Lunar Throne

THE GIRL WHO FACED THE MOB

The kingdom wanted her dead.

The realization settled heavily inside Elaria's chest.

She stood before the palace window, staring at the sea of torches below.

The crowd had grown.

What began as hundreds had become thousands.

The palace gates shook beneath their anger.

Their fear.

Their hatred.

Again and again, the same chant echoed through the night.

> "NO MONSTER PRINCESS!"

> "NO MONSTER PRINCESS!"

> "NO MONSTER PRINCESS!"

Every word struck like a blade.

Because these weren't enemies.

They were her people.

People she had dreamed of belonging to.

People she had hoped would someday accept her.

And now they wanted her execution.

---

Behind her, the Council Chamber remained tense.

Arguments erupted from every corner.

"Deploy the army."

"We must disperse them immediately."

"Arrest the agitators."

"Seal the city."

Everyone had opinions.

Everyone except Selene.

The Queen stood silently beside the window.

Watching.

Thinking.

Listening.

Then her gaze shifted toward Elaria.

And she saw something unexpected.

Not fear.

Not anger.

Not despair.

Determination.

The realization surprised her.

---

"What are you thinking?"

Selene asked softly.

The room gradually quieted.

Everyone looked toward Elaria.

The Lost Princess.

The center of the storm.

For several moments she said nothing.

Then she spoke.

"They're afraid."

The simple statement stunned the chamber.

Several council members exchanged looks.

Because it was true.

The people weren't attacking because they hated her.

Not yet.

They were attacking because they were afraid.

Someone had convinced them she was dangerous.

Someone had convinced them she would destroy everything.

And fear always looked like hatred from a distance.

---

"They want to kill you."

One council member sounded irritated.

Elaria nodded.

"Because they think they're protecting their families."

Silence followed.

Even Varis looked thoughtful.

The observation carried uncomfortable truth.

The Shadow Court wasn't merely spreading lies.

It was weaponizing fear.

Turning ordinary people into soldiers.

---

Then Elaria made a decision.

A terrible decision.

A dangerous decision.

A decision that shocked everyone.

"I'm going down there."

The chamber froze.

Absolute silence.

Then chaos erupted.

"No."

Selene answered instantly.

"No."

Again.

Stronger.

More emotional.

More maternal.

The Queen stepped forward.

"Absolutely not."

Elaria understood.

Truly.

But she also knew something.

If she hid behind palace walls—

The rumors would win.

The fear would grow.

The mob would become larger.

Angrier.

More violent.

Someone had to break the cycle.

---

"The assassins already failed."

Varis looked horrified.

"That's exactly why you shouldn't go."

Several council members nodded immediately.

For once they agreed on something.

Elaria should remain protected.

Hidden.

Safe.

But safe wasn't solving anything.

The kingdom was slipping away.

And she could feel it.

---

A new voice interrupted.

Unexpected.

Calm.

Certain.

Prince Lucien.

The Crown Prince stepped forward.

His gaze remained fixed on the crowd below.

Then he spoke.

"Let her go."

The chamber exploded.

Selene stared.

Varis stared.

Everyone stared.

Lucien remained calm.

"They're demanding to see her."

Silence.

"If she refuses, they'll believe every rumor."

More silence.

"And if she hides..."

He looked toward Elaria.

"They win."

The room became quiet again.

Because nobody could argue with the logic.

Not honestly.

---

Selene looked trapped.

Torn between queen and mother.

Between duty and fear.

Elaria saw it clearly.

For the first time she truly understood something.

Selene wasn't afraid of losing a political heir.

She was afraid of losing her daughter.

The realization warmed and hurt simultaneously.

---

Finally...

The Queen closed her eyes.

Then nodded.

Reluctantly.

Painfully.

"Fine."

The room froze.

"But she won't go alone."

---

Minutes later...

The palace gates opened.

The crowd immediately roared.

Thousands surged forward.

Guards tightened formation.

Weapons ready.

Tension exploded.

One mistake.

One wrong move.

And blood would cover the streets.

---

Elaria stepped through the gates.

The reaction was immediate.

The crowd fell silent.

Not completely.

But enough.

Because for the first time—

They saw her.

Not a rumor.

Not a newspaper headline.

Not a story.

A person.

A girl.

A nervous girl trying very hard not to show fear.

---

The silence lasted several seconds.

Then someone shouted.

"Monster!"

Another voice joined.

"Liar!"

Then another.

"Curse!"

The crowd began growing louder again.

The momentum returning.

The hatred rebuilding.

Exactly as the Shadow Court intended.

---

Then something unexpected happened.

An old woman stepped forward.

Small.

Frail.

Ordinary.

She looked directly at Elaria.

Then asked:

"Did you really survive an assassination attempt?"

The question stunned everyone.

Including Elaria.

The girl blinked.

Then nodded.

"Yes."

The woman stared.

Studying her.

Judging her.

Then she asked another question.

"Were you scared?"

The crowd became silent.

Waiting.

Listening.

Elaria could have lied.

Could have acted strong.

Could have pretended bravery.

Instead she told the truth.

"Terrified."

A ripple spread through the crowd.

Not because of the answer.

Because of the honesty.

---

The old woman nodded slowly.

Then stepped back.

And another voice emerged.

A young father.

Holding a small child.

"Did the Throne really choose you?"

Elaria swallowed.

Then answered honestly again.

"I don't know why it did."

The crowd shifted uneasily.

No arrogance.

No royal superiority.

No declarations of destiny.

Only honesty.

---

The atmosphere slowly began changing.

Not completely.

But slightly.

Enough.

People were starting to see a human being.

Not a monster.

---

Then everything went wrong.

A scream erupted.

A man collapsed inside the crowd.

Foaming at the mouth.

Convulsing violently.

Another collapsed seconds later.

Then another.

Panic exploded instantly.

People screamed.

Children cried.

The crowd surged.

Chaos erupted.

Guards rushed forward.

Confusion spread everywhere.

Nobody understood what was happening.

Except one person.

A hooded figure hidden atop a nearby rooftop.

Watching.

Smiling.

The Shadow Court's next phase had begun.

---

The crowd immediately turned toward Elaria.

Fear flooded their faces.

Fresh fear.

Powerful fear.

Because the timing seemed impossible.

Too perfect.

Too suspicious.

A voice screamed from somewhere in the mob.

> "She's cursing them!"

The accusation spread like wildfire.

Another voice joined.

"The Monster Princess!"

Another.

"She's poisoning people!"

Panic became hysteria.

The fragile trust Elaria had started building shattered instantly.

---

And in the middle of the chaos—

One of the dying men pointed toward Elaria.

Blood dripping from his lips.

Eyes wide with terror.

Then he whispered three devastating words.

Three words loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.

> "The Silver Witch..."

Then he died.

Silence spread outward.

The crowd stared.

Thousands of frightened eyes.

Thousands of terrified faces.

And Elaria realized something horrible.

The Shadow Court hadn't just attacked people.

They had created evidence.

Evidence designed to make the kingdom believe she was a monster.

---

Far away on the rooftop...

The hooded figure smiled.

Everything was proceeding perfectly.

The kingdom would soon fear the heir.

Then hate her.

Then destroy her.

Exactly as planned.