Author: greyrani
Genre: romance, angst

DAY 500

“I beg your pardon, Honored Mother?” I didn’t believe what I just heard from my mother.

It’s just a couple weeks after my coronation. I was having audience with my ministers when suddenly mother requested for a private audience with me.

“I said, the Queen is still a , Your Majesty. I’m not sure whether she doesn’t appeal to you or there is another cause.”

My face reddened in anger instead of embarrassment.

“With all respect, Honored Dowager, drop the subject of your talk,” I restrained myself from shouting out to my mother.

“With all my respect, too, Your Majesty, I’m afraid I can’t do so. As a Dowager, I still have a duty to make sure that the throne will have a heir, also the Queen’s education was under me, so if she doesn’t perform satisfyingly, it would also strike a shame on me.”

My mind told me something bothering, “First of all, how could you be so sure about it?”

“I had her examined.”

I was burning with rage inside. My voice was dangerously low, intimidating, “When?”

“Yesterday morning.”

I stood up from my throne, “You touched my queen without my consent, Honored Dowager?” I started descending the stairs, heading towards her.

“I was merely carrying out my duty, Your Majesty."

I inhaled a deep breath to chill myself down before giving respond, “The ity’s examination must have caused my queen felt humiliated, Honored Dowager. Her station is now above yours, but they surely wouldn’t be able to object your command because of your strong influence in the palace household. It would not be good for the Queen as she should be the highest commando in the household under me. Thus for the sake of political stability, I apologize that I should have you moved to Outer Royal Palace.”

“WHAT?! Your Majesty, I’m your mother! How could you place me in Outer Palace which only meant for the lower class royalty?”

“Honored Mother, you don’t need to worry about facilities,” It’s hard to tamper down my anger even if it’s my mother I was facing. “Please, have a rest. I’ll have my men prepared your new quarter.”

I strode out of the throne chamber. Keito who was waiting outside was startled by the way I roughly pushed the door open.

“Your Majesty, the meeting with Prime Minister—“

“Cancel it!” I cut him off, not stopping even a moment to hear his reaction.

I heard Keito stepped after me.

“Is there a problem that the meeting is cancelled, my king?”

“Just rearrange the schedule. Cancel all the appointments for today. I don’t want any disturbance at the moment!”

Sensing my raging tone, Keito ceased from asking. He obliged and excused himself while I hurriedly walked towards the Queen’s quarter with my guards followed behind without inquiry.

“Yuma, I want you to place your men to guard my queen. I don’t believe in Captain Nakajima,” I ordered without slowing down.

“Pardon, Your Majesty. May I ask why you distrust Captain Nakajima? I shall remove him from Royal guarding squad if he disappoints you.”

“He is the queen's minion. He would follow her order. I want my trusted men placed within her quarter and report to me everything occurs over there. Have them start today!”

I was angry at myself for being ignorant while in fact I had promised to protect you. Since the coronation we had to stay in different quarter because as a queen you would need your own space to entertain the palace household affairs while I also need my own space to carry out the political and court affairs. And it’s been a few days I hadn’t visited you. I didn’t receive any report from Captain Nakajima so I thought you were just fi