The Crown's Entrapment

Gilas was utterly surprised by how things unfolded right before his eyes. He saw the vision playing out in the middle of the arena, and he was speechless upon watching each and every crime that Nasser had committed. Through the vision, he also got a glimpse of his real father, and he honestly had mixed emotions about everything…

Yes, he was confused as to why Nasser would even keep him as his son despite knowing that he wasn't his. He would've asked him about it, but he didn't bother asking him or even confront him about it during the last time they met. For what did he have to do so?

Should he be grateful that Nasser had spared his life? Would it be a way for him to atone for somehow killing his father? No… He didn't want to let the man get into his head for even a second longer. After all, despite Nasser having raised and fed him, those deeds wouldn't erase the fact that the man simply raised him to be a puppet for his own benefits and goals.

Gilas stared blankly at Nasser's decapitated body as it was being dragged out of the arena. There were no feelings to be had. Only vindication… Still, he knew his mother must've felt otherwise.

Quickly running to his mother, Gilas called out to her as soon as he arrived. "Mother…"

Sobbing, Lady Shila was being comforted by Clara as the two of them sat beside one another. She looked up at him and weakly murmured, "He knows that you're not his real son…"

Clara let Lady Shila go and gave him a nod. From, there, Gilas took over as he pulled his mother in to give her a tight hug, gently stroking her back in a soothing manner.

"Son… I don't even know why I'm crying like this. Seeing Nasser getting killed like that broke my heart somehow," Shila sobbed. "I know I shouldn't feel like this, seeing as justice was being served, but I can help it still. Even though he killed your father…"

"You've been living with him through all these years, Mother. It's only natural for you to feel this way for him…" Gilas uttered. "He has been manipulating you for years, Mother, making you depend on him for everything."

"Yes, you're right. And all these years, I thought I hated him for it," Shila sighed. "I guess somehow, I still feel pity for him… The way he turned out like this… I suppose that is why my heart is broken. I was unable to help him become a good person…"

"It's not your fault, Mother. Don't even think that his actions are all your fault," Gilas firmly insisted, knowing about his mother's sentiments. "He chose to be that way till the end. He could've always chosen to be a good person the moment he had you under his palm, but he didn't. He committed all of those mistakes because of his own greed for more power. That's just who he was, and it's only right that he received the punishment he deserves."

There was a moment of silence between mother and son as Gilas continued to comfort his mother. Even as the crowd roared in the background, they sounded quiet in comparison to his mother's faint cries.

"I'll be alright, Son. You can leave me here with Clara," his mother suddenly uttered, gently pushing him back with a reassuring smile and a nod. "You can go back to your post now…"

At her mother's words, Gilas looked at Clara, his mate simply smiling at him as she added, "Go. I'll stay with Mother."

He let out a long sigh before he turned around and left the two important women in his life. He couldn't help but feel overwhelmed so deep in his heart upon hearing Clara calling his mother, 'Mother.' Surely they were indeed a couple now if she chose to acknowledge that fact.

Another deep sigh escaped out of Gilas's chest as he walked. He could only hope that Clara could learn to like him somehow. Even if she didn't love him, that would be enough for him to survive.

[Try being more greedy, will you? Think like our mate will actually learn to LOVE you, not just like you] Ham retorted. [You're so hopeless!]

Gilas bit his inner cheek. He couldn't debate against his wolf's remark, seeing his words did make a lot of sense. He could always hope that she would learn to love him, going beyond liking him and tolerating his presence.

With a light heart, Gilas had a spring in his step as he made his way back to his post. Along the way, he passed by Lady Jayra, and he promptly stopped just to thank the mage for her efforts.

"Thank you so much for all of your help, Lady Jayra," he gratefully said with a curt bow.

"Oh, it's nothing," the young mage smiled with a wave of her hand. "We're all just fortunate enough that all went well with the right timings."

Gilas smiled at her reply, perhaps there was some truth to her words. He was about to leave when he suddenly recalled Clara shivering from the cold last night.

Worried, he inquired, "Lady Jayra, I would like to inquire about Lady Clara's health. I believe you've fully healed her, but last night she was shivering so hard that I could only assume it was an after-effect of the poison." He took a deep breath before he added, "I'm still worried about her. So, if possible, can you please look at her once more?"

Instead of the expected reaction, the young mage suddenly giggled, making him frown in suspicion.

"Oh, please… I'm sorry. Don't take my reaction poorly," Jayra quickly excused herself with an amused yet meaningful smile. "It's just that… Hmmm, how should I say this…"

"Alright, so it's like this: I cured Lady Clara and removed the poison, but not completely…" she explained. "You see, I sort of left some remnants of the poison that I knew her own immunity can heal by itself completely. That's why she experienced those chills that night. That will last for around ten days as well, so you should have more than enough time by then to keep her warm."

Gilas blinked at Jayra in disbelief. He was totally confused.

Jayra held a mischievous smile as patted his shoulder. "You can take this as a simple gift coming from me, Lord Gilas. I believe you deserve this. You've been working hard lately in siding with the good guys and doing what is just instead of remaining as Nasser's puppet," she sincerely stated. "You trusted and believed in us, so this is the least I can do for you."

Gilas's mouth parted, but no words came out.

Jayra chuckled at him and said, "Well, you see, I have this habit of playing cupid. Still, if you're uncomfortable about this and would like me to completely remove the poison, then just tell me. But then, that will cost a considerable amount of my mana." She then playfully asked, "So, would you like me to remove the remnants of the poison in Lady Clara's body, Lord Gilas?"