CHAPTER 4 — "THE DAY THE PRINCESS LOOKED INTO THE KINGDOM... EVERY SECRET BEGAN TO BLEED INTO THE LIGHT."
The wedding should have ended in celebration.
Instead, it became the beginning of chaos.
Within hours of looking into Princess Elina's eyes, nobles across the cathedral began confessing crimes no one had ever suspected.
A duke admitted poisoning his own brother to inherit land.
A bishop collapsed in tears, revealing he had sold sacred relics for gold.
A royal general confessed that an entire battle had been lost because he accepted bribes from a neighboring kingdom.
The confessions spread like wildfire.
People weren't forced to speak.
They simply couldn't keep lying anymore.
Every hidden guilt clawed its way to the surface.
The streets erupted.
Families discovered decades of betrayal.
Merchants admitted cheating customers.
Judges confessed to selling innocent people into prison.
By sunset, the kingdom that had appeared peaceful for generations was collapsing beneath the weight of its own secrets.
Many blamed Elina.
"She's a witch!"
"She cursed us!"
"Put the helmet back on!"
Crowds gathered outside the palace carrying torches.
Inside, Elina locked herself in her chamber.
"I never wanted this..."
Richard found her sitting beside the old piano.
"I've destroyed everything."
He gently took her hand.
"No."
"You've only revealed what was already broken."
Outside, the mob grew larger.
Then someone shouted a terrifying accusation.
"The queen didn't die from illness..."
"The KING murdered her!"
The palace fell silent.
Even Richard slowly turned toward the aging king.
King Aldren closed his eyes.
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For the first time in twenty years...
He said nothing.
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