Upon hearing of Ariya’s betrayal, Emperor Kasem and Empress Malee were not just angry — they were furious. Ariya had not only shattered Lalisa’s heart but insulted the very dignity of the royal family. The Emperor and Empress had welcomed Ariya into their home, granting her the honor of standing beside the future queen of Thailand, only to have that trust repaid with lies and disloyalty.

Empress Malee, known for her calm composure, was seething. “She has brought shame upon our house and insulted my daughter,” the Empress spat to her court advisors. “She is no longer worthy of even being mentioned within these walls.” Her eyes, usually warm and regal, now burned with a cold rage.

Emperor Kasem, normally a man of reason, could not hold back his disgust. “She dares call herself royalty?” he had said, voice like thunder echoing through the marble halls. “Ariya’s name will be wiped from our court, and she will never be recognized as consort to our daughter again.”

But perhaps the most profound transformation was within Lalisa herself. Once soft and gentle with Ariya, once willing to defend her in the face of criticism, Lalisa was now steeled and distant — her heart, once vulnerable, now locked in a cage of bitterness.

When Ariya, in an act of pathetic desperation, had the nerve to confront Lalisa about her decision to seek a mistress, her words were laced with hypocrisy and entitlement.

“You would replace me?” Ariya shrieked, her voice shrill with outrage. “After everything we’ve been through? After you swore to love me? You humiliate me before the entire kingdom, searching for someone else like I meant nothing to you!”

Lalisa stared at her, the woman she had once loved, with a cold, cutting glare — a look so sharp it could have shattered glass. Her voice was calm, yet deadly, each word heavy with venom.

“You don’t mean anything to me anymore, Ariya. You saw to that the moment you betrayed me,” Lalisa said icily. “And do not speak to me of humiliation. You humiliated yourself when you broke your vows. You destroyed what we had. You think I would stay loyal to a woman who treats my love like a game?”

Ariya, who had expected tears, or even pleading, found nothing but a wall of pure disdain.

“And let me make one thing very clear,” Lalisa added, leaning forward, her eyes sharp and unwavering. “I would never, under any circumstance, ever touch you again. The thought of being intimate with you disgusts me. I loathe you. You are no longer my wife — you are a stranger to me, one I cannot even bear to look at without feeling sick.”

Those words, spoken without hesitation, crushed any last shred of control Ariya thought she had. She fled the room, but the damage had already been done. Everyone in the royal court knew of Lalisa’s utter hatred and disgust for her now former wife.

Seeing their daughter stand so firm, Emperor Kasem and Empress Malee were filled with pride. They stood behind Lalisa completely, supporting her decision to cast Ariya aside. No longer would they tolerate a woman of such weak character in their family.

To ensure the future of the monarchy, the Emperor and Empress issued a royal proclamation that spread throughout Thailand:

"By order of Their Imperial Majesties, Emperor Kasem and Empress Malee, and at the will of Princess Lalisa Manobal, heiress to the throne, a call is made to the noble daughters of Thailand. Those of pure heart, unwavering loyalty, and grace befitting the royal court may present themselves as candidates to stand beside the future queen as her chosen companion and mistress. Betrayal shall no longer stain the royal house, and only those worthy of the princess’s trust and heart shall be considered."

The response from the kingdom was immediate and overwhelming. Noble families, eager to align themselves with the royal family, prepared their daughters to present at court, knowing that to be chosen by Lalisa would be a rare and high honor.

But for Lalisa, this was not just about finding another companion — this was about reclaiming her power and ensuring that she would never be humiliated or broken again. Love, for her now, would not come at the cost of her dignity. Whoever was chosen would have to be strong, loyal, and worthy — someone who could be trusted not just as a lover but as a partner in her future reign.

Gone were the days when Lalisa would lower herself to forgive betrayal. Gone was the gentle heart that had once made excuses for Ariya’s shortcomings. Now, Lalisa was a woman of steel — a queen-in-waiting whose love would be earned, never taken for granted.

And as she walked through the grand palace halls, dressed in gold that shimmered like the sun itself, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind: Lalisa Manobal was no longer a woman scorned. She was a queen rising from the ashes, stronger and more powerful than ever before.