In the Third Princess's Wing, a moment of silence reigned before the door quietly creaked open.
The king entered with slow, deliberate steps, his face carrying the weight only years could etch. This time, he did not bear the gaze of a ruler, but that of a father burdened with worry. The princess stood up as soon as he walked in, greeting him with a hesitant smile that quickly faded upon seeing the somber look on his face.
He sat across from her, looked into her eyes for a long moment, and then said in a soft voice:
"My daughter… today, Alpha will help us seal the fire that dwells within you."
She raised her eyebrows slowly, but said nothing. There was a hidden fear in her eyes that she dared not show.
The king continued, his voice heavier:
"But in return… we must be honest with you. The advisors and I have gathered a great deal of information in the past few days. We spoke with ancient storytellers, read forgotten records… and we discovered the truth."
