Chapter 408: The Queen’s Shadow

Amal Blackwood

The palace was different now.

It wasn't just the mourning that weighed over the halls like an oppressive fog. It was something deeper. Something darker.

Power had shifted.

And my mother-in-law, Skylar Blackwood, now sat on the throne.

I watched everything unfold from the shadows, saying little, making no unnecessary moves. Because that was the smartest thing to do when the ground beneath you was still shifting.

I was Classic's wife, the future Queen, the woman who was supposed to stand beside him as he ruled.

But Skylar had taken that role for herself.

And Classic… had let her.

The Silent Observer

I walked through the palace halls, my footsteps barely making a sound against the marble floors. Servants bowed as I passed, their gazes a mixture of fear and curiosity.

They were waiting. Watching. Trying to see where I stood in all of this.

And truthfully?

I didn't know yet.

Classic had barely spoken to me since his mother's announcement. He wasn't avoiding me, not exactly, but he was deep in thought, calculating his next move.

I had seen that look in his eyes before—when he was planning, when he was waiting for the right moment to act.

But how long would he wait?

And what if, by the time he was ready, it was too late?

The Throne Room

I found myself standing outside the throne room doors. I wasn't supposed to be here, but that had never stopped me before.

The guards hesitated before opening the doors, and I stepped inside.

Skylar was seated on the throne, speaking with several high-ranking officials. She glanced up as I entered, her expression unreadable.

The officials bowed and stepped aside, sensing that this conversation was not for their ears.

For a long moment, we simply looked at each other.

Then she spoke. "You're bolder than I expected."

I met her gaze without flinching. "You've made your move. Now I'm trying to understand where that leaves me."

She studied me for a moment before gesturing toward a chair. "Sit."

I didn't.

Instead, I folded my hands in front of me. "Are you planning to rule permanently?"

A small smile played on her lips. "Is that concern I hear in your voice?"

I clenched my jaw. "I'm concerned about my husband."

She leaned back in the throne, regarding me carefully. "Classic is watching. Learning. And when the time comes, he will do what he must."

I narrowed my eyes. "Or you'll decide he isn't ready and keep ruling in his place?"

Her expression didn't change. "Are you questioning my loyalty to my son?"

I exhaled slowly. "I'm questioning what happens next."

She tilted her head slightly. "Then I'll tell you. The kingdom needs stability. And if I have to be the one to ensure that, I will."

I studied her, trying to decipher whether this was temporary… or something more.

Classic would have to make a decision.

Soon.