Chapter 100 Persistent Gisella
The room fell silent again. This time, it was a painful silence. Gisella's parents bowed their heads, not daring to argue.
"Sit back down," the king ordered them again. "We are not finished yet."
In the corner of the hall, Ilse watched it all while gripping the edge of a pillar.
Gisella had succeeded. She had made her decision.
Now it was just a matter of waiting to see whether everything would collapse or open a way out for her.
Ilse prayed, really prayed, that their heads would both be safe from the chopping block.
The room fell silent again. This time, it was a terrible silence. Gisella's parents bowed their heads, not daring to protest.
Gisella's father sank back into his seat with a quiet thud.
His face was no longer red; now it was deathly pale, like someone who had just realized he'd set his own house on fire.
His hands, resting on his knees, would not stop shaking.
He didn't look at Gisella. He just stared at the floor with a blank expression.
"Your Majesty," Gisella's father's voice broke the silence. Hoarse. Full of despair. "My daughter... she is not well. Her mind is confused. Please, ignore what she said earlier."
Gisella did not react. She remained standing tall, turning her back to her parents. Her shoulders were tense, but her head did not bow even a little. She seemed like a stranger to the man who called himself her father.
"Not well?" The king repeated the words. He fiddled with his fingers. His eyes looked Gisella up and down. "She seems to be the only one in this room whose mind is actually healthy."
Didier laughed. It was a hollow laugh. He leaned back in his chair, trying to look relaxed even though his jaw muscles were still tense. "She just wants attention, Father. She wants me to beg."
"Didier," interrupted the King, his tone dropping a notch, colder than snow. "Don't embarrass yourself any further."
Didier fell silent, his lips pressed tightly together.
He turned to Gisella, his eyes narrowing with threat.
But Gisella didn't care. She stared straight at the King, waiting.
She had already given up everything: her reputation, her future, and her position in the family. She had nothing left to lose.
"Gisella de Mercer," the King called. "Do you know the consequences? You are publicly rejecting the heir to the throne. You are refusing a contract that has already been signed on official paper."
"I know," Gisella answered, her voice steady. "But I'd rather be punished than spend the rest of my life in a golden cage with no way out."
Gisella's mother gasped. She turned away, covering her face with a handkerchief, sobbing silently. "God, this child... do you really want to make us homeless?" she whispered.
Ilse almost laughed at all of this. They didn't care about Gisella's feelings, only about status, access to the palace, and the chance to show off at ballroom parties. To them, Gisella wasn't a daughter, just a means of entry. Now, that door was closed and broken.
"Interesting," the King murmured, resting his chin on one hand. He wasn't angry. If anything, he looked intrigued by this chaos. "Didier, you have a fiancée who doesn't want you. And you, Miss Mercer, want out of this game."
The King rose from his throne and walked slowly down the steps of the hall. Each of his footsteps echoed firmly. He stopped right in front of Gisella, just a meter away.
"If you go, Gisella, you'll lose everything. Your family name, the palace's protection, even the ability to walk these city streets with your head held high. Everyone will brand you as a shameless woman."
Gisella took a deep breath. "At least I'll sleep well at night."
The King was silent for a moment. Then, he turned to Mr. Mercer, who was still shaking. "Mr. Mercer, what will you do if I grant her request?"
The man looked up, his eyes wide with fear. "We... we'll take care of her, Your Majesty. We'll take her home. We'll teach her again."
"Teach her?" The King gave a thin smile. "I think she's already educated enough to know when to stop."
Didier stood up from his chair with a rough motion. "Father, this is outrageous. She's humiliating me!"
"Sit down, Didier!" the King barked this time, his voice echoing through the hall. "You failed to win over a young girl. Don't embarrass me with your childish anger."
The hall grew quiet again. No one dared to breathe. My legs were numb from standing behind the pillar for so long. This was the moment. The King would decide. Would he treat this as a joke, or would he send Gisella away forever?
The King looked at Gisella once more. There was no anger in his eyes.
"Go," he said softly. "Leave this palace. Never show your face before the Prince again."