Noah watched Noelle closely as the crowd cheered her victory. She had passed all three trials—strength, wisdom, and loyalty. To the people, she was now their Luna, the rightful ruler of the Silver Moon Kingdom. But to him, she was still an enigma.
Something wasn't right.
She had handled the trials too well, as if she had anticipated every move. Her speech, her actions—every decision she made seemed calculated. Too perfect. Too precise.
Noah had spent years training under the best warriors and advisors in the kingdom. He had been taught to recognize deception, to see through lies woven with skill and charisma. And something about Noelle felt off.
The way she had spared Elias instead of executing him—it had won her favor with the people. But was it an act of mercy, or a carefully planned move to secure unwavering loyalty?