I forgot to say."

Elliot got up and pressed a quick kiss onto a blushing Rose's cheek before he bowed to the rest of the children and left quickly, closing the door behind him. As he left, Anne flicked her hair over her shoulder and turned to Robin.

"We know about Father and Aunt Lola," Anne said, shrugging.

"But do you know who your mama was with whilst he was with Aunt Lola?" Robin retorted, his ears turning red.

The girls and other boy turned to him in wonder.

"She was with... my father," Robin told them.

"How do you know this?" Rose asked, turning to her siblings in horror.

Robin sighed. They didn't need to know about his visions. "My mama told me. She had a little bit too much to drink and told me everything," he lied. "There was this prophecy that Aunt Mary believed in and it said that your father was to die if they married each other. So in order to prevent that and keep France and Scotland united, Grandfather allowed my father to be legitimised so he could be king and marry Aunt Mary. But it turns out that they loved each other but Aunt Mary was deeply in love with Uncle Francis and that is why everything is how it is today."

Anne gasped. "B-But... W-What, how?" Even the other two were in shock.

"Uncle Francis was stripped of his titles and made illegitimate. He then got with Aunt Lola and had John as Aunt Mary and Papa... But Aunt Mary couldn't go through with it and Papa and Uncle Francis fought over her and she chose Uncle Francis. Then... Grandfather forced Mama and Papa to marry each other."

"Papa said that Grandfather was ill, that is why he married them to each other," John stated.

Robin shook his head a little. "Partly. That and he wanted to prevent my father from pursuing Aunt Mary ever again. She was with Uncle Francis, he got his titles back and they lived happily ever after whilst my father had to accept his new life with my mother." He decided to spare them the harsh details. "But the rumours are true... my mother was Grandfather's mistress."

"Do they still love each other?" Anne asked, strained. "Mama and your papa?"

Robin shook his head eagerly. "No! Not at all! Both are happy with who they are truly meant to be with. Uncle Francis for Aunt Mary and my mother for my father. I aspire to have a marriage like my parents', without the forcedness."

Rose nervously eyed him. "Do you think your father loves your mother?"

Robin nodded. "I have no denial when it comes to that. It's like they can't bear to be apart. Even if they're only a floor away from each other. When the plague came, they sent love letters to each other and when the containment was lifted, they couldn't stop kissing and hugging for weeks, it was horrible!"

They giggled and Robin blushed at his parents' antics. They loved each other and that was final. The past was the past.

"Love is complicated," John said after a while. "Perhaps being a cardinal is the smart choice."

"Don't be silly," Anne told him. "You'll meet a pretty girl and she will love you. You already have lands, you're the son of a powerful king, she will be stupid enough not to choose you."

Robin smirked. "You've still got years before you're married off. We should enjoy being unrestricted until then!"

"Do you think that sex hurts?" Rose asked them quietly. "Sometimes when I have night terrors, I got to Mama and Papa but they're always groaning and Mama screams his name."

"Really?" Anne asked. "Lady Josephine didn't scream anyone's name when she was having sex."

"Josephine's not a virgin?" Robin gasped. "Never would have guessed. But she's only twelve and a half!"

John frowned. "I heard it's nice. That it hurts girls in their first times but after, it's painless."

"Well, in order to check fertility, one must need to test it out, right?" Anne asked coyly.

"Don't!" Rose said, frowning. "You'll get pregnant and be forced to wed Oskar. Boring Oskar."

"There are ways to prevent that," Robin said, crossing his arms.

"How do you know?"

Robin rolled his eyes. "My parents always have sex. It's disturbing just how much. It surprises me how in the five years since they had Alexander, they've not had any more children. Except for last Christmas but... Anyway, I'm sure they're doing something to stop that."

"And abortions are a thing," John added. "Although it's a sin."

"Sex before marriage is a sin!" Anne cried out. "Maybe I should not after all..."

Robin started to laugh. "You all are cowards. Sex isn't that bad. It's simple enough but it's the pleasure part you need to understand."

They all turned to him. "What did you say?"

"Sex isn't that bad?" Robin asked.

"How would you know?" Anne asked him suspiciously.

Robin shrugged. "The Archduchess of Prussia and I may have done more than kissing. My parents never found out."

"What?!" Rose cried out. "Ew, ew, ew! No...!"

"You've sinned, Robin!" Anne cried out.

"Not really. It's fine for boys because, well..." He blushed. "We can't bear children?" He tried.

Rose slapped a hand to her forehead. "You idiot."

"If you're judging me, then you should judge our fathers and their father and his father-"

"I guess..." John mumbled. "How was it?"

"Meh," Robin said, waving a dismissive hand. "I'm bored, woodplay is almost starting. We should go."

"If Robin's had sex then I want to have sex too!" Anne suddenly said. "Maybe that will like Oskar like me more-"

"Dear God," Rose muttered, shaking her head. "I'm surrounded by idiots."

"Excuse me?" John asked her.

"Save John," she added before giggling.

...

"...I'm telling you, Robin said it from his own lips-"

"Francis, our twelve-year-old nephew has not had sex!"

Francis huffed. "He has! And now our same age daughter wants to do it too!"

Mary raised her eyebrows, amused. "They're kids."

