Chapter 947: Commotion In The Prison Tower
< In the highest tower of Verona Palace >
A mother and son were together and reunited after quite some time.
Liam personally came to visit his mother now that he was going to be crowned as king today. He didn"t know what to expect—he was afraid of what might happen if he were to meet with her, but Liam wanted to inform her and finally talk with her.
The soon-to-be king wished to remove every last thing that weighed on his mind.
"You look so handsome today, Liam. You look so much like your father." Queen Serena looked over at her son with a proud smile.
The two were seated together, guards outside of the door as Liam wanted a private conversation with his mother.
"I can"t believe that you"re finally going to become king—" she gushed.
"Mother, I only came here to let you know of the situation. Flattery will get you nowhere."
"I know—but I"m glad you"ve visited me. You seemed incredibly busy for the past week. How about your father? Is he eating well—"
"Please stop," Liam begged. "Don"t act like you care about us—I"m nothing more but an extension to you and so is my father. Please don"t pretend that you care–you killed your own sister and nephew."
"I did it for us—"
"No!" Liam blinked back his tears and rubbed his eyes. "You… I love you mother, I love my father as well and it pains me to say this, but just because I"ll be crowned as king today doesn"t mean I"ll come free you."
Queen Serena stirred. "But now it"s just the three of us! With Julian finally gone, I can talk with your father and we"ll be a family again—"
"King Draco said you"ll be like this and he was right."
"King Draco?" Queen Serena blinked at her son in confusion. "Who is it?"
Despite the fact that she often lied to get her way, she was in no circ.u.mstance not aware of things happening.
"Rowena"s father is here and he"s helping me—far more than my own father did. And he"s going to help me win Rowena"s affections and for her to get over her grief with Julian."
"NO!" Queen Serena looked at him alarmed as she slammed a hand over the table between them. "Why are you listening to him—he"s just manipulating you!"
Liam chuckled. "You mean just like you did, Mother?"
"I only did what I thought would protect our family."
"When did it ever become okay to hurt other people?" Liam asked painfully. "When did it become acceptable to go THIS far?"
Queen Serena stared at Liam and shook her head. "My son, you and your father might not think it"s necessary—but kingdoms rise and fall, bloodshed happens everywhere and you are a naive child holding onto impossible principles."
"Naive?!" Liam flared at those words. "Is there something wrong with trying to be good?"
"The world does not run on your ideals and the sooner y
ou realize it…" Queen Serena sighed softly. "I may have failed you in this regard—sheltered you too much. Forgive me, but please listen to me one last time."
"You can"t convince me anymore," Liam said.
"Let me attend the coronation or let me speak with King Draco. What? You are not going to let me because while my hands are stained with blood? I care about you. You let a snake into our kingdom and he will use you—"
Liam stood up and looked at his mother"s face sadly.
It was an indescribable moment when the parent he adored so much… turned out to have so many flaws and irredeemable traits. The soon-to-be King turned his back on his mother and made his way to the door. However, he paused as he held the doork.n.o.b and his heart pounded erratically.
"... I will think about it, but for now, I have a coronation to attend to. Goodbye, Mother."
"Liam!" Queen Serena tried to chase after her son but failed.
It was too late, the door shut and she couldn"t reach him on time.
Agony spread all over her face and yet with determination, she knocked her fist loudly on the door in hopes of reaching him.
"Let me out! I need to save my son!" she cried out. "LET ME OUT!!! DAMMIT!!"
Her shouts were simply tuned out by the guards stationed by her tower. Serena continued to thump her fists against the door until it turned b.l.o.o.d.y and bruised but it was all to no avail.
After what seemed to have been an hour, Queen Serena heard the sound of footsteps. The clank of metal boots leaving as the guards departed from their places.
Queen Serena"s eyes widened when the door slowly creaked open.
"Liam?"
It was not her precious son, instead, it was the Crown Princess of Ashland.
Rowena Roseland breathed heavily as she stared at Queen Serena. There was a knife in her hand that she had hidden away when she convinced the guards to leave for the coronation event.
When they left, she simply stole the key from them without even them noticing. She had learned the art of pickpocketing from Julian and it was proven to be a useful skill at a time like this.
Rowena came over, heart filled with adrenaline and hatred. She stared at the monster in front of her.
Queen Serena couldn"t help but smile.
The realization that everything would end today struck the old queen as she stared down at the young princess.
She had always resented being called second best, but now, in front of her was someone blazing with self-righteous fury. Perhaps, a better woman.
"You must atone for your sins!" Rowena bared her weapon.
Queen Serena let out a laugh. "See Liam? Even your dear friend knows how the world is like—"
Rowena lunged for the queen, and yet contrary to Serena"s words, she stepped left at the last minute and grabbed
Rowena"s arm tightly.
Unfortunately, Rowena seemed to have been entirely lost in her head that her movements became a bit too predictable.
Queen Serena attempted to strike and steal the knife away from her.
Make one last fight.
However, despite all of the bravado and manipulation that Serena did to obtain all of her goals and desires… she still ended up shrieking in the end.
Meanwhile, Prince Liam was at the coronation, the thunder of claps chorused and made him smile. He was unaware of the events until one final b.l.o.o.d.y shriek and Serena attempting to claw Rowena"s face rang through the palace.