Chapter 158 || REINALDO’S POV ||The announcement hall felt colder than it looked.Reinaldo stood in his assigned place, his posture straight, his hands clasped behind his back, his expression carefully neutral. He could feel hundreds of eyes on him, measuring, judging, waiting.This is not a celebration, he reminded himself. This is a test.The Panel members sat on the raised platform ahead of him, their faces composed, almost bored, as if they were deciding the fate of a document instead of a man’s life. Cameras lined the sides of the hall, red lights blinking softly, ready to capture every blink, every breath.A voice echoed through the hall.“His Highness Reinaldo de Valencia, please step forward.”Reinaldo moved.Each step felt heavier than the last. He stopped at the center, bowed with practiced precision, and raised his head again. His eyes scanned the room—nobles, officials, reporters, strangers pretending to smile. He recognized admiration in some gazes, resentment in others
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