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His gaze moved from one timestamp to the next. “The mission existed before the conduct used to justify it.”

“That is what we found.”

He looked at Talia. “They decided you were guilty first.”

Talia’s mouth tightened. “Then they built the evidence around that decision.”

Anik’s gaze returned to me. “And you accepted the mission.”

“I did.”

Talia looked at me.

Not wounded this time.

Not surprised.

We had already fought that battle.

Anik’s attention sharpened. “Why?”

“Because the order appeared valid.”

His face hardened. “Appeared.”

“Not anymore.”

I brought up the royal restriction.

The room changed again.

ROYAL CONTACT: PROHIBITED.

Anik read it once. Then again.

His blue ŭre brightened.

“Who issued this?”

“I do not know.”

“Who had authority to prohibit a civilian subject from contacting the Crown?”

“Within Veil operations, contact restrictions can be valid. This was different. The restriction attached to her, not merely to my disclosure authority.”

Anik’s gaze hardened. “That was not my question.”

“No.” I held his stare. “I do not know who originated it.”

Anik looked at Talia. “You were told not to contact me.”

“I wasn’t told.” Her voice sharpened. “He was.”

Anik’s eyes moved slowly back to me.

That silence carried judgment. Fair.

I did not defend myself.