I Raised Him for Eighteen YearsChapter 1 The Coup
“Mother, place your seal on this decree.”
Caelan entered, the chill of the night wind trailing behind him, his guards flanking him as they faced me with drawn weapons.
My heart froze over. I took a few measured steps forward and tilted my head to look at him.
“Why can’t you wait a little longer? Just one more year, and you’ll take full command. I have never clung to power...”
“Mother!”
His dark eyes bore into mine, unyielding. “Forgive me, but I can’t wait.”
Why couldn’t he wait? It was only one more year! Was it really so unbearable?
The child I once knew had changed, standing here now, leading a coup against me. He was unrecognizable.
“Bring him in!”
Caelan’s voice was cold, and soon enough, the disgraced Regent Lord, Alistair, was dragged into the chamber, his clothes disheveled.
“You insolent wretch!” Alistair spat, struggling against the guards. “How dare you turn against your own mother? Are you not afraid of divine retribution?”
He was forced to the ground, his body weak but his eyes blazing with rage.
Caelan’s face remained expressionless. In one swift motion, he drew his sword and severed Alistair’s arm, splattering blood across the floor.
A few droplets landed on my face, mingling with my hair.
I gripped the chair beside me to keep my balance, my blood freezing in my veins.
He really did it. He severed the Regent’s arm as if it were nothing.
“Mother, shall I kill this beast for dishonoring you?”
Caelan smiled as if asking me about a trivial matter.
“What?”
I stared at him, stunned and confused.
Suddenly, he gripped my shoulders tightly, his eyes burning with intensity.
“I said I want to kill him. Ever since I was eight years old and saw him enter your chambers, I swore I would. I’ve waited seven long years. Isn’t that enough? Or… Mother, do you hesitate because you still care for him?”
Anger surged through me, hot and unrelenting. My fingers dug into the chair so hard I feared they’d break.
In those early years, alone with Caelan in the palace, I had faced countless schemes and threats. We had no one but each other.
Every decision I made was for him, to ensure his survival.
Even if it meant submitting to Alistair, all of it was for my son.
Caelan knew this. Why, then, would he use this to shame me?