Arya looked at Tyra strangely. Something was wrong. Tyra wasn't the kind of person to talk back to her.
"You are the queen. With so many people at your disposal. But who is right here with you? It's me." Tyra said it as though it were something she was supposed to be proud of.
"I kneeled outside for two hours, crying and pleading to see my dear mother. I... wanted to see how you were coping here with my own eyes." The condescending tone she had used sent the queen over the edge, and her blood boiled.
"HOW DARE YOU—"
The queen was about to land another slap across Tyra's face again, but she was taken by surprise when Tyra grabbed her hand, and the next thing she felt was a harsh slap on her face that had her shouting in pain and sending her falling to the floor in shock.
The queen sat on the floor in disbelief and looked up at Tyra as she felt her burning cheek with her hand.
She had just been slapped.
By her daughter.
Her omega daughter.
Her unfilial omega daughter.
She could not believe it. She refused to believe it.
Tyra, however, had a satisfying look on her face as she said, "You are already so weak from this heat. But you know? It's nothing compared to what I experience during my heat. In fact, this is quite warm and familiar."
"What... has come... over you?" The queen asked with a hint of fear in her voice. She could not even find the strength or courage to stand up from the floor.
"I actually came to tell you what is happening outside since I'm the only one you have now. I will give you a quick summary of your troubles."
Without waiting for the queen to speak, Tyra began to list out with her fingers.
"One, the king is still unseen, and even though he's being treated, there is no guarantee that he is going to be in a position to lead the kingdom from now. All thanks to the potion you have been feeding him with."
"Two, you and your son conspired to get rid of the King and Prince Harold with Princess Amber in order to take the throne for yourselves. You even tried to get your son married off to the daughter of the Minister of War to fuel your ambition."
"Three, there is actually a maid who claimed you instructed her to say it was Princess Amber who killed Beth and stabbed me. And that said maid was attacked in the dungeon by none other than your precious personal guard, who is currently on the run."
"Four, your niece is missing, and I'm sure your brother suspects you for it too. Five, the palace is even more chaotic now after Princess Amber killed Queen Darcy."
"Six, Prince Harold has fallen unconscious, and so has Princess Amber. But I don't know the details."
"And lastly, I am right here to let you know all of this. Oh! I forgot to mention that they are beginning to get leads about what happened to Sir Wilson, and since they aren't sure who used the royal guards for such an act, Sir Damon has been restricted to his chamber. But you are still being suspected. I heard you gave yourself away during the assembly."
"In summary... you are in a tight spot, queen mother."
Nothing made sense.
Everything sounded crazy and impossible.
This was a joke.
A big joke.
"I... will fix your attitude later. Just... call your uncle. Tell him to come see me—"
"Didn't you hear me? They are all looking for his daughter. You think he would leave his daughter to come meet you?" Tyra asked her in a gentle tone.
The queen withdrew from her as she looked at Tyra. Something was wrong with her.
Also, she had never heard Tyra say so many words at once. And not just that, she had actually slapped her and said a lot of things that didn't make sense!
She swallowed nervously.
"Tyra... I... I am your mother. You know what happened that night. Tell me the truth. I will find the person who tried to frame me if I know what exactly happened that night. I know I have not been good to you. But I am still your mother. I... I will forgive you for being disrespectful. Just... tell me the truth. Eh?"
Tyra looked at her with a straight face, while her mother stared back with hope in her eyes.
Tyra continued to stare at her before she let out a laugh that scared the queen and had her withdraw backwards again.
"You... really want to know what happened that night?" Tyra asked in amusement as she folded her arms across her chest.
Her mother nodded slowly.
"You know it already. It was... you."
"Do not play with me!" The queen snapped.
Tyra spread her hands open as she said, "Think about it. It makes the story perfect that way. I found you killing Beth to frame Princess Amber, and you tried to kill me to conceal it. But then, when I survived, you threatened to kill me if I said a word, so I could not. Everyone could understand why I could not tell the truth all those times. And everyone would believe without a doubt since you were very eager to execute Princess Amber."
"SHUT UP!" The queen bellowed as she forced herself up. "It wasn't me. I was in the woods that night! —"
"That's true." Tyra nodded in understanding. "But... where was Damian on that night?"
The queen's eyes flickered when she heard the question.
Where was Damon that night?
It didn't matter where he was. He had nothing to do with this.
But she was going to kill him when she saw him again. His stupid loyalty had put her in more trouble.
As for the potions Tyra was talking about. Those were all lies.
"We could just change your name for his. But it doesn't matter. It's still you—"
"SHUT UPPPPP!" The queen grabbed Tyra by the neck and tried to strangle her, but one solid shove from Tyra had her falling to the floor and scraping her elbows.