Chapter 53 – Returned Gifts (1) The secretaries appeared to be running after the crown prince—they tried to keep up with him. Eventually, the carriage turned to an extravagant-looking neighborhood on the road, still, Blain couldn’t help but seethe in anger, releasing endless profanities under his breath. As he kept spouting curses into the shelter of his carriage, he finally reached the queen’s estate. “Stay here. I will go further alone.” He spat at the secretaries, who flinched and backed away to let him enter the palace alone. It was to be noted that the queen’s quarters were undoubtedly the grandest in the entire palace. With her quick wit and good eye for learning things, Cerdina had all but chosen the most expensive and most precious of artworks in existence, and placed it all in her quarters. Her room was even adorned, from top to bottom, precious gems and gold. But even the grandiose of the place couldn’t hide the despair and bleakness it reeked of. Blain glanced in distaste at every statue he passed by, before pushing the auditorium doors haphazardly across the hallway, uncaring of the scene he was causing. “The Crowne Prince!” Count Weddleton exclaimed, shooting up from his seat in surprise as Blain slammed the doors open. Unfortunately, Cerdina remained unfazed, who greeted the prince rather calmly with a gentle smile. “Do come in.” she invited him in. There was an expensive fox fur draped across her legs, stopping right by her knees. Her hands gently swept over the soft furs, even as she continued to address the prince rather casually. “I was thinking of making a muffler out of this beautiful fox you gifted me with.” she informed him lightheartedly. She even seemed perfectly delighted, even praising the gray fur, commenting how perfect it was for a shawl! In a harsh, yet soft voice, Blain corrected her. “But that wasn’t my catch, was it?” he spat at her, and she only giggled, covering her lips with her knuckles as she smiled at him. “Don’t be such a killjoy, child. The knight who hunted with you might have caught it, but it’s equivalent to your catch,” she pointed out. She had asked around if the knight was truly his knight, but still she remained seated like the perfect queen she portrays to be. Smiling brightly, with a flawless expression, she looked like an angel, but the tension was thick in the room. Sensing an argument in the making, Count Weddleton immediately excused himself after glancing back and forth the two monarchs for a moment more... “I think I better go ahead,” he excused, gathering his things, and moved slowly out without any further prompting. Neither Blaine nor Cerdina did anything to stop him either. Count Weddleton hurriedly escaped from the room. Even the maids who were attending them silently moved out of the auditorium to give them privacy as well. With only Blain and Cerdina left in the room, Blain finally openly glared at her. “Was it you who did it?!” he immediately demanded for. “Did what?” she asked, feigning confusion. “The princess vomited blood right before fainting.” Blain hissed, “I am asking you, if it was you who poisoned her.” Queen Cerdina merely blinked owlishly, her eyelash fluttering softly as she let Blain throw a fit in front of her. When he was done, she answered in a cool voice... “Why do you think of that?” she asked in a graceful manner, but it only served to aggravate Blain more. “Because it’s something you would naturally do!” he spat at her. “Blain, my beloved son,” she sighed out softly, placing the fox fur aside before she stood up to walk towards him, taking her sweet time, before tentatively pulling him into a hug. Blain shivered once she touched him, and found his limbs frozen, unable to push her away. Her hand came up to the back of his head, sweeping down his neck, and then repeated the motions in a placating way. Her lips moved until she was whispering right next to his ear... “I thought you said she was yours?” she asked rather coldly, “Why would I meddle in things you own?” “Mother...” “Why do you keep worrying?” she asked, finally pulling away to look at Blain in the eye. His neatly trimmed brows creased to a frown, “Are you frightened of her being stolen? By some mere... barbarian?” she asked, quirking up a brow at him. “I’m merely worried about her purity.” he begrudgingly admitted to her. “Ah,” she said with a soft smile, “So your only concern lies with her indecent activities, and whether or not she’s kept her chastity?” It was quite amusing to see her son worked up. She watched with slight fondness the way he clenched his jaw tightly. “Fret not, my son.” Cerdina told him, patting his shoulder lightly, “Once the negotiations are over, you’ll be recognized as the sole heir to the king.” You don’t have to worry about it. I can get you whatever you desire. Those were the very words Cerdina would tell him many times before. Her voice sounded like a lullaby against his ears... Eventually, he turned away, averting his face away from her. In complete contrast to the rage of emotions swelling up in him from whence, he arrived, now stood a pacified prince. Cerdina looked at Blain with pity, before she continued to speak. “You must believe me, it was a shock to me as well when I heard what happened to the princess.” she assured him, “And if you do manage to visit her, do send my regards for best health, and to take her time to rest well.” “Alright, but in the meantime, you’re to leave her alone,” Blain told her, and Cerdina nodded, waving away his concerns. “Yes, yes, until she fully recovers I will, I could even rearrange her schedule-” “What!? No!” Blain suddenly erupted, pulling away from Cerdina’s arms. She looked at him with shock, her eyes widened as her son once again blew up in front of her in rage. “You do not go near her!” he demanded, “Ever!”