The imposter Isolde, still trembling with fear, attempted to gather her composure. In a desperate attempt to regain control, she demanded to know who the intruder was and insisted that Duke Sable remove her from the dining hall. However, her pleas fell on deaf ears, and the indifference in the room persisted.
Isolde, unfazed by the imposter's outbursts, took a deliberate step forward. With a sly smile, she seated herself at the opposite end of the long dining table, directly facing Duke Sable. As an act of defiance, she casually put her feet up on the table, a deliberate insult to the man who had orchestrated the charade.
"Bring me some food," Isolde commanded the servants with an air of entitlement. The servants, seemingly unbothered by the unusual turn of events, followed her order with detached efficiency.
Duke Sable, who had been ignoring the spectacle thus far, finally turned his attention toward the imposter Isolde. In a surprising shift, his demeanor transformed into one of apparent concern. Addressing the imposter in a caring tone, he attempted to soothe her fears and pacify her trembling form. Isolde, irritated by the unexpected display of affection, scoffed at the scene unfolding before her.
Discontent brewing within her, Isolde interrupted the charade. "Enough of this nonsense," she declared, her voice cutting through the tension. "Where is my mother?"
Her gaze fell upon the head maid, the one who had been a silent witness to the manipulations within the castle. Without waiting for a response, Isolde demanded information about her mother's whereabouts. The head maid, a figure shrouded in the secrets of the Sable family, calmly revealed that the mistress was dining in her room.
Without uttering another word, Isolde rose from her chair, leaving the dining hall without a backward glance. Duke Sable watched in silence, his eyes reflecting an unreadable mixture of emotions.
As Isolde left the dining hall, the imposter Isolde, left behind in the wake of her departure, felt a rising sense of fear. Panic gripped her as she urgently conveyed to Duke Sable that he needed to take action against the insolent woman who dared to disrupt their gathering. The fake Isolde pleaded for punishment and expulsion, her voice tremulous with anxiety.
In a futile attempt to salvage the situation, the imposter repeated her mantra, urging the Duke not to believe a word from the intruder. Fear etched across her features, she anxiously awaited the Duke's response, desperate for reassurance.
Duke Sable, however, responded with a calm demeanor, his smile unwavering. He assured the fake Isolde that he trusted her implicitly. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he instructed her not to worry, expressing certainty in his ability to discern his real daughter. The fake Isolde, though still visibly shaken, took solace in the Duke's words.
As the imposter Isolde retreated to her chambers, the Duke's gaze lingered on the severed head of the Viscount, a twisted sense of pride evident in his expression.
Isolde's steps echoed through the silent corridors as she made her way to her mother's room. The atmosphere, though chilly and filled with an air of secrecy, couldn't dampen the warmth that enveloped the reunion awaiting her.
As Isolde entered her mother's room, the woman with brown hair and dark, kind eyes immediately recognized her long-lost daughter. Her face lit up with joy, a mixture of surprise and relief crossing her features. Overwhelmed with emotion, Isolde's mother rushed towards her, unable to contain her happiness.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she embraced Isolde, showering her with kisses. The room echoed with the tender sounds of a mother finally reunited with her daughter. Isolde, moved by the intensity of the moment, felt the weight of her past, the years of separation, and the emotions that had long remained dormant.
In the warmth of her mother's embrace, Isolde's composure crumbled. Tears streamed down her face, a release of pent-up emotions, as the mother and daughter held each other tightly. The castle, with its shadows and secrets, became a backdrop for the genuine, heartfelt reunion of a family torn apart by the machinations of power.
To be continued....