As the carriage was about to depart, the servants and Duke Sable waited near the gate, their faces etched with solemnity and resignation. Isolde sat inside, her heart heavy with the weight of her impending departure, when suddenly, a figure emerged from the castle, running towards them with desperation in her eyes.
It was Evelyn, her usually immaculate appearance disheveled, tears streaming down her cheeks as she reached out and grabbed Duke Sable by his collar. Her voice cracked with emotion as she pleaded, "Please don't send her… I beg you."
Isolde, sensing her mother's distress, moved to disembark from the carriage, but before she could take a step, the guards intervened, blocking her path with stern expressions.
Duke Sable's gaze remained icy as he regarded Evelyn, unmoved by her display of emotion. Without a word, he turned to the maids. "Take her back to her room," he commanded, his tone cold and detached.
As the maids obediently dragged Evelyn away, she continued to shout accusations at Duke Sable, her voice filled with anguish and betrayal. "Didn't you promise to protect her?! You liar!" she screamed, her words echoing through the courtyard as the carriage pulled away.
Isolde's eyes burned with a fiery intensity as she watched her father's cold indifference, a deep-seated hatred simmering beneath the surface. With a silent vow, she swore to herself that one day, she would confront him and demand answers for his actions.
Meanwhile, the butler stood beside Duke Sable, his expression unreadable as he whispered in a low voice, "It seems like the mistress is becoming increasingly agitated. My daughter is skilled in medicine. Shall I have her attend to the mistress?"
Duke Sable's gaze flickered towards the butler for a brief moment, his features betraying no emotion. "Do as you please," he replied stoically, before turning and striding towards his office.
The butler bowed with a sly smirk, his mind already plotting his next move. "As you wish, milord," he murmured, before setting off to carry out his orders.
The butler glanced at one of his subordinates, his eyes glinting with malice as he issued his orders. "Tell my daughter to bring that 'special medicine' for the mistress," he commanded, his voice dripping with sinister intent. The subordinate nodded obediently before swiftly disappearing from sight, leaving behind an eerie silence in his wake.
Meanwhile, Duke Sable sat in his chair, engrossed in his documents, when Evelyn burst into his office like a raging storm. Her eyes blazed with anger and resentment as she confronted him. "Duke Sable! How dare you do this to my daughter?!" she seethed, her voice trembling with emotion. "You knew very well that sending her to the emperor would put her in grave danger! Yet…"
Duke Sable rose from his chair, his expression unreadable as he approached her. "And if I hadn't sent her, we would all be dead," he countered, his tone firm and unwavering. "So calm your mind and return to your room like a good wife."
Evelyn's hand flew through the air, the sound of her slap reverberating through the room as it struck Duke Sable's cheek with force. "I hate you," she spat, her voice thick with venom. "Just for saving yourself, you sold your own daughter…"
Duke Sable's laughter filled the room, a chilling sound that sent shivers down Evelyn's spine. Without a word, he motioned for the guards to intervene. "Drag her back to her room and lock the chamber," he ordered, his voice devoid of emotion. "Make sure she can't leave, and inform everyone in the castle that the Duchess has lost her mind due to being separated from her daughter, and is currently undergoing treatment."
Evelyn protested vehemently, but her pleas fell on deaf ears as the guards seized her and dragged her away, their grip unyielding as they followed Duke Sable's orders to the letter.
Alone in her chamber, Evelyn's heart ached with a sense of betrayal and despair. Trapped within the confines of her own mind, she knew that her only solace lay in the hope of one day being reunited with her daughter, Isolde. But as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, the shadows of doubt and uncertainty threatened to consume her, leaving her adrift in a sea of darkness and despair.
As Duke Sable stroked his cheek, his heart ached with the weight of Evelyn's words echoing in his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal and despair that gripped him, knowing that he had become the target of his wife's hatred. He pondered where everything had gone wrong, but the answer eluded him, lost in the tangled web of their fractured relationship. Yet, despite Evelyn's newfound animosity towards him, he couldn't bear the thought of letting her slip away from his grasp. He wanted to keep her close, to chain her down and ensure she remained within his sight at all times.
The Idea of having another child crossed his mind, a fleeting hope that perhaps it could mend the rift between them. But he quickly dismissed the notion, knowing that another child would only complicate his plans further. He couldn't afford any distractions, not when the stakes were so high.
Lost in his thoughts, Duke Sable paced the confines of his study room, the weight of his responsibilities pressing down upon him like a heavy burden. He knew that he had to tread carefully, that every decision he made would have far-reaching consequences for himself and his family.
Meanwhile, Lucian received news of Isolde's summons to the Empire, his jaw clenched with frustration and helplessness. "I knew I shouldn't have let her go," he muttered under his breath, his mind consumed with worry for his beloved Isolde. He cursed himself for not intervening sooner, for allowing her to be swept away by forces beyond their control.
With a heavy heart, Lucian resolved to do whatever it took to ensure Isolde's safety, even if it meant defying the Emperor himself. For he knew that no matter the cost, he would not rest until Isolde was returned safely to their midst, where she belonged.
To be continued...