Chapter 413: The Queen’s Move

Skylar Blackwood

The palace was in chaos.

Whispers flooded the halls. The media circled like vultures. The Prime Minister—once the most untouchable man in the country—was drowning in scandal.

And I stood beside him.

I could feel the stares, the doubt, the judgment. Even my own children questioned my decision. But they didn't understand.

This wasn't about loyalty.

This was about control.

If the Prime Minister fell the way Ethan intended, it would send the wrong message. A message that power could be stripped away without warning. That the throne was vulnerable.

That I was vulnerable.

I wouldn't allow that.

The Confrontation

I met Ethan in the grand hall, where he stood with his usual unreadable expression. "You think this was a mistake," I said before he could speak.

Ethan tilted his head slightly. "I think you're delaying the inevitable."

I stepped closer. "You moved too fast. You struck first without considering what happens after."

He smirked, but it wasn't amusement—it was calculation. "Oh, I considered everything. The Prime Minister is finished."

I exhaled, keeping my voice steady. "Not if I say otherwise."

A flicker of something passed through his gaze. It wasn't fear. It wasn't hesitation.

It was interest.

Because he knew what I was capable of.

"You're willing to protect a man drowning in corruption?" he asked.

I lifted my chin. "I'm protecting stability."

Silence stretched between us.

Then, finally, Ethan gave me a slow nod. "Alright, Your Majesty. Let's see how far you're willing to go."

Holding the Line

By noon, I had made my move.

A public address. A statement of support for the Prime Minister—not as a man, but as an institution. The country did not need uncertainty. It needed strength.

Some would question me. Some would doubt me.

But I was no fool.

I wasn't just standing beside the Prime Minister.

I was watching him.

And if he proved to be more of a liability than an asset—I would end him myself.