Chapter 637 Slavishly Dependent
Mike got up and dusted off the grass from his clothes. "Stuart's doing much better now. When my daughter was younger, she used to stumble a lot while learning to walk. Every time she cried, Stuart cried even louder than her. Eventually, I guess my daughter got used to it and stopped crying."
Charlotte found this story quite intriguing.
She even burst out laughing.
The current tension within the royal family was palpable.
It all started with Simon's actions, and Fiona retaliated in kind.
Who would have thought that Simon would be called back home by the royal family, only to end up dead right under their noses?
And it wasn't just any death; it was the kind that made headlines worldwide.
While collaborations between the royal family, the Solomon family, and the Rhoads family were common, they were relatively insignificant.
But when the Walker family from North Alabama joined in, things took a different turn.
The collaboration between the royal family and the Walkers was extensive.
If they were to sever ties over Simon's death, how would they continue collaborating in the future?
Thalassa from the Walker family even put a bounty of30 million dollars on Simon, making her a prime target.
Her message was crystal clear.
Simon's mother, holding her son's headless body, wept until her eyes were swollen.
She was the Queen's cousin.
Simon's mother knelt before the Queen. "Your Majesty, the Rhoads family's daughter has brought great shame upon our royal family, leading to Simon's death. We cannot let this pass!"
The Queen, with a stern expression, sat on her throne. "Do you think the entrepreneurs of Armie are the same as they were forty years ago?"
Forty years ago, they had to collaborate with the royal family without any significant gains. But now, Armie's people had advanced technology and elite teams of their own.
They didn't need the royal family anymore; if anything, it was the other way around.
"So, are we just going to let Simon die like this? Without his body?" Simon's mother was incredulous. "He even called your mother, you know!"
"I've spoken to Janna to persuade her granddaughter to return Simon's head. But you know how stubborn she can be. She's furious about her great-grandson and son-in-law being threatened. She won't budge, not even for me!" the Queen replied, her voice firm.
The Queen was born into royalty, a life filled with honor and prestige. Yet, she had to bend for Simon.
The mere thought of it furrowed her brows deeply.
"But it was my son who was killed in the end! Why is Janna so furious?" Simon's mother exclaimed.
Janna had even put an additional $50 million bounty on Simon's head!
"After all, it was Simon's actions that set this whole thing in motion. He provoked them, and it was his own people who killed him. He brought this upon himself!" the Queen's patience was wearing thin. "Do you really expect me to jeopardize the monarchy for him? Did Simon ever consider the monarchy's interests before? He's not worth sacrificing the monarchy for."
"Your Majesty!" Simon's mother wailed.
"That's enough. I can promise to do my best to retrieve Simon's head. Please refrain from further discussion," the Queen warned, her eyes piercing. "Let this serve as a lesson. If you seek revenge, go after those who killed Simon, but do not provoke those families again."
Simon's mother glared at the Queen with resentment.
Seeing this, the Queen continued, "Should you provoke them again, the monarchy will publicly cut all ties with your family, including Leo, of course."
Leo, Simon's brother, held a prominent position within the monarchy.
Simon's mother was stunned into silence.
With a heavy heart, she bowed and said, "Your Majesty, both Leo and I will always prioritize the monarchy's interests. I beg you to help me retrieve Simon's head as soon as possible."
"Very well." the Queen nodded.
As Simon's mother left the grand hall, she vowed not to let Simon's killer go unpunished.
Nor would she spare the one behind her.
Two days later, Simon's head was reattached to his body, but it came at a hefty price of two hundred thousand pounds.
Simon's funeral was a somber affair, much like Hathaway's.
He wasn't allowed to be buried in the royal mausoleum.
Meanwhile, the monarchy, alongside hired individuals, continued their search for Simon's killer.
Little did they know, the killer herself was working as a tutor.
If all went according to plan, Charlotte would be starting primary school the following spring.
In addition to her studies, Charlotte engaged in another thrilling activity such as sparring with the bodyguards.
She didn't target the ones she could easily defeat, focusing instead on Xavier and Mike.
Though they couldn't match Christopher, they were more than capable of handling Charlotte.
But they didn't mind; they even encouraged her.
After each match, they would offer words of encouragement, "You're young and talented. Eat well and grow taller, so when you're grown, we won't stand a chance against you!"
Charlotte loved hearing these words. Afterward, she would retreat to her room and continue her studies.
However, she hadn't sparred with Stuart again since their first encounter.
Part of it was because she knew there was a vast skill gap between them. The other part was Stuart's tears that day, which left a deep impression on Charlotte.
She was a little intimidated by Stuart.
Emerald Pool was vast, and Charlotte, having spent so long on the run, wasn't accustomed to venturing beyond her territory.
So, she stayed within the confines of her living area each day.
Late at night, when everyone else was asleep, Charlotte would sneak out to tend to the small vegetable garden and orchard.
As a result, she hadn't seen Fiona, Darwin, or their rumored genius children in over two weeks.
Christmas break arrived swiftly.
The busy and elegant woman suddenly called for Charlotte.
"How are you adjusting to everything here?" Fiona asked with a smile, removing her gold-rimmed glasses when she saw Charlotte.
Charlotte nodded, replying, "The food here is delicious. I've gained three pounds, and my father is quite pleased."
Fiona noticed the significant change in Charlotte.
Most notably, the air of danger around her had dissipated.
She now seemed like any other child.
"You've also grown a bit taller," Fiona observed.
Charlotte felt a sense of pride at Fiona's praise.
"Your teachers say you're learning quickly and acing all your tests. They've evaluated your progress and believe you're ready for third grade," Fiona informed her.
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