Under a Dimmed Sun [UNCENSORED]

SII: Chapter LXVI: Choices of Fate

In Mohn's Estate, the candlelight flickered softly on the dinner table, casting gentle shadows across the room. Alice sat in silence, her gaze distant, while Isabel and Albert chatted merrily as though nothing had ever been wrong.

Albert, his tone light, smiled at Isabel. "You've grown so much, Isabel. I hardly recognize the little girl who used to run around the estate causing all kinds of mischief."

Isabel giggled, her eyes bright. "Papa, I wasn't that bad!"

Albert chuckled, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "Oh, you were, but now you're nearly a young lady. It's hard to believe."

Alice, feeling the weight of her own thoughts, finally spoke, her voice quiet but firm. "She is a young lady, Albert. She's ready to be betrothed."

The room went still for a moment. Albert's expression darkened slightly as he looked at Alice, his smile fading. "She's still too young, Alice."

Isabel's gaze flicked between them, sensing the tension but not fully understanding it. "Mama...?"

Alice shook her head softly. "She's of age. It's time we start thinking about her future, about finding a suitable husband."

Albert set his fork down, his jaw tightening. "There are no good candidates right now. Besides, Isabel has plenty of time. Let her enjoy her youth."

Alice's eyes remained fixed on Albert, her voice steady despite the weight of the conversation. "It's not just about her youth, Albert. She needs to be secured. Her future needs to be settled before—"

Albert cut her off, his tone sharp. "Before what? Before you send her off to some stranger? No. I won't have it. Not yet."

Isabel, sensing the rising tension, tried to intervene, her voice gentle. "Papa, I'm fine here with you and Mama. I don't need to think about a husband yet."

Albert reached across the table and took Isabel's hand, his voice softening as he addressed her. "Exactly, my sweet. You're safe here with us. There's no rush."

Alice, her eyes filled with a mix of frustration and resignation, pressed on. "She deserves more than just safety, Albert. She deserves a future, a family of her own. We can't keep her here forever."

Albert's gaze hardened, though his voice remained calm. "I will decide when she's ready. And right now, she's not."

The conversation fell into an uneasy silence. Isabel, sensing the tension between her parents, squeezed Albert's hand and tried to smile, but there was a sadness in her eyes.

Alice lowered her gaze to her plate, her thoughts swirling. She knew this wasn't just about Isabel—it was about the life they were all living, the unspoken truths that hovered over them like a shadow.

Alice took a deep breath, her voice quieter but resolute. "Perhaps there is another way, Albert. If you're so concerned about Isabel being too young for marriage... we could consider sending her to a convent."