Seraphina stood frozen as the council members debated her fate, their voices low and intense. The King's looming presence in the hall only made the tension thicker, like a heavy blanket she couldn't escape from.
She had been accused of everything under the sun — betrayal, defiance, even treason. And yet, the words had barely scratched the surface of what had truly happened. The games they were playing had nothing to do with truth or justice; they were about power, control, and manipulation.
And she was their pawn.
The harsh whispers of the council members melded together into a blur of sound. Some spoke of her as if she were already dead, others as if she were their new weapon to use. Lucian stood motionless beside the throne, his expression unreadable. Every glance he cast in her direction seemed more like a challenge than a gesture of support.
"Enough," the King's voice cut through the noise, sharp as a blade. "We've heard your defenses, Seraphina. Now, it's time for judgment."
The room went silent again, the tension almost palpable.
Seraphina's heart pounded, each beat a reminder of the stakes. She had survived the War Room, the trial, and the game of lies. But this… this was different. They weren't just testing her loyalty — they were testing her strength, her will to fight.
"Your punishment for defiance," the King continued, his gaze hard as stone, "will be severe. You will be banished from the palace and stripped of all your rights. But," he paused, letting the silence stretch between them, "there is an alternative."
Seraphina's breath caught in her throat. She wasn't sure she even wanted to hear it.
"You have proven your mettle," the King continued, a glint of something dark in his eyes. "But I will not tolerate another uprising. If you want to survive in this world, you must submit. Surrender your pride. Bow to the power that holds you here."
Seraphina's blood ran cold. Surrender? Submit?
Her instincts screamed at her to refuse, to stand her ground and fight. But she knew better. This wasn't the time for pride. This was the time for survival.
The council members leaned forward, watching her every move, waiting for her decision. The weight of their expectations pressed down on her chest, suffocating her.
Lucian stepped forward, his eyes locked onto hers. "You don't have to make this harder than it needs to be. We're not your enemies, Seraphina. The King offers you a way out. Take it."
Seraphina looked at him, the man who had been both her tormentor and her unlikely ally. She could see the same battle raging in his eyes. He wasn't just playing the game — he was caught in it too.
"No," she whispered, barely audible. "I won't bow."
The room fell deathly silent, and for a moment, it felt like the entire world had paused. The King's gaze hardened, and a low murmur of disbelief rippled through the council.
"You refuse?" the King asked, his voice deceptively calm.
"I refuse," Seraphina repeated, her voice stronger now, like a declaration.
The King's lips curled into a smile, but it wasn't one of victory. It was something darker, something more dangerous.
"So be it," he said quietly, his voice carrying across the hall. "You've chosen your path. But remember this, Seraphina Rivers — no one survives here without paying the price. Not even you."
The council members exchanged looks, some grimacing, others nodding in approval. Lucian's face was impassive, but his eyes never left Seraphina.
Without another word, the King rose from his throne and made his way toward the door, his departure signaling the end of the trial. Seraphina stayed rooted to the spot, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts.
She had made her choice. Now, she would live — or die — by it.