omets above a ballroom that had once hosted monarchs, mercenaries, and monsters alike. Tonight, they bathed th

stood at the edge

glittering with stones that might've fed nations. Men in brocade whispered in corners, trading more than pleasantries. The champagne ta

nd Arielle, dressed in onyx satin and a crown of obs

erness had once whispered. "And y

ne, untouchable, remote. The kind of smi

surface, she w

d for a second too long. Who looked at her like a prize t

ered here for the masque. Not just fo

ess Pres

now unveiled like a blade unsheathed. Her

now one thing: Was she o

e a woman tra

ballroom, acknowledging greetings with a nod just shy of warm, just shy of col

e music

aling the beginning of

crown-shaped birthmark and eyes too blue to be trusted. Young, rich, and the subject of

extending a gloved

s of eyes tu

ring his first dance to the girl with no mother, no cro

ulated

ectl

, her hand sli

e, Your H

first chord. He led with polished grace, his steps steady, textbook, practiced to

nervous," he sai

d, spinning lightly benea

e. This room

t a sharp

, perhaps. He leaned in, and f

I rather

he could

ac

nd wasn

s pre

the music or the clinking glasses or the str

nd shattered. A shard sliced a fine red l

e anyone understoo

he violins wailed one final, pan

ood perfec

ne trail of blood followed. The shattered fl

hand tightene

bullet," h

at.

e screa

y the wrist, others fumbling for old service pistols tucked beneath ceremonial sashes. Security st

one of them bar

e didn

uard urged, reaching for he

r head once,

N

ice wa

kill me, they would've

-yes. But

connected to dynasties older than republics. Each with allie

precise shot, that her presence here wa

her a white silk handkerchief; she pressed it to t

One flute.

. And you ar

nger a stage-it was a

the rhythm of waltz, now quivered from the echoes of terror. Broken glass glittered like f

e stoo

k, but in c

s a blade. Ever

embling walls of etiquette. Others-seasoned, powerful, and unapologetically stra

cut minor, nearly ceremonial. But he

sash moved through the chaos like a dagger through

uc Del

fa

nce, as foreign pape

continent's shadows. A man with more titles than

her in seve

s voice was e

ot inj

n see

or wounds. They scanned for liabilities. For th

gave h

said, flicking two fingers

she re

plea. It wa

ust once. His versio

talk ab

soft, but diamond-sharp. "After you

did

. Only slightly-

ner of his mouth. The sub

dn't

t terri

her. For

r," he sna

she remembered, each with a holstered sidearm and the sa

her away-but only b

burned into her ba

-

take her to

aintings-one of Versailles' "hollow arteries," built in centuries past for queens t

f the hall s

m glass. He'd been assigned to her months ago, shortly after the court had officiall

wasn't

salute. Di

r, then nodded to

d lounge. Gilded wallpaper,

dressed as a

ped in witho

shut be

. But it was

questions. The kind that

crossing her l

inute

door open

chief advisor-a woman with pearls instead

gne," she said flatly, her eyes flicking to Ar

. One soft brea

shot because I

ploited an opening. I also think your positi

to be unwrapped onl

re an inv

ded like spi

stood,

ce in the Versailles vault

ur father forged to replace the cracks in th

to leave. T

other audience. Alone. Shall

said. "Tell hi

nodded,

-

the palace

qu

The quiet of watching

ardens. The same fountains played their rehearsed arc

thing had

ed the gl

as c

ice. Li

rk from a chandelier. A rogue camera flash mistaken for a shot

knew t

let. With intent. With

found. No trajectory tracke

palace wanted

han anything

wasn't prot

rotectin

had quietly reshap

neage a ledger. Her beauty a bargaining chip. B

o longer

as a

ld either we

rase

the bandage beneath her fingertip

moon shone ov

t. Wa

ve the world's m

lence, a singl

e had c

br

frac

et in a sli

freedom would not be gifted