As Xavier and his friends stood before the council members, the grand hall’s silence was almost deafening. The council, seated in their official robes, exchanged glances before a councilman, his voice steady and clear, addressed Xavier.
"Xavier, by unanimous decision, you have been declared the victor. Your bravery and honor have proven worthy in the eyes of Eldoria, and with that comes a choice," he continued, leaning forward. "You now hold the right to decide the future of your engagement with Bella."
Xavier took a steady breath, his gaze meeting Bella’s briefly before looking back to the council. He retrieved the engagement token from his pocket, the token glowing softly in his palm. Holding it up, he spoke slowly.
“I’ve given this a lot of thought,” Xavier began, his voice steady. “
