Chapter. Thirty_four.

When Jona arrives at his men’s camp, the news he receives crushes the flicker of hope he had carried. The person they believed to be Madin was not him.

Fury burns in his chest, and he punishes his men harshly for their mistake, venting all his frustration.

"I cannot do this anymore!" he roars, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions. "I’m tired of this endless chase! Let it be! Maybe I was just never meant to have this throne after all! Maybe my brother truly belongs there!"

He paces in frustration, muttering to himself, "So what if Father doesn’t trust me? That’s his problem. I believe in myself. I’ll make myself proud by taking responsibility for something else, something meaningful. Maybe then he’ll see that I’m not worthless!"

Mounting his horse, Jona takes a deep, steadying breath. He has made up his mind. The past three years of schemes and failures have drained him, and he refuses to continue down this path of destruction.

As his horse trots back toward the palace, Jona rehearses in his mind how he will confront Catherina.

He imagines telling her it’s over, that she can no longer manipulate him. He even resolves to let his family deal with her as they see fit, refusing to interfere if they decide to expel her from the palace.

But as he reaches the palace gates, something feels off. The guards open the gates for him, and the air is thick with grief.

From the main mansion, cries echo—a sound like wailing mixed with moaning, permeating the night.

The guards, though stoic, have tears streaming down their faces, barely concealed by the cloth coverings over their mouths.

Jona's heart pounds violently in his chest, a deep, unshakable fear gripping him. "What is happening? What’s going on?" he demands, his voice trembling.

The guards remain silent, their somber expressions refusing to meet his gaze.

Dismounting, Jona rushes toward the mansion. His legs feel weak, but adrenaline pushes him forward.

Inside, the scene is chaos. Servants and attendants fill the halls, their faces wet with tears, their sobs unrestrained. Yet none of his family members are in sight.

The sound of louder cries draws him toward his father’s chambers. With each step, dread coils tighter around his chest. His legs threaten to give way, but he forces them to carry him forward.

Reaching the doorway, Jona freezes. His father lies motionless on the grand bed, his family members surrounding him. They shake him desperately, calling his name through their sobs.

Jona stumbles backward, barely able to speak. "Wha... what is...?" The words die in his throat. His mother rushes to his side, catching him as his knees buckle.

Something snaps in Jona’s mind, a fiery determination overtaking his grief. He straightens, wiping the tears streaming down his face. His voice rises, sharp and accusing. "Where is she?!"

Everyone in the room turns to him, confused. "Who are you talking about?" someone asks.

Jona’s eyes scan the room until they land on Catherina, standing in the corner. His anger boils over as he shrugs off his mother’s grasp and storms toward her.

Grabbing her by the arms, he slams her against the wall. "You killed him!" he screams, his voice raw with fury. "This was your plan all along, wasn’t it?! Is this what you meant when you said you’d 'deal' with my father?!"

Catherina’s eyes widen in terror. "No! No! I didn’t kill the former king! I would never—"

The fact is that The former king, Elias , was sick , sick with a disease that has been eating him down slowly day by day.

Sick with the disease that neither of them knew about, not even the king himself.

But lately the disease accelerated, killing him abruptly.

The disease was like a quiet poison in his body. And when the palace doctor was called to examine the course of his death, he said it was poison.

"Shut your stupid lying mouth!" Jona cuts her off, his voice booming. "Everything you say is a lie! You lied about Madin, and you’re lying now! You killed my father to get him out of the way for that plan!"

The commotion draws everyone’s attention. Several people pull Jona away from her as he struggles violently.

"I didn’t do it!" Catherina cries, her voice breaking as tears stream down her face. "I swear, I didn’t kill him!"

But Jona is beyond reason. "You killed him to further your schemes! Admit it! You’ve been lying and manipulating from the start!"

The room falls silent except for the sound of muffled sobs. All eyes are on Jona and Catherina, confusion and suspicion spreading among the family and attendants.

Arthur rises from beside their father’s lifeless body, his voice hoarse and laced with quiet menace. "Brother, what are you talking about?" he asks, stepping toward them.

Jona glares at Catherina. "She killed him! She said she’d deal with Father, but I never imagined this was her plan! You killed him, and I swear I’ll kill you for it, you vile woman!"

Arthur’s face darkens, his anger palpable. "Enough!" he thunders. He turns to Catherina, his gaze piercing.

"I didn’t—" Catherina begins, but the fury on Arthur’s face silences her.

Arthur fights to maintain control over his rage, his head pounding with the effort. "Save your breath," he growls. "I hope by now you know that I’ll never believe a word you say. Wether it's true or your usual lies"

He turns back to Jona, his voice cold. "Explain yourself. I want to hear everything—every word...

But perhaps we shouldn’t rely on her alone. I have no doubt she’s the mastermind behind this."

Arthur’s accusing gaze locks onto Catherina, the weight of his distrust evident in every line of his face.