Nadia's expression twisted in fury as she watched the hostage situation unfold before her. It was an utterly incomprehensible sight.0

"Prince Samir," she said, her voice laced with disbelief. "What… What in the world have you done?"0

Grinding her teeth, she fixed a sharp glare on him before asking, "Did you not swear your loyalty to the Crown Prince?"0

Samir was the only prince who had ever truly supported the Crown Prince to the throne. Despite his exceptional talents from a young age, he had never once coveted the position of crown prince. And even though he was born to a concubine, the Sultan had cherished him dearly.0

So Nadia couldn't understand why he had become part of this treacherous act.0

"Answer me, Prince Samir," Nadia said firmly.0

"Dame Nadia," Samir replied evenly. "This was the best option available to me."0

"Were you planning to take the Crown Prince's life in his stead? Even if it meant branding yourself a traitor? What a touching display of brotherly love," Nadia said.0

But her scornful words didn't faze him. Instead, Samir simply nodded, as if he had already come to terms with this. Becoming a traitor meant nothing to him; as long as his brother could regain his consciousness, he was willing to do anything.0

Samir's gaze flickered toward the Crown Prince's face—and his eyes widened.0

…There's a change? Samir thought.0

Color had returned to his brother's once-pale complexion. That bizarre method of treatment, stabbing him with that ominous sword, had actually worked.0

"Dame Nadia,...0