Meanwhile, the Sable family was in turmoil. In a small room of the hideout, Isolde finally opened her eyes, her body covered in bandages, disoriented in an unfamiliar place. The rumors had spread like wildfire: Duke Lucian had supposedly sent assassins to kill Isolde, driven by an ancient hatred towards the Sable family. Even though Isolde's body was missing, people assumed she was dead, leading to wanted posters with a hefty bounty on Duke Lucian's head. The Emperor's knights were dispatched to arrest him, but Lucian was nowhere to be found.
Thirst clenched Isolde's throat as she woke up, realizing she was not in Cedric Dukedom. Weakness pervaded her body, and her head felt heavy. No one came to greet her, but she noticed a bell on the side table. Ringing it, a maid entered, tending to her needs before leaving. This routine repeated for several days, arousing Isolde's suspicions.
As she grew more curious, Isolde began to explore her surroundings. During her inspection, she discovered a hidden passage. Entering the dark room beyond, she was shocked to find a woman's picture hanging on the wall. Nearby stood a glass coffin, the woman's body preserved within by magic, surrounded by candles and white flowers. To Isolde's horror, the woman bore a striking resemblance to herself.
Startled, Isolde heard a low groan behind her. Turning, she was confronted by an angry Lucian, his eyes blazing with fury as he grabbed her throat, choking her.
"What are you doing here?!" Lucian demanded, his voice harsh and accusing.
Isolde struggled to respond, the pressure on her throat making it difficult to speak. "I... I don't know," she managed to gasp out, her eyes wide with fear and confusion.
Lucian's grip tightened, his anger palpable as he glared at her. "You don't know? Don't play games with me, Isolde. How did you find this place?" he growled, his voice laced with menace.
Desperate to explain herself, Isolde frantically tried to form coherent words. "I was just... exploring... I didn't mean to... I didn't know..." she stammered, her voice trailing off as darkness threatened to overwhelm her.
As Isolde struggled to regain her breath, Lucian's expression softened slightly, his grip loosening as he realized the extent of her confusion. "You didn't know..." he repeated, more to himself than to Isolde, his features clouded with concern.
Releasing her, Lucian stepped back, his gaze searching Isolde's face for any sign of deception. "You must understand, Isolde. This place is dangerous, filled with secrets that are not meant for your eyes," he explained, his tone grave.
Isolde nodded, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and curiosity. "I understand," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Taking a deep breath, Lucian composed himself, his resolve firm as he regarded Isolde with a steely gaze. "Go back to your room, its safe for you there, and don't try anything funny. Trust me, I am doing everything for your safety and well-being. As long as you are in that room, you are safe, so go." he declared, his voice unwavering.
Isolde hurried out of the room, her heart racing with a mix of fear and confusion. She couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air, nor could she silence the questions that clamored for answers in her mind. As she made her way back to her chamber, she couldn't help but flinch at the memory of Lucian's anger and the vice-like grip of his hand around her throat.
Meanwhile, Lucian walked towards the body preserved in the glass coffin, his expression a mask of bitter sorrow as he reached out to touch the cold surface. "It looks like you are sleeping peacefully... Isolde..." he murmured to himself, a hint of sadness tingeing his words. With a heavy heart, he turned away from the coffin, his steps heavy with the weight of his grief and regret.
Closing the secret passage with a wave of his hand, Lucian ensured that no one else would stumble upon the hidden chamber. The secrets contained within were too dangerous to be discovered by anyone but himself.
Meanwhile, back in her chamber, Isolde sat on her bed, her fingers tracing the marks on her throat where Lucian's grip had left its painful imprint. Her mind raced with countless questions, each more pressing than the last. What was Lucian hiding? And why did he react with such anger when she stumbled upon the hidden chamber?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps, and Isolde looked up to see Lucian standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable. "I am sorry, but it's better if you don't mingle in my matters," he said coldly before turning to leave.
As Lucian walked away, Isolde couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of her stomach. Something wasn't right, and she was determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.
Meanwhile, outside his office, Lucian was met by one of his loyal knights, who bowed respectfully before him. "Duke, if we keep Princess Isolde here any longer, our secret hideout will be discovered by the Emperor," the knight said, his voice filled with concern.
Lucian's expression remained impassive as he listened to the knight's words. "Don't worry, she must have left by now," he replied coldly, his mind already occupied with thoughts of the next course of action.
Confusion flickered across the knight's face as he tried to make sense of Lucian's words. Before he could respond, however, the maid who had been tasked with caring for Isolde came running towards them, her face pale with fear.
"Duke! Princess Isolde is missing! She left a note saying she is leaving," the maid exclaimed, her voice trembling with panic.
Lucian's jaw clenched with frustration as he processed the news. "Find her and bring her back to me. We need to take her to the Emperor," he ordered, his tone firm and unwavering.
The knight nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice filled with uncertainty.
"We don't have a choice. If we take her back now, we will be hailed as heroes. But if we fail, we will be branded as traitors. I can't let my plans be ruined because of a foolish woman," Lucian declared sternly before disappearing into his study, leaving the knight to carry out his orders.
To be continued....