The meeting continued late into the evening.
Rain still poured endlessly outside while tension inside the council chamber only grew heavier.
Several nobles continued arguing among themselves.
Some sided with Alexander.
Others sided with Charles.
And Sabrina—
Quietly watched everything unfold while dread slowly settled deeper inside her chest.
Because she remembered this too.
The kingdom splitting slowly from the inside.
Not through swords first—
But through doubt.
Confusion.
Distrust.
Exactly what the enemy kingdom wanted.
Meanwhile—
Charles calmly leaned back against his chair while watching Alexander across the table.
"Mobilizing additional soldiers without concrete proof may cause panic among the citizens," he said smoothly.
Several nobles immediately nodded.
Alexander remained expressionless.
"Panic is preferable to massacre."
Silence.
The entire room became quiet again.
Sabrina's chest tightened painfully.
Because Alexander said those same words before too.
And no one listened then either.
One noble frowned deeply.
"The Duke speaks as though war is already inevitable."
Alexander's crimson eyes darkened slightly.
"...It is."
No hesitation.
No uncertainty.
Just truth.
Charles quietly smiled.
But this time—
The smile no longer looked charming to Sabrina.
It looked dangerous.
"As expected from the kingdom's sword," Charles said lightly. "Always eager for battle."
Sabrina immediately frowned.
Subtle.
But insulting.
Charles always did this.
Provoking Alexander carefully while pretending innocence.
In the previous life—
Sabrina never noticed it.
Now—
It irritated her immediately.
Alexander, however, remained calm.
Too calm.
As though he was already used to people misunderstanding him.
And somehow—
That hurt Sabrina more.
The King suddenly sighed tiredly.
"Enough."
The room immediately quieted.
The King's expression looked exhausted.
Older.
Because lately—
Pressure surrounded the kingdom from every direction.
Political unrest.
Border attacks.
Internal conflicts.
Even the royal treasury had started suffering from repeated supply losses.
Sabrina remembered all of it now.
Every disaster.
Every mistake.
And the worst part—
She knew things would only become worse from here.
Unless she changed them first.
Suddenly—
Another memory flashed through her mind.
A noble banquet.
Poisoned wine.
A knight collapsing before the royal family.
Sabrina froze slightly.
Three weeks from now.
It happened three weeks from now.
Her breathing quietly became uneven again.
Alexander immediately noticed.
Without caring about the nobles watching—
He quietly leaned slightly toward her.
"...Princess?"
Low voice.
Concerned again.
Sabrina slowly looked toward him.
And for a brief moment—
She almost wanted to tell him everything.
About the previous timeline.
About his death.
About Charles.
About how terrified she truly was.
But she couldn't.
Not yet.
So instead—
She whispered softly—
"...The royal banquet next month."
Alexander frowned slightly.
"What about it?"
Sabrina hesitated briefly.
Then carefully—
"The security should be increased."
Several nearby nobles overheard immediately.
One of them looked confused.
"The banquet?"
Sabrina forced herself to remain calm.
"I just have a bad feeling."
Weak excuse.
Very weak.
But Alexander didn't question her.
Not even once.
Instead—
"I'll personally handle the security arrangements."
Immediate.
Absolute trust.
Charles noticed that instantly.
And this time—
His expression visibly darkened.
Because Alexander never listened to anyone this easily before.
Except Sabrina.
Charles slowly studied Sabrina's face again.
Carefully.
Suspiciously.
Something truly changed.
Not just emotionally.
Something deeper.
Almost as though—
She already knew things she shouldn't.
The thought unsettled him more than he expected.
Meanwhile—
Sabrina slowly lowered her gaze toward the table.
Because she knew exactly what Charles was thinking now.
Suspicion.
And that was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
The fewer people who realized she remembered the previous timeline—
The better.
Especially Charles.
Especially Jennifer.
Thunder suddenly echoed loudly outside.
The candle flames flickered violently for a moment.
And somehow—
The atmosphere inside the room felt even colder afterward.
Then quietly—
Alexander's hand brushed lightly against hers beneath the table.
Subtle.
Brief.
Almost accidental.
But Sabrina froze immediately.
Warm.
Steady.
Reassuring.
Alexander didn't look at her.
Didn't say anything.
Yet somehow—
That small touch alone calmed the fear inside her chest slightly.
As though he was silently telling her—
I'm here.
And Sabrina nearly broke apart from it.
Because in both lifetimes—
Alexander always reached for her first.