: The relationship between the two leads deepens as they navigate the complexities of the academy and the royal court.
"Not if you are beside me," Euphie replied, a rare, soft smile gracing her lips. "You saved me from a life of despair. Let me save you from a life you do not want."
"My lords," Anisphia began, her voice amplified by a small acoustic device she had invented. "We are not here to discuss the past, but the future. My brother, Algard, chose a path of destruction because he feared he could not live up to the expectations of this kingdom. He was crushed by the weight of tradition."
Anisphia’s expression hardened instantly. The whimsical researcher vanished; the protector emerged. She squeezed Euphie’s hand once, firmly.
She looked up, her eyes blazing. "I have never desired the throne. I have said it a thousand times. I would rather fly in the sky than sit on a cushion. But if the price of my freedom is the ruin of this kingdom, then I must make a choice."
