Chapter 102 The Heroines Victory
"Enough!"
The king stood up. His voice wasn't loud, but its vibration made everyone fall silent. The King's face looked unwell. His skin was pale, cold sweat covering his forehead. He walked toward Didier, glaring at his son with fury.
"You defy me for that woman? You have no shame, Didier!" The king jabbed a finger at his son's chest.
"I will not let this empire fall into the hands of a man with no self-respect!"
Didier gave a hollow laugh. He had lost control. "Father, you're old. You don't understand that times have changed."
Claus, who had been silent and didn't want to interfere, suddenly stepped toward Didier. His fist clenched as if ready to strike Didier's face then and there, stopping everything that was happening.
The king fell silent. His eyes widened. The hand pointing at Didier suddenly trembled violently. He clutched his own left chest tightly. His breathing was heavy, like someone who was drowning.
"You..." The king tried to speak, but his voice was gone.
His body swayed. He collapsed.A loud noise echoed.
It was a very loud sound. The king fell backward onto the floor.
The hall, moments ago full of curses, instantly fell silent.
Didier was still standing. His arm was raised.
The empress screamed loudly and ran to her husband.
Gisella's parents stepped back, their faces half-crazed with fear. Claus knelt down and held his father.
"Call the physician! The royal physician!" the empress shouted. Her voice cracked, full of genuine fear.
Didier looked confused. He stared at his father, then at the crowd, which was starting to panic. Suddenly, he turned to the corner of the room. Toward Lysandra.
"Lysandra!" Didier shouted. "Heal him! Use your power! Heal Father now!"
Lysandra didn't need to be told twice. She strode forward steadily. She didn't look like a frightened girl. She looked like a hero who had been waiting for her moment to shine. She knelt beside the king, whose face was beginning to turn blue.
Ilse watched from a distance. Lysandra put her hand on the king's chest. A dim light shone from between her fingers, white and warm, striking in the dark hall. The empress's panicked eyes slowly turned to awe.
The light slowly faded, leaving an awkward silence in the middle of the hall.
The king took a deep breath, his eyes opening to stare at the ceiling in confusion before slowly focusing on the face in front of him.
Lysandra was still kneeling, her breath a little ragged, her face tired but calm.
She was the picture of a perfect healer.
"Your Majesty..." Lysandra's voice was soft, almost a whisper. She didn't look arrogant. Instead, she bowed her head, letting her blonde hair cover part of her face.
Suddenly, the hall erupted. Not with panicked shouts, but with murmurs of admiration echoing from every corner.
The empress wept, this time with relief, and immediately hugged Lysandra.
Didier stood beside them. His face, which had been deathly pale, now brimmed with pride.
He didn't look at his father; he looked at the nobles, as if to say: Look, this woman is mine, and she just saved the empire.
Didier pulled Lysandra to her feet and embraced her in front of everyone. His face was full of triumph. He looked at Gisella's parents, then at the empress.
Ilse felt nauseated. All of this felt too perfect, just like she'd read in the novel.
She was just a pawn here, a spectator with no role, able only to watch fate play out before her eyes.
Ilse turned, trying to sneak away behind the crowd busy adoring Lysandra.
Her steps were slow. Her eyes focused on the hall doors, still half open.
"Where are you going?"
She stopped. That deep, familiar voice. Ilse didn't need to turn around to know who was right behind her. Claus.
Ilse turned just to see Claus looking at her. He didn't look at the king or at Lysandra, who was the center of attention. He looked at Ilse, straight in the eyes, with an expression that was hard to read.
Ilse didn't answer. She just gave a thin, forced smile, then quickened her pace.She got into the carriage. As soon as the door closed, she rested her head against the seatback.
At least Gisella had ended that relationship and was free from Didier.
The carriage started moving, leaving the grand palace that now felt like a giant trap for anyone caught inside. Ilse looked out the dark window. Night had fallen.