Tonia's POV
The collective intake of breath from the crowd hit me like a physical wave. Murmurs and shocked exclamations bounced off the stone walls as everyone tried to process what was happening.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the chamber as guards marched in formation, each pair carrying ornate ballot boxes that gleamed under the torchlight. The metal containers looked ancient, ceremonial, like they held the weight of history itself.
My knees nearly buckled as the reality crashed over me. Kermit had orchestrated this entire spectacle. For me. Without breathing a word of his intentions.
The chamber erupted into heated discussions as Council members and citizens alike debated what this unprecedented move meant. Voices rose and fell in passionate arguments, creating a symphony of chaos that made my head spin.
