The Crown's Seduction
Chapter 109: A Mother

Chapter 109: A Mother

Instead of going back to her palace, Mineah had a quick stroll around the Corvus Palace with the Queen Mother walking beside her. Eventually, they stopped in front of a two-story pavilion that stood on an islet at the center of a square pond located in the rear garden of the palace.

She had already seen the place once, and she had longed to visit it ever since. But thankfully, it would seem that she finally got the chance to do so while everyone else was busy fixing Rosela’s mess.

Mineah smiled upon seeing the bridge that was connected to the northern part of the pond. It was the same bridge that connected Corvus to Amaranth Palace.

"Such a beautiful lover’s bridge," the Queen Mother hummed beside her. "My husband and I loved to kill time in this area back in the day. Also, the water in this pond is drawn from the groundwater near Mount Pais. We loved to hang out here to fish and write poetry."

Mineah looked around and nodded in satisfaction. True enough, the pond was inhabited by carp and aquatic plants including lotus flowers and the like. Likewise, the pavilion itself displayed outstandingly beautiful architectural features. With its hexagonal stone foundation with an equally hexagonal roof, it was harmonious in its proportions and gracefulness.

"Come and join me for some tea before going back to Amaranth Palace," Rania hummed.

Mineah wordlessly nodded, and the two of them then comfortably sat on chairs facing each other while the servants served them tea.

Looking at the beverage served to them, Mineah smiled as she remarked, "I didn’t know that you like tea, Mother."

"Hmm... Not really, but I heard you loved them," Rania said with a smile. "This is honestly my first time trying it."

"Is that so? I’ll try and serve you different kinds of tea next time then, Mother," Mineah beamed. "From there, you can decide on whatever preferences you might have."

Mineah couldn’t help but smile. She honestly felt accomplished upon seeing that her mother-in-law was no longer as stiff towards her as before.

"That’s nice of you," the older woman hummed as she began sipping on her tea. "I shall look forward to that then."

A comfortable silence soon settled, and the two of them simply sipped on their tea as they enjoyed their surroundings.

"This tastes good," Rania remarked with a hint of surprise. "Oh, this is the one recommended by our Royal Physician."

"Yes, Mother," Mineah hummed in agreement as she sipped on her own cup of tea. "This one is green tea, and it indeed has many health benefits for the body."

"I am sorry about what happened before," the Queen Mother suddenly said.

Mineah simply looked at the older woman, blinking. There was more to this, and she kept her silence to let her mother-in-law speak.

"I apologize for pushing the matter of Nikolai getting Rosela as his mistress. I was inconsiderate of you thinking how Rosela had helped our family a lot," Rania regretfully stated. "I feel like I at least owed Rosela that much knowing how she felt about my Son. I... I never thought that she would do anything to scheme her way to us..."

Nodding in understanding, Mineah reached out to the table and held Rania’s hand. Gently squeezing them, she stated. "That’s alright, Mother. What’s important is that we all found out the truth. And with this, Lai can finally move on from the guilt he’s been carrying for so many years."

The older woman nodded, and Mineah saw her eyes welling up. "Mother, are you alright?" she quickly murmured.

Instead of an answer, the Queen Mother sobbed. Seeing the older woman’s distress, MIneah immediately got up and sat beside her mother-in-law instead.

"Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just that everything just played itself again in the back of my mind... Of how Nikolai struggled for so long," the Queen Mother weakly breathed out. "My son... Oh heavens, I feel like dying during the times when I watched my son suffer from all the pain and guilt. I... as a mother... I..."

The Queen Mother then began hitting her chest as she cried. As such, Mineah grabbed the older woman by the hand and pulled her in for a hug. Stroking her back, she let out hushed comforts as she let her cry her heart out. It was then that Mineah’s own tears rolled down her cheeks. She didn’t witness the pain and suffering her husband had gone through, but seeing how her mother-in-law was crying her heart out like this...

"It’s alright, Mother. Everything’s going to be fine now," she reassured her as she continued to gently stroke the Queen Mother’s back.

Rania simply nodded as she let herself get comforted. After a while, she gently pushed Mineah away. This time, she chuckled and said, "Look at me making you cry as well."

She then gently wiped away the tears from Mineah’s cheek and sincerely added, "I’m very grateful that somehow, someone like you came to save my son like this. At first, I judged you like the others because of how well-known you are for being a cursed princess. But now..."

She let out a satisfied hum as she smiled. "I can see why my son accepted you. Now I know why my son’s eyes always glowed just from hearing your name... Of how his mood would always be lifted up whenever he sees you."

Mineah blushed upon hearing those words. She didn’t think she’d hear the Queen Mother say that to her that quickly.

"Words are not enough to express how I am grateful right now, Your Majesty."

"Please, just call me Mineah, Mother..." Mineah timidly murmured. "Or daughter..."

"Right," Rania chuckled as she tucked away some of the loose hair over her ear. "It’s only proper to call you my daughter since you’re now a part of our family. It would seem that I gained another daughter when you married Nikolai."

Mineah couldn’t help but smile just watching the older woman address her. Those gentle gestures reminded her of her own mother. She was so blissful at that moment, and she couldn’t help but feel blessed at that moment in time.

Looking at her mother-in-law, Mineah determinedly stated, "I will do anything to protect, Lai."

It was a liberating feeling. She was so used to being the one always in need of protection especially from her family, but this time she was determined to be the one to give protection to everyone she treasured and loved no matter what the cause may be.

The two of them stayed like that for a while. And after calming and composing themselves, they broke away from their shared hug.

"But I’m curious, why would Rosela easily admit to you about the crime?" the Queen Mother suddenly asked. "I mean... it doesn’t make sense."

[I don’t doubt Mineah’s sincerity. It’s just that I can’t figure out why Rosela would confess to her so easily like that...]

Mineah bit her inner lip as she read the Queen Mother’s thoughts. She didn’t know if she should reveal her power, but it seemed as if she had no choice now.

"Mother, I..."

"I compelled Rosela from a distance while Mine was talking to her inside the dungeons," Nikolai interrupted their conversation.

Mineah blinked at her husband who just somehow suddenly appeared before them.

’What is he saying?’

"I was there in the shadows when Mineah confronted Rosela," Nikolai stated. "It was there that I compelled her."

"But it’s impossible to compel someone from the shadows," the Queen Mother frowned.

Nikolai chuckled and scoffed, "I didn’t enter Mount Sorel to study magic for nothing, Mother."

Mineah frowned. Her husband was lying for her, and yet her mother seemed to buy his words.

[We’ll talk later,] Nikolai said to her in a serious tone through their bond.

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