"Let's return to internal problems." Opal smiled brightly, as though she didn't just kill three of her most loyal subordinates. "Palari wasn't spoiled, she grew up in hardship, but she never suffered. She was willful at times but wasn't as bad as she is now. Do I know why she turned out this way? No. Do I care? No. I brought her up the same way I brought up Lion and Lia but maybe I should've let you suffer. Otherwise, you wouldn't be like this now. Kai and Jailin grew up under the same roof as Heri and yet she turned out just like her sister and aunt."
Bira brought over a basin of water and Opal washed her hands. "I can't say I have a bad affinity with daughters because my granddaughters grew up by my side and aren't like them. It's not a bad gene from me since Palari isn't mine." Opal sighed and dried her hands.
"I sacrificed a lot. It was my fault for having so many children but not keeping them by my side. However, I made sure they were taken care of. Those two concubines didn't appear out of thin air, otherwise what concubine would enter a Prince's mansion and take care of his children without scheming to get her own? I appeared and watched in the shadows. I made sure I had the latest news regarding each and every one. I wasn't present in the way you wanted but in the way you needed." Opal sat back down.
"If I appeared earlier without a stable foundation, without enough people, without fully understanding everything and without planning for your futures, all of you and I, would be long dead." Dasa appeared next to her with a cup of water. Opal took the cup and drank it. "You didn't know he was your father by blood, but I wouldn't have told him to take you to the Palace that day if I didn't trust that he would desperately protect you if something happened to me." Opal continued.
"Otherwise, Bira and Kana would've taken you somewhere else." She sighed. "I've done enough talking. It's time for punishments." Opal stood up. "Palari will be whipped a hundred times and have her tendons cut. Kaelia will be whipped seventy- five times and will kneel in the garden for two days. Heri will receive the same punishment as Kaelia."
Opal looked Kasian. "You were personally carrying out these punishments and see them through. After you've done that then I'll deal with you. I don't have the energy for you right now." Opal turned to leave and stopped.
"Oh right." She looked at her parents. "Mother and father. Your grandsons, their wives and children." Everyone turned and bowed to Malari and Railin. "Come by in a few days when the twins' conditions have completely stabilized. We'll have time for you to know them personally." Opal bowed to them deeply.
"How I'm handling things isn't a disrespect to you. I hope you understand that." She said softly before turning and leaving the hall. Her children and grandchildren followed behind her quickly.
"How didn't you recognize them, Bira?" Kai asked. "After master gave birth to you, she took the eldest young master from my care and placed him in someone else's. Whenever she went to visit them, she travelled alone and I never saw him again. After so many years, it's natural I didn't recognize him." Kai nodded.
"That was a lot." Lyria mumbled. "Be thankful you didn't dig yourself deeper this time around. Although Master didn't like the way you behaved five years ago, you didn't do things that needed this level of punishment. You're only getting off because you're pregnant. Once you give birth, you have punishment to look forward to." Kana told her.
"When King Railin and Queen Malari go to visit in a few days, you will go with them and formally meet your brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews." Bira spoke to Kai, Lion and Jailin. "You might stay for a few days, but the mansion is big enough for you to have your own courtyards. Master no longer likes the morning greetings. She normally spends morning with her daughters-in law, so unless allowed, don't go her courtyard." The three nodded.
"We shall take out leave now." Kana and Bira bowed and left the hall. Kasian looked to his personal servant. "Brings bowls of water. I think everyone wants reassurance." The servant nodded and returned quickly.
Minutes later, it was confirmed. Kasian was their father by blood.
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"Wasn't their death a bit too fast?" Gena asked Varin softly. "For us, probably. For mother, I don't know. She rarely spoke about what happened before. Now things are out in the open, I don't know what changes will happen." Gena nodded.
"How do you feel?" Sena asked Sera. "I'm scared. This happened because we were attacked. On one hand, it's the sister and daughter she raised by her side for years. On the other hand, it's us. What if Grandmother is taking it this far because she's trying to make it up to Father and Uncle? To us?" Sera grabbed her sister's arm tightly.
"If you want Grandmother to stop now, then I think she will do it because we want it to happen but only if you really forgive them and not thinking on her behalf. They lied, poisoned and attacked us while we did nothing wrong. This wasn't ignorance. It was intentional." Sena patted her hand gently as she spoke.
"Well said." The two turned to see Opal standing behind them. They moved to stand. "Grandmother." Opal motioned for them to remain sitting and sat down opposite them.
She stared out at the falling snow. "I had to put my emotions last when I left my parents. I knew that power and a title was what was necessary to survive on this Continent. Especially since wars were ever occurring. Feri was silent, Lino was ruthless, Heln was the richest, Ojun stayed put, Yalki was lustful, Regila was unforgivable and Palk was powerful. Only two things stayed the same over the years."
She looked at them. "Feri remains silent and closed off while Palk remains powerful. Why do you think that is?" Sera shook her head. "Those two contain a lifeline." Sena answered. "Grain and seafood." Opal nodded.
"So, I needed a different lifeline. The most dangerous type to grasp which was intelligence. It was rough, I nearly consumed myself while doing it, but I knew that needed to work. I needed to control this to control how I wanted to live. I had no time for my children, let alone men. That man is your grandfather because it was familiar and I relaxed." The twins chuckled and Opal smiled.
"Although I said I have some regrets, I thought it over some more and realized that I didn't have any. I always paid more attention to your father and uncle's situation because as much as they behaved as though it was normal to have their mother away, I would always hear them asking about when I'd come back or looking at the things I gave them or looking at my portraits they drew. Of all of my children, they were safest because there was no tangible attachment to me."
Sera reached across the table and grabbed her grandmother's hand. "Grandmother. If things didn't go as planned, what would you have done?" Opal smiled softly. "If things didn't go as planned, I would be dead. Your father and uncle would stay in Ojun with a large amount of money and other connections I created, they would still meet your mother and aunt. They would still be brilliant."
"What about the others?" Sena asked. "Kai would still grow up without a mother but under care, he would be strong. Jailin would go into business; he's had the mind for it from a young age. Heri would fight her way into being a highly respected martial artist, whether she would succeed or not, I'm not sure. The twins would go to their father's side. Lion would assist Kai and Lia would become a highly talented young lady. Your father and Uncle wouldn't return or recognize their father."
"Why not? Didn't father and uncle already know?" Opal nodded. "They knew. I often took them secretly to see him from afar. They weren't impressed. The real reason as to why, I'd never know. I've told them the truth and they've investigated for themselves. I'd never force them to make that decision. They will change their own minds, I will not." Sena nodded.
"Will you return to his side?" Sera asked. "I was never at his side. We were married for a night. If anyone had to return, I'd say it was him." Opal answered truthfully. "Was saving him a part of the plan?" Opal nodded. "It was. Kai was too young to take over as King. Your uncles didn't want the throne either, so he needed to take over. He also needed to be alive."
"Why not take over for yourself?" Opal chuckled. "If I wanted to take over as Queen to a Kingdom, it would only ever be Palk." Opal stood up. "This talk deviated far from what I wanted to say, so I'll keep this short. I had to put my emotions aside for my parents and my sister then for my children, but I've passed the point where that needs to occur. My actions aren't out of guilt for your father and uncle. This is the only way, I can show how much I care and love you. All of you." Opal turned and left them.
"You two really thought your grandmother didn't know we were here?" Rain and Kain stepped out of the shadows. "She knew or she wouldn't have deviated."