Her Graceful War Song

Forced to stay back, Connor watched as Ryan and Caden departed for supper. Though he felt a slight indignation rise within him, he recalled Victoria's words. She had advised him to control his temper and not let it show too easily.

So, he calmly asked, "Is there something you wish to talk about, Mom?"

"What?" Seeing how he was acting, Kylie felt a mixture of pain and fury in her heart. "It has been a long time since we've seen each other. Do you not miss me? Is there nothing you wish to say to me?"

Connor looked at his mother, then at Lydia. Her pleading eyes softened his heart, and the prince's resolve wavered for a moment.

He hastily added, "Of course I missed you, Mom. However, I'm quite hungry and wish to have supper."

With that, he bowed to Victoria, then dashed out quickly to catch up with Ryan and Caden.

Kylie sat dazedly in her seat and remained silent for a long time. The only sound that filled the room was the sporadic sobbing she could not entirely suppress. It took her a long moment to wipe away her tears. When she finally spoke, the words came out as a barely contained snarl.

"He refuses to acknowledge me at all. Are you satisfied now, Mother?"

The hatred and bitterness in her eyes were as clear as day. She knew she wasn't in a position to challenge the queen dowager, but neither could she pretend everything was fine.

Victoria set down her cup, her voice calm but cutting as she replied, "If he doesn't acknowledge you, perhaps you should look within yourself for the reason."

The queen's eyes burned with anger as she shot her mother-in-law a venomous glare. "Was it not you who drove a wedge between us, Mother? Do not deny it. There is no animosity between a mother and son that lasts beyond the night, not unless someone is deliberately sowing discord."

Victoria knew that engaging with her further would only be a waste of time, so she calmly said, "You've seen him. That is all. Now go."

Kylie finally relented, sinking to her knees in desperation. "Please, I beg of you, let me explain the misunderstanding to him."

Victoria leaned forward slightly. "What misunderstanding is there to explain? Did you not poison him?"

Kylie trembled, her lips moving soundlessly for a moment before she weakly replied, "I only did it for his own good. I didn't want him to be ridiculed. It was a necessary strategy. I'm his birth mother. You know how much I've doted on him. How could I ever truly wish him harm?"

"Doting on him, poisoning him-neither was for his own good. Have you learned nothing from all those books you've read? Enough. You've seen him and said your piece. Now go," the queen dowager concluded as she rose to leave, looking clearly done with the conversation.

"Mother!"

Kylie scrambled forward on her knees and tried to block Victoria's path, but Keith stepped in to stop her.

"Your Majesty, it would be best not to press further. The queen dowager truly has Prince Conner's best interest at heart," he said.

Lydia hurried to help Kylie up, then bowed deeply to Victoria. "Your Majesty, the queen merely wished to offer a few words to Prince Connor. She wanted to assure him that there was no need to be nervous about the equestrian competition and to tell him to perform as he normally would. That is all."

"There is no need to trouble yourself. I shall speak to him myself," Victoria replied.

And with that, the queen dowager continued her departure without another glance back.

Tears streaming down her face,

Kylie clung to Lydia's sleeve as if it were a lifeline. "How could he treat me like this? I only ever wanted what was best for him. You know that,

right, Lydia? Go and tell him, please."

Lydia's expression was pained. "Your Majesty, Prince Connor will understand in time. Let's go back."

A completely devastated Kylie

allowed Lydia to support her as they stumbled away. She couldn'tnoveldrama

understand it. How had the child she had lavished with so much affection,

the one she had doted on from the very beginning, grow so cold toward her over a single misunderstanding?

If this was how Connor treated her now, what would happen when he truly became king? Would he even acknowledge her as his mother then?

All her scheming and her efforts to secure the throne for him—was it all just to become a powerless queen dowager in the end?

"No, I have to clear up this misunderstanding, no matter the cost," Kylie muttered through clenched teeth. "I won't let the queen dowager keep driving a wedge between us."

Meanwhile, Caden had finished his supper and was escorted back by Grace's attendants.

Ryan and Connor had climbed up the large tree outside the palace. The cold wind whistled around them, though neither seemed to notice the chill.

"Your Highness, are you really that angry with the queen?" Ryan asked, his head tilted to the side.