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“Mother, surely you can’t be in favor of this? If education becomes so cheap, won’t it spark a backlash from scholars everywhere?”
“The Gracewood Women’s Academy is a small place with a mere handful of female students, and yet enough to provoke a rebellion from scholars everywhere? You’re giving it more credit than it’s due.”
“It is but a beginning. What if others start copying it? Won’t it cause chaos?” Kylie protested.
Victoria glanced briefly toward the door. When she noticed Keith’s swift return, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Keith entered and whispered urgently in Victoria’s ear. The change in her expression was palpable, her demeanor cooling visibly. She cast a glance at Kylie, her voice almost emotionless.
“Are you aware of the situation with Lady Ruth?”
Kylie was preparing her argument in her mind, trying to prove just how harmful Sophie’s actions were, when Victoria suddenly asked her the question. Without thinking, she instinctively replied, “I know, Oscar reported it to me.” “Why didn’t you send the royal physicians to treat her?”
“Lady Ruth is gravely ill,” Kylie replied, “and both the medicine and the needle treatment have ceased to do any good. I deemed it
I unnecessary to trouble the rovaneto physicians further. Moreover, His Majesty, as you are aware, has lost much favor with Prince Yuvan. It’s enough that we’re not causing trouble for her.”
Victoria’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Forget that Lady Ruth was King Augustus’ concubine, and that her position in this palace remains unchallenged. Consider instead, what you are doing now. You’re the mother of the nation and the queen. If Prince Yuvan wishes to avoid responsibility, are you just going to give him a hand?”
Kylie’s face turned pale, and she dropped to her knees hastily. “Mother, I beg your pardon. What do you mean by that? This…this is a bit harsh, isn’t it?”
Victoria’s gaze hardened, her voice cold as ice.
“If you do not understand, then go and reflect on it carefully. You may consult the king, or even Derek, should you find it difficult to grasp. I have neither the time nor patience to explain further.
“All I will say is this: the treatment for
Lady Ruth must not cease. Dispatch the royal physicians to attend her daily, and record every prescription and method of treatment. If she suffers, let the medicine and needle treatment provide some relief. If nothing else works, then at least let her go peacefully.”
Kylie knelt on the floor, feeling confused but dared not ask further.
She had come to complain, but instead, she ended up being scolded. In her heart, she couldn’t help but feel that Victoria was biased-after all, she was Victoria’s rightful daughter-in-law. Rafael was Helen’s son, and Sophie may call her ‘Mother’, but ultimately, they weren’t related by blood.
–
After dismissing Kylie, Victoria summoned a messenger to deliver a royal edict to Sophie. The edict stated that she alone could decide the direction of the Gracewood Women’s Academy and that the opinions of others were not to be heeded. Once the edict was sent, Victoria dispatched another messenger to inform Salvador that he was to join her for the evening meal.
Keith poured her a fresh cup of coffee, placing it before her with care. “Your Majesty, please don’t let this trouble you. It’s not worth it. If the queen doesn’t understand, you can always teach her.”
“Teach her? Have I not spent years trying? Which of my words has she ever heeded? Why waste my breath on her now?” Victoria rubbed her temples, her tone weary. “She even had the audacity to make things difficult for Lady Ruth. Does she wish to hand Prince Yuvan an excuse to raise a fuss publicly?”
Yuvan had returned to Valken, his body crippled and his heart undoubtedly hardened. If Ruth were to die in misery, it would give him the perfect opportunity to stir the citizens of Valken, fanning the flames of unrest.
Kylie would have indeed given him a hand at such a great time.
If this continued, perhaps it was time to consider replacing the queen.
Meanwhile, Salvador was in the royal study. He had just been informed that someone from Serenity Palace had arrived, informing him that Victoria had summoned him to dine with her that evening.
Salvador felt a chill crawl up his spine. A summons to dine was rarely just about the meal-it often meant he was the “main course”.
With no other options, he called for Derek to investigate. “Go and see if someone has provoked my mom. Find out what’s happened.” Derek, well-versed in these situations, quickly sought out Keith for answers. It didn’t take long for him to piece the story together.
This routine was one Derek and Salvador had gone through many times before. Each time Victoria summoned Salvador for a meal, the latter would make inquiries to prepare himself.
