220 Law And Order

Lady Yvon's face did not change. She averted her daughter's gaze, refusing to look at the King in her eyes. As a mother, she wanted nothing more than to see her child succeed and to protect him at all costs. 

"Your Majesty, I apologize for the trouble my son, Grand Advisor Eskyl had caused. I assure you, that he did not mean to say that," she pleaded. 

This was not the response Sylvy had expected. Knowing her mother, she would fight her tooth and nail for her precious son. Yet now she had lowered herself from her usual high horse to beg for forgiveness. 

This change for the better felt nothing more than like a facade. Sylvy was having none of it. For years and years, she had told herself that her mother loved her. She lied to herself that her mother loved her equally as she loved her brother. 

They were both her children, yet the love Lady Yvon had for her children was imbalanced. Sylvy's resolve shattered in that instant. 

"I want everyone to leave the room this instant. Only Lady Yvon remains," Sylvy said in a monotonous tone. 

The sudden request shocked everyone. But no one dared to question the King. Ramas wanted to voice out his opinion but Tinee quickly dragged him out of the room and closed the doors behind her to leave the mother and daughter alone. 

After the room was emptied out, Sylvy let out a breath of air. The absence of others in the room made her feel as if she was no longer a King. She was just a daughter, speaking to her mother. But before she could even muster a word, she could feel the familiar emotion of fear and insecurity creeping up on her. 

"Did you ever care about me?" Sylvy asked. 

Sylvy felt as if she had regressed into her 10-year-old self. The young innocent child who wanted nothing more than the love of her mother. But her mother never had the time nor showered her with any affection. 

All the memories Sylvy had with her mother were filled with rules, tradition and orders. 

"This is precisely why you were never fit to be King," Lady Yvon deplored. 

Those words shot through Sylvy's heart like ice daggers. It took everything she had to stop herself from crying. Never had she ever felt the warmth of her mother's love. Lady Yvon only reserved her love for her son. 

"Because I question if my own mother cared about me, that makes me unfit to rule?" Sylvy asked. 

Sylvy knew she had to grow out of the shadow that cast over her. She could not continue to let her mother's opinions pull her down. 

"I did not ask to be King," Sylvy continued, "But I will do what I was chosen to do."

Sylvy stood up from her seat and said, "Grand Advisor Eskyl has committed treason, Lady Yvon. That alone would have warranted him a death penalty. As per our traditions, he would be publicly executed."

Lady Yvon slammed her hand down and stood up, "Sylvy Flutterheart! Are you out of your mind?!"

"He is your brother!"

"Exactly, he is brother to the King and the Grand Advisor of our Kingdom yet he had committed a heinous crime. Shouldn't he be punished?" Sylvy replied in spite. 

She did not wait for her mother to retaliate, "On the account of Grand Advisor Eskyl's past contributions to Papillion, he would be spared from the death penalty. But for the crimes he had committed against the crown, is simply unforgivable."

Walking towards the door, Sylvy continued to speak, "As to what his punishment would entail will be discussed after the alliance with the Mothyleks is signed. You've taken up too much of my time for something completely unnecessary. Stay if you wish, Lady Yvon. I will not keep you."

Sylvy reached for the door but before she could open them, her mother moved forward and blocked her from the exit. 

"What do you think you're doing?" Sylvy asked. 

"You're not leaving until you agree to let him out." 

She had not wanted it to come to this, but Sylvy knew the alliance was more important than anything else. She moved closer to her mother, they were only inches apart. 

"You don't rule over me, Lady Yvon." Sylvy said to her as she moved her mother to the side. 

But Lady Yvon did not give up. She grabbed onto Sylvy's arm, refusing to let go. 

"I am your mother! You will do as I say," Lady Yvon commanded. 

Sylvy laughed, "You might be my mother, but you do not have control over me."

As soon as those words left her mouth, Sylvy felt a weight lifted off her shoulders. The adrenaline was coursing through her veins. 

What she did not anticipate, was the slap across her cheek. 

In that instant, everything dissipated. The confidence she had shattered before her eyes. Lifting her hand to her cheek where she was slapped, Sylvy could also feel the wetness as her tears began to flow. 

But her heart was numb.

Her lips began to quiver but she bit her lip to keep herself from spiralling. Realising what she had done, Lady Yvon tried to say something. She lifted her hand, wanting to touch her daughter's face but Sylvy swiped her hand away. 

"I don't need your pity," Sylvy replied. 

Knowing that she could no longer stand to be in the same room, alone, with her mother, Sylvy pushed open the doors. Tinee and Ramas were staring straight at Sylvy. Tinee was especially worried about how Sylvy might deal with Lady Yvon. 

The mother and daughter's relationship had never been the best. 

Before Sylvy left, she turned back to Lady Yvon and said, "You may stay in the castle if it pleases you, Lady Yvon. I have more important matters to take care of so I shall take my leave."

Sylvy pushed everything to the back of her mind. What was more important right now, was the alliance. Nothing was more important than that. As the chosen King, her duty is to the people, not to her family. 

Right before she reentered the room where the Mothylek's were. Sylvy asked for a mirror from Tinee. The lady-in-waiting immediately brought out a compact mirror for the King. She looked at the reflection in the small mirror. 

Her cheeks were flushed from all of the walking and at the very least, her eyes were dry without tears. She closed the mirror and handed it back to Tinee before she straightened out her outfit once more. 

Before they entered, she said to Tinee and Ramas, "No matter the issue, I do not want any further interruptions until the alliance is in place."

"As you wish my King," Tinee replied. 

"As you wish," Ramas echoed. 

With that, Sylvy enters the room with a smile upon her face. She apologised to her guests for the disruption.

"I hope everything was taken care of," Anja said. 

"The matter was a little more complicated than predicted. But nothing is more important than our alliance. Let us continue," Sylvy replied.