The throne room felt colder than before.
Not physically.
But in the way people looked at her.
Liora walked beside Cairis in silence.
Every step echoed.
Every gaze followed.
No whispers this time.
No quiet judgment.
Just open certainty.
They had already decided.
This meeting—
Was just a formality.
The court was full again.
Every noble present.
Every seat occupied.
Even the ones who had stayed silent before.
Now—
They all had something to say.
Liora stopped at the center of the chamber.
Cairis stood beside her.
Unmoving.
Unyielding.
The Demon King sat above them.
Silent.
Watching.
Waiting.
But this time—
There was no patience in the room.
The moment they arrived—
A voice cut through the silence.
"We cannot delay this any longer."
The same nobleman stepped forward.
No hesitation.
No restraint.
"The attack confirms everything we feared."
Murmurs of agreement followed immediately.
"She is unstable."
"She attracts danger."
"She cannot be controlled."
Each word hit like a hammer.
Not because they were loud—
But because they were repeated.
Reinforced.
Accepted.
Liora didn't react.
Didn't argue.
Not yet.
Another noble stepped forward.
More composed.
But no less firm.
"We gave her time."
"And within that time—"
He gestured toward her.
"…this happened."
Silence.
The implication was clear.
She had already failed.
Cairis stepped forward slightly.
"…She was attacked."
"That doesn't change the outcome."
"It changes everything."
"No."
The noble's voice hardened.
"It proves she is the problem."
The tension snapped.
Cairis's eyes darkened instantly.
"…Careful."
But the noble didn't back down this time.
Because now—
They weren't afraid of him alone.
They were afraid of what would happen if they did nothing.
"This is no longer about trust, Your Highness."
"This is about survival."
More voices joined in.
Stronger.
Bolder.
"If we wait any longer—"
"We risk everything!"
"The world cannot afford another Star Witch Queen!"
That name again.
Thrown like a weapon.
Used like a verdict.
Liora's fingers curled slightly at her sides.
Her chest tightened.
But she stayed silent.
Listening.
Because now—
She needed to hear exactly where they stood.
Then—
The noblewoman stepped forward again.
Calm.
Controlled.
Final.
"…Your Majesty."
The room stilled.
"We are ready to present our conclusion."
The Demon King didn't interrupt.
Didn't stop her.
Because he already knew.
"Exile is no longer sufficient."
Silence.
Liora felt it before the words came.
That shift.
That final step.
"Execution is the only viable option."
The room went completely still.
No murmurs.
No hesitation.
Just—
Agreement.
This time—
No one argued.
Because fear had already won.
Cairis moved.
Not subtly.
Not slowly.
The air in the throne room changed instantly.
Crimson energy flooded the space.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Unforgiving.
"…No."
The single word cut through everything.
The noblewoman didn't flinch.
"Your Highness—"
"I said no."
The pressure increased.
Cracks formed faintly along the marble floor.
The court tensed.
Some stepped back.
Others held their ground.
But no one spoke over him.
"You don't get to decide that."
His voice dropped.
Dangerous.
Cold.
Absolute.
"She is not something you can eliminate when it's convenient."
"She is a threat."
"She is under my protection."
That—
That was it.
That was the line.
Clear.
Unmistakable.
And irreversible.
The nobleman stepped forward again.
"…Then you are choosing her over the kingdom."
Silence.
Cairis didn't hesitate.
"…Yes."
The word echoed.
Heavy.
Final.
Everything stopped.
Because that—
That changed everything.
The court erupted.
"You cannot—!"
"This is unacceptable!"
"You would risk everything for her?!"
Voices clashed.
Anger rose.
Fear turned into outrage.
And through it all—
Liora stood still.
Watching.
Listening.
Understanding.
Because now—
It was clear.
This wasn't going to end peacefully.
"Enough."
The Demon King's voice cut through the chaos.
The room fell silent instantly.
His gaze moved slowly between them.
Then settled on Cairis.
"…You would defy this court."
"Yes."
No hesitation.
"…And me?"
Silence.
For one second.
Then—
"Yes."
The room froze.
Because that—
That was rebellion.
Not subtle.
Not implied.
Spoken.
Clearly.
Openly.
The Demon King studied him.
Long.
Carefully.
Then—
"…And you?"
His gaze shifted to Liora.
"Do you accept this outcome?"
Silence.
Liora's chest tightened.
This was it.
The moment where everything would break.
Not just for her.
For him.
For the palace.
For everything.
She looked at Cairis.
Really looked at him.
And for the first time—
She saw it clearly.
What this would cost him.
Everything.
His position.
His authority.
His place in this world.
All of it—
For her.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"…No."
The word was quiet.
But it echoed.
Cairis's gaze snapped to her.
"…Liora."
She didn't look away from the throne.
"I don't accept it."
Her voice steadied.
"But I'm not letting you destroy everything for me either."
Silence.
Because that—
That wasn't what anyone expected.
She stepped forward.
Just slightly.
"I'll leave."
The words landed cleanly.
Cold.
Final.
The room stilled again.
"…What?"
Cairis's voice dropped.
Sharp.
"No."
"Yes."
She turned to him.
Calm.
Certain.
"If I stay—this turns into a war."
"I don't care."
"I do."
Her voice didn't rise.
But it didn't waver either.
"I'm not worth that."
His eyes darkened.
"…Don't say that."
"It's true."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Liora exhaled slowly.
"…I need to figure this out."
"Then we do it here."
"No."
Her gaze softened slightly.
"But firm."
"Not here."
"Not like this."
She looked back at the throne.
Then at the court.
Then finally—
At him.
"…If I stay, they'll never stop."
"And if I leave—"
Her voice lowered.
"…at least I get to choose what happens next."
Silence.
Because that—
That was freedom.
Dangerous.
Uncertain.
But hers.
Cairis stepped forward.
"…You're not going alone."
Liora shook her head slightly.
"Yes, I am."
"No."
His voice was immediate.
Absolute.
"I'm not letting you walk into that alone."
"You don't have a choice."
"I do."
Silence.
Because now
They were at another standstill.
Another impossible decision.
The Demon King watched it all.
Then
"…Enough."
The room stilled again.
His gaze settled on Liora.
"…If you leave."
A pause.
"You do not return without control."
Clear.
Final.
Liora nodded once.
"…Understood."
Then
His gaze shifted to Cairis.
"…And you."
Silence.
"…If you follow her."
The tension sharpened.
"You do so as no longer Crown Prince."
The words landed like a blade.
Everything
Gone.
Title.
Power.
Authority.
All of it.
Silence.
The entire room held its breath.
Waiting.
Watching.
For his answer.
Cairis didn't hesitate.
"…Then I'm not Crown Prince."
The room broke.
Gasps.
Shock.
Disbelief.
But he didn't look at them.
Didn't acknowledge any of it.
His gaze stayed on Liora.
Unmoving.
Certain.
And in that moment—
Everything changed.
From the shadows
Vael smiled.
Slowly.
Satisfied.
"…Finally."
Because this
This was what he had been waiting for.
The moment where everything broke.
The moment where the path forward—
Could no longer be undone.