Chapter 200: Confirming the Rumours Chapter 200: Confirming the Rumours His words would determine their next actions, whether they would continue to seek alliances through the second princess or quietly withdraw and change their target.

Behind him, his family followed in a solemn procession.

Queen Chioma walked at his side, her expression unreadable.

On his other side sat the Queen Mother, her regal posture unwavering, though the tension in her features was unmistakable.

And behind them, the royal children stood in formation.

At the very front, standing tall, eyes forward, was Nnenna.

Her presence alone sent a ripple through the crowd.

Just days ago, they had looked at her with admiration, whispering about her talents, praising her victories.

Now, their gazes held something different, curiosity, uncertainty, and for some, thinly veiled disdain.

But she did not falter.

She had walked into this storm with her head held high, and she would not lower it now.

The courtyard fell into a hushed silence as King Ikechukwu stepped forward, his regal presence commanding attention.

The golden torches lining the area flickered, casting long shadows as the anticipation in the air grew thick.

He looked over the crowd, his gaze firm yet composed.

The nobles, ministers, and foreign dignitaries sat stiffly, their expressions ranging from curiosity to quiet unease.

His own family stood behind him, their postures straight, their expressions unreadable, except for Nnenna, whose gaze remained unwavering.

The king exhaled slowly, then spoke, his deep voice resonating through the courtyard.

“People of Lionara, esteemed guests from allied and neighboring kingdoms, I stand before you this early morning to address the matter that has spread throughout these halls and social medias.” The murmurs in the crowd quieted instantly, every ear tuned in to his next words.

“Yes, it is true.

Princess Nnenna Achebe is not my daughter by birth, but by choice.

Ten years ago, while overseeing the care of orphans in the capital city, I came across a child, a girl whose presence struck me with an unexplainable familiarity.

she was young, there was a fire in her eyes, a quiet strength that

soldiers of this very kingdom

glances, processing

the gravity of his

continued, his

my decision, not as a king, but as a man, as a

not as an act of

daughter, yes, but more importantly, I wanted my own daughter to have someone beside her,

Achebe became a princess of Lionara.”

who had once fawned over

on with

the royal siblings, Ebere clenched her fists, keeping her expression carefully neutral, though a storm brewed behind

father’s words,

grew firmer, his gaze sweeping

our family and raised

less than a daughter of this

that is

the circumstances of her birth, she has proven

in this gathering were not

this family, in this kingdom, she is loved and cherished.”

a moment, there

nobles, those who had remained neutral, began nodding

clapped politely, though others remained stiff, their

foreign delegations, Prince Minjun

murmured under

wary glances, already recalculating their political

his second sister, scoffed

really is a nobody,” she

through it all, finally spoke, her voice calm yet

once denied my

neither will I apologize for them.” The crowd shifted uneasily, her words carrying a quiet

looked at her, a flicker of approval crossing his

and it

this revelation do so at their

change.” With

before slow applause began, hesitant at first, but gradually

clapped out of obligation, others with genuine

alliances were being reconsidered, opinions

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