<h4>Chapter 473: Secret From The Past</h4>


    Seeing her confidence, Howard’s side was shocked. Was she not scared of dying?


    Howard gritted his teeth and looked at one of the soldiers. "Shoot her."


    The soldier pointed his gun toward Caryn, but then something happened. All the soldiers inside the drawing room fell to the ground, each with a bullet shot through the center of their forehead. There were no sounds of gunfire, and the job was done with the utmost precision.


    Howard, Garwin, and Charlotte were left shocked at what had happened and looked around in fright.


    Just then, a group of gunmen inmando uniforms entered the drawing room. Their heavy boots made resounding thuds on the floor, asserting the power of their presence.


    In a moment, Howard recognized them as he noticed the particr badges on their uniforms. "O-Obsidians?" Howard mumbled in fright and recalled that it was the Obsidian group responsible for Garwin’s ident back then. But he had never imagined they were truly connected to Caryn. He had assumed it was a mistake.


    The Obsidian group was equipped with the most advanced weapons and technology, and theirmandos were so highly trained and skilled that no one dared stand against them—not even the Belvorn army.


    "What happened, Howard Everthorn?" Caryn asked. "I still see myself alive."


    "How... did you bring them?" Howard asked. "How do you know the Obsidian group? How did you make them help you?"


    Caryn chuckled and finally stood up from the chair. "So curious, Howard?"


    Howard swallowed hard, only to hear Caryn continue, "First, why don’t you tell this little princess the truth? The truth is that she is not even your real granddaughter, let alone the princess of this country. She doesn’t carry royal family blood. In fact, she is an orphan with no origin records avable."


    Charlotte was shocked to hear it. "What are you talking about? Don’t spew nonsense here."


    Caryn simply smiled and looked at Garwin. "You knew your wife was carrying a son, and when he was born, all you did was listen to your father, kill your son, and ept a random girl child as your daughter. Your wife knew she had given birth to a son. When she realized what you had done, she died from the shock of losing him."


    Garwin took a step back, shaken that the truth was now out. "How do you know this?"


    Charlotte, now shocked, realized the weight of what had just been revealed. She turned to Howard with teary eyes. "Grandpa, tell me it’s not true."


    Howard remained silent.


    Charlotte’s expression twisted in anger. She shouted, "Tell me it’s not true! Why are you quiet? Just kill these two women and no one will know the truth. I am your granddaughter—the princess of Belvorn. Just kill them!"


    Howard pushed her aside, and she fell to the floor. His cold voice followed. "Keep quiet."


    She could only cry at such a cruel response.


    The queen raised her voice at her brother. "Howard, you were so greedy for the throne that you killed your own grandson? Disgusting."


    "Disgusting?" Howard scoffed. "You sat on that throne, enjoyed all the attention and power, while I—despite being far more capable—was reduced to nothing more than your servant. I am your elder brother, the eldest descendant of the royal family. Yet you were chosen. You got everything. I lived a life of humiliation, ignored by everyone while you were cherished and adored."


    "Howard," the queen replied firmly, "our mother, and every queen before her, had brothers too. And all of them respected the customs of our kingdom—customs that have been upheld for generations. No one else ever felt inferior. This is all in your head, born from your own greed. Yes, I am the queen in name, but you—my brother—have held more influence and power than anyone else in this kingdom. After me, it was always you that the people looked to. Who dares defy your orders? You even have the military on your side."


    She looked at him with weary disappointment. "And yet, you still believe you were powerless? I let you wield your influence, I trusted your capability. I gave you everything you deserved, and more. But you..."


    "Thank you for your mercy, dear sister," he said sarcastically. "But when I have everything in my hands, why should I remain your servant? I can just rule directly—so why not? If you truly cared, you should have changed the centuries-old rule to allow a male heir to sit on the throne. But you didn’t. You had a daughter, so of course you wanted to keep the rule as it was to give her the throne. Why couldn’t you make Garwin your heir? You are nothing but a greedy woman who knowingly ignored my sentiments."


    "I didn’t. But even if I had, I would still be d I did. Because you’ve just proven that neither you nor your son ever deserved to take charge of this throne. In your greedy hands, this country would only face ruin," the queen dered. "Arrest them," she ordered.


    The royal guards surrounded them, and they had no other option but to surrender.


    Caryn stepped forward and looked directly at Howard. "Ironically, I agree with you—on the idea of having a male heir to the throne. If only you weren’t so greedy, you would’ve seen that happen in just a matter of days. After all, there <i>is</i> a boy who carries the royal bloodline and is more than capable."


    "Male heir?" Howard mumbled. "You have a son as well?"


    Caryn chuckled. "Not my son. He’s Garwin’s son—your own grandson. The same one you tried to kill all those years ago. But fortunately he was saved by one kind soul who had humanity left in him despite having despicable like you two surround him."


    Howard and Garwin’s eyes widened in shock.


    "He’s alive?" Garwin asked. "My son?"


    Caryn scoffed. "He’s been right in front of you all these years, yet you couldn’t even recognize your own son. How unfortunate. And yes, I am sure he won’t like it to be addressed as your son."


    Garwin looked around, trying to spot him. But the room was empty.


    Then, three men entered, taking them by surprise.