Levi's voice, calm, warm, and filled with what sounded like genuine emotion, filled the bar.

"My dear people of Ascaria. In the quiet moments after the storm, when the dust begins to settle, we have a choice. We can cling to the remnants of what was, to the familiar comforts of a broken system. Or, we can look towards the horizon, towards the dawn of a new day, and together, build something truly extraordinary."

"The passing of King has left a void, a moment for reflection. And in that reflection, the truth has become undeniable: the path we were on was leading us astray. The foundations of our society, meant to uphold justice and prosperity, had become riddled with decay. The voices of the many were drowned out by the greed of the few."

"But despair is not our destiny. This moment of upheaval is also an opportunity – a chance to reclaim the ideals upon which Ascaria was founded. To build a nation where every voice matters, where every citizen has the chance to flourish, where compassion and fairness guide our every action."

"I have seen the hardship endured by so many. I have heard the whispers of injustice, the cries for change. And I tell you now, those cries have not gone unheard. The actions taken in recent days, though perhaps unsettling, were not born of malice or a thirst for power. They were born of a profound belief in the potential of our people, a deep-seated conviction that we deserve better."

"This is not my revolution alone. This is our revolution. It requires courage, yes, but more importantly, it requires unity. It requires us to look beyond the divisions of the past and to embrace a shared vision for the future – a future where our children can grow up in a land of opportunity, where justice prevails, and where the spirit of Ascaria shines brightly for all the world to see."

"Let us not be defined by the fear of change, but by the hope of what we can become. Let us work together, hand in hand, to heal the wounds of the past and to build a future worthy of our dreams. The journey ahead may not be easy, but I believe in the strength, the resilience, and the inherent goodness of the people of Ascaria. Let us rise to this moment, together."

He offered a warm, hopeful smile as the image on the screen faded, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.

The bar was silent, every eye glued to the screen. Levi's image, softer, more human than I'd seen him in days, filled the space. His voice resonated with a warmth I hadn't heard in what felt like a lifetime.

A strange feeling washed over me. Part of me, the part that still clung to the memory of his gentle touch, his shared laughter, wanted to believe those words. Wanted to believe that the man I loved was still in there, buried beneath the weight of his ambition and the brutal efficiency I had witnessed.

But another part of me, the part that still recoiled at the memory of the terrified faces in the council chamber, felt a cold dread creeping in. His words were beautiful, moving even. But were they genuine? Or was this just another carefully crafted performance?

Around me, I saw a shift in the faces of the crew. The earlier awkwardness and fear seemed to be replaced by a flicker of hope, a sense of possibility. They were buying it. They wanted to believe in this vision of a brighter future.

And that scared me more than anything. Because I knew the price of that future. I had seen it in the terrified eyes of the fallen nobles. And I couldn't shake the feeling that the charm and sincerity on the screen were just another mask, hiding the ruthless Devil I had glimpsed in the heart of the palace. "Ah, fuck..." I murmured under my breath.

"He's good," Finn murmured beside me, his gaze fixed on the now-faded image. "Really good. He makes you... believe him."

Maya nodded slowly, her brow still slightly furrowed. "It sounds... right. Like things really could change for the better."

Their words were like tiny knives twisting in my gut. They didn't know. They hadn't seen the cold, calculating glint in his eyes as he orchestrated the downfall of an entire social order. They hadn't heard the sickening thud of his polished shoe against a nobleman's face. They hadn't smelled the vomit that had risen in my throat.

"Yeah," I managed, my voice barely a whisper, the lie tasting like ash in my mouth. "He's... persuasive."

I needed to get out of here. The forced cheerfulness, the burgeoning hope in their eyes, it was all too much. "I... I think I need some air," I mumbled, pushing myself to my feet. "It's getting a little crowded in here."

Maya and Finn exchanged concerned glances. "Are you okay, Raphael?" Maya asked softly, her hand reaching out to touch my arm.

I forced a weak smile. "Yeah, just... a little overwhelmed. All the... excitement."

"I'll come with you," Finn offered, standing up as well. "Fresh air sounds good."

I nodded gratefully, relieved to have an ally in my retreat. We made our way through the crowded bar, the well-wishes and optimistic chatter about the "new era" washing over me like a suffocating wave.

Finn stood beside me in silence for a moment. "You don't seem convinced," he said finally, his voice low and thoughtful. "By Levi's speech."

A shiver traced its way down my spine. "I can still hear the heels of his shoe echoing in the council room, Finn," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

I took a shaky breath, trying to reconcile that brutal image with the charismatic figure on the screen. "But... you're right. He is intelligent. Calculating. Charismatic. He knows how to sway people. He's playing the long game. And... and he'll probably be a great ruler," I conceded, the words tasting like ash in my mouth.

Finn said something that made me jump out of my skin.

“What ruler, Raphael? He is gonna abolish monarchy, as a system. We will probably switch to democracy.”

