The Breaking Point

Evelyne's heart pounded as Azrael's words settled over her.

"Now, we decide our own fate."

A declaration. A challenge.

King Aldric's expression remained unreadable, but the flicker of tension in his jaw betrayed him. For the first time, he looked at Evelyne not as his daughter—but as a variable he could no longer control.

She had always obeyed. Always trusted.

But now, trust was a shattered illusion.

Evelyne inhaled sharply, her hands curling into fists. "How long have you known?" Her voice was steady, but beneath it, fury simmered. "How long have you known I was never meant to just be a queen?"

Aldric did not answer immediately. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet, but unyielding. "Since before you were born."

Evelyne's stomach twisted.

Azrael didn't flinch. "Of course. The gods do not leave things to chance."

Evelyne's pulse roared in her ears. "And you never thought to tell me?"