Chapter 7 - Terms of Surrender
King Leopold walked back to his seat at the head of the table.
"First," the King stated, holding up a finger, "you will issue a public, unedited confession broadcast across all official state media outlets within the hour. You will state clearly that you fabricated the claims regarding your sister's character out of personal vanity and social insecurity."
Rachel flinched as if she had been physically struck. "A public confession? That will destroy me completely! Every charity, every board, every social circle—they'll blackball me forever!"
"That is the price of deception," King Leopold replied flatly. "Second: All royal privileges, titles, and allowances granted to Alexander under your joint name are frozen for a probationary period of five years. You will live as private citizens on a modest estate in the countryside, under state supervision."
Alexander slumped back in his chair, staring at the ceiling in utter defeat. His royal life was effectively over before it had even truly begun.
"And third," King Leopold added, turning his gaze toward me, "that is entirely up to Commander Carter."
All eyes in the room turned to me.
Rachel looked at me, her lower lip trembling. The fierce, venomous anger had drained out of her, replaced by absolute humiliation. She had spent her entire life trying to run away from our working-class roots in Ohio, pretending she was above everything and everyone—especially me. And now, her entire future rested entirely on the mercy of the sister she had tried to erase.
"Emily," Rachel whispered, her voice breaking as tears finally spilled down her cheeks, ruining her expensive wedding makeup. "Please. Please... we’re sisters. Remember when we were little? Remember the back porch? Please don't let them destroy me."
The silence in the room stretched out, heavy and suffocating.
I looked at my sister. I saw the frightened little girl from Ohio underneath the designer gown and the ruined tiara. I remembered the nights we whispered in the dark about escaping our struggles.
I took a deep breath, adjusting the silver ribbons on my chest.
"I remember everything, Rachel," I said quietly. "I remember the girl who fought beside me. I don't remember the woman sitting in this chair."
I turned to King Leopold.
"Sire, I accept the public confession and the terms of probation. But there is one final condition I must add."
The King raised an eyebrow. "Name it, Commander."
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"Rachel wanted a royal wedding that the world would never forget," I said, a faint, cold smile touching the corners of my lips. "Make sure the world remembers this part, too. Broadcast the confession in full. Let everyone see that integrity cannot be bought, and family cannot be erased."
King Leopold nodded slowly, a ghost of a smile appearing on his stern face. "It shall be done."
