THE KING'S POSSESSION

Chapter 107

Chapter 107: At Last

"Are you pushing me away again? Am I still not good enough for you? Were you scared to see that I have changed?" Isabel's voice wavered as her insecurities finally spilled out, no longer hidden behind the mask of a princess. The memory of the last time she had confessed her love to Tristan haunted her, the cold rejection that had shattered her heart. She feared reliving that pain, but she also knew she couldn't let this moment slip away. She had to take the chance, no matter the risk.

And so she gathered every ounce of courage and straightened herself. Isabel's gaze was stern yet filled with the affection she had always held for the man who had saved her years ago. Her royal demeanor returned, but the vulnerability in her eyes remained. "Marry me, Tristan. This is an order from your princess. As the victor of the Royal Entreaty, you are obliged to surrender yourself and wed the princess. Those are the rules."

Tristan was stunned by her commanding words. He knew he didn't deserve her love, didn't deserve the honor she was bestowing upon him. But how could he reject her now, when she was so boldly laying her heart before him? He searched for the right words, the ones that would soften the blow he knew he would deliver, but his heart ached at the thought of hurting her again.

And the words that left his mouth stopped Isabel from her thoughts, "I have Liam..." Tristan began, his voice faltering as he saw the flicker of shock in Isabel's eyes. "Your son is alive, Your Highness. I kept him safe. He is with..." He hesitated, unsure if he should refer to Teressa as 'mother-in-law', knowing that his and Isabel's marriage was only a mere act. But the truth needed to be spoken.. "...Teressa."

Isabel's breath caught in her throat, her eyes wide with disbelief. The child she thought she had lost, the son she had mourned—he was alive. The realization was overwhelming with a surge of joy and relief flooding her heart.

As the magnitude of the revelation sank in, Tristan seized the moment. Understanding that Isabel was momentarily distracted by the news, he quickly made his move. "I will take him here by dawn, Your Highness," he declared, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions he felt. He bowed deeply, then turned on his heel, hurrying towards the door with a determined urgency.

"No, wait! Tristan!" Isabel called out, her voice echoing with both of desperation and hope. She reached out, but he was already slipping through the doorway, leaving her behind.

The sound of the door closing with a heavy thud was followed by an emptiness in the room. Isabel stood frozen, her heart racing as she grappled with the sudden shift in her world. The shock of Tristan's departure and the promise of their son's return left her standing alone.

She sank to her knees, her tears spilling over as she whispered to the empty room, "Come back to me... come back with our son."

Tristan hurried through the corridors as his mind became a whirlwind of guilt and regret. He could not bear to face Isabel again, unable to escape the harsh truths he had forced himself to confront. The weight of his failures pressed heavily upon him.

He blamed himself for not protecting her, for the pain she had endured while they were apart. Every hardship she faced, every moment of separation from their son, was a direct consequence of his own inadequacies. The image of Isabel's tearful eyes and her honest, vulnerable declaration of love haunted him. He had rejected her so coldly, unable to see the hurt he was causing. Now, it seemed impossible to stand by her side again.

He felt unworthy, convinced that she deserved someone who hadn't failed her so profoundly.

As Tristan made his way out of the palace, his thoughts were plagued by self-doubt. He questioned his own worthiness, feeling that he was not the hero Isabel deserved. The path he faced seemed fraught with obstacles, and the thought of returning to her, of confronting her after all he had done, felt impossible.

~~~

At the crack of dawn, the palace corridors were awash with an unusual activity. Servants scurried about, their urgent whispers and hurried footsteps breaking the stillness of the morning. Isabel stirred from her restless sleep as the noise pierced through her dreams. Still wrapped in her sleeping garments, she groaned as she sat up, her eyes barely open.

"What is it?" she muttered, her voice still raspy. As she struggled to shake off the remnants of slumber, a sharp knock on her chamber door jolted her awake.

The voice of Cedric, the grand steward, cut through the haze of her drowsiness with an edge of urgency. "Your Highness! The guards have reported that a woman, and a young boy approximately seven years old, are waiting at the palace gates. They claim to be Teressa and Liam."

At the mention of Liam's name, Isabel's eyes snapped open, a surge of adrenaline immediately propelled her from the bed. Without a second thought, she threw off her blankets and dashed toward the door, her bare feet barely making a sound on the cold floor. The royal silk of her sleeping gown swirled around her as she moved with a sudden, fierce determination.

When the door swung open, Isabel barely registered Cedric's presence. Her mind was solely on the possibility of finally seeing her son. The grand steward's eyes widened slightly at her disheveled appearance, but he quickly stepped aside to allow her passage.

As Isabel bolted down the hallway, her bare feet slapping against the cool marble floor, Cedric's voice rang out in a alarm and bemusement. "Your Highness! Your slippers!" he called after her, his voice echoing off the walls.

But Isabel barely paused with an excited smile flashing across her face as she glanced back over her shoulder. "I'll manage!" she shouted back. The grand steward could only shake his head with a bemused smile as he watched her hurry away, her elegant sleeping gown trailing behind her like a cloud.

Cedric, ever the professional, was initially bemused by the sight of the barefoot princess racing down the hall. However, a pang of concern quickly set in as he realized that Isabel's hurried dash could lead to her catching a chill. With a flurry of motion, he snapped into action.

"Your Highness, wait!" Cedric called out, his voice tinged with urgency. He darted back into the room, snatched up the slippers with a frantically, and raced after her. His face was evident of worry as he dashed through the corridors, determined to ensure the princess's health was not jeopardized by her impromptu barefoot sprint.

Cedric's steps echoed loudly as he ran through the palace halls, weaving through the morning bustle. He reached Isabel just as she approached the gates, and with a slight breathlessness, he called out, "Your Highness! Please, put these on before you catch a cold!"

But Isabel with her focus solely on the gates and the potential reunion with her son, barely heard Cedric's pleas. She continued her sprint, her excitement overwhelming any concern for her comfort. Isabel's heart raced as she made her way through the palace , the corridors seeming to stretch endlessly. Each step felt like a journey through a dream, her breath quickening with anticipation. She barely noticed the chill of the early morning air against her skin as she hurried to the gates, her thoughts entirely on the reunion she had longed for.

The grand doors of the palace loomed ahead with their imposing presence giving way to the rising sun's first rays. Isabel's heart raced as she drew closer, her breath coming in quick, eager bursts. The gates, adorned with intricate designs, seemed to shimmer with anticipation.

As she approached, the massive doors creaked open slowly, revealing the figures standing just beyond the threshold. The light of dawn cast a golden glow around them, highlighting the silhouettes of a woman and the young boy, indeed. The sight was both a beacon of hope and a dream realized.

Isabel's eyes locked onto the familiar figure of Teressa, and her heart leaped at the sight of the child beside her. The moment stretched into an eternity as the gates continued to part, the sound of their opening mingling with Isabel's racing heartbeat.

When the doors were finally wide enough, Isabel rushed forward, her eyes brimming with tears of relief and joy. She took in the sight of her son standing there, looking slightly uncertain but with a glimmer of recognition in his eyes. The first rays of dawn illuminated their faces, casting a warm, ethereal light that made the reunion seem almost surreal.

Teressa's gaze met Isabel's, filled with concern and affection. The grand steward, still trailing behind Isabel with the slippers clutched in his hand, could only watch as the princess finally reached her long-lost family.