Free Web NovelChapter 542: Chapter 542
That night, they ate dinner together in his chambers just like they used to do when they lived in Amris.
Circe waited patiently until the servants took their leave before speaking. The words were meant for Ragnar alone and she didn’t want anyone else hearing.
"I need to speak to you about Avarine Caelorth. I summoned her today. I wanted certain things addressed directly." She said. " Safe to say that the conversation did not go well."
He sat across from her, his attention fixed solely on her as he listened to everything she had to say. "What happened?"
"She denied everything at first. Then when she couldn’t deny it anymore, she made some particularly nasty statements. I just wanted you to know I handled the situation."
Not well enough, he thought. If the matter had truly been handled, Avarine would never have dared corner him in the garden the way she did.
He was quiet for a moment before deciding that it was best to tell her about what happened earlier.
"She came to me as well," he said finally. "Today. In the gardens. At some point in the years I have known her, she deluded herself into thinking I would reciprocate the feelings she has for me. That’s why she spread those rumors, to get back at you for being with me. I can’t trust that she won’t try again after this or do something worse to you."
"She is not going to stop on her own," Circe said. She knew this for certain from the look she saw in Avarine’s eye that afternoon.
"No." Ragnar affirmed. His posture was rigid, shoulders stiff as he thought back to his encounter with her in the garden. "She is not."
"She has to be dealt with but we cannot make a spectacle of it. Not now at least. Any public action becomes another thing for the nobles to gossip about and I don’t want to do anything that would further fuel those vile rumours." She was getting more worked up with every word she spoke so she paused and took a deep breath. "I just want them to stop speaking about our child. I can endure whatever they choose to say about me, but I do not know what I will do the next time I hear someone cruelly speaking ill of our innocent child for their own amusement."
"I know." He turned back toward her. "I am not interested in making a spectacle either. I just want to get her far away from you as soon as possible. I will send her to the other side of the kingdom if I have to and frame it as a family matter requiring her personal attention. We will not explain further than that. I will make sure she can never return to the palace or get anywhere near you."
Circe considered this. They could have imposed a far harsher punishment for what she had done, and no one would have questioned that she deserved it, but if they wished to put the matter to rest as quickly as possible, this was their best course of action.
"There are people who will still suspect something if she just suddenly disappears," Circe said.
"Yes, and they are free to draw whatever conclusion they want. That is none of our concern. All that matters is that she will not come near you again. I swear it. If she tries anything further before or after she leaves, I will not hesitate to take action against her."
Circe didn’t doubt he would.
"I also want more guards on you for the meantime," he said. "It will make me rest easier knowing that you have people with you at all times."
She did not argue it. "Alright." And she could tell that her response pleased him greatly.
The following morning, Avarine stood beside her mother inside the king’s private study with her hands clasped tightly before her.
It was a room that had belonged to Ragnar’s late father but now, as he stared pointedly at the two women in front of him, the space felt suffocating.
Sunlight spilled into the room through the tall windows while several royal guards remained stationed just outside the doors.
Ragnar stood behind the large ornate wooden desk that had once belonged to his father and now belonged to him, his shrewd gaze moving between mother and daughter.
He had not asked them to sit. That alone told Lady Taryn how poorly this meeting would go.
Avarine herself remained unnervingly calm despite knowing how badly this could turn out for her. When Ragnar’s gaze settled on her briefly, it was cold and detached.
It sent something uneasy twisting through her stomach but she didn’t let her worry show outwardly.
"Do you understand why you are here?" Ragnar asked.
Lady Taryn lowered her head first. "Yes, your Majesty. We were briefly informed by the messenger you sent to our home."
"So you are aware that your daughter here has been spreading rumors regarding the queen’s fidelity," Ragnar said flatly. "She questioned the legitimacy of my unborn child. She undermined the crown itself through deliberate slander." His eyes shifted toward Avarine again. "And yesterday, she approached me privately and behaved in a manner entirely inappropriate toward me."
Lady Taryn visibly paled.
Slowly, she turned toward her daughter in disbelief. "Avarine..."
Avarine stared ahead silently, showing not even the slightest hint of remorse for what she had done.
"You will leave the capital immediately," he continued, speaking directly to Avarine. "Henceforth, you are forbidden from entering the palace again and you will not return to the capital for as long as I remain king."
Lady Taryn inhaled sharply. "Your Majesty, please—"
"You should consider yourself fortunate that this matter remained private. It is more grace than you deserve."
Lady Taryn stepped forward quickly then as a look of desperation bled into her expression. freewēbnoveℓ.com
"We have all done things we regretted before," she said hurriedly. "No one is above mistakes, not even you, Your Majesty. My daughter is young and foolish and though her actions were deeply out of line, she does not deserve such harsh punishment."
Ragnar remained unmoved.
"You and I have been close allies for years," Lady Taryn continued desperately. "Since before my husband passed. I treated you as I would my own son. Please consider our friendship. This is not merely punishment. You are separating a mother from her child."
"There is nothing stopping you from accompanying her," he replied calmly.
Lady Taryn fell quiet immediately.
Ragnar stepped away from his desk.
"I respect you, Lady Taryn," he said. "And I do value the years of friendship we shared. But can you honestly look me in the eyes and tell me your daughter would never attempt something like this again if I allowed her to remain here?"
Lady Taryn opened her mouth but nothing came out.
Ragnar didn’t wait for her to come up with a response.
"Would you stake her life on that reassurance?" he asked. "Because that is what will happen if she ever threatens my wife or child again. I will bring her before the court and I will punish her more appropriately."
For the first time since entering the study, something uncertain flickered across Avarine’s face.
Ragnar’s eyes found hers.
"Circe is my family," he said. "No matter what, I will protect my family."
Lady Taryn looked devastated because she knew that there was very little she could do to change his mind now.
Ragnar was already showing mercy. Had anyone else spread rumors severe enough to question the legitimacy of a royal heir, imprisonment would have been the mildest possible outcome.
"You know what it was like for me growing up," Ragnar told Taryn after a moment. "You saw how nobles treated me because of circumstances beyond my control. My child will never endure that."
Lady Taryn’s eyes lowered. She looked defeated and thoroughly chastised.
"Avarine acted without my guidance," she admitted weakly. "I warned her repeatedly not to allow her emotions to cloud her reasoning."
Ragnar said nothing to that because there was nothing left to say.
Lady Taryn finally bowed her head deeply.
"We understand and will accept your judgement, Your Majesty." freёweɓnovel.com
Only Avarine remained silent. But even now, standing disgraced before the king himself, there was still no guilt on her face.
Only bitterness because till now, she still believed that she was the one that had been wronged.
It only confirmed to Ragnar that he had made the correct decision.
"Leave the capital before sunset tomorrow," he ordered finally.
The meeting ended shortly afterward.
Lady Taryn departed looking exhausted and deeply ashamed while Avarine followed stiffly beside her.
Neither woman looked back as the doors closed behind them.
