Damian's POV
My phone lit up during the middle of a particularly tedious discussion about tariff regulations with the Council of Elders.
Aria's name flashed across the screen.
I held up one hand, cutting off Elder Joseph mid-sentence. "We'll resume this in ten minutes."
"Your Majesty, we really need to finalize—"
"Ten. Minutes."
The authority in my voice left no room for argument. They all rose and filed out, though Joseph looked like he'd swallowed something sour.
The moment the door closed, I answered. "Tell me everything."
"I did it." Her voice came through breathless, almost disbelieving.
"Damian, I actually did it. They tried to tear me apart, but I had all the documentation, all the numbers, and—God, you should've seen Nathan's face when I brought up the