My breath hitched, and I physically recoiled, stepping back as if Finn had struck me. "What?" The word escaped in a strangled whisper, my mind reeling. Democracy? The thought had never even crossed my mind. All the talk of a 'new era', 'progress', I had just assumed it meant a different kind of monarchy, with Levi at the helm. But democracy?

"But... he never said anything about that," I stammered, my eyes wide with disbelief. "He just... he ended the monarchy. He never mentioned... the people ruling."

My understanding of Levi's plans, already fractured and terrifying, just shattered into a million pieces.

Finn looked at me, his expression a mixture of surprise at my reaction and a thoughtful seriousness. "Well, think about it, Raphael. He dissolved the nobility, right? And in his speech, did he ever mention himself taking the crown? He talked about 'true representation for all citizens,' 'provisional councils,' 'building a nation where every voice matters.'"

He gestured with his hands. "That's not the language of someone who wants to be the next king. That sounds like... well, like democracy. A system where the people have a say in how they're governed."

“Do you, really think that? That Levi will not have the crown?” I asked him while trembling, praying that he was right.

Finn looked thoughtful for a moment, his gaze fixed on the distant city lights. "I don't know for sure, Raphael," he admitted, his voice cautious. "But based on what he's said publicly, and the sheer scale of what he's done... dismantling the entire nobility? That's not paving the way for a new king from some other noble line. And if he wanted the crown himself, wouldn't he have just... taken it? Declared himself the new monarch?"

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He turned back to me, his expression earnest. "It feels like he's aiming for something bigger, something more fundamental. A real shift in power. Democracy... it fits with the language he used. But," Finn added, his brow furrowing slightly, "that doesn't mean it won't be his version of democracy. He's still incredibly powerful. He could shape it, control the transition. But the idea of abolishing the monarchy entirely... it seems to align with the radical steps he's already taken."

The thought of a democracy, even one orchestrated by him, felt somehow less suffocating than the prospect of his absolute rule.

“You know Finn… I think you are half right. The half reason why Levi didn’t seize the crown, yeah... He would think that the crown is beneath him if he could so easily take it. Instead, he crushed to crown to the dust. Yeah, that’s more like Levi.”

A dark, almost admiring chuckle escaped Finn. "You might be right, Raphael. That... that actually sounds very Levi. Why just take the throne when you can dismantle the entire system it represents? Crushing the crown to dust... yeah, that's a statement. That's power on a whole other level." He looked at me, a flicker of something akin to awe in his eyes, quickly replaced by concern. "But that doesn't necessarily make things less dangerous, does it? A Levi who sees himself as being above the crown... what does that even look like?"

I swallowed hard, the implications of Finn's words sinking in like a stone in my gut. "It looks like... absolute control," I said slowly, the chilling realization dawning on me. "If he doesn't want the crown, it's not because he doesn't want power. It's because he wants all the power. No figurehead, no tradition to answer to. Just... him. Shaping everything from the ground up."

A monarch, even a tyrannical one, operated within a framework, however twisted. But a Levi who saw himself as beyond such constraints? That was a different kind of terrifying altogether.

"He wouldn't be ruling," I continued, my voice barely a whisper. "He'd be... orchestrating. Pulling every string. And who could question him? What authority would there be to challenge someone who dismantled the very notion of authority?"

"You're right," he said slowly, his gaze troubled. "That's... a terrifying thought. A ruler who doesn't even need the symbol of the crown to wield absolute power. It's like removing the guardrails. What's to stop him then?"

He ran a hand through his hair, his usual easygoing demeanor completely gone. "And a democracy... if he sets it up, it'll be his democracy, won't it? With rules and structures designed to keep him in control without ever having to wear a crown. It's almost... more insidious."

I shook my head, trying to push away the growing sense of dread. "No," I said, my voice laced with a desperate attempt at conviction. "Levi... he wouldn't play dirty like that. He wouldn't go through all this, dismantle everything, just to subtly install himself in power through some rigged democracy. That's... beneath him. If he wanted control, he would have just taken it, openly."

I paused, trying to piece together the fragments of the man I thought I knew. "He's always been... grand in his gestures, even in his ruthlessness. Crushing the crown, abolishing the monarchy... that's a statement. Setting up a puppet democracy would be... small. Unsatisfying for someone with his ambition."

Finn considered my words, his brow furrowed in thought. "Maybe you're right," he conceded slowly. "The sheer scale of what he's done... it does feel like he's aiming for something truly transformative, not just a reshuffling of power at the top. But transformative doesn't necessarily mean benevolent, does it?"

He looked at me, his gaze searching. "What if he sees himself as the architect of this new system? He might not want the crown, but he could still see himself as the ultimate guiding force, the one who ensures it all works the way he envisions. It might not be about playing dirty, Raphael, but about believing he knows what's best for everyone, and having the power to make it happen."

