"Be smug all your want. It won't last long,"

The air was heavy with tension as they approached a grand set of double doors leading to the chambers King Luo was residing in.

The tension between them was palpable as they both struggled to maintain a façade of civility. King Luo's piercing gaze never wavered as he broke the silence. "Do you understand?" he said his voice filled with a mix of authority and disdain.

Yunning's heart skipped a beat as his words struck her like a hammer to her chest. She bit her lip, fighting against the surge of anger and desperation welling up within her. She would rather die than apologise to Eling. The very thought felt like a betrayal of everything she held dear. Her love for King Luo, her pride, her sense of self-worth, all would be diminished by lowering herself to apologise when she did nothing but speak the truth.