Chapter 117: The Crown They Refuse to Share
The Queen's laughter did not linger long, but its echo remained.
The King turned his head toward her, his brows drawing together in clear irritation.
"And what, exactly, do you find amusing?" he asked, his voice edged with something dangerous.
The Queen met his gaze without hesitation.
For a moment, she said nothing—only looked at him in a way that spoke of long-held thoughts finally surfacing.
Then, slowly, she tilted her head.
"You," she said.
The King's expression darkened.
"Careful," he warned.
But the Queen did not retreat.
"If you had kept yourself in your own affairs," she continued coolly, "perhaps we would not be here."
Jacinta's pacing faltered.
Silence crept in again, thinner this time, more brittle.
The Queen's gaze did not waver.
"Perhaps," she added, "we would have had one Moon of the Empire."
The implication hung heavy in the air.
The King's lip curled slightly.
