chapter 28
GRAND HALL
John: "This won't help."
Silence fell.
Not gradual.
Not uncertain.
Absolute.
Every gaze turned toward him.
The prince's grip tightened around the princess's wrist—firm, almost possessive.
The princess froze.
John…
Her heart trembled, but her face remained composed.
The prince's eyes darkened.
Prince: "Who are you?"
A pause.
His voice lowered, edged with irritation.
Prince: "And more importantly… who gave you the right to speak here?"
At the throne—
The king's gaze sharpened.
King (thinking): Bokka…? Why hasn't he returned?
A flicker of unease passed through him.
King (thinking): Don't tell me…
His expression hardened.
King (thinking): They dealt with him?
Prince: "You dare interrupt a royal ceremony?"
John stepped forward.
Calm. Measured. Unshaken.
John: "Forcing a decision doesn't make it rightful."
A brief pause.
His gaze lifted—directly to the king.
John: "And we will not allow our princess to be bound to a kingdom where children are slaughtered by the very man meant to protect them."
A ripple spread through the hall.
Whispers. Shock. Disbelief.
The king rose abruptly.
King: "What nonsense is this?!"
His voice thundered across the chamber.
King: "Guards—!"
The princess stepped forward instantly.
Princess (firm, unwavering): "Stop."
The command cut through the hall cleanly.
Princess: "He is my soldier."
A pause.
Princess: "No one touches him."
Gasps echoed.
Nobles turned, stunned.
The prince's grip loosened—just slightly.
Princess (calm, controlled): "When I arrived in this kingdom, I saw fear."
Her voice carried—not loud, but undeniable.
Princess: "Children disappearing. Families broken. People whispering in shadows… too afraid to speak openly."
A step forward.
Princess: "And yet—no action was taken."
Her gaze locked onto the king.
Princess: "So I chose to act."
Prince (furious): "You dare accuse us based on rumors?!"
Princess: "These are not rumors."
A pause.
Princess: "They are truths you chose to ignore."
The king's voice dropped—cold, dangerous.
King: "I did not expect such disgraceful behavior… from the Princess of Lumivale."
Princess: "And I did not expect such cruelty… from the King of Stonehaven."
A charged silence.
Then—
She glanced sideways.
A small signal.
Marco understood immediately.
He stepped forward.
Marco: "Wait."
Before anyone could react—
He dragged a bound man into the center.
Kayem.
Struggling. Shackled. A blade pressed to his neck.
Gasps erupted.
Marco (cold): "Speak."
All eyes locked onto him.
Princess: "Look carefully."
Her voice remained steady.
Princess: "This man was once sentenced to death for sacrificing children."
Murmurs spread instantly.
Princess: "A punishment ordered by the previous king."
Her gaze sharpened.
Princess: "And yet… he stands here alive."
The king's expression stiffened.
The nobles began whispering louder—uneasy, suspicious.
Kayem's breathing grew uneven.
His eyes flickered—
To the king.
To the nobles.
To the crowd.
Fear. Conflict.
Silence stretched.
Marco (pressing the blade slightly): "Say it."
Kayem flinched.
Then—
Kayem: "…The king saved me."
The hall froze.
Kayem: "He ordered the rituals."
A ripple of shock spread.
Kayem: "Children were sacrificed…"
His voice trembled—but did not break.
Kayem: "…so the king could continue to live."
Chaos erupted.
Voices overlapped. Accusations. Fear. Disbelief.
Marco: "For longevity?"
Kayem nodded weakly.
Kayem: "Yes… for longevity and power."
King: "ENOUGH!"
The roar shook the hall.
Silence crashed down again.
The king stepped forward slowly.
His presence was heavy. Oppressive.
King: "You expect me to stand here and be judged by a criminal speaking under threat?"
His gaze swept across the nobles.
King: "Have you all lost your reason?"
A scoff.
King: "Pathetic."
His eyes locked onto the princess.
King: "A fabricated lie… orchestrated by you."
Princess (cold, cutting): "Is that so?"
She didn't look away.
Princess: "Then explain what comes next."
Marco didn't hesitate.
Marco: "Bring them in."
The grand doors opened.
Slowly. Heavily.
And they entered.
Mothers. Broken. Trembling.
And beside them—
Children.
Alive.
The hall froze completely.
A woman stepped forward, hands shaking.
Mother: "It's true…"
Her voice cracked.
Mother: "They took our children… in the night…"
Another followed, tears streaming.
Mother: "We begged for help… but no one listened…"
A third collapsed.
Mother: "We thought they were dead…"
Her voice shattered.
Mother: "But they were kept hidden… like offerings…"
Silence didn't return.
Because it couldn't.
The truth was too loud.
Nobles erupted in shock and horror.
The prince stepped forward violently.
Prince: "LIES!"
His voice cut through everything.
Prince: "Every single word of it!"
His chest heaved.
Prince: "A performance! A desperate attempt to humiliate our kingdom!"
But no one responded immediately.
Because doubt had already taken root.
Then—
The princess moved.
Princess: "Enough."
Soft. Controlled. Final.
She pulled her hand free.
This time—the prince didn't stop her.
Princess: "We will not be part of this."
Her voice steadied the chaos.
Princess: "We will not tie our bloodline to a throne built on the suffering of innocents."
A step forward.
Princess: "A kingdom that feeds on its own people… is no kingdom worth standing beside."
A breath.
Final.
Princess: "This marriage is over."
Silence.
Heavy. Unavoidable.
The king stood motionless.
Then—
Something flickered in his eyes.
Anger.
King: "You…"
Suddenly—
Another voice spoke.
King of Lumivale: "She is right."
All heads turned.
He stepped forward—calm, controlled, unshaken.
King of Lumivale: "We had our suspicions."
A pause.
King of Lumivale: "But this confirms everything."
His gaze hardened.
King of Lumivale: "We will not stand with this."
Behind him, soldiers moved into formation.
Disciplined. Ready.
The balance shifted instantly.
The Grand Hall no longer belonged to Stonehaven.
The prince clenched his fists.
The king's composure cracked.
King: "If I am to fall…"
His voice turned sharp. Dangerous.
King: "…then I will not fall alone."
A pause.
King: "The King of Lumivale is involved as well."
Gasps erupted.
King of Lumivale (cold): "Silence."
His voice cut like steel.
King of Lumivale: "You dare throw lies even now?"
King of Lumivale: "My kingdom will never be part of such filth."
Princess (sharp): "He accused you."
A pause.
Princess: "Not the kingdom."
The King of Lumivale stiffened.
For a brief moment—something unreadable crossed his face.
Then—
King of Lumivale: "I, the King of Lumivale, have no involvement in this matter."
John stood in silence.
Watching everything unfold.
His eyes shifted toward the princess.
John (thinking): She knows the truth…
A pause.
John (quietly): So why isn't she saying it?
The hall trembled under tension.
Truth. Lies. Power shifting.
And for the first time—
The rulers of Stonehaven were no longer in control.
…CHAPTER 28 END…