### 1. PROSE EVIDENCE

*   **Quote 1 (early):** "Beneath the heavy weight of her ceremonial velvet, the Peace Vow hummed against her marrow—a golden, suffocating thread that vibrated whenever her heart spiked with the urge to scream."
    *   **Commentary:** This effectively establishes the visceral, physical nature of the magic system while immediately grounding the reader in Isabella’s internal conflict.
*   **Quote 2 (mid):** "The archives, the hemomantic scrolls, the ancestral nodes—I expect the full handover by dawn."
    *   **Commentary:** This line efficiently outlines the stakes of the Annexation, treating the protagonist's heritage as a checklist of cold assets.
*   **Quote 3 (mid):** "He looked every bit the shadow-husband the Nightblooms feared—all sharp angles, midnight silk, and a smile that never reached his eyes."
    *   **Commentary:** The description relies on slightly overused genre tropes ("smile never reached his eyes"), though it successfully establishes Damien’s predatory archetype.
*   **Quote 4 (late):** "Through the layers of her dress, his touch felt like a brand."
    *   **Commentary:** This utilizes a common romance beat to signal the intense physical awareness between the leads, reinforcing the "smoldering rival" dynamic.
*   **Quote 5 (late):** "The night awaits its heir, wife—shall we see how much blood your vows can spare?"
    *   **Commentary:** This closing line successfully weaves the thematic elements of blood, duty, and the impending "heir-debt" into a high-stakes cliffhanger.

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### 2. CHARACTER VOICE AUDIT

**Isabella Voss**
*   **Line:** "Pray, keep your memories of my mother to yourself, My Lord."
*   **Signature Vocabulary/Tics:** YES. Uses the sarcastic "Pray" prefix.
*   **Avoid Forbidden Patterns:** YES. No casual slang or groveling; she maintains a "regal correction" tone.
*   **Emotional Register:** YES. Her hyper-vigilance and usage of "is it not?" (e.g., "The Dais is drafty, is it not?") align with her 15% arc transition.

**Damien Blackthorn**
*   **Line:** "My bride has a tongue of glass. If you press too hard, she might just shatter and leave us both bleeding."
*   **Signature Vocabulary/Tics:** YES. Uses short, cutting sentences and "predatory" metaphors.
*   **Avoid Forbidden Patterns:** YES. Maintains a position of strength and intrigue.
*   **Emotional Register:** YES. Established as the "shadow-husband" focused on dismantling her.

**Lord Reginald Thorne**
*   **Line:** "The Nightbloom Coven has yielded its finest vintage."
*   **Signature Vocabulary/Tics:** YES. Uses acquisitive language ("harvestable resource" mindset).
*   **Avoid Forbidden Patterns:** YES. Commands the scene from a position of power.
*   **Emotional Register:** YES. Triumphant and cold, viewing Isabella as a "vessel."

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### 3. STRENGTHS TO PRESERVE

*   **The Hemomantic Penalty:** The physical sensation of the gloves soaking with blood is a powerful ticking clock. *Reference:* "She could feel the copper slickness pooling against her palms, staining the interior of the lace."
*   **Voice Consistency:** Isabella’s specific speech patterns (the reflexive "is it not?") are well-integrated and reflect her isolation. *Reference:* "A new era of stability begins, is it not?" and "The Dais is drafty, is it not?"
*   **Dynamic Tension:** The three-way power struggle on the Dais is clear, especially the contrast between Reginald’s greed and Damien’s personal fixation. *Reference:* Reginald focusing on "archives" vs. Damien focusing on "the way you hold your breath."

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### 4. MUST-FIX -- CONTINUITY

*   **ORIGINAL:** "A new era of stability begins, is it not?" (said by Lord Reginald)
*   **PROBLEM:** The phrase "is it not?" is explicitly listed in the [voice-sig-isabella-voss] profile as a **speech quirk specific to this character.** Having the antagonist use it in the same scene dilutes her unique voice signature.
*   **FIX:** Change Reginald’s line to: "A new era of stability begins. Do you not agree, girl?"

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### 5. MUST-FIX -- CLARITY

*   **ORIGINAL:** "Isabella felt the Peace Vow ripple again, a warning sting in her throat... her internal lashing intensifying as she fought the urge to spit in the old man's face."
*   **PROBLEM:** Previously, the Peace Vow was described as striking her ribs ("a sharp, internal lash of magic struck her ribs"). The sudden shift to the throat and then back to the general feeling of "internal lashing" feels slightly scattered regarding where the pain is localized.
*   **FIX:** Maintain consistent localization for the Peace Vow's manifestations. "Isabella felt the Peace Vow ripple again, the same icy lash striking her ribs with renewed vigor."

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### 6. OPTIONAL SUGGESTIONS

*   **Logic Check (Optional):** Isabella worries that if blood soaks through, the "unmarked vessel" clause is forfeit. Given she is wearing "silk gloves, white as a fresh shroud," she should perhaps be more concerned about the actual visibility of the stain than just "anonymity."
    *   **Relevant Quote:** "If a single drop soaked through to the exterior, the 'unmarked vessel' clause of her contract would be forfeit."
*   **Damien’s Dialogue (Optional):** Damien's observation about her tracing her wrists is very observant, perhaps *too* observant for the start of Chapter 1. It might be more impactful if he only suspects rather than outright lists her nervous habits.
    *   **Relevant Quote:** "The way you trace your wrists... the way you hold your breath."

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### 7. FORBIDDEN CHANGES / NON-GOALS

*   **DO NOT** remove "is it not?" from Isabella’s dialogue; it is her signature "ghostly affirmation."
*   **DO NOT** soften Isabella’s reactions. Her "icy silence" and "regal corrections" are core to her character profile.
*   **DO NOT** remove the detail of her mother’s death; it is the "primary trauma" and "template for survival" required by the context.

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### 8. VERDICT

**REVISE**
**SCORE: 88**

**Justification:** The chapter is atmospheric and adheres very closely to the CHARACTER STATE and VOICE SIGNATURE requirements. However, there is a distinct **VOICE LEAK** where Lord Reginald uses Isabella’s unique verbal tic ("is it not?"), which must be corrected to preserve character distinctness. Additionally, minor inconsistencies in how the "Peace Vow" magic physically manifests need tightening. All other elements of the Annexation and Binding Ritual are handled effectively.