Chapter 499: A Queen’s Place

Skylar's POV

The weight of a hundred gazes pressed against me as I moved, but I paid them no mind. My steps were steady, my posture poised. I had walked through war zones disguised as royal courts, had ruled an empire in the shadows, and had built a legacy that could not be erased.

So when I reached Chris and stood beside him, it was not as a guest—nor as a mere observer.

It was as an equal.

Chris did not turn to look at me, but I knew he was aware of my presence. The air around him was calm, controlled—yet beneath that surface was something deeper. A force waiting to be unleashed.

"You called them all here," I murmured, my voice just for him. "But for what?"

A slow, amused smirk tugged at his lips. "Patience, Sky."

I exhaled sharply, tilting my head ever so slightly. "Patience is for those who have time. And you and I both know time is a luxury in a room full of rulers."

Chris finally turned his head, his dark eyes meeting mine. There it was—the fire, the calculation, the quiet amusement that had always set him apart.

"Let them wonder," he said smoothly. "Let them wait."

I studied him for a moment before shifting my gaze to the gathering of sovereigns. Some watched with open curiosity. Others masked their unease behind polite smiles. Christiana sipped her wine, ever the enigma. Classic stood tall, bearing the weight of his father's expectations. Ethan remained unreadable, observing everything like the strategist he was.

And then there was Amal's father, the Emir of Saudi Arabia. His stare was sharp, assessing.

"They're not here to be entertained, Chris," I said quietly. "They came because they know you don't move without purpose."

His smirk deepened, but before he could respond, the herald's voice rang out again.

"Your Imperial Majesty, the rulers await your address."

The moment had arrived.

Chris stepped forward, lifting his glass. The entire hall fell into silence.

And I stood beside him—where I had always belonged.