Author's Note: Do Not Unlock Yet. Chapter Is Still Under Construction.
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Victor raised a hand. "her own. She is the princess of Blueflame City. She gave me those anchor shards of her own will—both inside the palace and outside of it—twice. I did what I promised: I protected her when others could not."
"There are witnesses!" Wenzhou spat. "She was missing. You were missing. How am I to believe that nothing is… exploitative between you two?"
Xuan Qing marched forward, her guard trailing behind. She tore her gaze from Victor to her father. "*You* believed that first time. The second time, I made the choice *again*. Is that not enough to be your final word?"
The Lord's face glinted with internal conflict. The palace gathered—a throng of dignitaries, soldiers, advisors—tension boiling over their prickling robes.
Silence swelled.