“I don’t know. It is kinda hard to explain his logic. But think of it like this. There is one thing enjoys. Thrill of the chase. If there is nothing to chase anymore, then what’s left? Him, in the office, signing documents? No, he would be bored. I think… He will actually will bring democracy, without his way.”

He leaned back slightly, considering the implications. "So, democracy... not as an act of altruism, but as the next, more complex game? Setting up the pieces, guiding the players, but not necessarily dictating every move? That's... a very different kind of ambition." A shiver ran down his spine. "Almost more unsettling, in a way. Like he's playing with the entire nation as his board."

"Exactly, Finn," I said, my voice heavy with the weight of that thought. "He was on the hunt for fifteen years. Fifteen years of planning, of gathering evidence, of waiting for the opportune moment. And now... the hunt has ended. The prey has been caught, the old order dismantled."

I looked out at the city lights, the vibrant energy now seeming cold and indifferent. "What happens to the hound when the chase is over? Does it simply lie down and become... domestic? Or does it find a new scent, a new game to pursue? And what will that new game be? Will it still involve teeth and claws?"

Finn's gaze followed mine, his expression somber as he considered my analogy. "A hound without a hunt... it could become restless, unpredictable. It might even turn on those closest to it if it doesn't find a new focus for its energy."

He turned back to me, his eyes filled with a renewed concern. "And you... you're the one closest to him. If he's looking for a new game, a new challenge... what does that mean for you?"

"I don't know, Finn," I admitted, my voice flat and devoid of emotion. "I haven't even spoken to him in a week. Not a word. It's like... I'm living in a completely different world now. The man I knew, the life we had... it all feels like a distant dream. And this new reality, with him at the center of it... I don't understand it. I don't understand him anymore."

Finn's brow furrowed with concern. "Has he tried to reach out at all?”

“Well. The last text he sent me was ‘The king died.’ So he is not exactly the chatty type. You know, Finn," I said slowly, my voice taking on a more analytical tone, "thinking about this... in a less emotional, more detached way... this is probably the most modern, the least bloodshed revolution any nation has ever seen in history."

I gestured vaguely. "No armies clashing in the streets. No mass uprisings. Just... a swift, decisive dismantling of the old guard with a snap of his fingers and decades of meticulously gathered evidence. Terrifying, yes, but also... strangely revolutionary in its methodology."

Finn nodded slowly, his initial shock giving way to a grudging acknowledgment of my point. "You're right," he conceded, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. "No barricades, no widespread violence... just a swift surgical removal of the old power structure. It's... unsettlingly efficient. Like he anticipated every move, every potential resistance."

He paused, considering the implications. "It makes you wonder what his long-term vision truly is. To pull off something like this with so little chaos... it suggests a level of planning and control that's almost superhuman. And if this is the 'clean' version of his revolution, what's he capable of if things get messy?"

A cold dread washed over me, the casualness of Levi's past words echoing with a chilling resonance in the present. "I asked him that once," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "What would happen if the dam breaks? If his plans went wrong?"

The memory of his response sent a shiver down my spine. "'Significant collateral damage,'" I repeated, the coldness of his tone echoing in my mind. "'A rapid and irreversible shift in the established order.'"

Finn's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of alarm crossing his features. "That's... incredibly cold. It's like he's talking about an experiment, not people's lives."

"Exactly," I said, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. "If there were chaos, open rebellion, something tangible to point to and say, 'This is wrong,' it would be easier to walk away. To draw a line. But this..." I gestured vaguely at the city beyond the bar. "This is insidious. He hasn't just seized power; he's captivated people. He's offered them a dream, a vision of a better future, and they're buying it."

Finn was silent for a long moment, his gaze distant as he seemed to absorb the weight of my words. The sounds of the bar, the distant city hum, faded into the background.

"So what now, Raphael?" he asked finally, his voice low and serious. "If you feel like you're just a pawn in his game, what are you going to do?"

A decision, a course of action, however daunting, would eventually need to be taken.

"So, what's left?" I asked, the question more a statement of despair than a genuine inquiry. "Stay here, pretending everything is normal, while he reshapes the world? Live every day wondering if I'm just another piece in his grand design, waiting to be moved or sacrificed?"

I shook my head, a sudden resolve hardening my features. “Running... skipping countries... living in constant fear? That's no life. He'd cast a shadow over every moment, every decision. So, running is out. Staying feels like a slow suffocation. What's left... is facing him. On my terms, if that's even possible. I need to understand. I need to see the man behind the charming revolutionary, behind the ruthless dictator. And maybe... maybe then I can figure out what to do next."

Finn watched me, his expression a mixture of concern and a dawning respect. "Facing him... that's a dangerous game, Raphael. Are you sure you're ready for that?"

The decision to confront Levi, however terrifying, felt like the only path forward that offered even a sliver of agency. Running would be a life lived in fear, and staying in the periphery felt like a slow erosion of my very being. Stepping back into his world, on my own terms, was a gamble, but perhaps it was the only way to truly understand the monster my husband had become – and to decide what my own role in this new world would be.