In contrast, the Queen was calm. "I am sure you must have gotten your answer from Alexis."

"I wish to know what happened after Mother ran from the riverbank, specifically the part in the forest. Please do not leave out any details on the part of when and how you were? saved," Prince Theron stated as he glanced at the blond lady standing behind the Queen.

The Queen nodded, but it could be seen that her eyes seemingly lost luster as she recalled the deaths of her trusted people. "After Alexis asked me to escape into the forest, I ran there with Bethy along with three knights. A number of rebels, their leader included, were able to follow us after relying on their archers to get away from the main group. Oh, I forgot to mention, but I was already wielding a sword by then. We tried to fight with all we had, but we were unable to lose them. I am not sure if they already prepared men in advance in the forest, or if they knew the forest trails and thus were able to take advantage of the terrain, but it did not take long for us to be surrounded. I thought I could use myself to bargain for them to let the others go, but they had no intention of letting anyone survive. Alas, just as one of my knights died and Bethy received the leader's attack that was meant for me, Esther appeared."

At that point in the story, Esther was struggling to keep her composure. She took a peek at his face, but it was expressionless, and there was no way for her to find out what he was thinking. When Prince Theron caught her eyes, she immediately lowered her head once more.

Esther was inwardly praying for the Queen to not tell her son anything. 'Will he even believe it? Even if he did, then will he ask me to leave? But I have given my words to the Queen that I will stay with her and can't leave before five years, and I can never go back on my words.'

Just then, she heard him ask a question. "And how did…Miss Esther fight so many rebels to save you? It's a little difficult to believe she handled the rebels when you were outnumbered and our knights could not even stand up to them."

Queen Theodora did not answer immediately. She first enjoyed her cup of tea, even taking a biscuit out of the snacks prepared. After emptying her cup and finishing the biscuit, only then did the Queen answer. Her eyes showed a hint of excitement as she reminisced that part of her story.

"I thought that she was a skilled hunter, perhaps a passing apprentice knight about to have an accolade or a budding mercenary of some sort. She appeared out of nowhere and fought with them with two short swords—or was it long daggers? I was initially worried, but after seeing her skills pushing back the leader, I was pleasantly surprised. She gave me hope. I thought that with such a skilled person keeping check on them, I can use that chance to escape with my people."

"Really?" he said as he idly sipped the already lukewarm tea. His dark eyes still held suspicion as they observed Esther.

The Queen nodded and chuckled at a certain memory. "Initially, everyone thought that she was a young man. She was wearing this hideously large robe and her face was covered, but Esther fights so well—even better than a common royal guard—that no one imagined she is, in fact, a female. Having such great fighting skills at such a young age, and as a lady to boost, I can only feel proud of her."

"I wonder how good her skills are," the Crown Prince muttered, but? his words sounded sarcastic.

The Queen laughed a little. "I bet she can even give you a tough fight." Behind her pleased laughter, she was trying to suppress what she was hiding from her son.

Hearing his mother's declaration, he only glanced at a fragile-looking young lady who seemed younger than him and wondered if she could even stand in front of his attacks if they were to fight for real.

He dropped that thought and asked, "The rebels said that she did something extraordinary to beat them all—that she made them fly into the air."

The Queen gestured for Esther to refill her teacup. She took her time appreciating the scent of the hot tea before replying, "I told you that her sword skills are no joke. She could easily beat them."

Just as Queen Theodora knew her son, Prince Theron also knew his mother well. He already felt that his mother was not telling the entire truth.

"This is not about her sword skills, Mother. I heard something else," he countered.

The Queen looked at her son nonchalantly. "Something else?"

Esther gulped as she felt his gaze linger on her again for a moment.

"Those rebels, they said she used some tricks that hurt them. Every one of those grown men. They claimed that they were thrown in the air as if some invisible power pushed them away, and the force was strong enough to injure them to the point no one could get up after that attack."

Before her son could say more, the Queen cut him off with a kind of scoffing laugh as if she had heard an incredulous joke. "My son, do you really believe what they said?"

"Is that not the reason why I am here, Mother? Investigating, verifying each of the statements given, and looking for evidence—those are my responsibility," he countered calmly.

"My son," Queen Theodora shook her head as she sighed, "Those rebels must have either had their memories altered after receiving a head concussion at that time, or their manly ego must have hurt after being defeated by a single woman and they made up such a story to save their faces. Sir Alexis was there. Did he not tell you what happened? Did he also mention what those rebels had told you?"

"He did not," he responded. "Sir Alexis reached there after the rebels were already defeated so mother was the only person I could ask. About the other two knights who survived, they are still unconscious due to serious injuries."

"I will say don't trust those rebels' words. Anyways, what is important is that they attacked your mother but your mother survived and is now safe. Shouldn't you thank this young lady?" the Queen asked in a patronizing tone.

"Letting her stay by my mother's side, the side of the Queen of Megaris is already a perfect show of gratitude for her life-saving grace," the Crown Prince replied coldly.

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Dear reader it's sad to inform you all, our lovely moderator of this novel, N009 has passed away last night. You all could have seen her in the comments (with the user name N009) and she always replied to you all when you had any queries. Let's all pray for her.. Wherever she is, may her soul rest be in peace.

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