Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Forced to stay back, Connor watched as Ryan and Caden departed for supper. Though he felt a slight indignation rise within him, he recalled Victoria's words. She had advised him to control his temper and not let it show too easily.

So, he calmly asked, "Is there something you wish to talk about, Mom?"

"What?" Seeing how he was acting, Kylie felt a mixture of pain and fury in her heart. "It has been a long time since we've seen each other. Do you not miss me? Is there nothing you wish to say to me?"

Connor looked at his mother, then at Lydia. Her pleading eyes softened his heart, and the prince's resolve wavered for a moment.

He hastily added, "Of course I missed you, Mom. However, I'm quite hungry and wish to have supper."

With that, he bowed to Victoria, then dashed out quickly to catch up with Ryan and Caden.

Kylie sat dazedly in her seat and remained silent for a long time. The only sound that filled the room was the sporadic sobbing she could not entirely suppress. It took her a long moment to wipe away her tears. When she finally spoke, the words came out as a barely contained snarl.

"He refuses to acknowledge me at all. Are you satisfied now, Mother?"

The hatred and bitterness in her eyes were as clear as day. She knew she wasn't in a position to challenge the queen dowager, but neither could she pretend everything was fine.

Victoria set down her cup, her voice calm but cutting as she replied, "If he doesn't acknowledge you, perhaps you should look within yourself for the reason."

her mother-in-law a venomous glare. "Was it not you who drove a wedge between us, Mother? Do not deny it. There is no

further would only be a waste of time, so she calmly

knees in desperation. "Please, I beg of you, let me explain the misunderstanding to

misunderstanding is there

her lips moving soundlessly for a moment before she weakly replied, "I only did it for his own good. I didn't want him to be ridiculed. It was a necessary strategy. I'm his birth mother. You know how much I've doted on

nothing from all those books you've read? Enough. You've seen

"Mother!"

scrambled forward on her knees and tried to block Victoria's path, but Keith stepped

further. The queen

help Kylie up, then bowed deeply to Victoria. "Your Majesty, the queen merely wished to offer a few words to Prince Connor. She wanted to assure him that there was no need to be nervous about the equestrian competition and

yourself. I shall speak to him myself,"

that, the queen dowager continued her

down her

a lifeline. "How could he treat me like this? I only ever wanted what was best for him.

Go and tell

Majesty, Prince Connor will understand

A completely devastated Kylie