Chapter 405: A Widow Before the World

Skylar Blackwood

The palace had never felt this empty.

I sat by the grand window, staring out at the darkened sky, my fingers tightening around the thick fabric of my mourning gown. The weight of the crown on my head felt heavier than ever.

Chris was gone.

My husband. My king.

The world believed it. The kingdom mourned. But nothing felt real.

I should have been standing beside Classic, ensuring our son didn't carry this burden alone. But I couldn't. Not yet.

Because I wasn't just the Queen. I was a wife who had lost the man she had built a life with.

Chris had always been larger than life. Untouchable. Indestructible.

And now, they expected me to simply accept that he was dead?

A harsh breath left me as I clenched my hands into fists.

No.

I wasn't ready.

The Expectations of a Queen

The moment the news broke, the palace had become a stage. Every move I made was scrutinized, every expression dissected.

Did the Queen look strong?

Did she look weak?

Was she grieving the way they expected her to?

I had stood through the formal announcements, my face a mask of dignity. I had played my role perfectly, as Chris would have expected.

But now, in the privacy of my chambers, I let the mask slip.

The grief was suffocating.

Chris had been my husband, my protector, my equal. And now, he was gone.

Tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

I couldn't break.

Not yet.

The Daughter-in-Law Who Watched

A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.

"Come in," I called, my voice steady despite the storm within me.

Amal stepped inside, her face unreadable.

She had been quiet since the announcement. Not mourning publicly, not making any moves that could be deemed suspicious.

But I knew she was watching.

My daughter-in-law was intelligent—far more than people gave her credit for. And she understood one thing better than most: Power shifts quickly when a king falls.

"Are you all right, Mother?" she asked, her voice carefully measured.

I studied her. "Are you?"

She lowered her gaze slightly, a flicker of something—guilt? Calculation?—crossing her face before it vanished.

"The palace is unsettled," she said instead of answering. "Classic is handling it, but…" She hesitated.

"But what?" I pressed.

She met my eyes. "Some believe you should step back from public affairs. That Classic should rule without—"

I laughed, sharp and bitter. "Without my influence?"

She didn't respond, which was answer enough.

Of course they would say that. A grieving queen was easier to push aside. Easier to control.

But they had forgotten something important.

I was Skylar Blackwood.

I had stood beside Chris for years, had navigated court politics with a grace no one had dared challenge. I had fought for my family, for my son, for my husband's legacy.

And now, they thought I would simply fade into the background?

They were mistaken.

I rose from my chair, smoothing the fabric of my gown as I walked toward Amal.

"Listen carefully," I said softly, my voice laced with quiet authority. "Chris may be gone, but this kingdom is still mine to protect."

Amal stiffened slightly.

I stepped closer. "And if anyone believes they can push me aside, they will soon learn the truth."

She lowered her gaze. "I understand."

But did she?

I watched her for another moment before turning away.

I would grieve my husband. I would mourn the love I had lost.

But I would not be silent.

And if anyone thought Chris's death meant the Blackwood reign would weaken—

They would learn how wrong they were.