Return of the Crowned Heiress

Felion watched the chaotic scene unfold, and a strange sense of familiarity washed over her as though she had seen this exact moment before. Before she could fully process the thought

In a flash, she lunged forward and ranked Mantice back in the nick of time

The knife, aimed with deadly precision, missed its mark and instead grazed Maurice’s left arm, cutting through his impeccably tailored wit and leaving only a shallow wound

No one had expected Felicia to intervene, let alone help Maurice

Even Stephan’s typically calm and nonchalant demeanor cracked with a rare expression of shock.

Amid the cham, a horrifying squelch broke the stunned silence. It was the sound of a blade cutting into flesh

Maurice had seized the life in mid–air, gripping it rightly. Without hesitation, he drove it into Imogen’s chest

Time seemed to stop.

The world fell into an eerie, suffocating stillness. It was as if they were left in a vacuum, leaving everyone watching the scene in stunned silence, their eyes wide with disbelief.

rewind, it would reveal everything that had happened in

men rushing to stop him, Maurice pushed Felicia aside and in a split second. plunged the knife

Imogen’s trail, pale figure collapsing

guest of wind brushed past Felicia’s ear as Stephan lunged forward, catching Imogen just before

several

fire burning in his eyes anger, hatred, and fury–was so intense it felt like it could reduce her to ashes. Felicia froze, unable to move for

second

subdued Maurice,

the clearing, chilling everyone to their core

pocket. Without hesitation, she

just as she reached forward, Stephan’s hand clamped down around her wrist, stopping her

I trust you,

with unprecedented coldness, disappointment, and a piercing sense of

knew that her earlier move to protect Maurice had shattered Stephan’s trust in her. From any angle, it looked like she had chosen Maurice’s sides. And, in

she finally found it was steady but bitter.