"It's history repeating itself. I'll admit, I was adventurous then but no more than Bash when he was twelve himself! Our children are punishing us for our promiscuous ways!" He cried out. "I am not ready for my daughters, son or nephew to have sex. They're barely teenagers."

Mary smirked. "The legal age for marriage for girls in England is twelve. If we were willing, our daughter would be married off by now and expecting her first child!"

"And having sex?" He asked, mortified.

"Yes, that is what marriage and having children entails. Women as breeding mares from day one."

Francis gasped. "I want the law changed! It should be fourteen at least. No daughter of mine will have sex until they're thirty!"

"Yes, I agree," Mary told him, giggling. "Apart from the sex until thirty part. Anyway, have you invited Bash, Kenna and the children?"

Francis gave her a nod. "Bash has some business in Austria. I might decide to join him on a joint venture."

Mary sighed heavily. "What venture will this be, may I enquire?"

"The Archduke of Vienna is seeking a marriage proposal between his third son and Anastasia. A lovely French princess for an Austrian noble seems fitting. Whilst we're there, I could secure a marriage alliance with his second daughter and Joseph," Francis lied easily. "I didn't want to tell you because Kenna doesn't know."

"Why doesn't she know?" Mary asked him suspiciously, crossing her arms.

"Ana is only six and Bash plans to open up a mine in Vienna but the Archduke wouldn't allow him-"

"Unless he had something of value in return..." Mary trailed off.

She bought it, Francis warily thought.

"I see," Mary mumbled. "And where does Joseph fit into this?"

"The Archduke is practically still royalty and if God forbid, James dies and Joseph inherits the throne, he'll have Vienna too," Francis told her. "I am securing our son's future and helping Bash secure our niece's. Vienna is rich and monetisable. We can spare the money worries should the mine prove to flourish for Bash. It's not like he won't loan us money should we need it."

Mary nodded, kissing him. "Good. That's smart. If you need my input, don't hesitate to ask. And next time, tell me before you think about marrying our children off."

"It's not a done deal, my love," Francis said, cupping her cheeks. "Who knows? He might ask for more and we will have to decline politely without hopefully, starting a war. I've heard his temper is... one to be reckoned with."

"Then be careful," she told him, kissing him again. "I love you."

"I love you too."

He left her side and ruffled Robin's hair as they walked past each other.

"Meet me at my offices at eight, Robert. I need you to write down a letter for me to the Archduke of Austria," Francis told him.

Robin grinned. "Yes, Uncle Francis. See you this evening, Uncle Francis."

Francis turned back around and walked away, shaking his head in disbelief. How could one child be so innocent yet not at the same time?

"Robin!" Mary called him, wrapping an arm over his shoulders as she looked down to look him in the eye. "Are you enjoying your time here?"

"I am."

"Your parents were hoping to send you to Scotland, but here is better. Closer to home," Mary told him. "Are you happy about that?"

He nodded. "I am," he repeated.

"And..." She bit her lip nervously. "Do you have your eye on any girls in particular? We're all thinking about marriage proposals with the King of Sweden's visit, and the Archduchess of Prussia and Duchess of Hamburg's."

Robin paled. "Oh?"

"Yes," she said. "Perhaps a match in Scotland. Your mother's and I's motherland is beautiful. You'll thrive with a Scottish bride. I mean, look at your father and uncle."

Robin nodded. "Whatever you think is best, Your Ma-Aunt Mary."

"But can I just put this out there?"

"What, Aunt Mary?"

She stopped them and cupped his cheeks. "Sex, Robin."

"W-What?" He asked, eyes wide.

"Just... wait until you're fourteen at least to engage with any sexual activities. And as for your cousins, let them know too," she said, brushing some dirt off his cheek. "We wouldn't want you to be grown before your time. You still want to have fun and be free so don't restrict yourself."

He quickly nodded. "Yes, Aunt Mary."

"Good," she said, kissing his head. "Run along now-"

"Remember when I asked you if my father loved you?"

Mary turned back to him. "I do..."

"You were telling the truth," Robin said softly.

"How do you know that?" Mary asked. He was already smart for his age, they could have an adult conversation.

"I see how my father interacts with my mother... In my visions, he was different when he was with you. As if he was scared to be with you but willing to risk it all. But with my mother, he's not scared when he's with her. He's free, happy, not looking over his shoulder. He'll die for my mother if the case came. He'll do anything for her," he explained.

Mary smiled. "See? You should never doubt me."

"I never did," Robin admitted. "If things were different, do you think he would have been happy with you?"

Mary shook his head. "No," she said honestly. "Your father was meant to be free. Not confined to the duties of a crown, throne and the kingdom they came with. I would imagine that we'd grow apart, come to hate each other. Things, as they are now, are much better, everyone's happy and we will continue to be so."

"I am glad we're honest with each other, Aunt Mary," Robin told her as he began walking away. "See you at dinner."

Mary chuckled. "See you at dinner, Robin."

Mary would never willingly admit this to the boy or his parents, but he was far more special than he let on. Albeit a little cheeky and restless like his father, Robin did have redeeming qualities and she would never forget the hero he was, saving Rose from their kidnappers and willing to give his life.

Kenna was right, he truly was a sweet robin.