Chapter 128 - (5)

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Queen Raine had been under a lot of stress the past few weeks, that she had almost forgotten about the disgraced Princess Lilith of Northern Lan in the lower prisons. She arranged for a public execution but, news of this had made it's way to Prince Thelmus. The prince of Juhntt had been keeping his head low, through it all. He knew he must not do anything bad to jeopardize his position. He may be the only child, but now his father has remarried; yet, he had yet to see who she was. Staying indoors and keeping out of sight was how he intended to play this. Queen, Raine could come to a child, and his fall would be, if the child was male. Juhntt had a policy where the crown could only go to a male heir. He knew that the only thing keeping him safe was that he is the only son.

Or else, with his mother's infidelity, his paternity would have been called to the question. But his father had not addressed it.

He made his way down to the lower prisons after getting permission from his father to see his mother. He had never had to be down here before and did not even know such a place existed. He was allowed into the large room with his mother's cell in the corner. He saw her clothed in heavy black clothes, crouching in the corner. He walked up to the cell gate and stared at her pitiful form. The cell was dirty and smelly, it almost caused tears to his eyes. His glorious mother had been reduced to this form.

"Mother." he called and she looked up to see her son. As though sitting on hot coal, she sprung up immediately and approached the gates.

"Thelmus, you are here. Why is it only now that you have come to see me?" she asked.

"Father does not allow anyone see you mother. I tried but..." he did not continue.

"I am still a queen, how dare they keep me in such a place?" she ranted.

"Mother, Father has remarried." he said and she paused.

"Who? When?" she asked.

"It has been a while. I don't know who she is. I have never seen her." he said and she remained silent for a while.

"Is that reason why he must keep me here? I may no more be his queen, but I'm still a Northern Lan princess."

"Mother, Northern Lan is at war with Juhntt." he said.

"Good. I'll see if they can keep me here any longer."

"No mother, It is Juhntt that declared war. They have Uncle Khur captured and kept in a prison." he said.

"No! This can not be happening! How did this happen?" she paled.

"I heard the new queen is from a powerful background. More powerful than any kingdom, she is the one who declared war." he said.

"Which family? Did you at least hear anything about her?" she asked frantically.

"Yes. Teel." he said and she froze.

"No. No.... That bitch dare not sit on my throne. No!" she raged in her cell.

"Mother." he tried to calm her. He kept his voice strong and his face blank.

"If I know that bitch well, she will have me killed in a humiliating way." she said.

"I heard she has decided your execution but nothing about how it will happen." he told her.

"Fine. You must get me out of here. You must make sure I get out. You will be trampled on with me in here. Talking to your father may not help. You have to take the throne. When you do, I'm as good as free." she started to ramble in thought.

"Mother... mother. The throne is as good as mine. Why would I do such a thing? So that I will end up like you?" he started to feel his anger rise.

"Do you think your father will let you take the throne? With all these things? You must be living in dream land. You are his only son, yet he has not named you Crown prince till this day. He is probably waiting for his new queen to give him a son. Do you think you will be king without me?" she laughed cynically. He turned away and left without looking back. Regardless of her shouting he return, he did not care.