Chapter 43: The Dawn Broadcast

6:00 AM. The Kingdom of Montbert.

The resistance base was located in the wine cellar of an ancient chateau hidden in the countryside.

It was bustling with activity. Wires and servers were hooked up to Alex’s laptops.

"We are tapping into the National Broadcast Signal," Alex typed furiously, sipping his juice box. "This firewall is tougher than the others, but I have a backdoor key."

"How long until we go live?" Jackson asked, buttoning his crisp white shirt. Even in a basement, he looked like a general commanding his troops.

"Two minutes," Alex replied. "Every TV, every radio, and every giant billboard screen in the capital will play our feed."

In the corner, Serenity sat in front of a camera. She wasn't wearing a crown or jewels. She wore a simple white blouse and her silver locket.

Her hands were trembling slightly.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," she whispered.

"Just tell them the truth," Jackson walked over, crouching down to hold her hands. "Don't act like a queen. Talk like a daughter who lost her parents. That is powerful."

Serenity nodded. She looked at Sebastian, who stood guard by the door with tears of pride in his eyes.

"Okay," Serenity took a deep breath. "I'm ready."

"Signal hijacked in 3... 2... 1..." Alex pressed Enter.

---

Inside the Royal Palace.

Grand Duke Stefan sat at his long dining table, enjoying his morning espresso and croissant.

"Is The Viper back?" Stefan asked his butler.

"Not yet, Your Highness. We lost contact with him," the butler replied nervously.

Stefan frowned. "Useless."

He turned on the TV to watch the morning news.

Usually, the news was propaganda praising his rule. But today, the screen flickered violently.

Static noise. Then, a black screen.

And then, a face appeared.

Stefan froze, his coffee cup hovering halfway to his mouth.

It was her. The girl from the wedding photo. But seeing her moving, speaking... it was like seeing a ghost.

"Citizens of Montbert," Serenity’s voice rang out, calm but full of sorrow. "My name is Aurelia. I am the daughter of your late Duke and Duchess."

Stefan’s hand shook so hard the coffee spilled onto his expensive robe. "Cut the feed! Cut it now!" he screamed.

But the butler was staring at the screen, paralyzed.

"For twenty-five years, you were told my family died in an accident," Serenity continued on the screen. "You were lied to."

She held up the cassette tape. "Listen to the truth."

Click.

The audio played. The static-filled recording echoed across the entire country.

(Audio)
Stefan's voice: "There is no escape, brother. Sign the abdication papers, or burn with your child."
The Duke's voice: "You are a monster, Stefan. The people will never accept a murderer..."
(End of Audio)

The entire kingdom of Montbert stood still. People in coffee shops, in squares, in buses... everyone was listening in shock. That was Stefan's voice. There was no mistaking it.

Back on the screen, Serenity wiped a tear.

"He burned down our home for power. But he couldn't burn the truth," Serenity’s eyes hardened, looking directly into the camera. "Uncle Stefan. I know you are watching. I am coming home to take back what is mine."

The screen cut to black. The logo of the Golden Hawk flashed briefly.

Then, Alex added his signature touch: A cartoon skull winking.

Crash.

Stefan threw his cup at the TV screen, shattering it.

"FIND HER!" Stefan roared, veins popping on his forehead. "She is in the country! Deploy the Army! Shut down the internet! Kill anyone who talks about this!"

But it was too late.

Outside the palace walls, a low rumble began.

It wasn't thunder. It was the sound of thousands of people filling the streets.

The revolution had begun.