The scandal broke at dawn.
It spread faster than rumor. Faster than gossip. Faster than fear.
By the time Aerin reached the council hall, the city was already buzzing with a single whispered sentence:
"Elira killed someone."
The Accusation
A body had been found.
A minor noble.
Unimportant.
Politically useful.
The wound?
A blade.
Precise.
Clean.
Exactly Elira's reputation.
By the time Elira entered the chamber with Mira and Aerin, the room was already hostile.
Whispers crawled over her like insects.
"…of course it was her…"
"…assassin queen…"
"…we warned you…"
Elira blinked.
"I did not stab anyone," she said softly.
Valessara stood near the center — calm, composed, devastatingly satisfied.
"What a coincidence," Valessara murmured, "that a trained killer lives in the palace."
Elira stiffened.
Mira stepped closer to her.
Aerin's jaw tightened.
Valessara's Dirty Move
Valessara turned to the council, voice smooth as poison.
"We cannot allow sentiment to blind us," she said. "This kingdom deserves safety."
She gestured toward Elira.
"If she is innocent, an investigation will prove it."
Elira whispered, "She wants me afraid."
Aerin squeezed her hand briefly.
"You're not alone."
Valessara tilted her head.
"And if she is guilty," Valessara continued,
"then we must admit the truth — the King's household is dangerous."
The words struck like a knife.
A noble shouted,
"We cannot be ruled by an assassin!"
Another cried,
"Exile her!"
The room heated.
Elira's Breaking Point — and Strength
Elira's breathing quickened.
Her hands shook.
Her instincts screamed: Fight. Escape. Silence them.
Instead…
She spoke.
"I have killed," Elira said honestly. "I will not pretend I haven't."
Gasps.
"But I did not do this," she said, voice trembling but firm.
"And I will not run from truth."
The chamber quieted.
Mira watched her with quiet pride.
Valessara smiled thinly.
"Pretty words," she said. "But words don't change blood."
Cassian Cracks
Cassian stood near the wall — pale, exhausted, pulled in too many directions.
Valessara turned to him sharply.
"You found the body," she said. "Tell them."
Cassian froze.
Aerin noticed the tension immediately.
Cassian swallowed.
"…Yes," he said quietly. "I was ordered to secure the scene."
"By who?" Aerin asked.
Cassian hesitated.
Valessara's eyes burned into him.
Cassian's voice trembled.
"…By Queen Valessara."
The room exploded.
Valessara snapped,
"Watch your tongue!"
Cassian shook.
"You told me to keep quiet," he said.
"You told me it would 'solve a problem.'"
A hush fell — thick, suffocating.
Cassian looked at Aerin like a man drowning.
"I'm tired," he whispered.
"I'm tired of being used."
Valessara stared at him — betrayed, furious, exposed.
The Reveal
Mira stepped forward calmly.
"We investigated quietly," she said.
She placed documents on the table.
"The murder weapon was planted."
Gasps.
"Elira's blade," Mira continued, "was stolen."
Elira's eyes widened.
"I wondered where it went," she murmured.
Aerin stared at Valessara.
"You framed her."
Valessara laughed sharply.
"Speculation."
Elira tilted her head.
"You tried to break me," she said softly.
Valessara's gaze flickered.
"I won't break," Elira continued.
"I won't become the monster you want."
Aerin's Power Play
The room buzzed — nobles uncertain, frightened, recalculating.
Aerin stepped forward.
For once…
He didn't hesitate.
He didn't soften.
He commanded.
"Enough."
Silence fell like thunder.
Aerin's voice was iron.
"Elira is cleared."
He turned to the council.
"And any attempt to manipulate justice will be punished."
Then he looked directly at Valessara.
"If you want war," he said quietly,
"you will not fight a boy anymore."
Valessara stared at him — seeing, for the first time, a King.
Not hesitant.
Not gentle.
Dangerous.
Elira's Emotional Aftermath
Later, in the gardens, Elira sat shaking.
"I almost lost myself," she whispered.
Aerin knelt beside her.
"But you didn't."
She laughed weakly.
"I wanted to stab half the council."
Mira smiled faintly.
"Restraint doesn't erase instinct. It controls it."
Elira leaned into Aerin.
"I stayed," she said softly.
"I trusted you."
Aerin hugged her tightly.
"I will always protect you."
Cassian's Collapse
That night, Cassian stood alone in the corridor.
Aerin found him staring at nothing.
"I don't know who I am anymore," Cassian admitted quietly.
Aerin rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Then we'll figure it out."
Cassian exhaled — relieved, broken, grateful.
Valessara's Vow
From her chamber balcony, Valessara watched the palace lights glow.
Her plan had failed.
But she had learned something crucial.
Elira could be attacked emotionally.
Cassian could be fractured.
Aerin could be provoked into strength.
Valessara smiled slowly.
"Good," she murmured.
"Now it becomes fun."
Final Beat
That night, Elira curled beside Aerin.
"Do you think I am dangerous?" she asked quietly.
Aerin kissed her forehead.
"Yes," he said gently.
"And that's why I trust you."
The Harem Alarm chimed — sharp, alive, escalating.
The war had turned real.