Chapter 6 - The Rise of the PrincePanic erupted across the ballroom. Whispers exploded into chaotic shouts as aristocrats and politicians scrambled away from the Arden family like they carried a plague.
Julian pushed his way down the aisle, screaming at the security guards. “Arrest him! He’s tampering with the state event! Seize that recorder—!”
“Touch him, Julian, and you’ll be tried for high treason before midnight,” a deep, authoritative voice boomed from the double doors at the entrance of the ballroom.
General Vance marched down the central aisle, flanked by twelve heavily armed royal guards wearing full ceremonial armor and carrying assault rifles.
Julian froze, his hands trembling as the guards surrounded him instantly.
Celeste backed away from the microphone, her designer gown tripping over her feet as she stumbled against the edge of the dais. She stared at Adrian with eyes wide with horror and disbelief.
“Adrian...” she choked out, tears of pure panic spilling down her cheeks. “Please... we can talk about this... we’re supposed to rule together—!”
Adrian did not answer her.
Instead, he slowly gripped the wooden armrests of his wheelchair.
He planted his feet firmly against the marble floor.
The entire ballroom held its breath.
With a controlled, powerful exertion of muscle, Adrian pushed himself upward.
For the first time in six months, in front of five hundred witnesses and national television cameras, the billionaire prince stood completely upright at his full height of six-foot-two.
Celeste shrieked, stumbling backward and falling hard onto her knees. She stared up at him as if he were a phantom risen from the underworld.
“Y-You... you can walk?!” Celeste gasped, her voice cracking into a high-pitched wail. “You’ve been able to walk this entire time?!”
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Adrian looked down at her with eyes colder than winter ice.
“I was never powerless, Celeste,” Adrian said quietly. “I was just testing your loyalty. And you failed with honors.”
