"How could she do this?!" Yuden pushed all the objects on his dressing table aggressively.
[The Queen Dowager and Princess Zahra have withdrawn their complaint against Isaac Xawer. It was simply a misunderstanding. He was actually their new servant who forgot to wear his uniform, resulting in all these misunderstandings. [...]] The news anchor reported on the television which was placed in front of Yuden's bed.
Yuden turned and reached for the remote control, furiously turning off the TV.
A servant appeared in front of Yuden's bedroom.
He knocked twice before speaking.
"Your Highness, the king has requested an urgent audience with you." The servant bowed and announced, "He wants you to go to the Jade palace right now."
Yuden nodded and waved his hand dismissively.
"You may leave," he said, maintaining his cool.
Yuden changed his clothes and proceeded to the king's palace.
Although they were two different palaces, the Sapphire Palace and the Jade Palace were not too far apart.
The Sapphire Palace belonged to the crown prince, while the Jade Palace belonged to the King.
Yuden stepped into the king's palace and looked around.
"Butler," Yuden called out to a gray-haired man walking back and forth in the corridor.
The gray-haired man rushed towards the crown prince.
"I was expecting you, Your Highness," he said with a gentle smile.
"Lead me to His Majesty," Yuden ordered.
The butler nodded and continued down the corridor, which led to the final audience room.
Yuden raised an eyebrow. The last audience room was soundproof— meaning what the king wanted to discuss with him was private.
Yuden had not expected it.
"What does His Majesty wish to discuss with me that is so urgent and that he has to be so cautious about?" Yuden wondered.
However, only King Aiden was able to answer his question.
The ash-blonde-haired young man walked with quick steps following the servant in front of him.
The butler announced the crown prince's arrival and opened the door after the king gave his permission.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," Yuden said, bowing.
"Raise," the king commanded.
Yuden glanced up at his father.
The middle-aged man was seated on the couch.
"Sit here," the king said, pointing to the couch in front of him.
Yuden nodded before taking a seat. He was slightly nervous as he ignored the topic of the visit. His father rarely called him this urgently, and Yuden felt uneasy each time.
He first called Yuden when he was only ten years old. It was the day his mother disappeared.
Despite being called over a few times, he did not want to remember that memory.
"Crown Prince," Aiden finally said. He sipped from his teacup with the elegance of a nobleman.
"Yes," Yuden stiffened, paying close attention to Aiden's every word and movement.
"I believe the Queen Dowager is deceiving us," the king said, placing his cup on the table between him and his son.
Yuden furrowed his brows. He then gave a nod.
"I hate to admit it, but this time I'm unable to understand the Queen Dowager's actions. She was the one who supported me when I threw that man in prison, but now she is working against me by letting him out of jail. It's... perhaps another game of hers. I need to—" Yuden paused when he realized he was in front of his father.
Aiden was his father, but he was first and foremost a king. Yuden needed to remember that he could not speak casually about his thoughts in front of the king.
On the other side, Aiden was pleased to witness his son's thoughts. He was relieved that his son was listening to him rather than what his mother would teach him.
"I'm pleased to hear your thoughts," Aiden smiled.
"I apologize, your majesty. It was inappropriate for me to speak carelessly in your presence," Yuden stood up and bowed to King Aiden.
"It's alright. I just wanted to remind you to be wary of the Queen Dowager. Even though King Zayn became a close friend of mine after the war, his mother may not consider us allies. She must have had her thoughts about us that she did not want to share with us," Aiden said.
"I will keep your words in my mind," Yuden said, lifting his face and walking out of the audience room.
Yuden strolled through the elegantly curved corridor.
"I should pay a visit," Yuden muttered to himself.
When he arrived outside the king's palace, he texted Queen Emera that he wanted to meet her. A positive response arrived in a matter of seconds, almost as if she had expected it.
Yuden approached the parking lot. A few cars were parked, and Yuden waved his hand at a driver standing next to a black-red car.
The driver approached the car in which Yuden had entered. He bowed before getting into the car.
"Greetings, Your Highness," the driver said as he started the car. "Where should I drive you to?" he asked.
