Chapter 6: Signs of Abuse

As Iduna sat down with Hans in the throne room, she couldn't help but notice the subtle signs of physical and emotional abuse on his body. The faint bruises on his cheeks, the scratches on his arms, and the way he flinched when she touched his shoulder all told a story of neglect and cruelty. Iduna's heart went out to the young prince, and she felt a surge of determination to help him. "Hans, can you tell me more about your life with King Westergaard?" Iduna asked gently, trying to coax him into opening up. Hans hesitated, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape. "It's...it's not so bad," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Iduna's instincts told her that Hans was hiding something, and she pressed him gently. "Hans, I can see that you're hurt," she said, her voice soft and compassionate. "You don't have to hide it from me. I'm here to help you." Hans's eyes welled up with tears, and he looked away, trying to compose himself. Iduna handed him a handkerchief, and he blew his nose, his shoulders shaking with sobs. "It's just...my father...he's not a kind man," Hans said, his voice cracking. "He yells at me and hits me when I'm not good enough. And my brothers...they don't help. They just laugh and join in." Iduna's face set in a stern expression, and she felt a surge of anger towards King Westergaard. She couldn't believe that anyone could be so cruel to a child. "I'm so sorry, Hans," Iduna said, her voice filled with empathy. "You don't deserve to be treated that way. But I promise you, you're safe now. You're with us, and we'll do everything we can to help you heal." As Iduna spoke, she gently took Hans's hands in hers, examining them for any signs of injury. She noticed that his wrists were red and raw, with faint cuts and scrapes. "Hans, what happened to your wrists?" Iduna asked, her voice gentle but firm. Hans looked away, his eyes welling up with tears again. "I...I don't know," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just...I fell, I guess." Iduna's instincts told her that Hans was lying, and she felt a surge of concern. She knew that she had to get to the bottom of this, to find out what was really going on. As she looked at Hans, Iduna knew that she had to act fast. She couldn't let him suffer anymore, not under her watch. She made a mental note to talk to her daughters and to find a way to help Hans heal, to find a way to make him whole again. With a newfound sense of determination, Iduna stood up, her eyes locked on Hans's. "We're going to get through this, Hans," she said, her voice firm and resolute. "Together."