LANDON’S POV It is today and I need to get the queen out of this madness before it is too late. If only she would agree to listen to me and hear out my opinion. I know it involves her son, Lalic but it is not going to hurt anyone. I assure her with my life that no one will be hurt. I have already discussed this with Lalic and the dude is ready to do all it takes to help his father, the king. But how do we get the queen to agree with us, how do we get her to even listen to us? I finally found her in the garden all by herself. I think she must have been here all morning thinking about her Chamlee. I fear that she might end up harming her fetus unintentionally. She barely took it into consideration in any of her actions. Having decided to try once again, I walked up to her slowly. Her back was turned to me and she is unaware of my presence. Whenever she is here, she doesn’t like to be disturbed. But now, even I cannot control it. I have to do this and I have to do it now before the witch arrives. Who knows, she may finally agree to listen to me. “Landon, you are here” she turned to me. I was shocked. How was she able to detect my presence? Has she been aware that I have been here all along? I hope that I do not upset her. “My... queen... luna, my... Chamlar...” I stammered. “What brings you here, Landon?” she asked maintaining a calm disposition. I was terrified and could barely form my words, but I have to do this right now. I know it is the best thing to do, so I must be brave about it. Even if she refuses to listen, at least I will not be pricked by my conscience. “To see you... I came” I stuttered in confusion. “What, Landon?” she asked, even more confused. “I... me... no... I came here... to see you... in the garden...” I stammered. “You are one of my most humble servants, Landon. Speak, I will not get angry at you” she urged me to go on. “Thank you, my queen,” I replied and coughed. “This moment, it reminds me of long ago. About you... in the Pack... Black Moon... the poison” I stopped and strengthened myself. I also hope that my words do not make her feel bad. Her past is a terrible one.“Go on, Landon” she kept a straight face. “You were sick for a very long time. It hurt me back then. I knew that you were dying slowly and it hurt to know that I could do nothing. All I could think of was to get you that medicine. I knew that it will not cure you, but I was sure that it will extend your time... on earth, and that alone gave me an immeasurable joy” I stopped. “Yes, Landon, even then you owe me nothing,” she said. “You have the kindest of hearts, my queen. Only a fool will not recognize that. And even now I believe that it is your pure heart that is still keeping our Chamlee alive. How else does one explain this great feat? And it hurt me even more to see you dwell in this magnitude of sorrow” I replied. She sighed and looked away. “It is all going to end today, Landon” she looked at me and smiled briefly. “W...what... my queen?” I stammered. “The witch will be here today and the pains of my Chamlee will be completely taken away” she revealed with an air of victory. “You... you are still...” I paused. “Pardon me, my queen” “Speak, Landon, I am in a good mood today” she instructed. “I am sorry, my queen, I actually thought that you have given up the idea of the witch,” I said. She giggled before speaking. “My Chamlee will live and that is all that matters” “My queen, about my research...” I paused and when she did not react, I continued. “You can ask for Nana. Who knows, she can be of help to us now” “You were there, Landon. You saw that Nana bequeathed all her powers to me. She gave me the stone amulet in your presence” she responded. “I know, my queen. But you... we can ask for her guidance” I said. “I am not about to gamble with my Chamlee’s life. It is unexplainable luck that my Chamlee is still alive till this time, there is no time to waste” she replied. I saw this as an opportunity to make my point so I grabbed it. “My research, my queen, the life of the Chamlee... it is so much similar to the case of your son, Lalic,” I said. She looked at me, and then to the sky. “I see I have not officially made Lalic a prince yet” “My luna... what...?” I was bewildered. What does making Lalic a prince have to do with what I am talking about? “Just anyone could experiment with Lalic because he is not a prince. By the time I announce him as my prince, no one would dare to study him” she replied, her gaze expressionless. “I... I am... so so...” I was still trying to apologize when a voice said behind me. “It was my decision mother...” SCARLET’S POV Yes, that is the situation. If Lalic is already a prince then no one would dare to mention his name in this circumstance. No one would ever dare to use him as bait for whatever reason. Now I have to do the right thing immediately. Once Chamlee is healed today, tomorrow I will announce Lalic as our prince and hold an occasion in his honour. However, I will forgive Landon this last time, next time he tries something like this, I am not sure how I will treat him. “It was my decision, mother...” I heard Lalic’s voice. “You... Lalic” I said. When did he arrive here? For how long has he been here and how much has he heard? I cannot believe this. Even Lalic is ready to sacrifice himself for my Chamlee. But he is just so little and knows nothing about this cruel world. I will not forgive Landon for this, I will not forgive him for exposing my son to such cruelness. “Yes, mother, I was the one that went to uncle Landon for this. I cannot stand by and watch father go through such torment” Lalic replied. “Come over here, my son” I cried. He walked up to me and I squatted to embrace him. “It is me, mother, and not uncle Landon. No one needs to tell me what is going on, I am not a child anymore, I care for my father too and I will do whatever it takes to save him” he said in my embrace. “Stop talking nonsense, Lalic. Nothing will happen to your father. See he will be saved today, everything will be over today. See, mother has got this under control” I said. “The witch? You are still going on with the witch?” Lalic asked in tears. “There is so much that you don’t know, Lalic. Everything is not as they seem” I said. “But why not give me a chance?” he wailed in anger.“See you have to go now, Lalic, and I don’t want to hear you talk about this again. You are our son and your father and I will do everything to protect you” I consoled him. “But mother I can...” he tried to put up some protest. “Stop it right now, Lalic. Now go in and wait in your room until I come for you, okay. You must be a good boy because that is what your father wants. See tomorrow I will announce you as our prince and then no one would dare to make any demands of you. Go in right now” I urged. “Alright, mother. I do hope none of us is making any mistake” he said and wiped my tears with his hands. “No, son. It will be alright before you know it” I replied. He forced out a smile and then walked away. I got up and turned to Landon. He was reckless and couldn’t look me in the eyes. “I am sorry, my queen, I have to leave now” he bowed and quickly walked away. I know he meant well, I know they all mean well but anyway, it will be over soon.