In Kingdom of power { Palace courtyard }
Commander Miyamoto and his soldiers had surrounded Kan-ki and his men, leaving them with no way out.
Kan-ki thought,
I think it's time to surrender.
After seeing Miyamoto and his army surround them, Kan-ki's soldiers also dropped their swords.
Ashoka said,
"Kan-ki. Your soldiers have already dropped their swords. There is no meaning in fighting now. You and Tangen have already lost. Drop your sword and surrender."
Kan-ki also thought that surrender was the last option, but then suddenly Tangen said,
"Kan-ki, did you forget about your daughter already? If you help me run from here, I can still save her."
Kan-ki remembered his daughter's smile and said,
"Even if I have to sacrifice myself, I will still save my daughter."
Kan-ki tightened his grip on his sword and attacked Ashoka.
Ashoka stood still without any fear.
Kan-ki's sword almost touched Ashoka, but suddenly Miyamoto stopped Kan-ki's sword with his katana and kicked Kan-ki away.
"Kan-ki, did you forget? I am here to protect my King."
Kan-ki said in a frustrated voice,
"Old man... I already know which side will win this battle, but I have my reasons. So don't come in my way."
Then Kan-ki tried to attack Miyamoto as well, but at that moment Luna shot two arrows into Kan-ki's legs and one arrow into Kan-ki's hand.
Because of that, Kan-ki dropped his sword and fell to his knees. He tried to stand, but Miyamoto's soldiers captured Kan-ki at that moment, tied both of his hands with ropes, and restrained him.
Ashoka said,
"Thanks, Luna and Miyamoto, for protecting me."
Miyamoto replied,
"This is my duty, my King, and I am very sorry that I couldn't come here in time to protect you."
Luna asked Ashoka,
"Now what will happen to Kan-ki and Tangen?"
Ashoka replied,
"We will discuss this matter in the royal court. But first..."
Then Ashoka pointed his sword at Tangen and said,
"I already said this one time. Tangen, drop your weapon and surrender. Now you can't escape from this courtyard."
Tangen said with a creepy smile,
"You are right. I can't kill you, but I can still kill that bitch... because... because of that bitch... my mother died."
Luna asked Ashoka,
"What is he trying to say?"
Ashoka understood what Tangen meant and ordered Luna and some other soldiers to find Queen Victoria, Ashoka's mother.
Luna and the soldiers went in search of the Queen.
Tangen dropped his sword and sat on the ground.
"You can't find her in time."
The soldiers tied Tangen's hands and captured him.
Ashoka pointed his sword at Tangen and said with anger,
"Tangen. Pray to God that my mother is still alive because if something happens to my mother, I will personally show you what hell looks like."
Then Ashoka ordered Miyamoto to capture Kan-ki, all of Kan-ki's soldiers, and Tangen, and put them behind bars.
Ashoka also went in search of his mother because he knew that Tangen wouldn't open his mouth and couldn't tell where his mother was.
Ashoka entered the palace and started searching everywhere inside it.
At that time, John suddenly appeared in front of Ashoka and asked,
"Master. Why are you so stressed out?"
Ashoka saw John, felt relieved, and said,
"John. You came at the right time."
John asked,
"What happened, Master? I found that girl..."
Ashoka stopped John and said,
"I know, John. You can find her, but now my mother is in danger. I didn't expect Tangen to try to kill my mother. Help me find my mother."
John replied,
"Master, just order me and don't panic. Just trust me. I can find the Queen as fast as I can."
Thirty minutes later, Ashoka sat on the throne, waiting for John.
Then the soldiers and Luna entered the throne room and reported to Ashoka that they couldn't find the Queen inside the palace.
Luna said,
"We searched the whole palace but couldn't find the Queen."
Ashoka said in a stressed voice,
"Now, John, you are my only hope."
Suddenly, John appeared in front of Ashoka, kneeling respectfully as he tried to say something.
But the soldiers were shocked to see John and tried to attack him, thinking that he was an intruder.
Ashoka stopped them and said,
"He works under me."
John said,
"Master. My people found the Queen."
Ashoka furiously asked,
"Where is my mother?"
John replied in a disappointed voice,
"The royal guards who were directly appointed by Tangen kidnapped the Queen and tried to kill her in an abandoned building."
Ashoka said,
"So you rescued my mother. Then where is she?"
John replied,
"Yes, Master. My people and I killed all of the royal guards, but..."
Ashoka asked,
"But... what? Don't tell me you couldn't save my mother."
John replied,
"Sorry, Master. I can't say anything. I prefer that you see this with your own eyes."
Then the doors of the throne room opened, and some assassins from PSAO entered while carrying Queen Victoria on a stretcher.
Ashoka stood up and ran to see his mother.
The Queen was still breathing.
Ashoka ordered them to call a doctor.
John said,
"Master. I already saw the injuries. They stabbed the Queen many times with poisoned knives. In fact, it is impossible for her to survive, but she said she wanted to tell you something one last time."
Ashoka used his recovery spell on his mother, but it had no effect.
The Queen smiled and said,
"Ashoka. I am sorry. I couldn't fulfill my role as a mother nor as a Queen."
Ashoka tried to control his emotions, but tears continuously fell from his eyes.
The Queen wiped Ashoka's tears with one hand, but that hand was covered in blood, causing half of Ashoka's face to be stained with it. Then the Queen said,
"Don't cry, my son. That person, John, tried to save me, but I think it's my time to go. God is punishing me for my bad decisions."
Ashoka's eyes became red because of sadness and emotion. He said,
"Mom. Don't say those kinds of things. I... I will kill him."
The Queen said,
"No... no, Ashoka. I know what he did was wrong, and it was also my mistake that I couldn't understand his intentions. But still... he lost his real mother because of me and because of you. Just don't kill him."
The Queen smiled and said,
"I know you. Your anger and your dreams come first in your life before anyone else, and if you were in his place, I think you would also do something like that."
"Ashoka... my son. I don't have much time. I don't even know how I am still alive. But promise me that you will never kill him."
"He is... still... your half-brother."
Then Queen Victoria died because of the poison.
Ashoka and everyone else became silent after the Queen's death.
The throne room, once filled with voices and movement, fell into complete silence. Only the grief-stricken figure of Ashoka remained beside his mother's lifeless body, tears falling onto the blood-stained floor as the weight of her final wish settled heavily upon his heart.