Settle the matter with the Queen

Your ascension as the crown prince is not without its detractors, one of them being the mother of your brother, the Queen Zereena. Due to some complicated history you're only learning now, it seems that your father the king has a wife and a consort, the consort being your mother.

The queen, your stepmother was the one who arranged for you to be sent away from your mother when you're young so that you can't influence the court politics. While that was quite tame in comparison to what you heard happened in other neighboring kingdom, it's still you who had to suffer due to her manipulation.

While your father and brother had died, there's still a chance that your stepmother may influence the court politics. For all you know, she might think you had a hand in this matter, even though you're not. While you don't really want to do something to who's basically family, you really like your back a lot and don't relish it being pierced by something sharp. Plus, you like your mead after dinner not laced with those weird flavoring that causes you to cough out blood.

Therefore, the order of the day is to determine where the queen stands in all of this.