Chapter 9: Chapter 9. Isolde
Chapter - 9 Isolde
In a different chamber of the royal palace, Isolde stood in front of Empress Evelyne Vale Dratharis and Selene Aeris Dratharis with her head bowed down.
Both Evelyne and Selene were looking at Isolde with angry expressions on their beautiful faces.
"Tell me, Isolde...." Selene said in a cold voice, but her tone betrayed the anger behind it. "Will His Highness Ashel care if you suddenly disappeared?"
Isolde didn’t reply and simply kept her head down. Selene’s expression darkened upon seeing Isolde ignore her question.
She was about to stand up and slap her, but calmed herself down. It was nothing new seeing Isolde not answer. In fact, it had happened many times in the past.
Both she and Evelyne had secretly summoned Isolde to acquire Ashel’s intentions, but she always kept her mouth shut no matter what. They had even punished her too, yet she never said anything related to Ashel.
Her threat toward Isolde was also a bluff because she knew that if Isolde disappeared, Ashel would be furious. Not because he cared about her, but because he didn’t like it when someone touched what was his.
But that didn’t mean they couldn’t teach her a lesson, and they also knew that she wouldn’t complain to Ashel. Not that he would care anyway.
Just then, Evelyne spoke. "Dear Isolde, when you were hired four years ago, you used to tell me everything about Ashel, but now, what did he do to you that you keep your mouth shut?"
Seeing Isolde not answer, she said the one thing that could get a reaction out of her.
"Haven’t you visited your family yet? They really miss you. Maybe I should summon your father?"
Hearing Evelyne mention her family, Isolde’s expression immediately darkened.
Seeing Isolde’s reaction, Evelyne smirked as she got what she wanted.
"Just answer, Isolde. Has His Highness Ashel gone through the candidates list? Oh yes, I’m asking on behalf of the emperor, as His Highness hasn’t replied to the emperor’s summons."
Isolde knew that she couldn’t keep her mouth shut now because Evelyne had pretended to ask the question on the emperor’s behalf.
"His Highness hasn’t looked at the list because he has already decided the candidates for the marriage," answered Isolde.
"Who are they?" asked Selene in an irritated tone because she was worried that they were not the people she had put on the list. So was Evelyne.
"Is that also the emperor’s question? Because if I remember correctly, the emperor left that decision to His Highness himself," Isolde asked in an innocent voice, but they could clearly see the small smirk on her face.
"YOU BI-" Before Selene could finish cursing her, the chamber doors opened and someone entered.
Serena entered the chamber and looked at them with an expression that said: here we go again.
’Just how many times do I have to resolve situations like this? Ashel, your actions always cause problems for Isolde. Not that you will ever care, but at least you gave her a holiday today,’ Serena thought with an exhausted sigh.
"Mother, there you are. I was looking for you," Selene said while walking to her mother’s side.
"What is it, Serena?" Evelyne asked.
"It’s urgent. But-" Serena looked at Isolde as if telling her to leave from here.
Getting the signal, Isolde bowed and was about to leave when Selene stopped her and told her to stay put.
Seeing that both her mother and Selene wouldn’t let Isolde go, Serena spoke. "Mother, why do you always ask Isolde? Do you really think Ashel would confide in her? To him, she is just a maid who is currently useful. Stop wasting your time and energy on her. In fact, I might know something important related to his marriage candidates."
Evelyne and Selene exchanged a glance before dismissing Isolde.
"Leave."
Isolde bowed to the three of them and walked out of the chamber.
She walked a bit further from the chamber, turned left into the corridor, and started waiting there.
Ten minutes later, she heard footsteps and looked to the side.
Selene came and smiled at her.
Isolde saw her and asked, "What did you talk about?"
"Nothing much. I just revealed Ashel’s meeting with Duke Nightshade," Selene replied.
"You do know that I will get in trouble if His Highness finds out?" Isolde said.
"Don’t worry. I will just say I saw you send the royal messenger to the duke. And as for my mother, if she tries to interfere with the meeting, I’m sure Ashel will just tell her to fuck off in front of the duke."
"Wow, what a noble daughter you are. Sending your own mother to get humiliated," Isolde said in a sarcastic tone.
"It’s her choice to go and her fault for interfering in a matter that isn’t hers," Selene replied with a soft smile.
"Alright, I will take my leave then."
Isolde walked off, but Selene soon caught up with her and said, "Come on, it’s your day off. Let’s hang out like old times."
"I’m the personal maid to His Royal Highness. I do not slack off even on my days off," Isolde said in a strict voice.
"Oh, come on. This is your first holiday in four years of service. You should relax a little." Selene stopped Isolde and put her hand on her shoulder.
"My job is not to relax, but to serve and protect him, which I once failed to do, but not anymore," Isolde replied while removing Selene’s hand from her shoulder.
Isolde walked off while Selene simply stared at her and understood what she meant.
She then walked up to her again and said, "Well then, since you are so diligent, I will help you train as a sparring partner like old times when you used to help me train."
"You can do whatever you want, Your Highness. It is your palace," Isolde said.
"Alright then, let’s go." Selene grabbed Isolde and dragged her toward the training hall.