When Derek returned, he relayed the details. “Your Majesty, there seem to be two matters at hand. First, the queen brought a complaint about the Gracewood Women’s Academy. Second, the queen dowager is displeased with how Lady Ruth’s illness has been handled. She reprimanded the queen earlier, but it seems her anger hasn’t subsided.”
As Derek recounted the events, Salvador’s hand began to tremble with rage. “I punished her with confinement, and she still doesn’t see her fault? She’s never once involved herself in the affairs of the women’s academy or the workshop. But now, she eagerly takes the lead to complain, using me as her shield? How very clever of her.”
“Your Majesty, please calm yourself. The queen likely acted out of a moment of confusion,” Derek offered cautiously.
“A moment of confusion?” Salvador scoffed, his voice rising. “How many years has she been confused? As the queen, instead of fostering harmony among the women in the harem, she sows discord wherever she goes. Does she truly think I am blind to her meddling? Those young women leaving the academy-does she think I don’t know it was her doing?
“I don’t like how Sophie is getting close to those noble families, so she goes and ruins people’s reputations like this? How despicable! After all these years of marriage, how did she never figure out what I was sto thinking?” t
Derek said, “Her Majesty is raising the prince and princess, and she also has to manage the harem. She’s burdened with countless. affairs, so it’s understandable that she might fail to grasp your ve intentions, Your Majesty.
“Perhaps it would be better to lay things out plainly for her. If she were allowed to take part in the affairs of the Gracewood Women’s Academy, she could gradually diminish Lady Sophie’s influence. In doing so, Your Majesty’s concerns might be resolved.”
“What’s the point of saying this now?” Salvador snapped, his voice cold with fury. “Sophie has already started enrolling female students from the general populace!”
Derek lowered his gaze, knowing full well that Sophie had already begun her efforts. Most of the noble daughters had withdrawn from the academy-his suggestion came only because of the current state of things. “Your Majesty, please calm yourself,” Derek said softly.
But Salvador was far beyond calming. Without another word, he immediately set off for Everspring Palace.
–
Kylie had returned to her quarters feeling unsettled after being reprimanded by Victoria. When she saw Salvador storming in, her heart sank. She quickly rushed to greet him with a few attendants. Salvador waved the attendants away, leaving only Kylie in the hall. Lydia hesitated, casting a worried glance back at her mistress, but eventually stepped out and closed the door behind her.
Kylie stood in the now-silent hall, trembling under Salvador’s piercing gaze. His expression was dark, nearly feral, and she felt her composure slipping. Her voice broke as she began to speak. “Your Majesty, have I done something wrong?”
Salvador’s glare didn’t soften. His tone was sharp as a blade. “If you can’t manage the harem, then leave it to Sylvia and Grace to handle.”
Kylie was still upset about what happened at Serenity Palace, feeling more and more wronged. Her voice wavered as she spoke, “Your Majesty, I didn’t argue with the queen dowager today.” Salvador’s face remained grim. “Who gave you the authority to cut off Lady Ruth’s medicine? And who told you to bring up the women’s academy to Mother?”
Kylie was confused about these two things, and hearing Salvador’s sharp questions only made her more tangled in her thoughts.
“Your Majesty, why are we still taking care of Lady Ruth? Do you really think if we treat her, she’ll get better? And Prince Yuvan won’t use it against us to cause trouble?
“Also, I thought you didn’t like the women’s academy. I wanted to use this opportunity to persuade the queen dowager to close it down-doesn’t that align with what you want?”
Salvador leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp with barely contained anger.
“Did I ever tell you that I wanted to shut down Gracewood Women’s Academy? The academy was Mom’s idea-it was meant to unite the noble families’ women and be beneficial to me! Why would I want to shut it down?” Kylie looked at him, bewildered. “But haven’t you always been displeased with Sophie’s growing closeness to the noble families?”
Salvador’s eyes narrowed as he stared at her, his words cutting and deliberate. “Are you saying you have no ability to replace Sophie?”
Kylie froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. “Your Majesty, are you suggesting that I lower myself to attend the academy? Or that I should curry favor with those noblewomen?”
She was the queen of Starhaven. How could she possibly step into such a role? And those noblewomen-why should she, as the queen, have to win them over? Shouldn’t they be the ones trying to win her favor?
Wasn’t this a complete reversal of proper order?