I never wanted to hurt anyone in my life.
The memory surfaced unbidden as I continued my relentless assault against Arthur, each strike carrying the weight of years of accumulated anguish. I had been three years old when I made that promise, standing in the sunlit gardens of the Ashbluff estate with the unwavering confidence that only a child could possess.
"I'll never hurt anyone," I had declared to my parents and Jin, my small fists clenched as though the gesture could bind the universe itself to honor my words. The conviction in my voice had made even my father smile—that rare expression of warmth that he reserved for moments when his children reminded him why ruling was worthwhile.
