ra’s POV

    My eyes narrowed as I stared at the man across the room. Gorden. Dora’s fiancé. This was an unexpected twist.

    It was clear now–Dora had run home, panicked, and told him everything aboutst night. I didn’t think she meant to cause trouble, but Gorden? bHe /bwas the kind of guy who would bend over backward to please anyone who’d listen, even if that meant working with the very monsters who bhad /btried to hurt Dora. He was thest person I expected to be standing here.

    A gasp filled the room. One of the soldiers jumped to his feet, pointing a finger at Thorne and me.

    “Well, well, looks like we’ve caught you red–handed,” he sneered. “What do you have to say for yourself, huh?”

    Thorne, ever unppable, crossed his arms, his face a mask of cold disdain. “I don’t intend to say anything. This is all nonsense.”

    “But you heard the witness,” the soldier persisted.

    “This man’s testimony is worthless!” I snapped. “You’ve got him here to frame us, haven’t youb? /bYou’re using him as your pawn in this sick game.”

    Lance, standing off to the side, let out a sigh. “Gamma ra, we’re not here for this. We’re trying to figure out who killed Dantan.”

    “Then why is his fiancé hiding in the shadows, huh?” I shot back, stepping toward Gorden. His face went ashen when I neared.

    “You’re not even the first one to witness anything,” I added, leaning down to meet his terrified gaze. “Where’s your fiancé?”

    Gorden stumbled over his words, his voice cracking, “She… she didn’t want toe.”

    “Oh? And why not?” I asked, my tone icy.

    He shifted ufortably, eyes darting away. Then he met Lance’s gaze, and I saw it. That sh of terror in Gorden’s eyes when he looked at Lance. That was all I needed to know.

    “My fiancé is too scared,” Gorden mumbled, his voice shaking. “She thought you’d hurt her if she came here. She sent me instead. You–you cold–hearted bastards.”

    A surge of fury rushed through me. I wanted to p him, to scream at him for being so spineless.

    Did he not realize the people standing before him, including Lance, were the very ones responsible for the pain Dora had suffered? If it hadn’t been for Thorne and me, Dora would’ve been lost by now–vulnerable and at the mercy of monsters like these.

    But before I could voice my anger, Thorne stepped forward, his steps heavy with purpose. Without a word, he swung his leg and kicked Gorden’s chest, sending him crashing into the wall. Gorden let out a strangled cry and spat blood onto the floor.

    “What the hell are you doing?!” someone shouted.

    The room exploded in chaos. Soldiers drew their des in a heartbeat, surrounding us in a tight circle.

    Thorne stood still, ring down at them as if they were ants at his feet. “Move one step closer and I’ll make you regret it,” he g

    Lance stepped forward, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear. “Thorne, are you trying to murder the witnessb? /bbDestroy /bthe evidenceb?/bb” /b

    Thorne turned slowly, eyes locked on the crowd. Everyone took an involuntary step back, including Lance. “I will not let some idiot nder me bin /bbfront /bof my people,” he said, voice cold as ice.

    “You invited me here, Lance,” Thorne continued, his voice low but carrying a dangerous edge. “You wanted my presence, so you better learn bto /bbdeal /bbwith /bit. If you keep pushing me, you’ll regret it. And trust me—you won’t like my temper.”

    b1/3 /b

    Lance’s face paled. He inhaled sharply, his eyes shing with a flicker of fear.

    The tension in the room was palpable, like the air itself had thickened. Everyone stood frozen, waiting for a single spark to Ignite the bchaos/b. I bstood /bnext to Thorne, heart hammering in my chest. It felt like the world was holding its breath.

    “Enough!” Lance finally barked. His voice was louder now, demanding. “Everyone–put your weapons down.”

    A murmur ran through the room as the soldiers hesitated, eyes flicking between Lance and Thorne.

    “I said, drop them,” Lance repeated, his voice firm now, though it held an undertone of difort. “This is not how we treat guests.”

    Reluctantly, the soldiers lowered their weapons, but their res never wavered.

    I raised an eyebrow, watching them closely. Lance was bending far more than I expected. But why? Was he afraid of Thorne? Or was he just ying a bigger game? I couldn’t tell yet, but I knew there was something more to his n.

    “Are we really going to let them walk free?” one of the soldiers questioned, his voice hesitant.

    Before Lance could respond, the door mmed open, and a new figure rushed inside.

    It was Andre.

    “My King!” Andre gasped, clearly winded from running. “Why wasn’t I included in the trial? Why am I not part of this investigation?”

    Lance forced a smile, his tone almost mocking. “Andre, I feared you were still too upset over your father’s death to deal with ball /bof this. But I’m d you’re

    here now.i” /i

    “What’s happening here?” Andre demanded, his eyes darting around the room. “Catch me up.”

    Lance nodded toward Gorden. “A witness hase forward.” He motioned to Gorden, who stood cowering in the corner, eyes wide. “He ims that Daron and ra were responsible for General Danton’s death.”

    Andre’s face twisted in disgust. “Bullshit!” he snarled, shaking his head.

    A ripple of whispers spread through the iroom/i. Everyone turned to Andre, looking confused and suspicious.

    “Are you sure about this?” one man asked, voice skeptical. “The witness said-”

    “I’m sure,” Andre interrupted, his voice growing louder. “My father didn’t die at anyone’s hands. He overdosed on drugs. He wasn’t murdered.”

    Gasps echoed through the room as people exchanged looks of disbelief.

    “And the marks on his body?” someone asked, their voice shaking.

    Andre’s posture stiffened, and he spoke with a voice that brooked no argument. “Last night, my father was in ba /bgood mood, so he took too much. More than he should’ve. I tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen. He started having a seizure. That’s when he bit his tongue off.”

    “He bit his tongue off?” someone whispered.

    Andre nodded. “Yes. I tried to help, but he went insane. He grabbed a de and tried to hurt me. We fought. That’s h

    got the cut on his throat.”

    The room fell silent. It was a shocking revtion. Everyone stared at Andre, but doubt still lingered in the air. Gorden straightened up, his face turning red with fury. “You’re lying!” he shouted. “Dora told me everything. She saw them kill Danton with her own eyes!”

    Andre’s eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward, his voice cold as steel. “I’m lying?” he asked, his tone dripping with disdain. “I’m bDanton’s /bbson/bb, /band I’m telling you what happened. Why would I lie about my own father?”

    b11:06 /bbWed/bb, /b30 bJul /bG

    People nodded, murmuring in agreement. Everyone knew how

    much Danton loved Andre.

    Then Andre did something no one expected. He stalked toward

    Gorden,

    grabbing him

    by the hair

    and

    yanking his head back.

    “You filthy

    liar,” Andre hissed..

    “You don’t

    get to

    tarnish my

    ame

    with

    your

    bullshit.

    You’ll

    pay for this.”

    “I didn’t-” Gorden stuttered, -eyed.

    wide-

    Andre ignored this insult.”

    him, his voice

    booming through the

    hall. “My King,

    this

    man’s execution. He has lied about

    bmy /b

    father’s bdeath/b,

    b, /band he will bpay /bbfor /b

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