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Chapter 78

Author: Ella7
last update Last Updated: 2025-01-14 15:01:04

RYKER’S P.O.V.

The days that followed Frederick’s ultimatum felt like the quiet before a storm—a silence so thick, it suffocated. The guards were fortified, border patrol doubled, and every inch of the palace buzzed with preparation. Yet, amidst the chaos, my thoughts were singular: Camilla.

Her faith in Frederick was unwavering, and while I admired her empathy, it frightened me. She was tethering herself to the notion that he could change, that he wasn’t the monster I knew him to be. But I had seen the hunger for power strip men of their humanity, seen it poison families and burn down empires. Frederick wasn’t an exception; he was the rule.

That morning, as we left a briefing with the generals, she broke the silence. "What if he doesn’t attack?" she asked, her voice a mix of hope and desperation. "What if he’s bluffing?"

I wanted to comfort her, to shield her from the inevitable truth, but I couldn’t afford to lie. "It’s a tactic," I replied, my voice firm. "He’s keeping us on edge,
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