"Corvus, did you turn into a raven to leave this tower?"
"…"
"Corvus!" Queen Seria pressed her second son even more. She knew that Corvus was not easy to talk to. In fact, both of her sons were not the best to speak with. But at least, Ignis was more reasonable than Corvus.
Whenever Corvus was questioned about something, he would zip his mouth and hide, shielding himself from outside interruption.
Queen Seria was infuriated. She knew there was no way for her to pry more information at this point. But she needed to know whether Corvus was stronger than she expected or not. Because if Corvus could break free from the seal, then he might wreak havoc outside.
Queen Seria took a deep breath. She was both angry and infuriated at her second son but knowing that pressing him even further would lead to her getting thrown away. She sat beside Corvus gently.
Corvus flinched when his mother suddenly sat beside him on the ground, "Q—Queen Mother, the ground is dirty, don't sit here." Corvus said.
Queen Seria ignored it and asked again, "My son, can you tell me whether you can pass the seal that I put in your room? You are twenty-two years old now. I know that you've grown so much."
"…" Corvus still didn't want to answer. He distanced himself a bit from his mother and covered his body with his raven wings, as he was afraid that he would get hurt, as much as he would hurt his mother.
Queen Seria sighed. She got up and looked at the cowering Corvus, "I hate to do this, but this is the only way to test you, my son."
Queen Seria channelled her light magic in her hand. Slowly the light magic turned into a pure condensed light ball that could definitely purge the evil. She measured the amount that could hurt Corvus, but not enough to kill him.
She was too worried that Corvus might have wreak havoc outside if it was proven that he was a lot stronger than he used to be.
"I'm sorry, my son," Queen Seria threw the condensed light ball at Corvus. At first, Corvus didn't want to defend himself. The pain from that light ball was worth it, at least if that meant he could keep his secret to meet Anna.
But when he realized the amount of condensed light in that ball that could hurt him badly, Corvus instinctively used his wing to parry the light ball and push it away to the open window.
The light ball exploded outside, making the whole palace clear as day for few seconds. Corvus glared at his mother. He felt hurt and betrayed, "Mother! How could you attack me?! That light ball will kill me!"
Queen Seria was astonished when Corvus could parry and push away her light ball with his wing. "So it is true… Corvus, you are a lot stronger than me."
"And what if I am?" Corvus asked, full of hostility in his eyes.
"So you do leave this tower from time to time to go outside as the raven, right?" Queen Seria asked again. But this time, Corvus didn't answer. He zipped his mouth again and looked away.
"Corvus… are you the one who created that dark vortex and hurricane in Ignis' banquet?"
"…"
"Fine then, if you don't want to answer me. I will take that as a yes," Queen Seria concluded. She took a while until she continued, "My son, if you can control your overwhelming power, then I will allow you to leave the tower. You can roam freely as the raven if you want."
Corvus darted his eyes at his mother immediately. He hid his powerful magic from his mother because he was afraid that his mother would chain him again. But if it was possible, then he would be delighted if his mother would allow him to roam freely without hiding his identity.
"Will you… allow me, Mother?" Corvus asked cautiously.
"Yes, but with one restriction…" Queen Seria glanced at the jewellery box. With a thin smile on his face, she said, "You cannot fall in love with anyone without my consent. Take that bracelet back from the woman you gifted, and return it to the jewellery box."
"What?!" Corvus' heart shattered when his mother suddenly prohibited him from falling in love. It was the only thing that encouraged him to push through. It was his current reason to live!
"Mother, that jewellery box is mine! So I can give it to any woman whom I love!" Corvus yelled.
"Then tell me, who is that woman? I will take that bracelet from her," Queen Seria asked. And this time, Corvus was silent once more. He didn't want to involve Anna in this mess. Because he knew that his mother would dismiss Anna, or worse, execute her.
Seeing her son not answering again, Queen Seria already concluded in her mind that Corvus had fallen in love with the wrong, black swan. "She is also the reason why you destroy the banquet, right?"
"…"
Queen Seria took a deep breath. She was frustrated at her own son. She turned her back and said, "Corvus, you are not allowed to leave until you tell me who that woman is."
"But you said I can roam free!" Corvus argued as the dark miasma around him started getting thicker.
"That woman you fell in love with is dangerous. I cannot allow you," Queen Seria said. "I will strengthen the seal tomorrow with fellow priestesses."
After hearing her mother's verdict, Corvus had the urge to destroy the tower alongside his mother. He hated it when he was given hope for a second, and then his hope got stomped and ruined the moment after.
Before his dark thought completely blinded him, Corvus turned into a raven, intending to escape from the tower.
"Stay here!" Queen Seria used a holy chain that she summoned from her hand. This was the sacred holy chain that bound Corvus for almost ten years until it was released a year ago.
And now, Queen Seria had to use it again.
The light chain hunted Corvus immediately and bound his raven leg. Corvus flapped his wings, he wanted to attack his mother with a strong dark gust, but when he realized it might actually kill his mother due to his uncontrollable power, Corvus stopped himself.
Corvus was chained again as the raven with the same holy chain.
"You are not allowed to leave until you tell me that woman's identity."