The grand hall of the palace was eerily silent, save for the distant sounds of gunfire and the crackling of smoke from nearby explosions. Celestina stood tall, her back straight and her gaze locked on the scarred man before her, the loyalist leader who had brought chaos to her doorstep.

“Madam President,” the man sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. “Your father would be ashamed to see how far you’ve fallen. You’ve betrayed the Alvada name, sided with traitors, and ruined the empire he built.”

Celestina’s hands clenched into fists, but she kept her voice calm, steady, and sharp. “The empire my father built was one of fear and control. He betrayed the people long before I ever challenged him. I’m not ashamed of dismantling his legacy—I’m proud of it.”

The loyalist leader smirked, his men raising their weapons as tension filled the room. “You think you’re a savior, don’t you? You’re just a child playing queen. The people don’t need your vision—they need strength.”

Celestina took a step forward, her eyes blazing with determination. “Strength doesn’t come from oppression. It comes from hope, from unity, from rebuilding a nation torn apart by greed and corruption. If you truly cared about this country, you’d fight for its people, not for the shadow of a broken man.”

As the loyalist leader opened his mouth to retort, Isolde stepped forward, her presence commanding the room. Her soft yet firm voice cut through the tension like a blade.

“Enough,” she said, her eyes piercing through the loyalist leader’s arrogance. “You speak of strength and loyalty, but you’re clinging to a dead man’s lies. Alvada was a tyrant. He destroyed lives—mine included—and turned this nation into a prison for anyone who opposed him.”

The loyalists shifted uncomfortably, some lowering their weapons as her words sank in.

Isolde continued, her voice rising with passion. “You claim to fight for his memory, but you’re fighting for a ghost—a ghost that thrived on fear and silence. Open your eyes! Celestina is offering a future. All you’re offering is more bloodshed.”

For a moment, the room was still. Even the loyalist leader seemed unsure, though his sneer quickly returned.

“You expect me to believe you? A woman who abandoned her family? Save your speeches, Isolde. This fight isn’t about your so-called truth. It’s about power.”

Dimitri, still clutching his injured shoulder, stepped forward to stand beside Celestina. His voice was low but fierce. “You’re right about one thing. This is about power. And you’re about to lose it.”

The loyalist leader’s eyes narrowed. “Big words for a man on the brink of defeat.”

Celestina raised her hand, signaling her guards. “Defeat?” she said, her tone icy. “I don’t think so.”

With her command, the palace doors burst open, and her loyal guards stormed the room. Chaos erupted as the loyalists scrambled to fight back, but they were outnumbered and unprepared for the precision of the counterattack.

“Take them alive if possible,” Celestina shouted over the noise. “We need to dismantle their entire network.”

The battle was swift and intense. Isolde was ushered to safety by Anton, while Celestina remained at the center of the conflict, directing her forces. Dimitri, despite his injury, fought alongside the guards, holding the line and ensuring no loyalist escaped.

Celestina’s voice rang out, clear and commanding. “Push them back! Secure the gates and lock down the palace!”

The loyalist leader, realizing his defeat, attempted to flee. Dimitri intercepted him, pinning him against the wall with a blade to his throat.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Dimitri growled, his voice deadly calm.

The man sneered but made no move to resist. “You’ll regret this,” he hissed.

When the dust settled, the loyalists were subdued, their weapons confiscated, and their leader shackled. Celestina stood over him, her chest rising and falling with exhaustion, but her gaze remained fierce.

“You fought for a man who would have sacrificed you without a second thought,” she said, her voice steady. “But I fight for something greater—for the people, for a future where no one has to live in fear again.”

The loyalist leader said nothing, his face etched with anger and defiance.

As the captured loyalists were led away, Celestina turned to address her guards and advisors who had gathered in the hall. The exhaustion in her body was heavy, but she drew strength from the hope she saw in their faces.

“This battle isn’t just about defeating loyalists or dismantling my father’s regime,” she began, her voice firm and resolute. “It’s about rebuilding a nation that has suffered for too long. It’s about showing the people that we can rise above the shadows of corruption and tyranny.”

That evening, Celestina addressed the nation in a live broadcast. Standing before the cameras, she spoke with raw emotion and unwavering resolve.

“To the people of this nation, I want you to know that this fight isn’t over. We’ve faced darkness, betrayal, and loss, but we’re still standing. Together, we can build a future free from fear. This nation will no longer live in the shadow of corruption or tyranny. Together, we will rebuild.”