Luciana's parents sat down, and since everyone in the room had occupied all the seats, Luciana had to stand, which made her anxiety ten times worse. It made her feel like a criminal awaiting judgment.
"Your daughter has been disrespectful to her husband," the Queen started, without beating around the bush. Her eyes went to Luciana's parents, who looked at each other in concern before they turned to look at their daughter, who simply stood there with her head down.
Thinking that the queen had overheard what Luciana had said a moment ago about their childlessness being her husband's fault, Luciana's mother straightened. "My... Queen. I think she—"
"I am not done talking," the Queen cut her off harshly, putting up her hand to stop Luciana's mother from saying anything.
"When I chose her for the prince, you assured me that she was a smart girl who was submissive and obedient. I believed all you said and took your words for it. But not only has she not been able to produce a son, but she has also been disobedient to her husband, both in private and in public. She even yelled at her husband because he scolded her. She has brought shame to the royal family."
"LUCIANA!" her father yelled her name in anger, making her flinch.
"What are you still standing there for? Kneel and apologize!" Her mother yelled as she also went on her knees in front of the queen.
"I'm sorry, my queen. We are sorry. She... she isn't like that. I think she has just been troubled lately. I will talk to her."
"GO ON YOUR KNEES AND APOLOGIZE THIS INSTANT!" her father bellowed at her when she was still standing there.
With her hands clenched beside her and all the veins in her face and neck popping, she reluctantly knelt and kept her head down. She bit her lower lip so hard that she began to taste blood. At this point, there were no more tears in her eyes. All that was left in her was anger and hate. Hate for all of them.
"It is too late for that." The queen said with a casual wave.
"You can see her attitude now. She doesn't even want to take responsibility for her actions." The queen sighed heavily.
"It is that girl! You were perfect! But you chose to associate yourself with Harold's uncouth wife!" Ivan said in anger, as he stood up from his seat.
Luciana's parents looked at each other again before looking at their daughter, who hadn't said a single word.
The queen eyed her son unpleasantly, and he kept his mouth shut and sighed heavily before returning to sit down beside her.
"As it stands now, you cannot blame us for any action we are going to take," The queen said and dismissed Luciana's parents when they tried to talk again.
"She is going to be punished. Because I hold her very dear to my heart, I ensured she wouldn't be hurt or that her behavior wouldn't be revealed to the public. So I came beforehand to let you know," The queen said and stood up. Ivan also stood up and stood beside her.
"What... punishment?" Luciana's father asked as dread filled him.
"She will move out of Prince Ivan's chamber and be cut off from all forms of communication with the other members of the royal family for 21 days. She needs to reflect on her actions."
Knowing the implication of the queen's words, Luciana's mother gasped and shook her head as she tugged on the hem of Luciana's dress for her to beg, but Luciana said nothing and just kept her head down.
"Pleading won't change anything. Because a suitable bride who is going to bear Prince Ivan a son has been selected already."
The couple snapped their heads up to look at the queen and Ivan in shock and disbelief.
"Do not blame us. Blame your daughter and her wrong choice of friends. If she had obediently carried out her duties, none of this would have happened. The punishment is going to be effective as soon as the banquet comes to an end. But until then, she will be moved out of his chamber. There is not enough room in his chamber to accommodate her and his new bride, and since she has failed in her duties, someone else will have to take over. Don't you think so?" She asked with a warm smile before turning to walk out of the room.
Ivan's eyes lingered on Luciana, and his gaze softened a bit as he watched her just kneeling there. His gaze went rigid again, and he stormed out with his mother.
Luciana's mother placed a hand on her chest as a sob escaped her lips. She still knelt and didn't even have the strength to stand up from the floor.
Anger and disappointment filled her father's eyes as he looked down on Luciana, but her eyes were carefully blank as she rose and dusted off her clothes.
She was past caring now. It was probably for the best that she moved out of his chamber since she couldn't stand looking at him anymore. She had loved Ivan deeply as a wife should love her husband, but he had hurt her just as deeply with his actions.
She had been a submissive and loving wife, but that hadn't stopped him from plotting with his mother to replace her with a new wife, and now they were trying to make it seem like they were only doing so because she had been rebellious when it was their plan that had made her turn this way. She
had never been fond of the Queen since the woman had never really cared about her either. She had no business with the Queen or her parents. She was indifferent about them. It was even more apparent that they cared more about their royal status than their daughter.
Luciana stood up, dusted off her clothes, and walked out of the chamber while her mother, who had been sobbing, stopped abruptly and stared after her in disbelief.
Away from there, Susan opened the door, and the Queen and Ivan walked into the chamber where her brother and his family were gathered, and every one of them stood up.
"Brother," the queen greeted with a warm smile, and her brother and his wife bowed to her.
"You didn't have to come here to see me," her brother said in disapproval, and she waved it off with a smile.
"Of course, I had to. How have you been?" She asked as she walked in and sat down on one of the seats in the chamber.
"I've been well. How are you, and how have things been around here?" Susan's father asked, and the queen smiled.
"I've been well, and everything has been fine," she said as her gaze moved from Williams to Susan.
"Thank you for taking care of Williams and Susan. Susan says she likes it here," Susan's mother said, and the Queen's brows arched.
"Is that so?" She asked, and Susan nodded.
The Queen looked at Susan for a while without saying a word, wondering if perhaps Ivan had been right about Susan and Alvin. Was it Harold's ploy? To attach his people to her own people? How come first it was Princess Amber's servant getting close to Williams, and now it was Harold's servant getting close to Susan?
"Susan, why did you take sides with Alvin last night?" The Queen asked, wanting to see Susan's reaction in the presence of her parents, and Susan blinked at her in surprise, wondering what that had to do with the discussion on the ground.
"Who is Alvin?" Susan's father asked in confusion.
"Alvin is Harold's servant. He pointed his sword at me, and Susan took sides with him," Ivan rushed to answer, and Susan's father looked at her in disbelief.
"Is that correct?"
"I didn't take sides with him," Susan said calmly, and anger flared in Ivan's eyes.
"Are you calling me a liar then?" The Queen asked before Ivan could say a word.
"She wouldn't dare do something like that, my queen. I'm sure there is a misunderstanding," Susan's mother rushed to defend her.
"Explain yourself, Susan! What happened?" Her father said in a stern tone, and she glanced at Williams, who gave her a nod before she stepped forward.
Although her parents were loving and all, they were also very strict and harsh when they needed to be, especially if it had to do with royal business.
"Prince Ivan was hurting his wife, and Princess Amber stepped in to stop him, so when he tried to hurt her, Prince Harold's guard, Alvin, stepped in to defend her," Susan said, and both the Queen and Ivan eyed her with disapproval, but they both knew better than to say anything.
Even though she was the Queen, she still feared and respected her elder brother to a large extent, and so she sat back and decided to let him handle it.
"And so you got involved?" Her father asked calmly.
"I only explained that he was trying to protect Princess Amber," Susan said defensively.
"And you only did that because you fancy each other, didn't you?" Ivan asked, to the dismay of everyone.
R𝑒ad latest chapt𝒆rs at f(r)eew𝒆bnovel.com Only