Realization crashes over Isolde like a tidal wave, leaving her feeling helpless and vulnerable in the presence of the Black Dragon, whose true identity she now knows. As she grapples with the weight of this revelation, she realizes the futility of resistance against a being as powerful as him. With no means of escape and no hope of help, Isolde resigns herself to her fate, if only temporarily.
"How… Aren't you supposed to be dead?" Isolde's voice trembles with disbelief as she dares to voice the question that lingers in her mind. Lucian's laughter rings through the air, his amusement at her naivety evident in the glint of his eyes.
"Who would dare to kill me?" Lucian's voice is laced with arrogance as he dismisses any notion of his mortality. "Those pathetic creatures that were created because of a failed experiment? They struggled to even seal me."
Isolde's mind races as she processes his words, piecing together the fragments of information she has gleaned from her encounters with the other heirs and her own family's history. The mention of a failed experiment sends a shiver down her spine, as she realizes the implications of her lineage.
"Failed experiment? Are you talking about the four great families of the kingdom?" Isolde's voice is barely above a whisper, her fear and uncertainty palpable in the dimly lit room.
Lucian's snicker cuts through the silence like a knife, his amusement at her expense evident in the curve of his lips. "Who else? Oh, right, you must be proud to be a part of it."
Before Isolde can respond, Lucian clicks his fingers, and the room around them shifts and changes, morphing into a dark dungeon devoid of doors or windows. Isolde's heart sinks as she realizes the extent of her predicament, trapped and alone in the depths of the Black Dragon's lair.
"Stay here until I return," Lucian's voice echoes through the darkness as he disappears into the shadows, leaving Isolde alone with her thoughts and fears. With no way out and no one to turn to, Isolde can only wait, her mind racing with questions and uncertainty about what the future holds.
As Isolde sat alone in the dark dungeon, her thoughts swirled with confusion and doubt. The pieces of the puzzle she had been trying to assemble for months now seemed to scatter before her, leaving her grasping at shadows and half-truths.
The revelation that the Black Dragon had never been killed shook the very foundation of everything she had believed about the empire and its history. If the emperor had not vanquished the ancient beast as the legends claimed, then what other lies had been perpetuated to maintain the façade of his heroism?
Her mind raced with questions, each one a dagger twisting in her gut. How much did she truly know about Lucian? Had he been deceiving her all along, manipulating her for his own mysterious ends? And why had she allowed herself to be drawn into his web of lies and deceit in the first place?
Isolde couldn't help but feel a sense of regret gnawing at her heart. She had thought herself clever, playing games with Lucian and using him to further her own ambitions. But now she realized she had been nothing more than a pawn in a much larger game—one she was only just beginning to understand.
With a heavy heart, Isolde acknowledged the gravity of her situation. She was trapped, both physically and emotionally, in a labyrinth of deception and betrayal. And though she longed to break free, to reclaim control over her own destiny, she knew that the path ahead would be fraught with danger and uncertainty.
But even in the face of overwhelming odds, Isolde refused to surrender to despair. She would find a way to uncover the truth, to unravel the tangled web of lies that ensnared her, and to emerge victorious against all odds.
With newfound resolve, Isolde steeled herself for the challenges that lay ahead, determined to forge her own path and reclaim her freedom, no matter the cost.
As Isolde stared at Lucian, a mixture of anger and frustration boiled within her. His casual demeanor and nonchalant attitude grated against her raw nerves, fueling her sense of distrust and suspicion.
"Why are you doing this to me?" she demanded, her voice trembling with emotion. "What do you mean?" Lucian's expression remained inscrutable, a faint smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Why are you treating me as a prisoner?" Isolde pressed, her tone tinged with defiance.
"Weren't you always a prisoner?" Lucian retorted with a laugh, his words cutting deeper than any blade. "I am just protecting you."
"I didn't ask for your protection!" Isolde snapped, her fists clenched at her sides. "I don't need you to protect me."
"Isolde, you are naïve," Lucian scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "How much do you understand about the reality of our world? About the lies and deceit that surround us at every turn?"
Isolde's mind raced with conflicting emotions as she struggled to make sense of Lucian's words. Was he trying to manipulate her once again, or was there a grain of truth buried beneath his cryptic façade?
With a heavy sigh, Isolde realized that she was no closer to unraveling the mysteries that shrouded her past and her present. But one thing was certain—she would not rest until she had uncovered the truth, no matter the cost.
To be continued....