I didn’t even get a chance to breathe before someone grabbed my arm.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxT8lXiv0n
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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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFr4Jeua7G
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Oh, sure. Totally normal post-manslaughter hangout.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqfWahplG4
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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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlm9pJfWYQL
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By the time we reach the King’s chambers, my stomach’s doing gymnastics.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaRLq57jbl
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The doors swing open with a heavy creak, and there he is — the King.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaa9tj5EDpr
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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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIceSISrGtS
158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfa9iVq60u
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> “Ariana!”158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ptYxWO4MK
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He rushes forward and before I can dodge, he hugs me. Full royal embrace. Armor and all.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYgTr0uMae
158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSabMLewIi
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I freeze like someone hit pause on me.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubgO1sEaIc
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My brain short-circuits.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0iTRPAUvu
158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNk1D57eZ0b
Right. Hugs. With the guy who rules the kingdom. After a public murder. Totally fine.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEnsxKV2s3
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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.”158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcN5uAkub3
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He pulls back to look at me — and for a second, I see it. Real worry. Real love.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZq46gplEw
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And that’s almost worse.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlaGVu0ooq
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Because I didn’t do anything to earn it.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkgiFsmsi8
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The courtiers behind him stay silent.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kVjasZl7J
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They bow. Whisper. Pretend not to see the mess.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUxrVHRMyk
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No one mentions Clara’s name. Not once.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyginjwlU4
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Like she never existed.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNhqf4SPVf
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> “You must rest,” the King says gently. “The court will handle the details. You’ve suffered enough.”158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxDVakvloe
158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FMvUV90tn
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I nod because what else can I do?158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yqk9zewuv
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If I open my mouth, sarcasm will leak out and ruin my life.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyGOYigpEI
158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngvubg7CRh
So I just say,158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5QXuJC0VY
158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5qpl0UUFA
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> “Yes, Father.”158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqW5Btmfwu
158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCrF905GBf
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He smiles — relieved, maybe even proud — and calls for the maids to take me to my chambers.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFMHACRSBP
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---158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHvWu4a3IY
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The walk back feels longer. Quieter.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XvEKkB5LH
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When they finally leave me alone, I collapse onto the bed.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OLkwIIjSF
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The silk sheets swallow me whole, and for the first time in hours, I let myself breathe.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDW759WDSA
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> “So,” I whisper to the empty room,158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rNXNhZHyT
158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9wGpHumSi
“confessed to murder, adopted by the King, promoted to favorite daughter. 10/10 quest rewards.”158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NyY2TORQr
158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyDKfbOsEi
158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZnQJpPsIV
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I laugh a little — that weird kind of laugh that sounds dangerously close to crying.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmPfpCm48N
158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgOVZqdEDt
Then I pull the covers up to my chin and stare at the ceiling.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOoIwDxzV9
158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBxZX0738m
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> “I’m so screwed.”158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWWp31PNqk
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The gold chandeliers flicker overhead.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEXbIN7nIz
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Somewhere outside, the bells toll faintly, like the world’s trying to remind me what time it is.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nQlljqWIn
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But I already know.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9Xr1YJlih
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It’s the hour when fate stops pretending to be fair.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YW3j70hwh
1234 copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPafy2oVBE 尼I close my eyes, but his face won’t leave me alone.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYoRUgOaSK
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Those blue eyes — calm even with a sword over his neck.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawpxEZH6eb
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Like he wasn’t scared of dying.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAhswHj67F
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Like he’d already done it before.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqTXepch9U
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And that smile… no, not even a smile — more like quiet acceptance.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡde2l4VRIJz
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The kind that says, “I told you this would happen.”158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauymhKLfJZ
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I don’t even know his name.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZHtVOePjQ
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But when I think about him, my chest tightens, like I’m remembering someone I already lost.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMjKtyehl3
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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.158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI52deVggs
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So why does it hurt like it’s not the first time?158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTGlQmulG2
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