Chapter 288
"I told you to speak to me before you did anything to Killian or Amelia. Now the castle is filled with dead men. Their blood scattered all over the walls. What would convince you to attack Killian when there is light out? For the servants to see that it was us who made the first attack? Tell me, Fraser!" Beth yelled, frustrated by how Fraser refused to listen.
Fraser stared into his mirror at the crown on his head. He was the king so he could do as he wanted. He saw a chance for him to get rid of Killian and he took it. "They were supposed to be the best men who could kill Killian. They’ve killed men from the north before."
"The man has seen war many times, Fraser. Have you not heard the tales that come down from the mountain to us? He is not like the other northerners our side has killed. That is why he still stands today. It required careful planning to kill him. He sits at our table for food. We could have poisoned him to make him weak. You attacked without any sort of plans and now we must fear what he will do in retaliation of your actions," Beth explained.
"I will place one of the men in the court as the one behind what happened. They will only need to be imprisoned while Killian is here-"
"And what if he demands that this person be killed? What will you do then?" Beth pressed further, folding her arms. Fraser thought the first thing that come to his mind would always work. He had to consider other options. "If you were not my son, I would have hoped for there to be a different king."
"I’ve been waiting for you to say that since the crown was put on my head. You were like that with uncle, weren’t you? The only difference was that you wanted him dead so you would be considered for the throne. It must have upset you when he married Anne and worried you when she became pregnant. You must have prayed that he never have an heir-"
"Fraser," Beth said in a warning tone.
"Are we not telling each other the truth now? My uncle could not keep women out of his bed so you knew eventually he might have a prince, but if there was a chance he didn’t, Amelia would never be queen so you put your dreams in me. Did you love me because I am your child or because I was your way of getting the throne? For you to rule behind me?" Fraser asked, wanting a genuine answer from his mother.
"I love you because you are my son. How could I not love you when I brought you into this world? I hate the king that you are. I have been preparing you for this very moment-"
"You were preparing me to be a king who would sit back and let you rule behind me. You did not consider how much I would love the throne and the power that comes with it. No one will rule through me. Not Margaret and not you. I allowed you to be my right hand so you can feel as though you were queen and offer me advice when I need it. I don’t need your advice now. Watch how I rule," Fraser said, fixing his crown on his head and then leaving the mirror to find better clothes for him to dress like the grand king he was.
"This is how she must have felt," Beth muttered, referring to Margaret. To have a son who did things his way, and you could feel his death was near, but there was nothing you could do.
"I have already taken care of that woman. It turned out that there was no need for me to ever worry about her. She was deceiving us into thinking she was pregnant. When I am finished with Killian, I will have that whore hung up beside him for the kingdom to see what a liar she was. There is no one to rival my position as the king- You!" Fraser froze when his mother was suddenly by his side, holding his hands.