33. I am at your service.

Henry looked at his mother with some resentment, perhaps because of the slap she had given him, or maybe it was because she hadn't allowed him to have the life he desired and was pushing him to limits he hadn't imagined reaching so soon.

"You have to be smarter, Henry," Anabel said, composing herself. She had lost her composure, which was not becoming of the mother of the future king of Astor.

"I should be allowed to do things my way, mother. I remind you that without Frederick, the future king of Astor will be me, not you," he pointed out.

Anabel raised an eyebrow as she looked at him. "You're just a fledgling, Henry. Do you think you can handle everything on your own?" she asked, her voice tinged with irony. "Realize what you've just done. You can't even justify the reason for a kidnapping. Selene is not your target; it's Frederick. Without him, everything, absolutely everything, will be yours. Do you understand, dear? Or would you like me to explain it to you in simple terms?" she