Raelis was speechless, simply staring at his mother as she confidently drank tea out of her cup.
"And yes, I noticed all her advances. She had been trying to get closer to me since the first time I met her all those years ago. She's someone who sucks up to those in power," Sophia said. "So we just need to be more powerful than the people she's being bribed by. Simple, right?"
"Unbelievable..." Raelis sighed. "I'm sorry for doubting you, Mom."
His mother smiled. "I'm not saying you should change because I love you as you are, but I believe you need to be more strategic. Power is great, but having intelligence is even greater."
She put aside her cup and picked up a butter knife, aiming it toward him. "Imagine this: you knew me ever since I was born, and then I suddenly betrayed you. You would never expect something like that to ever happen, yes?"
With a smile, she played around with the butter knife in between her fingers, then stuck it into a piece of warm bread.
