Celine stormed through the palace halls, her fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms. Damian's words echoed in her mind.
"Stay out of this, Celine."
He had no right. No right to demand answers from her while keeping his own secrets locked away. No right to act as if she was some fragile thing that needed protecting. She wasn't fragile and she was done letting people decide things for her.
The moment she stepped into the grand court, she regretted it.
The room was packed with nobles, their judgmental whispers brushing against her skin like an irritating itch she couldn't scratch. They didn't even bother lowering their voices.
"She doesn't belong here."
"Did you see how King Damian had to defend her in the last meeting? She's nothing but a liability."
"A lost heir pretending to be a queen."
Celine exhaled slowly. She was not in the mood for this.
