[His whole life has been filled with violence and hate since the day he was born. Maybe Her Majesty can give him peace, even if it's only for a few decades.]
Leofric didn't say much, but it was enough.
Primrose knew in her heart that Edmund's parents had never treated him the way a child deserved. She knew it was them—they were the ones who planted the idea of "monster" in their son's mind.
"You matter to me," she whispered again, softer this time. "Whether it's the cruel part of you, the kind part, or the cold part, every part of you matters to me."
Edmund closed his eyes the moment her tear landed on his face. A single drop slid down his cheek, but Primrose couldn't tell if it was hers … or his.
"My parents …" he opened his eyes slowly and took a deep breath. "They weren't gentle people, not even to me." He paused, then added quietly, "But they believed it was necessary."
"Why?" Primrose asked softly.