"To the Throrens," Yuden responded.
The driver nodded and began driving.
Yuden arrived at the Ruby Palace, which had been given to the Throrens for their stay in Averlyon.
When the guards saw Yuden's car and the crest, they opened the gates.
The driver continued down the road, eventually stopping in front of the palace's main entrance and parking the car there.
Yuden stepped out of the car and walked into the palace. He maintained a straight posture. He had regained his composure over the last two days.
He was still curious as to why Queen Dowager released Isaac from jail.
While his mind was preoccupied with these thoughts, his gaze fell on Zahra, who was descending the stairs with her eyes fixed on the phone.
Yuden approached her.
Zahra slipped while not paying attention to the stairs; however, Yuden grabbed her by the waist and held her close to him.
Zahra, shaken by the rash motions, was unable to speak for a few seconds.
"Stop staring at me with those eyes of yours, Princess," Yuden said with a cold tone.
He was still angry with her for what happened the last time he visited the palace. He had originally come to meet with King Zayn, but he discovered that he had already left for Averlyon.
"Let me go," Zahra said, frowning.
Yuden twisted his lips into a smile before dropping her on the ground.
"Your wish is my command," Yuden said, crossing his arms and looking at Zahra on the ground.
"Y-you!" Zahra exclaimed, stunned by Yuden's action. She did not expect him to throw her to the ground unexpectedly.
"Hmm?"
"Fuck you!" She stood up, rubbing the dirt off her dress. "Why did you come here?"
"I am free to come here whenever I want. This is also my palace," Yuden said, walking towards the study room.
"You can't just roam around as you wish!" Zahra objected, following Yuden.
"I have a meeting with the queen dowager," Yuden turned his head, facing Zahra. "Stop following me," he coldly gazed at her.
"What does he think he does?!" Zahra scoffed, stomping on the floor as she walked away.
Yuden opened the door once Zahra had left the entrance. He didn't want her to overhear whatever they would discuss. Most importantly, when it concerned her.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," Yuden bowed once his gaze met Emera's.
Emera was sitting at her desk, doing some paperwork.
Emera posed her hands on the table and interlocked her fingers with one another.
"Come in, Your Highness," she said, inviting Yuden to take a seat.
Yuden walked towards the chair placed in front of Emera's desk and took a seat. He wrapped his leg around the other one.
"Your majesty—"
Emera halted him by raising her hand.
Yuden, confused, looked at her.
Did he not even have the right to question her decision, even though she was the one who agreed to get him and Zahra married?
"Before you ask me any questions, I want to make it clear that everything I did was necessary. As you know, Princess Zahra does not trust anyone. She certainly trusts you and me less. We need to win her trust, and the only way is to be a good friend to her," Emera stated confidently.
"However, does it mean you will let her leave after she completes her studies and becomes a respectable Princess? You promised to let me marry the heir of the kingdom of Averlyon, and it can only be Princess Zahra because—" Yuden spoke; however, Emera interrupted.
"Crown Prince, who says she will leave the palace after three months? Three months is ample time to make a person accustomed to a luxurious life. Additionally, once she learns the royal ethics, she won't be able to go back to that place. The dignity that she will earn in the process of her studies and the dignity a royal possesses won't allow her to go live in that place. And surely, that man will no longer suit her," Emera made eye contact with Yuden while stating her plan in front of him confidentially.
Yuden didn't know that the Queen Dowager trusted him enough to unveil her plan in front of him.
As if Emera had read Yuden's mind, she continued.
"The reason I'm telling you all this is that I need you to cooperate. I need you to act like a good friend to Princess Zahra while she doesn't meet that boy. It will help you gain her trust, and she won't dislike you as much as she does right now," Emera smiled.
"I understand Your Majesty," Yuden curved his lips with an evil smirk. "I apologize for doubting you."
Finally, his plan was going smoothly. There was only one obstacle, and that was Isaac.
He wanted to deal with him by keeping him in jail and threatening him for a few days; however, that wasn't necessary thanks to Queen Dowager's plan, which was less aggressive but seemed more effective.