Chapter 11: Unveiling shadows

Isabella's keen intuition and ability to read minds allowed her to sense the shifting dynamics among her sister and friend. Observing their behaviors and noticing the changes in their thoughts, she grew suspicious of their recent attitudes, especially that of Elizabeth her friend.

Princess Sophia ,always avoided her and never allowed her close by while Elizabeth talk only a few words whenever they met, limiting the way the smile , cracked jokes and laughed with each other. Her counterance all proved to Isabella that something was really off.

She could understand that her elder sister was never that close to her ,but she couldn't understand why Lady Elizabeth , wouldn't talk to her freely the way they usually did.

She would answer most of her questions with just a yes or no and wouldn't give any further explanations. Isabella could read that her mind was so cold and unusual. she knew that she must have been compromised. Once she brought up the topic of Alexander, she could see clearly the level of pain Elizabeth felt and she was very sure that something was wrong.

Sophia's absence from the palace at mid nights constantly and her visits to Lord Arcturus' chambers did not escape Isabella's watchful eye. She stayed awake every night as she watched her sister sneak into his chambers very often , returning back to the palace very tired and stressed.

The princess knew that something was amiss, as Sophia's thoughts were always filled with sadness and unease after these encounters. Isabella's heart ached for her sister, sensing that Lord Arcturus had a grip on her that went beyond mere secrecy.

Similarly, Isabella could sense a growing distance between herself and Elizabeth. Her once-trusted confidante seemed guarded and secretive, as if she was sharing their intimate conversations with someone else. Isabella's gift allowed her to catch glimpses of Elizabeth's hidden thoughts, whispering secrets to another unseen recipient.

Determined to uncover the truth and protect her sister, Isabella embarked on a journey of investigation. She discreetly followed Sophia's footsteps, trailing her to Lord Arcturus' chambers one fateful evening. Peering through a crack in the door, she witnessed the haunting sight of her sister, tears streaming down her face, trapped in the clutches of Lord Arcturus' manipulation.

The sight filled Isabella with a mix of rage and sorrow. She vowed to free Sophia from his grasp, to expose the depths of Lord Arcturus' treachery, and to restore her sister's shattered spirit. She knew that her constant visit to his Chambers would eventually ruin her sometime and that would inflict a bad name to the family

She thought of how she was to do this ,in order not to dint her reputation and that of their family. She couldn't bring herself to tell her father the King, he would be very disappointed and might sentence Sophia with a severe judgement.

With Elizabeth, Isabella confronted her directly, revealing her knowledge of the secrets that had been whispered to another. Elizabeth, caught off guard and torn between loyalty and fear, reluctantly confessed to divulging their conversations to Lord Arcturus. Tears stained her cheeks as she revealed the depths of his threats and the fear that had consumed her.

Isabella's heart broke for her friend, but her determination to protect them grew stronger. She knew she had to act swiftly and strategically, for the shadows of deceit were growing deeper within the palace walls.

As Isabella prepared to confront Lord Arcturus head-on, she gathered her strength, honed her powers, and sought the determination which she needed. The palace would no longer be a haven for treachery and manipulation.

She knew she must shine a light on the darkest corners, unmask the true intentions of her father's trusted advisor, and ensure that justice prevailed.

She waited outside the courtroom one hot afternoon, after the council meeting between the king and his principal officers. she immediately stopped Lord Arcturus by the walk way. informing him that you knew about his acts with her sister and his monitoring on herself through his daughter Elizabeth.

She warned him to desist from his acts with her sister or she would have him exposed to the king and locked up.

Lord Arcturus laughed at her threats , calling them empty and baseless. He tells her to stay out of the issue and warns that he knows more about her and the royal family than she can comprehend.

Isabella ,finds it hard to read what he knows , but only fixes her eyes on his to gets his full reactions to what they discuss. She could sense that he had no fear and that he had darkness revolving around him.

He tells her that he would only loose his title if she takes the matter up, but the royal family will suffer a handful of all. He tells her about knowing her meetings with Prince Alexander and how that would pull her down if discovered.

"You are a hidden future queen , if you expose me ,then I would expose you as well, your highness", Lord Arcturus said with a wicked smirk on his face.

Isabella is taken back and realizes that Elizabeth had spoken a whole lot. She immediately leaves him and walks away.

Lord Arcturus returned back to his Chambers as he called on Elizabeth,he scolds her for going to expose what she had told him. Elizabeth tells him that she had no idea how Isabella knew about her conversation with him.

Lord Arcturus is taken back by this and decided to find out who had eavesdropped on their conversation and he taken it to Isabella.

He orders Elizabeth to be a bit withdrawn from Isabella and focus on getting Alexander instead.

"if I fail to be king of Adernia ,then you must be queen of Arondale", he said.

Elizabeth was so sure that this was a forbidden thing to do. Everyone knew that Alex was to wed Victoria , and even if he wasn't , he had a thing with Isabella and not her.

Although she desired him , but she feared her father the most and had never disobeyed his commands.