Chapter 403
Feral Sentnefs Obey Only Her
Chapter 404 Cuffed and Interrogated
She lowered her gaze with a bitter, helpless smile.
“Very well. If you want me to come along, I will go with you p>
She turned toward Yoren, her expression heavy with quiet regret.
Finished
“I’m sorry, Mr. Silk. It looks like our plan to build a better Federation will have to be put on hold for now p>
Yoren shook his head gently.
Everyone in earshot could tell she was trying for damage control.
r
She was attempting to salvage her public image and obscure the true depth of their alliance, so that he would not get dragged into the scandal alongside her.
Kael shot Yoren a cold, sharp glance.
“Let’s move p>
Lyra nodded with a faint smile, walking calmly as Oversight Council agents closed in around her to escort
her away.
To onlookers, she did not look like a suspect being taken in for questioning. She looked almost as if she were simply leaving under the guard of her own Sentinel detail.
Ayla tilted her head, worry and shock plain across her face, her eyes locked on Lyra until her figure vanished through the doorway.
The second Lyra was gone, low murmurs erupted across the assembly hall.
Among all the competing candidates, only members of the Legislative Council and the Judiciary breathed quiet sighs of relief.
Lyra had been growing far too powerful. If she had solidified her partnership with the Silk family, political power across the Federation would very likely have shifted heavily in their favor.
What a stroke of luck that Lyra had ruined everything herself. All their worst fears had turned out to be for nothing.
“Ms. Kaelin p>
“Ms. Kaelin p>
Outside the hall, detained members of the Wastelands Squad ignored their own dire predicament and called out to her in urgent concern.
Lyra turned her head and gave them a soft, reassuring smile.
She tried to type a reply, but Oversight Council agents beside her blocked her hands.
3:05 pm
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Chapter 404 Cuffed and Interrogated
Garen and the rest of the squad were ordered to fall silent
The agents clearly feared they might coordinate their stories.
Lyra also saw the man she had betrayed standing nearby.
Rage and vicious satisfaction twisted his features as he watched her being taken into custody.
Lyra dropped her eyes and climbed aboard the Qversight Council transport vehicle.
It was a dark, heavy iron box, much like a rolling coffin.
Hadrien had been hauled away inside one of these once p>
Now it was her turn.
Finished
Outwardly, Lyra maintained a mask of perfect composure. Beneath it, her legs trembled uncontrollably.
Kael climbed in with several other Oversight Council officers, seating themselves all around her.
Kael noticed her pale complexion and the subtle trembling of her skirt at once.
Lyra stared blankly across the vehicle compartment. her mind racing.
She replayed every moment from inside the assembly hall.
Kael’s tone and gaze had been icy, completely detached/Nothing like the man who had once begged her to give him a chance.
Had those pleas all been a lie? Had he suspected her long before, drawing close only so he could investigate her in secret?
Where had he gotten this supposed evidence?
What had triggered these accusations out of nowhere?
Had they squeezed information out of captured rebel fighters in recent days?
Would Yoren suffer for their connection?
If he lost his shot at becoming prime minister, what would become of Felix and the others?
Would Nael get pulled into this mess too?
Hard proof was stacked against her, and Core Prime held leverage over her. Would she ever be free again?
Her thoughts swirled wildly, spiraling from one worst–case scenario to the next.
Inside the interrogation room, Lyra scanned the familiar surroundings.
She was here for the second time.
Facing Kael across the table, Lyra felt calmer than she had inside the transport.
3:05 pm
Chapter 404 Cuffed and Interrogated
Finished
What was done was done. She would take things one step at a time.
Kael laid out printed copies of every chat log pulled from her Star Brain across the tabletop.
“How do you explain all of this p>
Lyra leaned back against her chair and did not glance at the documents.
Nael’s Star Brain had already been confiscated. A simple speech–transcription device sat before her, ready for her to give her statement.
Lyra lifted one hand and tapped the device with a single finger in a lazy, unhurried motion. “Where is Nael p>
Kael’s voice stayed flat and unyielding. “Answer my question first p>
Lyra pulled her hands back, folded her arms across her chest, and tilted her head to stare off toward the wall.
Seeing her refusal to cooperate, Kael showed no visible reaction.
“Give an honest account of yourself, show good conduct, and we can push for reduced sentencing once charges are filed.
“Refuse, and there will be no second chances once all the evidence is fully assembled p>
Lyra remained completely unmoved.
Kael exchanged a brief look with the recording officer beside him.
“You refuse to defend yourself. Then have you thought about what this will do to everyone else tied to you p>
He stared directly at her, watching for the smallest flicker of reaction.
At those words, Lyra’s eyelashes fluttered.
Sensing that crack in her resolve, Kael pressed his advantage.
“Even treason carries varying degrees of weight. Judging by these records, your alleged crimes are severe. But I wonder how deeply Zane and your personal guards were involved p>
Lyra’s gaze wavered.
She could not confess right now.
If she admitted guilt, Yoren would certainly be dragged down alongside her.
As long as the outcome remained uncertain, he still had room to maneuver from the outside.
If he won power, she might still find a way out.
3/4
3:05 pm
CMT
Chapter 404 Cuffed and Interrogated
Kael kept pressing, threatening her with the fates of Zane, Nael, and the others.
Still, Lyra offered no further response.
She was led away and placed in confinement.
Finished
As a Guide, she was granted reasonable treatment. She was locked inside a private room, forbidden to set foot anywhere else.
It was the first time in her life she had been imprisoned.
Lyra sat on the bed and stared toward the window set into the wall.
She found herself wondering if Rhys and the others in the Black Spire had endured this same quiet isolation.
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Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.