The Abandoned Luna's Journey to Power Chapter 294: So She Was Acting Too

Cindy's POV:

As we stepped out of Crystal Palace, Princess Margaret still wore that nauseating, saccharine smile, even clasping Queen Isabella's hand warmly and saying things like, "Safe travels, dear Isabella. Do come for tea another day."

And Queen Isabella?

She actually smiled back, calling her intimately in return, as if the confrontation that had nearly torn them apart minutes ago had never happened.

I stood beside the carriage, watching the hypocrisy unfold, my stomach churning.

"Mother, it's time to go," I said coolly, climbing into the carriage first.

Once Queen Isabella and Martha joined me and the door had shut, I drew a breath, ready to confront her properly about dignity and boundaries.

But the next second, I froze.

"That wretched old hag! Shameless, vile woman!"

Queen Isabella, who had been all smiles just moments ago, looked like a different person entirely.

She trembled with fury, teeth clenched, her carefully maintained face twisted in rage. Even her jeweled headpiece had tilted from the force of it.

"She actually dared to swindle me! Dared to use my reputation as a wager! Does she think I'm a fool?!"

As she raged, she shoved the recovered dragon ruby and the pouch of gold into my arms.

"Take it. Take all of it.

"If you hadn't stood firm today, that ruby would've vanished for good. The 1,000 gold coins are yours. Consider it compensation for your trouble."

I stared at the pile in my hands, torn between laughter and surprise.

"Mother ... were you acting?"

"Of course, I was," she snapped, rolling her eyes. The dignified, virtuous facade had evaporated, replaced by sharp, streetwise calculation. "What did you expect me to do—throw down with her in the middle of the hall? You've got nothing to lose. I'm the Queen. If I'd gone at her like that, by tomorrow the whole court would be buzzing about how I 'lost my crown in a catfight.'"

She inhaled deeply, steadying herself, then looked at me with complicated eyes.

"Cindy, I'm not blind. Margaret's treated me like a fool for years. I know it. But..."

She sighed, her anger giving way to weary resignation. "She's Princess Margaret, King Ryken's sister. Her connections in the Royal Court run deeper than mine, and her tongue is venomous. If I openly clash with her, she can isolate me with a few whispers among the socialites. I survive by pretending not to notice. Sometimes ... there's no other choice."

I fell silent.

So, she wasn't stupid. She had simply learned to survive in a court that devoured the weak by yielding and feigning ignorance.

"And now?" I lifted the pouch slightly. "You're not worried she'll retaliate?"

"To hell with that!" The Queen snorted. "You shut her down so hard today she couldn't even breathe. She lost her dignity and her pride. She's too busy licking her wounds to worry about slandering me. Besides, getting this money out of her feels better than a year's worth of spa treatments!"

Watching her—half relieved, half shaken—I realized she wasn't beyond saving. Vain, yes. Weak at times, certainly. But not hopeless.

She knew who stood beside her and who exploited her.

I reached into the pouch, counted out roughly 20 gold coins, and handed them to Martha, who had been shrinking into the corner of the carriage.

"Take this," I said flatly. "It's a cold day, and it wasn't easy for you to run around like this. This is your reward."

Martha stared, then burst into tears and dropped to her knees inside the carriage. "Thank you, Your Grace! Thank you!"

Queen Isabella shot her a sideways look. "Enough of that. Get up and wipe your face. Don't embarrass yourself."

Though her words were sharp, I clearly saw the corner of her mouth quirk upward.

In that subtle interaction, the atmosphere within the carriage shifted quietly.

The thick wall of ice that had stood between us seemed to develop a faint, promising crack.