The Abandoned Luna's Journey to Power Chapter 362: King Ryken's Interrogation

Cindy's POV:

Adam's final word struck like a heavy hammer, crashing straight into Prince Niall and his family.

Prince Niall shook with rage, his face flushed a deep purplish red.

He pointed at Adam and me, his finger shaking in the air for a long moment, but in the end, he couldn't force out a single word.

"Very good! Adam, you've grown up. Your claws are sharp now! We'll see about this!"

With a furious flick of his sleeve, Prince Niall turned and stormed toward the door.

Lucien scrambled to his feet and stumbled after him. He looked like a lost soul. He didn't dare turn back even once and only continued crying as he followed behind.

Before leaving, Leanna cast one last look at Viola. Her eyes were filled with jealousy and hatred.

Viola showed no courtesy at all. She rolled her eyes dramatically and snapped her barbed whip through the air. The loud crack echoed in the hall and made Leanna flinch in fear. She hurried after Prince Niall and quickly fled the manor.

Prince Niall's POV:

Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!

Sitting in the carriage leaving Adam's manor, I clenched my teeth so hard they almost cracked.

That bitch Cindy! That arrogant brat, Adam! And that woman, Viola! How dare they humiliate me like this!

Originally, I had planned to use the Moon Goddess Festival as an excuse to visit Adam. If I did it right, it would plant suspicion in my paranoid brother's mind.

Once father and son began to distrust each other, the plan I had been preparing in the Bloodridge Mountains would have more time to develop.

But I never expected that they had gone to Coldmoon Monastery.

They knew about Sephiria's death. They even knew that I intended to propose to Viola.

This ruined everything!

"Niall..." Leanna sat beside me, still unable to let go of what she had heard. She leaned closer, pressing her body against me with a sweet voice. "Did you hear what that red-haired girl said? She's Viola! How could you secretly try to marry her behind my back? You promised me that once Sephiria died, you would make me your Luna—"

"Shut up, you idiot!"

My anger had nowhere to go, and I slapped her across the face.

"If your useless family could supply weapons and armor, do you think I would need to lower myself and beg that wild girl to marry me?" I roared. "Women! All you care about is jealousy and petty fights! Do you have any idea how much damage today's incident will do to my grand plan?"

Leanna covered her face, too frightened to speak again. She could only sit there and cry quietly.

As for Lucien, that useless boy had shrunk into the corner of the carriage as tears rolled down his face.

"Forget the guest house. We're going straight to the palace!" I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down. "We must speak with Queen Mother and Ryken first, before Adam and the others arrive."

The royal palace was filled with festive decorations. Bright lights hung everywhere, and large totems symbolizing the blessings of the Moon Goddess stood throughout the halls. The air was rich with the smell of roasted meat and spices.

However, when we arrived at Stillwater Palace to meet Queen Elizabeth and King Ryken, the atmosphere inside was unusually tense.

Queen Elizabeth had never liked me. She glanced at me, then looked at Lucien, whose eyes were red from crying. Her brows slowly tightened.

"Niall, where is Sephiria?" Queen Elizabeth asked in a heavy voice. "I heard her illness was serious. I had planned to send a doctor to see her. Yet you brought all these children here, and she's the only one missing."

I lowered my head, forced a look of deep sorrow onto my face, and squeezed out some tears.

"Mother... Ryken... I was just about to report this to you." My voice trembled as if I were overwhelmed with grief. "I'd just arrived at the Royal Court with the children and was preparing to pay my respects when I received terrible news from Coldmoon Monastery. Sephiria... She didn't survive this winter. She passed away from her illness two days ago."

Clang!

The teacup in Queen Elizabeth's hand suddenly slipped from her fingers and shattered on the floor.

She stood up in shock, her body swaying slightly. King Ryken and Queen Isabella also showed surprise.

"She died?" King Ryken's expression darkened instantly. His sharp eyes locked onto me like those of a hawk. "If Sephiria died two days ago and you received the news, why didn't you immediately turn around and return to your territory to arrange her funeral? Instead, you brought your mistress and children here in festive clothes to attend a banquet at the palace?"