"We can't allow this to happen," Damian said firmly, stepping closer to the throne.
King Lucien didn't speak right away. His gaze drifted toward the doors Evelina had exited through, and for a moment, the weight of kingship pressed heavily across his shoulders.
"I'm not ready to decide anything," Lucien said at last. "But I do know one thing—we already have a war brewing beneath our feet. It would be a mistake to provoke another if there's any path to avoid it."
"I know that, Father," Damian said. "Believe me, I do. But this isn't just about diplomacy or dragons or pearls. It's about her. She's more than you know—more than anyone here knows. She needs our protection."
Lucien stared back at him. "You think I don't know that?"
"No. I think you need to understand why."
And so, Damian opened up and shared everything with him.
