Didi entered the throne hall alone for the first ten paces inside the established operational boundary.
The royal blood shield covered the floor in white-gold commands. Anyone following before she opened a protected line would trigger retaliation through the King.
Loccy's carried foundation and every remaining civilian circuit remained tied to that response. True Bearer held four Shards around Didi without assigning her as subject.
Crowned Frost spread beneath one boot and named only the ground she occupied, so no person beyond it became part of her claim.
"First pace clear," Aria said through Hajin's view from the doorway, "and the blood shield is searching for succession authority."
Didi stepped again, and the first two paces left no permanent frost behind after she moved beyond them.
Her protected line existed only because each new step connected to her planted position.
If she fell or accepted a Court title, every previous tile would return to the blood shield.
