The formal entrance of the main West-Seu delegation was not a diplomatic visit; it was a demonstration of power and an assertion of ancient rights.
They entered the Grand Court not with the quiet politeness of merchants, but with the commanding presence of true royalty. Their robes were richer, their jewelry heavier with rare stones, and their demeanor was one of utter, ancient confidence. The lead delegation included not only Kofo, the diplomat, but also General Jahi, a scarred, powerful military leader, and a council elder who carried the royal seal of West-Seu.
The sheer, overwhelming presence of the delegation immediately shifted the balance of power in the Joseon court. The Joseon nobles, having barely recovered from the treasonous internal plot, suddenly felt acutely provincial and isolated.
The purpose of the delegation was made immediately and dramatically clear. Kofo addressed the King and the Crown Prince, first in Joseon as a sign of respect, and then transitioning back into the rhythmic, complex West-Seu language when he addressed Maya directly.
"We have come for the Lost Phoenix," Kofo announced, his eyes unwavering as they found Maya. "Princess Anansi, daughter of the Royal House, the rightful ruler of the West-Seu people. We have tracked her journey, and we have witnessed her strength. The time of hiding is over."
He then formally presented the ancient scrolls confirming her lineage, tracing her parentage back to the coup that had sent her into exile. The evidence was irrefutable.
The political tension was almost unbearable. The Joseon court was stunned into silence, understanding the gravity of the situation: their beloved Crown Prince's most trusted advisor was, in fact, the Queen-in-waiting of another powerful kingdom.
Dong-jin, standing firm, responded with dignity. He acknowledged her lineage but asserted her current role. "Princess Anansi has served Joseon with honor and saved the Crown from devastation. Her counsel remains invaluable."
But Kofo was relentless. He spoke of Maya's duties to her people—a sacred debt. He showed her the ancient symbols, the original records of the Lioness society, and the history of her family's sacrifice. He detailed the unstable political situation in West-Seu, ruled by the usurpers, and explained that only the rightful heir—the Onyx Phoenix—could unite the fractured kingdom.
He made a final, powerful plea directly to Maya, speaking entirely in West-Seu. Maya understood every complex word now; her subconscious was fully awakened.
"The ancestors call, Anansi. Your people need their Phoenix to rise from the ashes of the usurper's coup. You have proven yourself a protector here, but West-Seu is your destiny. The crown awaits."
Maya felt a deep, wrenching pull. The words spoke to her soul, the warrior forged in the hidden room, the princess whose blood was spilled on her behalf. She saw the faces of the Lioness cell members, who had risked their lives to bring her this moment.
She was facing not an option, but an obligation. She had to choose between the fierce, demanding crown of her birth and the compassionate, uncertain crown of her adopted home—and the man she loved.