Chapter 3

I looked Edward straight in the eye and told him everything that happened that afternoon, leaving nothing out.

I explained, "After I woke up from my nap, Henry brought in a bowl of soup. He said it was good for my health, but I wasn't feeling hungry, so I just set it aside.

"I never expected this. Your Majesty, I'm worried that because Henry is still so young, someone might be using him or fooling him.

"This time, the royal physician noticed it in time, and disaster was avoided. But if something like this happens again, I don't know if I'll be lucky enough to escape it."

I knew Henry messed things up, but I couldn't call him out in front of Edward.

No matter what, Henry was one of the few kids Edward had, while the baby inside me was just a vague bundle of flesh. I knew I couldn't compete with him.

Besides, Edward and Margaret had a long history together. There must be some real feelings between them.

Otherwise, Edward couldn't have just let it slide when Margaret snuck out of the palace without permission back then.

Tears rolled down my face one after another.

I sobbed. "Your Majesty, even if I die, I dare not forget the words you spoke to me when I first entered the palace.

"I won't blame Henry for what happened today, but I'm truly worried. If scheming people keep lurking around him, they'll end up hurting him."

Edward's expression softened a bit. He gave my hand a reassuring pat to comfort me.

"Katalina, don't worry. I'll make sure you get an answer for what happened today," he said.

I slumped against Edward's chest, feeling lost and powerless. The handkerchief I used to wipe my tears conveniently shielded the resentment in my eyes.

When Henry was summoned, he wore an expression of pure innocence. He hadn't even reached the side chamber yet, but his loud cries were already echoing through Brilliance Palace.

"Father! I swear, this has nothing to do with me," Henry wailed, sounding desperate.

As soon as he caught sight of Edward, he threw himself at his father's feet, grabbing onto Edward's boots and refusing to let go.

"Father! I'm innocent. I really don't know anything. Lady Katalina is framing me," Henry sobbed, his voice shaking with panic.

Then he turned to me, his eyes burning with resentment. "I saw you were weak, so I brought you some chicken soup.

"How was I supposed to know someone had put something harmful in it and made you lose your child? Don't accuse me in front of Father!"

With that, he turned and hugged Edward's leg again. "Father! Have you forgotten what Mother told you before she drowned herself in the lake?

"She said you should look after me. You're the only family I have left in this world. Are you going to leave me all alone, too?"

I stayed silent, while Henry made a spectacle of himself, exposing all his pathetic antics.

Watching Henry pitifully cling to his leg and sob, Edward's expression grew even more grim.

Edward snapped, "You're a prince. You should act like one. Keep your composure, follow the rules, and know your place. What's with all this whining and sobbing?

"And what do you mean, I'm all you've got? Isn't Katalina good to you? Isn't your grandmother good to you?"

I slumped against Edward's chest, feigning heartbreak as my tears soaked his shoulder.

Everyone in the palace knew how well I'd treated Henry. My family sent me here not just to protect him from being schemed, but also to keep him loyal to the Howard family.

For five years, I'd poured my heart into caring for him. If anyone looked closer at his words, they'd surely accuse him of being unfilial.

Henry finally put an end to his theatrics, releasing his grip on Edward's boot and wiping away his tears.

Edward continued to scold him. "Katalina never spoke ill of you to me. She spent five years raising you, holding you close, and treating you like her own. And after all that, is this how you repay her?"

Henry stammered, but stayed silent.

The air in Brilliance Palace seemed frozen, as if everything had come to a standstill.

Just then, Olivia looked up, shuffled forward on her knees, and pressed her forehead to the ground in a deep bow.

She pleaded, "Your Majesty, Prince Henry only spoke out of turn because he was falsely accused. Please, Your Majesty, have mercy on him.

"Prince Henry is still mourning his late mother. He's a child with a good heart and deep feelings.

"He only offended Lady Katalina because he missed his mother so much. Lady Katalina, please forgive him for the sake of his late mother."

Olivia had been by my side for four years, and I never realized she was secretly loyal to Margaret all along.

Maybe she was just a master at hiding it, or maybe I was just too naive to notice.

But today, I was determined to make Henry suffer. I was going to teach him a lesson he'd never forget.

I looked up at Edward, tears in my eyes, my voice laced with confusion and a touch of innocent puzzlement.

"Your Majesty, how did Henry know there was something wrong with the soup? Did anyone you sent tell him what happened this afternoon? Besides, I never lost the baby," I said, my voice trembling.

Edward suddenly turned his gaze to the guard, Landry Bush, who was standing next to him.

Landry immediately dropped to his knees, trembling with fear.

He explained, "Your Majesty, I serve only you. I wouldn't meddle with the princes. As soon as I got your order, I hurried to bring Prince Henry here.

"I was focused entirely on your command. I didn't pay attention to anything else. The servants and maids who came with me can all vouch for that."