Chapter 156 Because I’m A Mother
From the way the Queen Mother’s eyes burned with fury, Althea knew there was only one way to make her stand down: she had to heal Princess Riela. For the Queen Mother to agree, Althea would have to stake her life, otherwise the queen would not allow her to touch the princess.
“Drink this now,” the Queen Mother ordered coldly.
Althea didn’t move. Her silence made the Queen Mother’s brow arch, irritation flashing across her face.
“What’s wrong? You refuse?” Her voice grew sharper, cutting through the tense air. “How can I believe anything you say when my son stands ready to protect you because of that cursed matebond?”
Through the bond, Althea could feel Gavriel’s emotions… rage, fear, and helplessness. His warriors were likely reporting everything happening through their mindlink; otherwise, he wouldn’t be this furious.
\[Stay calm, Gavriel. Let me handle this. Please, trust me. Don’t come here. Just… don’t interfere.\]
Her thoughts reached out to him through the bond, her tone steady despite the storm in her chest. He didn’t answer, but she could feel his emotions flickering, anger slowly dimming, replaced by reluctant restraint.
\[You know I’m capable,\] she added softly. \[I’ll win your mother over with words, not force. So please, be patient. Wait until I finish dealing with her.\]
Then she lifted her gaze to meet the Queen Mother’s. “Princess Riela must be treated under my care alone. That means no one interferes—not even you, Your Grace.”
The room fell into uneasy silence.
“Your Highness, you can’t—” the healer beside her began, but she quickly fell quiet when the Queen Mother raised her hand in warning.
“I will give you only a week to heal Riela,” the Queen Mother said coldly. “Drink it now.”
Althea straightened. “I apologize, Your Highness, but I cannot simply drink the potion now and sever the matebond with the Alpha King without his consent. Instead, I suggest invoking the Covenant of Binding,” Althea said steadily.
“I will drink the potion now, and it will remain dormant within me. If I fail to heal Princess Riela within a week, the spell will awaken and force my body to fulfill its purpose. You will have your assurance, Your Highness.”
The Queen Mother studied her for a long moment, the weight of silence pressing in the air. Then she finally said, “Very well.”
She turned and ordered the mage, “Call Uriel right now.”
Moments later, Uriel appeared at the doorway and quickly approached them, bowing slightly. “Your Grace.”
“Perform the Covenant of Binding,” she commanded, her tone leaving no room for argument as she handed him the potion.
Uriel hesitated. “Your Grace, the Covenant of Binding is ancient and—”
“Do it,” the Queen Mother ordered coldly, her gaze sharp as a blade. “Let this woman prove her words.”
Uriel sighed, stepping forward. He took the potion from the Queen Mother’s hand and began chanting softly, his palms glowing faintly with runes of light. The air thickened with magic as the spell began to form. Then he handed the potion to Althea.
Gavriel’s voice reached her through the bond. \[Are you sure about this? Do you truly believe you can heal Riela?\] Althea closed her eyes briefly. \[I am,\] she replied through the bond. \[This is the only way. I’ll save her, Gavriel.\]
Althea took the potion, her fingers trembling only for a second before she lifted it to her lips and drank.
A faint shimmer surrounded her, the glow spreading from her chest to her throat. Uriel took a deep breath and began chanting softly. The faint glow settled in her heart, sealing the covenant.
“It’s done,” Uriel said quietly. “The potion will remain dormant. If she fails to heal the princess within a week, the spell will awaken and fulfill its purpose.”
When the light faded, Althea exhaled slowly. She could feel the dormant spell resting inside her like a sleeping flame.
Across the room, the Queen Mother finally spoke again. “You have one week and that will start the moment Riela stays with you.”
Althea nodded firmly. “I understand, Your Grace.”
The Queen Mother nodded, her expression unreadable. She stared at Althea for a long moment before turning away. “Good. Then we are done here.”
As Wilma walked down the corridor, her steps slowed. She couldn’t deny the turmoil inside her chest. A part of her still hated the idea of trusting Cain’s daughter, yet another part was quietly impressed by Althea’s courage.
That girl had looked her in the eyes and offered her life without hesitation, something even seasoned warriors would hesitate to do.
While walking behind her, Nilda, the mage healer who had been tending to Riela, finally spoke. Her tone was polite but questioning. “Your Grace… may I ask why you would allow the daughter of a traitor to touch the princess? And to even let her take full responsibility for Her Highness’s condition?”
Wilma stopped walking and turned to the woman. Her eyes softened, though her voice remained calm. “Because I’m a mother before I am a Queen Mother,” she said. “And a mother will risk everything… her pride, her title, even her judgment just to see her child get better again. I want my daughter back…”
She looked toward the direction where she had left Cain’s daughter one last time, and stated, “If that girl truly has the power to bring my daughter back to her old self, then I’ll take that chance… even if it means trusting the blood of my enemy.”
Unknown to the Queen Mother, Nilda struggled to keep her composure. She forced a polite smile and nodded before falling into step beside her, her maidservant quietly following behind.
But as they walked down the corridor, Nilda’s hands clenched tightly at her sides. Her heart pounded with unease. The idea that Cain’s daughter might truly possess the power to heal the princess sent a chill through her veins.
If Althea succeeded, everything her mistress had worked for would crumble.
Her jaw tightened as she made up her mind. She had to act fast. The moment she left the Queen Mother’s sight, she would send word to her mistress. They needed to come up with a plan, one that would ensure Cain’s daughter failed before she ever had the chance to prove herself.