The silence after Alex's words was suffocating. The crackle of the fire, the rustle of old pages—those were the only sounds as the weight of truth pressed down on them.
Edrin was the first to move. He shoved away from the table, pacing in short, furious strides. "So all this time, all these kings—no, the same king—has been sitting on that throne while generations lived and died." His fists clenched. "And we just bowed to him. To a parasite wearing crowns."
Saphira's knuckles whitened around her quill. Her voice was sharp, but it trembled at the edges. "If this is true, then every alliance, every law, every oath of loyalty in Hensville rests on a lie. A lie sanctioned by the monarchy itself."
Kael's voice broke the air, calm but cold. "And if he's kept this secret for centuries, then the ones who discovered it before us are already dead." His pale gaze slid to Edrin, unflinching. "Which means the moment we uncovered it, we became targets too."
Alex's chest tightened. He looked at their faces—anger, fear, determination—and forced himself to steady. "But why?" His voice grew firmer. "Why kill Duke Alaric and his son… but exile Lord Darius? If he feared their family, why not end them all?"
Lady Marriane, silent until now, set her teacup down with a decisive click. "Because exiling Darius served a purpose. A warning to others, perhaps. Or… leverage. Alaric was beloved in court—charismatic, sharp, difficult to silence. His son was the future of their line. Remove them, and the House of Veymore loses its anchor. But spare the husband? That leaves a ghost. A man broken, stripped of power, wandering as a reminder of the king's mercy—and control."
Saphira frowned, thinking aloud. "Or… perhaps the king feared Darius for another reason. His dark mana. His potential to rebel. Exile is easier to control than martyrdom."
Riven's jaw tightened, his voice low. "If Darius had the will, exile wouldn't stop him. Especially if he carried the knowledge of what his king truly is. Unless…" He stopped, breath harsh, eyes narrowing. "Unless Darius intended something else entirely."
Edrin's pacing slowed, his face pale. "You mean—revenge."
Alex swallowed. The pieces were falling into place, heavy and terrible. "If Lord Darius really reincarnated his son… if Professor Callum Dareth truly is Callen Dareth reborn—then maybe his exile wasn't the end. Maybe it was the beginning of something worse."
The air grew taut with unspoken understanding.
Lady Marriane's gaze swept over them, sharp and assessing. "Whatever the truth, we now stand in the crosshairs of a monarchy that thrives on deception. If the king discovers what we know…"
"He won't," Alex said firmly, surprising even himself with the steadiness in his tone. "Because we'll be careful. And we'll be united. We're not just chasing whispers anymore—we're uncovering the greatest lie in Hensville's history."
Riven leaned close, his dark eyes burning. "Then we need to be ready for the cost. Exposing the monarchy isn't survival. It's war."
For a heartbeat, no one moved. Then, one by one, they nodded.
Saphira set her quill aside with a sharp motion. "Then war it is."
Edrin's jaw firmed, determination replacing rage. "We'll find the truth. All of it."
Kael inclined his head in silent agreement, but his hand brushed Edrin's arm—subtle, grounding.
Lady Marriane's lips curved into the faintest, fiercest smile. "Then let us peel the crown from its shadow."
Alex drew a steady breath, his hands no longer shaking. "Together."
The word hung in the air, binding them tighter than any oath. Whatever shadows waited, they would face them side by side.