Chapter 4 - The Unmasking
Back in the grand hall, the atmosphere had shifted from paralyzed shock to an electric, volatile tension. The nobles who had whispered accusations against Queen Helena now kept their eyes fixed on the marble floor, terrified of meeting the new gaze of Princess Elara.
Selene stood in the center of the aisle, cornered by the royal guards. Her face was flushed with anger, her silver silk gown stained with dust from her fall. "This is witchcraft!" she screamed, pointing a trembling finger at her sister. "That beast is a demon! It warped the ancient magic of the crown to save a false heir! Look at her eyes—she isn't human anymore!"
"Silence, Selene," King Aldric’s voice boomed through the hall, rich with a terrible, slow-burning realization. He walked down the dais, his heavy crown heavy on his brow, his expression hardened by grief and betrayal. "For years, you whispered in my ear. You planted the doubts about your sister’s birth, forged documents in the shadows, and twisted every court ceremony to your advantage."
"I did it for Aurelion!" Selene shrieked, tears of fury spilling over her lashes. "She was weak! She cared for the peasants, the beggars, the dirt of this kingdom! I was born to rule with an iron will!"
"You were born of ambition and deceit," a voice rang out from the arched entryway.
Every head turned. Queen Helena strode down the marble aisle, flanked by Captain Vane and the royal guard. Her gown was slightly creased from the dungeons, but her posture was immaculate, radiating a regal authority that commanded total silence.
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Selene’s breath caught in her throat. "Mother..."
"Do not call me that," Helena said coldly, stopping a few paces away from her younger daughter. "You traded your soul for a crown that was never meant for your head."
