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The silence broke first—
Not with words.
But with pressure.
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It spread through the court like an unseen force, pressing down on every noble, every guard, every breath.
Heavy.
Unbearable.
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"…What is this…?" someone whispered, voice shaking.
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Rosy didn't move.
Her gaze locked onto her father—
Unwavering.
Unyielding.
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And for the first time—
They weren't speaking as father and daughter.
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They were facing each other as equals.
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No.
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As enemies.
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"…You shouldn't have said that," her father said quietly.
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Not angry.
Not loud.
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But something beneath it—
Shifted.
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Dangerous.
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Rosy tilted her head slightly.
"…Which part?"
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A pause.
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"About destroying the world?"
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Her lips curved faintly.
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"I meant it."
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The pressure in the room spiked.
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Several nobles staggered back.
One collapsed to his knees.
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The Crown Prince stepped back instinctively, his expression no longer controlled.
"…This is madness—"
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"Leave."
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Rosy's voice cut through sharply.
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Not loud.
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But absolute.
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The prince froze.
"…What?"
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She didn't look at him.
Didn't acknowledge him.
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"Leave," she repeated.
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A beat.
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"Unless you want to die here."
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Silence.
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Then—
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Fear.
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Real fear.
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Because this time—
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She wasn't exaggerating.
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The prince hesitated.
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But then—
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He stepped back.
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"…Everyone out," he ordered.
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The court didn't wait.
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They rushed.
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Fast.
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Desperate.
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Within moments—
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The grand hall emptied.
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Leaving only two figures standing in the vast, silent space.
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And one—
Watching from the shadows.
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"…How dramatic," that familiar voice murmured softly.
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But neither of them acknowledged him.
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Because this—
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Wasn't his moment.
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It was theirs.
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Rosy exhaled slowly.
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"…Now we can speak properly."
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Her father studied her.
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Carefully.
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Like he was looking at something rare.
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Something dangerous.
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Something… unfinished.
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"You've accelerated faster than I predicted," he said.
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She shrugged slightly.
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"Maybe your seal wasn't as perfect as you thought."
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A faint smile.
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"No," he said quietly.
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"It was perfect."
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A pause.
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"You broke it."
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Silence.
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The air between them tightened.
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"…Then stop pretending you're in control," she said.
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His gaze darkened slightly.
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"…I never lost control."
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"Didn't you?"
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A beat.
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Rosy stepped forward.
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Slow.
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Deliberate.
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"…You sealed me because you couldn't control me."
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Another step.
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"You erased my memories because you were afraid I'd remember what I was."
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Another.
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"And now…"
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She stopped.
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Right in front of him.
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"You're watching me again."
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A pause.
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"…To see if I'll become something you can't stop."
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Silence.
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For a moment—
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Nothing moved.
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Then—
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"…You're not wrong."
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The answer came calmly.
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Easily.
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Rosy's eyes sharpened.
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"…But you're not right either."
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Before she could react—
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He moved.
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Fast.
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Too fast.
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His hand caught her wrist.
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And instantly—
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The world distorted.
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Not like before.
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Not a memory.
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Something else.
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Something deeper.
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Her vision blurred—
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The hall cracked—
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Reality itself—
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Shifted.
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"…What are you—"
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"You think you understand your power," his voice echoed.
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"But you've only touched the surface."
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The space around them fractured.
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Breaking into shards of light and darkness.
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Rosy's breath hitched.
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Not from fear—
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But from the overwhelming sensation.
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"…This isn't real," she whispered.
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"No," he said.
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"It's closer to the truth."
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The world shattered completely.
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And suddenly—
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They stood somewhere else.
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Endless.
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Dark.
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Empty.
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"…Where are we?"
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He released her wrist.
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"This," he said calmly—
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"is where I sealed you."
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Her heart skipped.
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Because she recognized it.
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That same darkness.
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That same silence.
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The prison.
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"…You locked me here," she said quietly.
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"Yes."
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A pause.
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"And you're still here."
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Her eyes widened slightly.
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"…What?"
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He stepped back.
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"Do you really think you've fully escaped?"
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The words hit—
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Hard.
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"…No."
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Her breath slowed.
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"…You left."
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A faint smile.
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"But not completely."
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The darkness shifted.
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And suddenly—
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Chains appeared.
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Not physical.
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Not visible.
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But she felt them.
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Wrapped around something inside her.
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"…You're still holding me back," she whispered.
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"Yes."
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No hesitation.
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No denial.
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"Because if I didn't—"
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His voice dropped.
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"You would already be gone."
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Silence.
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Rosy clenched her fists.
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"…Then remove it."
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A pause.
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Then—
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"No."
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Her eyes snapped to him.
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"…What?"
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"You're not ready."
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The answer came without hesitation.
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Her expression darkened.
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"…That's not your decision anymore."
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A faint smile.
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"It always was."
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The tension snapped.
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The darkness around them trembled.
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Because something inside her—
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Reacted.
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Strongly.
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"…You don't get to decide that," she said quietly.
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Her voice—
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Different now.
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Deeper.
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Not just hers.
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"You lost that right the moment you sealed me."
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The chains—
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Cracked.
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Just slightly.
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Her father's gaze sharpened.
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"…Careful."
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But she didn't stop.
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Because now—
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She felt it.
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That power.
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Not just waking—
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Fighting back.
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"I won't stay half-broken," she continued.
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Another crack.
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"I won't stay half-sealed."
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Another.
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"I won't be what you decided I should be."
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The darkness trembled violently now.
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"…Then what will you be?" he asked quietly.
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She lifted her gaze.
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Her eyes—
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Glowing again.
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Not faint.
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Bright.
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"…Everything."
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The word echoed.
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And the chains—
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Shattered.
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Not completely.
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But enough.
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The force of it exploded outward—
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Breaking the space apart—
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Shattering the darkness—
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And dragging them back—
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Into reality.
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The throne hall reappeared.
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Cracked.
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Shaking.
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Rosy stood in the center—
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Her power spilling out uncontrollably now.
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The air distorted around her.
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The ground beneath her feet fractured.
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Her father stood across from her—
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Still.
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Calm.
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But his eyes—
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Sharper than before.
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"…So you've chosen."
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She didn't hesitate.
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"I was never yours to control."
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Silence.
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Then—
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For the first time—
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He smiled.
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Not cold.
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Not calculating.
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Proud.
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"…Good."
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The word echoed softly.
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Because this—
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This was what he had been waiting for.
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A real challenge.
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And now—
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He finally had one.
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End of Chapter 15