Kylie returned to Everspring Pce, but her unease did notst long.


    Soon, Salvador arrived. Apanied by the Nightsteel Guard, he sealed off the entire Everspring Pce, allowing only Lydia to remain within the halls.


    Derek entered, carrying two items.


    One of them was the poison powder Kylie had given to Connor days before. When it was ced on the table for her to inspect, she stood frozen in ce. A cold, piercing chill spread through her, making her body tremble uncontrobly.


    Witnessing this, Lydia immediately stumbled and dropped to her knees, her voice thick with fear as she cried out, "Your Majesty, please forgive me! It was all my doing! Her Majesty had no part in this!"


    Salvador paid no attention to her desperate pleas.


    Sitting down, he turned to Derek. "You may show Kylie the edict. There is no need for formalities."


    Derek nodded and unfurled the second item—a royal edict.


    The moment it was ced before the queen, her eyes caught the first few lines, and it was as though she had seen a ghost.


    "No!" she screamed, copsing to the ground.


    Tears flooded from her eyes as she frantically cried, "No! No..."


    Lydia was unable to read the contents of the edict, and she dared not look. She kept her head bowed, her forehead bleeding slightly from the stumble she took to kneel previously.


    Salvador''s gaze grew colder, sharper. "You were willing to poison him to preserve his reputation. Wasn''t it because you wanted to make him the crown prince? Since you were willing to use his life to stake the im, then I will grant your wish. I dere him the crown prince. In exchange, you will forfeit your life. Fair enough?"


    "No! He is your eldest son! He should be the crown prince! Your Majesty, I may have made mistakes, but I don''t deserve to die for them!" Kylie protested, throwing herself at the king''s feet.


    Tears streamed down her face as she clung desperately to his legs. Her voice trembling with helpless despair, she entreated, "Your Majesty, he is my son. I never meant to harm him! I only wanted what was best for him!"


    "What''s best for him? You got what you wanted—he''s the crown prince now, isn''t he? That was your goal all along!" Salvador''s voice rose, his anger unmistakable. "If you were willing to risk his life to protect his reputation, why not simply offer your own life to secure his ce as crown prince? That would have saved you from having to do all that scheming and plotting."


    Kylie trembled uncontrobly, her mind struggling to grasp his words.


    Had she truly gotten what she wanted?


    Kylie''s voice broke, dry and hoarse as she pleaded, "No... it''s not like that... Your Majesty, even if I''ve made mistakes, it doesn''t mean I deserve to die for them!"


    "The queen used her life to secure the nation''s future. There''s no crime here, only merit," Salvador said coldly.


    Fear crept across Kylie''s face, her strength slowly draining away. She lifted her head with great difficulty, her eyes clouded by tears. She could no longer make out Salvador''s expression, only feeling the suffocating pressure around her, tightening her chest until she could hardly breathe.


    Lydia lifted her bloodstained face, her voice breaking as she cried out, "Your Majesty, there must be another choice for Her Majesty, right? You and the queen are husband and wife; you''ve been


    vel


    together all these years!"


    "As long as you live, I will not depose you. So, you must choose your life or the position of crown prince," Salvador dered, his voice cold and unyielding.


    With that, the king turned and left. Derek followed behind him, leaving Everspring Pce cloaked in an unbearable chill.


    Her limbs frozen in ce and her body unable to move, Kylie was helped to a chair.


    Time passed.


    Finally, she buried her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrobly, her voice barely a whisper through the tears.


    "He''s so cruel... so cruel..."


    She had no choice.


    She truly had no choice.


    The next day, Derek arrived, asking if the queen wished to announcest night''s edict or pretend nothing had happened.


    Kylie was already prepared for the day. She had covered the puffiness under her eyes with makeup, and she wore a gentle,posed smile.


    "Mr. Walker, you''ve worked hard in His Majesty''s service. Pleasee in and have some coffee. Enjoy some snacks with me."


    Derek understood immediately, giving a slight nod as he followed her into the pce to partake in the refreshments she had prepared.


    Later, he returned to Salvador and reported back. Hearing the news the king wasn''t surprised. After reading through some reports, Salvador paused for a moment, a flicker of thought crossing his face.


    "I thought she might be willing to give up her life for her son, especially after pampering him so much. Yet, it


    seems it was all to consolidate her own position," he said.