The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 132

CASSIAN

The Queen's sitting room was warm.

Too warm.

Fires blazed in both hearths despite the mild evening, and the candles had been lit early, casting everything in a soft golden glow.

My mother sat in her favorite chair, the high-backed one with the embroidered dragons, a cup of tea cooling in her hands.

She looked up as I entered.

"Cassian."

"Mother."

I didn't sit. Didn't approach. Just stood in the center of the room, arms folded, waiting.

She set down her tea.

"You've heard about the ball. It is the last event before the dragon trials.” 

"Everyone has heard about the ball."

"Then you know what's expected of you."

I laughed, a short, humorless sound.

"Expected of me? Or expected of her? You’ve already picked out a winner for yourself mother.” 

My mother's expression didn't change. "Lady Calista is a fine woman. Accomplished. Well-bred. She would make an excellent queen."

"You keep saying that."

"Because it is true."

"It's not true." I stepped closer. "Calista is a monster, Mother. You know it. I know it. She has done despicable things to do the other girls. The only question is why you keep pretending otherwise."

The Queen's jaw tightened.

"You're being dramatic Cassian. A few girls fighting isn’t unusual. During my time in the Queen Selection, girls fighting wasn’t at all unusual."

"I'm being honest." I stopped in front of her chair. "You've tilted this entire selection in her favor from the beginning. You've looked the other way while she schemed and manipulated and hurt people. And now you expect me to just, what? Accept it? Marry her? Pretend I don't see what she truly is?"

My mother rose from her chair.

She was shorter than me, had always been shorter, but in that moment, she seemed to grow. To fill the room with something cold and unyielding.

"Watch your tone, Cassian."

"Or what?" I challenged. "What will you do? I’m not that young boy you can send into a corner or take away his toys. I am not that little prince anymore.” 

Her hand moved.

Fast.

The slap cracked across my cheek before I could react.

I didn't flinch.

Didn't move.

Just stood there, staring at her, as the sting spread across my face.

"You forget yourself," my mother said quietly. "I am still your Queen. I am still far above the ranks than you. You are not the Dragon King yet."

"And I am also your son." I touched my cheek. Felt the heat beneath my fingers. "Which means nothing to you, apparently."

Something flickered in her eyes.

Pain.

Brief. Barely visible. Then gone.

"Sit down, Cassian."

"No."

"Sit. Down."

I didn't move.

But neither did she.

We stood there, mother and son, Queen and heir, locked in a battle neither of us knew how to win.

Then she sighed.

And for the first time in my life, I watched my mother's mask crack.

\---

"You want to know why," she said quietly.

"I want the truth."

"The truth is dangerous. It is better hidden.” 

"I don't care."

She laughed, a raw, broken sound I'd never heard from her before.

"You should. You should care, Cassian. Because the truth can destroy us."

She walked to the window. Stared out at the darkening sky.

"Do you remember Lord Gareth? When you were young?"

"Calista's father. Of course I remember him."

"He wasn't always the way he is now," she said. "He was kind, once. Loyal. One of your father's most trusted advisors."

"What happened?"

My mother was silent for a long moment.

Then:

"He found out something terrible about us. About the crown. About the vaults. About the truth."

I went cold.

"What about it?"

"He found out what we’ve been hiding." She turned to face me. "He found out about your grandfather. About what he did. About what your father has been hiding for so many years."

"Mother…” 

"If that secret gets out, Cassian, the crown falls. The noble houses will revolt." Her voice trembled. "Everything your family has built, everything we've sacrificed, it will all be gone."

I stared at her.

At the woman who had never shown weakness. Who had never admitted fear. Who had ruled beside my father with an iron will and a heart of stone.

She was terrified.

"Lord Gareth knows the secret," I said slowly. "And he's been using it to control me. Your father.” 

My mother didn't deny it.

"He came to us after Aveline and Evander was born," she said. "After your father refused to betroth Calista to you. He said... he said he would keep the secret safe. In exchange for his daughter's future."

"So you've been grooming her for the crown since she was a child."

"Yes."

"And the selection? The other ladies? The pretense of choice?"

My mother's eyes met mine.

"All of it," she said quietly. "A performance. A very long, very expensive performance. We had to keep up the appearance so the truth will never be exposed.” 

I felt sick.

"Elora," I said. "Vivienne. They never had a chance."

"No."

"Lira. Amara. Evadne. All of them, just decoration."

"Yes."

I turned away from her.

Walked to the fireplace. Stared into the flames.

"Calista poisoned Lira and Lady Lenora," I said.

Silence.

"You knew. You knew, and you did nothing."

"Cassian…” 

"Did you order it?" I whirled on her. "Did you tell her to do it?"

"Of course not…” 

"But you didn't stop her."

My mother's face crumpled.

For one terrible moment, she looked old. Tired. Broken.

"I couldn't," she whispered. "If I move against Calista, her father reveals the secret. If the secret is revealed, we lose everything. The kingdom. The crown. You."

"Then let him reveal it."

"You don't mean that."

"I mean every word."

My mother crossed the room in three strides and grabbed my face in her hands, the way she used to when I was small, when nightmares woke me and she would hold me and tell me everything was alright.

"This isn't just about power, Cassian," she said desperately. "This is about survival. Your father's enemies are everywhere. Do you think the high lords like that we are in control? That the Valemont family has held the seat of power for centuries? No they do not.  Our kingdom is unstable now, more than ever, Norwyn is planning something. If we lose the crown now, if the noble houses turn against us, thousands will die."

"Then let them die."

"You don't believe that."

"No." I pulled away from her grip. "I don't. But I also don't believe that marrying a murderer is the answer. Calista being queen will be the worst thing to happen to this Kingdom. Mark my words. Her father will only use her to do his bidding.” 

My mother's hands fell to her sides.

"What do you want me to say?" she asked.

"The truth. What is the secret?”

"I just gave you the truth."

"The whole truth." I stepped closer. "What's the secret, Mother? What did Grandfather do? What's in the vault that's worth all of this?"

She stared at me.

For a long moment, I thought she might actually tell me.

I could see it in her eyes, the desire to unburden herself. To let someone else carry the weight.

But then… 

The mask snapped back into place.

"It doesn't matter," she said coldly. "What matters is that you will marry Calista. You will treat her with respect. She will give you heirs. And you will never speak of this conversation again."

"Mother…” 

"That is an order, Your Highness."

She walked to the door.

Paused with her hand on the handle.

"I'm sorry, Cassian." Her voice was barely a whisper. "I truly am."

Then she was gone.

\---

I stood alone in the sitting room.

The fire crackled.

The candles flickered.

And somewhere in the palace, Calista was probably already planning her coronation.

I wanted to scream.

Wanted to break something. Burn something. Destroy something.

Instead, I walked to the window and stared out at the darkening sky.

Somewhere out there, Veyraxis was gathering her strength.

Somewhere out there, Norwyn was sharpening their blades.

And here, inside these walls, the enemy was already at the gate.

Wearing a crown.

Smiling my mother's smile.

What have we become?