The throne room did not breathe.
That was the only way Liora could describe the silence that followed the Demon King's words.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Dozens of powerful demons simply stared at her.
Like they were waiting for something.
For proof.
For a mistake.
For her to suddenly transform into some ancient monster from legend.
Liora rubbed the back of her neck.
"…This is awkward."
No one laughed.
Across the hall, several nobles were whispering to each other again.
"That's impossible…"
"The Star Witch died centuries ago."
"But the gate reacted."
"She could be lying."
Liora raised a hand.
"Just for the record," she said.
"I didn't claim to be anyone."
Her voice echoed lightly through the chamber.
A few nobles looked even more annoyed by that.
The horned noblewoman from earlier stepped forward again.
Her sharp crimson eyes never left Liora.
"The Crimson Gate disagrees."
Liora exhaled slowly.
"Great."
Cairis stood beside her.
Still silent.
Still watching the room carefully.
But Liora noticed something.
His posture had shifted slightly.
He wasn't just standing next to her anymore.
He was standing between her and the entire court.
Subtle.
But very deliberate.
The noblewoman continued.
"If she truly is connected to the Star Witch Queen, then her power should still exist."
Her voice carried easily across the chamber.
"Perhaps weaker."
"But not gone."
Several nobles nodded in agreement.
A tall demon from the western houses spoke up.
"Then let us test it."
Liora blinked.
"…Test what?"
The nobleman stepped closer.
"Your magic."
Cairis's voice cut through the room instantly.
"No."
The single word carried quiet authority.
The nobleman frowned.
"Your Highness"
"I said no."
The temperature in the room dropped slightly.
But the horned noblewoman didn't back down.
Her gaze shifted between Cairis and Liora.
"If she truly carries the power of the Star Witch Queen, then the kingdom deserves to know."
Liora crossed her arms.
"And if I don't?"
The woman smiled faintly.
"Then the court will assume the prince is protecting a dangerous fraud."
Several nobles murmured in agreement.
Cairis's wings shifted slightly behind him.
Liora noticed.
That usually meant he was about to become violent.
She sighed.
"…Fine."
His head snapped toward her.
"No."
"It's okay."
Liora stepped forward slightly.
"If it shuts them up."
His eyes narrowed.
"You don't know what they're trying to do."
"I have a pretty good guess."
She gave him a small look.
"I'm not completely helpless."
For a moment the tension between them thickened.
Finally, Cairis stepped back.
But his gaze remained sharp.
"If anything goes wrong…"
"I know."
She walked toward the center of the throne room.
The enormous space felt even larger now.
The nobles formed a loose circle around her.
Watching.
Waiting.
The horned noblewoman raised one hand.
A small crystal floated into the air above her palm.
"Ancient magic detection."
She placed the crystal on a nearby pedestal.
"If you truly carry the power of the Star Witch…"
Her eyes gleamed slightly.
"…the crystal will react."
Liora stared at the thing.
"…And if it explodes?"
The woman smiled.
"Then we will have our answer."
Comforting.
Liora took a slow breath.
She closed her eyes.
"Alright."
For a moment
Nothing happened.
The throne room remained silent.
The crystal sat perfectly still.
One of the nobles snorted.
"I told you"
Then the air shifted.
Liora felt it first.
That familiar pull deep inside her chest.
The same feeling she had near the Crimson Gate.
Like something ancient was waking up.
Her breathing slowed.
Magic stirred beneath her skin.
Unfamiliar.
Wild.
And far stronger than anything she had ever used before.
Her eyes opened.
They were glowing.
Silver light spilled faintly from her irises.
Several nobles gasped.
The crystal trembled.
Then
It exploded.
Not violently.
But in a burst of brilliant silver light.
The entire throne room was flooded with power.
Runes carved into the pillars ignited all at once.
The palace itself seemed to react.
Liora staggered.
The magic surged again.
Too strong.
Too fast.
"I.."
She grabbed her head.
Fragments of something ancient flashed through her mind again.
Battles.
Ancient cities.
A throne made of starlight.
And a voice
"Queen."
The floor cracked beneath her feet.
The nobles stepped backward.
Fear spreading across their faces.
"That power…"
"It's real…"
Cairis moved instantly.
He caught her before she collapsed completely.
"Liora."
His voice sounded sharper now.
Concern cutting through his usual calm.
She looked up at him.
Her vision still blurred with silver light.
"…I didn't mean to do that."
The nobles were no longer whispering.
Now they were staring at her with something else entirely.
Fear.
Respect.
And something dangerously close to awe.
The horned noblewoman's expression had changed too.
The smug confidence was gone.
Now she looked… uneasy.
"…Impossible."
From the throne, the Demon King watched everything silently.
Then he spoke.
And his voice carried across the entire chamber.
"It appears the court has its answer."
Silence fell again.
The nobles slowly stepped back.
None of them looked eager to challenge her anymore.
But Liora barely noticed.
Because deep beneath the palace
The Crimson Gate pulsed again.
Stronger than ever.
And somewhere beyond it
Azhrael had felt her power awaken.