Chapter 71 EXPOSING THE QUEEN MOTHER
On the next cold morning at the tail end of autumn.
The council was gathered in the Great Hall, awaiting Adrain’s arrival. Maps lay across the table, territories marked in ink, soldiers positioned across borders, and plans for winter distribution neatly arranged.
Celine was present, as always, standing behind the king’s chair, her hands folded calmly. Queen Elizabeth was also present.
A group of messengers arrived abruptly with dust covering their cloaks. They bowed hurriedly.
“Your Majesty,” the lead messenger said breathlessly once Adrain entered the hall, “there has been… an incident.”
Adrain’s brow furrowed. “Speak.”
“It occurred in the outlying region of Dales brook. A group of villagers is claiming…”
He hesitated.
Celine’s eyes narrowed. “Claiming what?”
The messenger swallowed hard. “Claiming that a man returned… claiming to be a steward from the palace.”
The entire hall fell silent.
Celine’s fingers tightened around the edge of Adrain’s chair.
“They say he arrived with others who were injured, exhausted and carrying news of an attack along the coast,”he continued.
Adrain’s heartbeat quickened. “Do they recognize him?”
“They claim he has a close relationship with the king”
Murmurs erupted through the council.
Another messenger added, “He requests an audience, Your Majesty. He said he carries something for the king.”
“For…” Adrain’s voice faltered. “For me?”
“No, Your Majesty,” the messenger said quietly. “For the late king.”
The hall froze.
Queen Elizabeth stepped forward sharply. “Enough. His father is dead, so passing to him shouldn’t be a problem. He has no right to make demands or stir confusion among the people.”
“Mother,” Adrain said quietly.
But Queen Elizabeth’s focus remained on the messenger. “What guarantees that he is not an imposter? Many would use such a lie to break the unity of the kingdom.”
The messenger hesitated, then lifted a small sealed box.
“This,” he said, “is what he sent ahead. He said it was evidence. He said it might clear an important name.”
The box sat on the table, small and silent, yet heavy with implication.
Adrain stared at it. The room seemed to tilt slightly.
“What is inside?” he asked.
The messenger shook his head. “We were instructed not to open it. Only Your Majesty.”
Celine moved quickly. “Adrain, do not open it. We must send guards to investigate first.”
Adrain didn’t look at her. His eyes remained fixed on the box. His pulse steadied, then slowed.
“Leave us,” he said to the council.
The advisors obeyed at once, retreating from the hall and whispering anxiously as they exited.
Only Queen Elizabeth, Adrain and Celine remained.
The door shut behind them.
“Adrain,” she said, stepping close, “you must be cautious. This could be a ruse to destabilize your reign.”
He reached for the box.
“Adrain,” she repeated, this time firmer, “listen to me.”
His fingers brushed the lid.
“A loyal servant would not lie,” he said softly.
Celine’s expression hardened.
“Do you have to find out what this is?”
Adrain looked up, meeting her gaze.
“Yes,” he replied, “ I can’t ignore the truth simply because it is inconvenient.”
His words struck her as the first sign of resistance she had ever heard from him.
The room fell silent except for the faint crackle of torches.
Adrain slowly opened the box.
Celine took a step back, with excitement flickering in her eyes.
Inside lay a single item.
It was small, ordinary-looking, yet unmistakable.
There was a vial which was half full of a faintly shimmering liquid. The same fragrance was used a year before on Prince Eric. And a note underneath it.
Adrain exhaled shakily. His hand trembled just slightly.
Celine said calmly . “This… proves nothing.”
But Adrain was staring at the label which was worn, faded, but legible enough that he felt the blood drain from his face.
His father’s physician’s signature.
The room seemed to darken.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
And then, softly Queen Elizabeth whispered:
“You should not have opened it.”
Adrain turned to her slowly.
And for the first time in three years, he looked at her not as a son…but as a king.
“What did you do, mother?”
Queen Elizabeth rose.
“You don’t understand.”
“What did you do, mother? Did you use this on anyone?”
As they talked Rylan came in with a guard behind him.
“Greetings, your majesty,” He said with a smirk.
Queen Elizabeth slumped as she saw him.
“Mother. What’s happening?” Adrain asked.
But there was silence.
“You hired poorly, Queen mother,” Celine interrupted.
But Queen Elizabeth only stared in disbelief.
“What do mean by that?” Adrian asked.
Queen Elizabeth’s smile was thin. “Do you think you can frame me? He wouldn’t dare speak against the Queen mother?”
“I wouldn’t dare frame you. And yes he would speak the truth.” Celine said.
Adrain shouted between the confrontation of the two women.
“What truth?”
Celine stepped closer. “She killed the King..”
There was deep silence.
"What?"
Adrain felt broken.
“I can explain, son. Please understand I did it for you.” Queen Elizabeth said.
“So you killed him for the Prince.” Celine snapped. “Or do you want him to speak?”
“I spared him,” Elizabeth snapped. “A dying king breathing . That is mercy.”
“He could rarely speak,” Celine said. “He could not move properly by poisoning him slowly, yet you call it mercy?.”
Elizabeth’s eyes burned. “He would have let Eric lead. I just wanted to secure the throne for Adrian.”
“So you bled him quietly?” Celine said.
Elizabeth straightened. “And I would do it again to protect the inheritance of the first.”
Queen Elizabeth moved to Adrian, kneeling a bit.
“Listen to me, son, I did it for you. .”
“For that same reason, did you have an hand in Eric’s Exile.?”
“Never. I promise.”
But it was hard for him to believe. She had claimed guilty after seeing Rylan. She confessed in fear.
Celine drew a folded parchment.
“What is this?” Elizabeth asked.
Celine said nothing. Queen Elizabeth did not touch it.
“You think exposing this gives you power?” She continued
“I think it gives the truth a voice,” Celine said.
Elizabeth laughed softly. “You are naive.”
Celine met her gaze. “You underestimated me.”
Elizabeth stepped closer. “You think the court will side with you? You are a consort. Chosen for beauty and sharp words.”
“I was chosen because I listen,” Celine said. “And because I remember.”
In anger, Queen Elizabeth’s hand moved too fast.
Pain bloomed in Celine’s side as she gasped, staggering back as blood darkened her cloak.
Celine sank to her knees, breath coming in short bursts.
Adrain called in the guards in rage and disbelief.
"Mother, No..." He said
Queen Elizabeth stood over them, holding a small blade, her expression carved from resolve.
"I'm sorry." She cried. "I didn't mean to. She should not have dug what I had buried and forgotten,”
Adrian who had slumped forward kept Celine's eyes open as the guards seized Queen Elizabeth.
“Take her,” Adrain roared. “Get her out of my sight.”
The guards dragged Elizabeth away, her protests echoing through the ruined chapel.
Celine collapsed fully now, blood pooling beneath her. Above her, the candles flickered wildly.
Footsteps rushed toward her and hands pressed against her wound.
"Celine..."