Chapter 122: THE KING’s WARNING
"My lady!" Ero’s voice boomed through the chamber as he rushed inside.
Lumina sat quietly in her chair, staring at nothing. She had not bothered to go to the physicians today.
Her body still felt weak, the poison humming under her skin like fire and worse she had woken up alone without Ashen by her side.
She clenched her fists, struggling with the poison from attacking her, as Adam’s words played in her head several times.
"What is it?" she murmured under her breath.
"The prince..." Ero hesitated, glancing at Lumina nervously. "He is being punished by the queen again."
Lumina’s head shot up. "What?" Her voice cracked as she stood abruptly, but her legs buckled, sending her crashing back into the chair. Stella and Ero rushed to steady her.
"My lady..." they both called, but she managed to sit well and gestured for them not to get worried.
"Why would she punish him when he hasn’t done anything to cross the line," Lumina argued.
Ero shifted uneasily. "Prince Ashen found out that the person who harmed you... was Prince Adam. So he went to his chambers and confronted him."
Lumina’s heart lurched. "What?" she yelled, trying to push herself up, but her body felt unbearably heavy, like fire was running through her veins. Her breath quickened, sweat forming at her brow.
"My lady, please rest," Stella pleaded, but Lumina smacked her hand away.
"No! He just found his way to the top... I worked hard to help him get there. He cannot lose it now!" she cried, finally standing.
Stella quickly grabbed her arm. "Let’s go to the queen’s chamber now."
"My Lady... but aren’t.."
"Shut the heck up and take me to the queen’s chambers." Stella nodded stiffly, as Lumina clutched Stella’s shoulder as they rushed toward the queen’s chambers.
When they reached the grand doors, Lumina didn’t wait for the guards before she pushed them open and stepped inside.
She was immediately struck by a wave of power that sent her flying back. Lumina hit the ground so hard, her breath leaving her in a pained gasp.
"My lady!" Stella and Ero cried, rushing to her side.
Before Lumina could rise again, footsteps approached. Rhynera appeared at the hallway’s bend, her expression cool.
"Sister," Rhynera called softly, almost mockingly. "It’s been a while."
Lumina ignored her and struggled to her feet just as the chamber doors opened.
Queen Sephora walked outside, her eyes narrowed as soon as they landed on Lumina.
"You!" the queen hissed. "You have caused my two sons to fight each other for the first time. What is your gain?"
Lumina immediately fell to her knees. "Your Highness he is sorry. He only acted out of anger."
"Acted out of anger?" Queen Sephora thundered.
"He struck the Crown Prince! The Crown Prince is as sacred as the king himself! What if Adam had died?"
Lumina’s fingers dug into the floor. "But they are brothers! They would never truly try to kill each other!"
"You dare speak while I am talking?" Queen Sephora thundered. "Do you think I cannot see what you are doing? Always pushing Ashen to defy me?"
"Your Highness!!" Lumina’s voice broke. "Ashen is your son too, he would never seek the death of his own brother. Not in a million years!"
"Are you speaking to me rudely?"
Lumina bowed low. "Forgive me, Your Highness. Please have mercy on him. He crossed a line, but he did it because of me."
Queen Sephora turned away from her. "Then we shall be punished accordingly."
"No!" Lumina cried. "Punish me instead!"
"You dare raise your voice?" Queen Sephora’s hand crackled with lightning as she lifted it to strike.
But before the blow could fall, a voice thundered through the hall.
"Touch her and you will have to face me." Lumina shot her eyes in relief hearing the voice.
King Aden trolled into his queen’s chambers, his expression looking so mad.
"Your Highness!" Everyone bowed deeply, even Queen Sephora.
King Aden’s gaze dropped to Lumina, still kneeling, trembling on the floor. "She is my royal physician," he said coldly. "And you dare strike her?"
"Your Highness," Queen Sephora said quickly, "she is crossing every limit. She dares to speak against the crown prince’s punishment!"
"And what happened to my decree that no one touches her?" King Aden roared. "Did I not say that only I have the right to punish her?"
"Give me some face, your highness!" Queen Sephora snapped. "She has overstepped..."
"You simply do not wish to see the Crown Prince punished for his own actions!" King Aden cut in, his voice sharp.
Queen Sephora’s face darkened. "Your Highness!"
"We all know Ashen wouldn’t take action if your so-called Crown Prince never crossed the line first!" King Aden’s voice boomed, leaving Queen Sephoea in shock. This was the first time King Aden raised his voice at her and it was all because of Lumina.
"I have sent Ashen back to his chambers," He announced as his eyes shifted to Stella. "Take your lady before he grows more worried."
Stella helped Lumina to her feet.
"Princess Lumina," King Aden said, his tone softening slightly, "you may have the day so as to take care of yourself."
"Thank you, your highness," Lumina breathed, bowing deeply before allowing Stella to lead her away.
But before they could leave, King Aden spoke again, his voice carrying through the chamber.
"Your husband is the Arbiter of Law. If anything happens to him or if even the Queen herself dares punish him send word to me. Only I hold the right to judge him."
Lumina bowed once more, gratitude welling in her chest, before she let Stella guide her out.
When they were gone, King Aden turned back to Queen Sephora, his expression now stormy.
"You are hereby stripped of control over the Inner Court," he said flatly.
"What?!" Queen Sephora’s voice rose in fury. "You cannot punish me like this! I am your High Queen!"
"You punished my son unjustly," King Aden growled, stepping closer until his shadow fell over her.
"He is my son too!" she yelled back, refusing to back away.
"Then act like it!" He thundered. "Even though you carried him in your womb, do not think for a moment that you care for him more than I do."
"I am only doing this because of the curse.."
"We brought him into this realm together, It wasn’t his fault that he was cursed even before birth!" King Aden roared. This was the first time King Aden defended his son fully, he had always been quiet and wouldn’t do a thing to help and this made Queen Sephora so furious.
"Are you dismissing the curse and the advice the high priest had given?"
"Sephora.." King Aden gritted out.
"He is our last son, and he has suffered more than he should ever have." Slowly he moved closer to Queen Sephora whose eyes were already filled with tears.
"And I have had enough of watching you break him! He has finally earned his place and his power. If you dare to harm him again, Sephora, you will have me to answer to."
The room went silent. The courtiers bowed low, not daring to meet the king’s furious gaze.
Queen Sephora’s lips trembled, but she said nothing.
King Aden turned and strode out, not for once looking back.
Rhynera who stood there speechless rushed forward to catch Queen Sephora as she sank to her knees, pale and shaking.
"Your Highness," she mumbled in her fake concern even though the king stripping Queen Sephora off the inner court made her so delighted.
This was the only time she could take that position.