Married To The Dragon Prince Against My Will-Chapter 209: YOU ARE ONE OF MY PEOPLE

Queen Sephora leaned forward as they were taken away, her face having a smug grin. "You are lucky," she said to Lord Drex. "What you must learn is to see the moment and strike at the right time."

Lord Drex bowed so low his shoulder almost brushed the floor. He never planned to go against the king, but to save his daughter he has no choice.

"I promise to do whatever you ask, Your Highness, as long as nothing happens to my daughter. Remember you placed me under oath to protect her when he made her a concubine."

Sephora’s smile deepened into a smirk. "Go....Check on the king. Instead of lecturing me and also telling me exactly what is wrong with him. Once I know the next step, we will move." He sighed and then bowed.

When Lord Drex left, Adam stepped closer to his mother. "Mother, is this not the right time to remove him? To kill the king and end this farce?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Queen Sephora pushed him back with one quick motion and pressed a finger to her lips. "Son, you are rash. You speak of killing a king as if you were sweeping dust from the floor. What will the court say? What will the people say?"

"The court already thinks the king is done for," Adam insisted. "We could make it look natural. No one would ask questions."

Sephora laughed softly. "Sometimes I wonder why you were given to me as a son. Even your younger brother is cleverer than you."

"Mother." Adam flinched, but she ignored him.

"Do not be childish. Those two brothers will do anything to prove we are the murderers. Ashen and his kin will not stop until they have torn us to pieces." Her voice sharpened.

"The king collapsed on his own, did he not? You are not the cause of this collapse are you?" she asked worriedly.

Adam swallowed hard, "Of course not, I am not the cause."

Sephora clasped his hands. "Ashen is not near. No one can protect his wife. If we move carefully, we can force him into a position where he must destroy his own house. If you want the throne, you must act. If you delay, you will lose everything."

Adam ran his hands through his hair and sighed. "That is why I said we should just kill the king, then I can just take the position. No one would have the mind to take me off when I am already the king!" He let out.

"We can’t kill him now, we can just knock him down for a long time," she explained.

"Now that you are the crown prince and the king is down you will take control. No need to rush."

Adam let out a deep sigh "My heir has not been produced yet, Serena..."

"Stop." Sephora snapped. "Serena will bear your child. If she displeases you afterward, deal with her then. Right now think only of the throne. If you do not act smartly, they will strip you of power. Forget sentiment. Do what you must." Sephora let out.

Meanwhile, in a quiet corner of the chamber, Serena stood like a statue, listening. Her knuckles had gone white. She slipped away from the gathered nobles and melted into the outer passage.

"I told you, Lumina," Serena muttered under her breath as she moved, cloak drawn tight. "I told you not to save that woman. See what she has done."

She reached the prison yard unnoticed. Guards stepped forward to bar her, but their words stuck in their throats like stones. They could only watch as Serena passed and made for Lumina’s cell.

"How do you like your cell?" Serena asked when she stood before the iron bars.

Lumina turned slowly in her direction. "Serena."

"Why did you save her?" Serena demanded. "You do not play the game properly. You do not think tactically."

Lumina’s expression was calm. "I saved her because I needed to. I need to rise again. I need to find my people."

"Your people?" Serena echoed. She stepped closer. "Who are you talking about, Lumina? The king is down and we don’t even know where your husband is.. What do you intend to do now?"

Lumina reached inside her robe and drew out a small, red crystal set like a beating heart. It caught the dying light and flared. Serena’s hand flew to her mouth.

"Th... this... how did you get it!"

"This is the heart of Drakonis," Lumina said softly. "If it dies, Drakonis dies with it. Only I know where it lies. The king does not. If the queen takes control she will need this. But now it’s not there. She will want to find it and I can use it to my advantage."

Serena stared at the jewel as if it had promised her a new world. "You mean to say you kept it hidden all this time? You mean to say you hold the realm’s heart?"

"Perhaps I do," Lumina answered. "Perhaps I am more than the wife they see. I am an enchantress, born of that blood. I will raise the coven heart. I will lead and I will avenge the ones who were murdered for that title."

Serena’s laugh was unbelieving. "What do you want me to do for you?"

Summoned the people from the abyss land, I need to gain my eyesight back." Serena stared at her confused.

"What? Why me?"

"Maybe because you are not full of Drakonis blood and also..."

"Stop!" she interrupted Lumina, "I am from the Drakonis and no one will change my mind on that."

Lumina stepped forward, voice steady and cold. "If you place your trust in the royals alone, you will lose yourself. They cannot be trusted. My husband was lied to and made to be known as a curse. Before you decide to carry a child that could doom you for life, consider which truth you will serve."

"Enough." Serena spat the word and backed away.

"Do not speak highly of my mother’s blood. Do not tell me she did not abandon me."

Lumina held Serena’s gaze and did not look away. "Your mother was from the lineage of the enchantress. She did not abandon you. Your father lied to protect you from a realm that would have hated you for what you are. You are half Drakonis and you carry power, whether you know it or not."

"And how do you expect me to believe you when we just met a few moons ago," Lumina smirked at this.

"You were the one who had told me that I see the future and I calculate my plans well so how do you think I became close to you and I also know you are one of my people?"