“STOP!!!”
The single word ripped through the air, sharp and commanding, halting the execution in an instant.
The crowd froze. Drums fell silent. Every head turned toward the source of the voice.
Elia’s swollen eyes, heavy from days of tears, fluttered open in shock.
Her chest heaved as she searched the sea of faces… until she saw her.
Mira.
The Luna of Crescent Moon stood at the edge of the crowd, barely upright. The maid clung to her arm for support, but Mira broke free, staggering forward. Her steps were unsteady. Her body tilted slightly to one side, the weight of her pregnancy pressing on her, yet her voice carried with an authority that silenced every whisper.
“Listen well!” she cried, her voice echoing across the execution field. “Today, I decide who lives and who dies in thi
