I didn’t even get a chance to breathe before someone grabbed my arm.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVMj6RsIam
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“His Majesty requests your presence,” a guard said, like I’d just been invited for cake instead of after confessing to murder.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgQpyxcomf
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Oh, sure. Totally normal post-manslaughter hangout.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0Mj4JFFJB
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The palace hallways blur past as they escort me. Gold ceilings. Velvet curtains. Way too much perfume in the air. Everything smells too clean for what just happened.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzaSwhFFzL
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By the time we reach the King’s chambers, my stomach’s doing gymnastics.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorQHNBzkQq
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The doors swing open with a heavy creak, and there he is — the King.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWfapdXZqX
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He’s older than I remembered. Tired eyes, gray at the edges of his beard, but when he looks up and sees me… it’s like watching the sun break through smoke.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHbFCDK39a
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> “Ariana!”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLLYXQf5pa
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He rushes forward and before I can dodge, he hugs me. Full royal embrace. Armor and all.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJg2OvmpO1
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I freeze like someone hit pause on me.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPIM56RZ5i
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My brain short-circuits.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1i0UUGML0g
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Right. Hugs. With the guy who rules the kingdom. After a public murder. Totally fine.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycJfAiTqxu
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> “My dear, you’re safe,” he says, his voice soft but trembling. “When I heard what happened, I feared the worst. Thank the heavens you’re unharmed.”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSEvG8N1Aj
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He pulls back to look at me — and for a second, I see it. Real worry. Real love.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREjYchkt03
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And that’s almost worse.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OaLwfHq8T
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Because I didn’t do anything to earn it.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zjaJYpwqE
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The courtiers behind him stay silent.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhD5UoHDUD
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They bow. Whisper. Pretend not to see the mess.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5JecQfgo1
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No one mentions Clara’s name. Not once.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWeoiz79OG
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Like she never existed.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1c0BMAYjD
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> “You must rest,” the King says gently. “The court will handle the details. You’ve suffered enough.”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJOfxVzLr4
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I nod because what else can I do?161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88ohTZculG
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If I open my mouth, sarcasm will leak out and ruin my life.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYh9I54Pv9t
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So I just say,161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxrEp1x45c
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> “Yes, Father.”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GWbpPNh5N
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He smiles — relieved, maybe even proud — and calls for the maids to take me to my chambers.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH1CjmY53l
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---161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hmTiYxzHm
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The walk back feels longer. Quieter.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUsn3fFnUi
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When they finally leave me alone, I collapse onto the bed.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCWSKhJluZ
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The silk sheets swallow me whole, and for the first time in hours, I let myself breathe.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6UCR3VPF9
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> “So,” I whisper to the empty room,161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ajxzcviCo
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“confessed to murder, adopted by the King, promoted to favorite daughter. 10/10 quest rewards.”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxOeonUZPW
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I laugh a little — that weird kind of laugh that sounds dangerously close to crying.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXVa067g89
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Then I pull the covers up to my chin and stare at the ceiling.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYAX1l0KbN
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> “I’m so screwed.”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXeCxoAHtF
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The gold chandeliers flicker overhead.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjoVuRNlpa
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Somewhere outside, the bells toll faintly, like the world’s trying to remind me what time it is.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQ15425KnZ
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But I already know.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxtJvSnQYm
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It’s the hour when fate stops pretending to be fair.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2BNs56cFJ
1234 copyright protection157ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsVNPq1Ycm 尼I close my eyes, but his face won’t leave me alone.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmA7O0t7Fg0
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Those blue eyes — calm even with a sword over his neck.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrmlRgC3nL
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Like he wasn’t scared of dying.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡas4PT8Womb
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Like he’d already done it before.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWhFVNhbil
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And that smile… no, not even a smile — more like quiet acceptance.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgkO2fFaWv
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The kind that says, “I told you this would happen.”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUjshybS2N
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I don’t even know his name.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAY1fbStLxt
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But when I think about him, my chest tightens, like I’m remembering someone I already lost.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSVW9149s9
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Which makes no sense, because I’m supposed to be me. Lily. The girl who fell into a cursed fantasy soap opera.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNw6vrAgTG
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So why does it hurt like it’s not the first time?161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN94dGAIkCo
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