26. An ardent desire

The queen swallowed hard, as she didn't know how to tell her daughter about what mere suspicions had been for years. Henry hadn't been caught in any wrongdoing.

"When your brother and Henry began to live here in the castle, Henry constantly complained about the mistreatment he received from Frederick. It was so convincing that on several occasions, your father and I believed him. Moreover, we couldn't help but feel sorry for him, as being so young, he had lost his parents. However, his changing behaviors eventually made it clear that what your brother said, denying the attacks, was nothing but the truth. Henry went as far as to harm himself, in order to accuse your brother and make us go against our own son," the queen told her daughter, who listened in amazement.

"But... that was when they were little," Samantha said. She had seen her cousins behave similarly, seeking attention from their parents by pretending to be hurt or exaggerating the harm their sibling had done.

"I'm afraid th