CHAPTER 7 — "THE ARMY KNEELED BEFORE THE PRINCESS... BUT THE KING DREW HIS SWORD AGAINST HER."
No one in the throne room dared breathe.
Outside the palace windows, ten thousand soldiers remained on one knee, their banners fluttering silently in the wind.
Inside, Princess Elina stared at the silver-haired woman.
"I don't want to be anyone's queen."
Seraphine smiled.
"You don't have a choice."
King Aldren suddenly stepped between them and unsheathed his sword.
Its steel rang through the chamber.
"You will not take my daughter."
The elderly woman sighed.
"You still don't understand, Aldren."
"I protected her by hiding her."
"You protected her by imprisoning her."
Before anyone could react, Seraphine lifted a crystal pendant from beneath her robe.
It glowed with a pale blue light.
The room trembled.
For a brief instant, visions flooded everyone's minds.
Richard saw ancient cities where judges could never accept bribes because the Keepers of Truth ruled beside them.
Elina saw children laughing openly without fear of lies or betrayal.
Then the vision changed.
Cities burned.
Families turned against one another.
Kings murdered their own sons after hidden betrayals were exposed.
The same gift that had created justice had also started wars.
When the vision ended, everyone fell to their knees, gasping for breath.
Seraphine spoke quietly.
"The truth saves."
"The truth destroys."
"It depends on the hearts of those who receive it."
She looked directly at Elina.
"Our order is dying."
"You are the last bloodline."
"If you refuse us..."
"The Keepers disappear forever."
Richard stepped beside Elina and squeezed her hand.
"You don't owe anyone your life."
The old woman smiled.
"Perhaps not."
"But the world does."
At that moment, one of the palace guards burst through the doors.
"Your Majesty!"
"The eastern gate has fallen!"
"But..."
His voice shook.
"They weren't attacked from outside."
"The gates were opened..."
"...from inside the palace."
May you like
Every face slowly turned toward the royal court.
Someone standing beside the throne had betrayed the kingdom.
