The throne room was no longer calm.
It hadn't been since the night Liora lost control.
Now—
It felt like a battlefield disguised as a court.
Rows of nobles filled the chamber.
Not relaxed.
Not composed.
Tense.
Watchful.
Afraid.
And at the center of it all—
The throne stood elevated above them.
The Demon King sat in silence.
Observing.
Waiting.
Because this—
This was not a normal council.
This was a judgment.
Liora stood at the base of the throne steps.
Alone.
No guards at her side.
No chains.
But the distance between her and everyone else said enough.
They didn't trust her.
Not anymore.
Cairis stood beside her.
Silent.
Unmoving.
But his presence—
It was the only reason the room hadn't already turned hostile.
Across from them—
The nobles whispered among themselves.
Then—
One stepped forward.
The same horned noblewoman from before.
Her voice was clear.
Firm.
Controlled.
"Your Majesty."
The room fell silent instantly.
"We can no longer ignore the situation."
Her gaze flicked briefly toward Liora.
Not openly hostile.
But no longer neutral either.
"What we witnessed last night was not instability."
A pause.
"…It was a threat."
Murmurs spread.
Agreement.
Fear.
Liora didn't react.
But her chest tightened slightly.
The noblewoman continued.
"The Star Witch Queen has returned."
"And with her—"
Her voice lowered.
"…the same danger that nearly destroyed the world once before."
The words echoed across the chamber.
Heavy.
Calculated.
Deliberate.
Another noble stepped forward.
An older man.
His voice rough.
"We cannot allow history to repeat itself."
More murmurs.
More agreement.
Cairis's expression didn't change.
But the air around him—
Shifted.
Subtly.
Dangerously.
The nobleman turned toward the throne.
"We request immediate action."
The Demon King didn't respond.
Not yet.
Because he was waiting.
Watching.
Letting the court reveal itself.
A third noble stepped forward.
More aggressive this time.
"There are only two logical options."
The room went completely still.
"…Exile."
A pause.
"…or execution."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Liora felt it.
Not fear.
Not exactly.
But something colder.
Something sharper.
Because now—
It was real.
This wasn't whispers anymore.
This wasn't doubt.
This was a decision.
Her fate—
Being discussed like she wasn't even standing there.
Cairis moved.
Just slightly.
But it was enough.
Because the entire room felt it.
His voice cut through the silence.
"…Say that again."
The noble didn't hesitate.
"Exile."
Then—
"Or execution."
The air snapped.
Crimson energy surged faintly around Cairis.
Not enough to attack.
But enough to warn.
"You're speaking about her like she's already a problem to eliminate."
The noble's gaze didn't waver.
"She is."
That—
That was the wrong answer.
Cairis took a step forward.
The pressure in the room increased instantly.
"You're forgetting your place."
"And you're forgetting your responsibility."
Silence.
Because now—
This wasn't just about Liora.
This was Crown Prince vs the court.
The noble stepped closer.
"Your Highness, this is not personal."
Cairis's voice dropped.
"…It is."
The room trembled slightly.
The noblewoman stepped in quickly.
Trying to control the situation.
"Your Highness, no one is questioning your judgment."
"That's exactly what you're doing."
Her expression tightened.
"We are questioning the risk."
She gestured toward Liora.
"Her power is unstable."
"She is being influenced by the ancient god."
"And last night—"
Her voice sharpened slightly.
"She nearly destroyed part of the palace."
Liora's fingers curled slightly.
She didn't deny it.
Because she couldn't.
The noblewoman continued.
"If we allow this to continue—"
"We risk far more than political tension."
The implication was clear.
War.
Destruction.
History repeating itself.
Cairis's voice turned colder.
"…And your solution is to kill her."
"If necessary."
Silence.
Because that was the truth.
Unfiltered.
Unapologetic.
The Demon King finally spoke.
"Enough."
The single word silenced the entire room instantly.
His gaze moved slowly across the court.
Then—
Settled on Liora.
"You have heard their concerns."
Liora met his gaze.
Steady.
Calm.
Despite everything.
"Yes."
"Do you deny them?"
Silence.
She could.
She could lie.
Say she had everything under control.
Say she wasn't a threat.
But—
That wouldn't be true.
"…No."
The answer echoed.
And the room shifted again.
Because honesty—
Made it worse.
Liora exhaled slowly.
"My power is unstable."
Murmurs.
Agreement.
"I am still learning to control it."
More tension.
"But—"
Her voice didn't break.
Didn't waver.
"I am not your enemy."
Silence.
The words hung in the air.
Simple.
But heavy.
The nobleman scoffed.
"That's what you were last time."
Cairis's expression darkened instantly.
But Liora spoke before he could.
"…No."
Her voice sharpened slightly.
"That's what you decided I was."
The room stilled.
Because that—
That wasn't fear speaking.
That was something else.
Something stronger.
"I remember enough now."
Her chest tightened slightly.
"Enough to know that things weren't as simple as you're making them."
Her gaze moved across the nobles.
One by one.
"You're afraid."
No one denied it.
Because it was obvious.
"And I understand that."
Her voice softened slightly.
"But fear doesn't give you the right to decide what I am."
Silence.
The tension thickened.
Because now—
She wasn't just defending herself.
She was pushing back.
The noblewoman's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…And what would you suggest, then?"
Liora didn't hesitate.
"Give me time."
Murmurs.
Uncertainty.
"That's not enough," someone muttered.
"It is."
Her voice cut cleanly through the noise.
"I will learn to control this power."
"I will prove that I'm not a threat."
"And if I fail—"
She paused.
Just for a second.
Then finished—
"…then you can make your decision."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Because that—
That was a gamble.
Her life—
Balanced on her own ability to succeed.
The court shifted.
Uneasy.
Divided.
Some nodded.
Others didn't.
The nobleman stepped forward again.
"…And how long do you expect us to wait while you 'figure it out'?"
Liora didn't answer.
Because she didn't know.
And that—
That was the problem.
Before the tension could rise again—
Cairis spoke.
"…You'll give her that time."
His voice was quiet.
But absolute.
The noble turned to him.
"…And if we refuse?"
Cairis's eyes darkened.
"…You won't."
The threat was clear.
Unmistakable.
The room went silent again.
Because everyone understood what that meant.
If they pushed this—
It wouldn't just be a political decision anymore.
It would be conflict.
Open conflict.
The Demon King watched all of it.
Then—
Finally—
He stood.
The entire room straightened instantly.
His presence filled the chamber.
Commanding.
Unquestionable.
"The decision—"
Silence.
Everyone waited.
"…will not be made today."
Relief.
Tension.
Uncertainty.
All at once.
"You will have time."
His gaze moved to Liora.
"To prove your control."
Then—
To the court.
"And you will have time…"
"…to decide whether your fear is justified."
The message was clear.
This wasn't over.
Not even close.
But for now—
Liora wasn't condemned.
Not yet.
As the court began to disperse—
The tension didn't fade.
It shifted.
Into something slower.
More dangerous.
Because now—
Everyone was waiting.
Watching.
Judging.
And from the shadows—
Vael smiled.
"…Perfect."
Because the clock had started.
And this time—
There would be no stopping what came next.