?Chapter 790:


    Alice lifted her gaze, her eyes wide with despair, her voice shaky as she tried to exin, “There’s a reason…”


    “What reason?” Evelyn’s eyes narrowed, her tone cutting. “You must exin yourself.”


    Alice’s words faltered, her lips trembling as she struggled to speak, only able to weep in silence.


    Watching from the side, I clenched my fists, my heart pounding in my chest. Others might not know the truth, but I knew exactly why Alice had met Amon alone—she was doing it to help me. And Amon, despite his obvious admiration for Alice, had always kept his distance, never overstepping any boundaries.


    This was nothing but a calcted attempt to tarnish Alice’s reputation! A tide of fury rose in me, and I couldn’t hold back. “If these are just rumors, why don’t you trace their origins instead of bullying an innocent person here?” I snapped.


    As I spoke, I pushed my way through the crowd of onlookers. They murmured in discontent but remained too fearful to stop me. I reached Alice’s side, my hand outstretched as I gently helped her to her feet.


    Evelyn’s eyes narrowed when she saw me, her frown deepening. “Makenna, just days ago, rumors about you were making the rounds, and now it’s Alice’s turn. What exactly are you two up to?”


    I didn’t flinch at her words, meeting her gaze with a defiant stare. “And what about you, Evelyn? What right do you have to humiliate Alice in front of everyone, forcing her to kneel like this with no evidence to back it up?”


    “This is a right granted to me by His Majesty!” Evelyn hissed, standing tall, her expression icy as she shot me a cold look. “Since those rumors about you surfaced, His Majesty ordered that no more scandals could arise. And if they do, I’m responsible for handling them.”


    Makenna’s POV:


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    I let out a sharp, sarcasticugh, my voice cutting through the tension like a de. “Since His Majesty has entrusted you with this matter, it’s your duty to uncover the truth—not to hurl usations like arrows in the dark without a shred of proof!”


    My words hit their mark, and Evelyn’s expression clouded instantly.


    Beside me, Alice clutched my hand, her voice quivering with uncertainty. “Let it go, Makenna. Please. I don’t want this to escte.”


    But I couldn’t let it rest. “No, Alice. We can’t let them drag our names through the mud without reason.”


    I tightened my grip on her hand, my resolve unshaken.


    I turned my gaze back to Evelyn, my words as cold as winter’s bite. “If your idea of finding the truth is interrogating a victim, then perhaps you’re unworthy of being an instructor.”


    Without waiting for a response, I led Alice toward the door with unflinching determination.


    “Stop!” Evelyn’s voice thundered behind us, her fury palpable. “Stop right there!”


    I paid her no heed, my steps steady as I exited the training building with Alice by my side.


    Once outside, I turned to her, my voice softer now, but tinged with worry. “Alice, how did this happen? Do you have any idea?”


    Tears streamed down her face like raindrops tracing a windowpane. Shaking her head, she replied, “I really don’t know, Makenna. Everything was fine yesterday, but overnight, these horrible rumors spread like wildfire through the pce.”


    The familiar sting of a scheme coursed through me. The same trick hadn’t worked on me before, and now Antoni had set his sights on Alice?


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