Chapter 207: Meeting the King

Judith smiled and said, “Esme is very considerate. I’ll come to see her another day when I’m free.” Isolde was overjoyed. “That’s exactly what I wanted. Esme will be delighted.”

Just as they were chatting, a young maid entered from outside and called Judith away. Isolde was extremely vexed. She thought, I was about to have a chance. Sigh. I don’t know how long I’ll have to wait if I wait for Master to arrange it.

She was no longer in the mood to appreciate the flowers before her and sat in the courtyard gazebo, daydreaming. Not long after, footsteps approached from outside.

Isolde stood and peered through the flowers. She saw Judith leading a person in a bright yellow robe. Isolde’s heart tightened. The King! He’s the King!

It turned out the maid had informed Judith that the King was en route to Mystic Palace, prompting Judith to go out and greet him. Isolde watched the King walk past her line of sight. Her heart pounded wildly, and she felt the urge to run out.

However, she controlled herself, preventing any mishap. Hiding behind bushes, she watched helplessly as the King and Judith entered the palace. She couldn’t hear their voices, but she stared inside, completely absorbed. She wished she could rush in.

She couldn’t sit still, pacing back and forth, with so much to say. She had known much about Zloimond in her previous life. This is a huge problem, she thought. If we don’t act now, in two years, when the King rises, the empire will pay a heavy price. She was trying not only to avenge Oliver but also to stabilize the country. In her previous life, she was a general; she knew the importance of taking the initiative.

She was in a hurry. Memories of the civil war from her past life surfaced one by one. For the empire’s people, it was a pain they would never forget. At that time, everywhere was stained with blood; soldiers lost their lives, and people were displaced. Especially when the King had just risen, he killed his way to Torstel, slaughtering many common folk who cursed him as a traitor. Half the city of Torstel was slaughtered.

Just as Isolde’s imagination ran wild, she saw several people emerging with the King and Queen Mother; Sadie followed beside him. Isolde was extremely anxious. Seeing the Queen Mother and King about to depart, she called out, “Your Majesty, Your Highness, I’m Isolde Langley!” Isolde raised her head resolutely.

The King was clearly frightened by her. He frowned and said unhappily, “Why are you here?”

Sadie replied, “I brought her here.”

When the King heard Isolde had been brought by Sadie, he nodded, not opposing Sadie’s words. He said indifferently, “Since you’re brought by Sadie, you must know your limits. You can leave now.”

Isolde didn't leave. She bowed and said, “Your Majesty, I have something to say.”

The King’s eyes were cold. He said nothing, only glancing indifferently at Sadie, signaling her to take Isolde away.

Sadie smiled. “Your Majesty, why don’t you hear what she wants to say?”

Isolde was stunned. She looked at Sadie, expecting blame for her impulsiveness.

The King’s expression was impatient, but he still showed respect to Sadie. “Okay.”

Isolde bit her lip. “Your Majesty, I want to speak to you and the Queen Mother alone.”

“How dare you!” The King snapped.

Isolde quickly knelt. “Your Majesty, please calm down. I have something important to say.”

The King was furious when she didn't retreat. Just as he was about to call for someone to remove her, he heard the Queen Mother, standing nearby, say softly, “Let’s give her a chance; listen to what she wants to say.”

The King glanced at the Queen Mother, a little stunned, but he didn't oppose her. “Okay.”

“Rowena, bring her in!” After speaking, the Queen Mother turned and entered the hall. The King followed.

Isolde breathed a sigh of relief, but she didn’t relax. If she couldn’t convince the King and Queen Mother, she would be questioned for interfering in government affairs—she might be killed.

She looked apologetically at Sadie, but Sadie smiled and patted her hand. “Why do you think I entered the palace so early? I didn’t even wait for Mother. Go quickly!”

Isolde immediately understood that the person Doug had arranged was Sadie. Before she could thank Doug in her heart, Rowena said, “Lady Isolde, please!”

Isolde bowed and followed Rowena into the hall. Rowena led her in and closed the door behind her before leaving.

Isolde didn’t dare look at the Queen Mother and King. She obediently knelt.

With the King and Queen Mother before her, Isolde was very nervous, but this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “Raise your head,” the Queen Mother said. The same words Queen Catherine had spoken earlier in Violet Palace, but with Queen Catherine, Isolde felt no tension or fear. Now, hearing those words again, Isolde’s heart pounded like a drum.

She slowly raised her head. When her gaze met the Queen Mother’s calm eyes, her heart trembled. The Queen Mother was remarkably well-preserved, appearing no more than thirty. Her beauty was unparalleled and renowned throughout the empire; however, having once reigned as regent, people only knew her prestige, forgetting her striking appearance. Now, that pair of cold eyes, set in that peerless beauty, felt intimidating.

Isolde steadied herself, not avoiding the Queen Mother’s gaze. The Queen Mother slowly opened her mouth and said unhurriedly, “Speak!”

Isolde took a deep breath and said the words that had echoed in her heart for a long time, “Your Majesty, I ask you to send troops to destroy the traitor, Kamari Conway.”

The King’s face darkened suddenly, his fury rising like a tidal wave, showing a ferocious, almost predatory demeanor. He said sternly, “How dare you interfere in political affairs? And you audaciously demand that I send troops against a royal prince?”

Isolde, witnessing the King’s wrath, panicked, feeling as though her head was quite literally on the chopping block. She controlled herself, preventing her voice from trembling, and said, “If we don’t send troops now, when the King’s power grows, it will become a grave threat.”

“How dare you!” The King slammed the table angrily, his eyes red with rage. “Who told you the King is a traitor? Is it your father Geoffrey or your master Doug?”

When Isolde heard others implicated, she quickly said, “Your Majesty, no one told me. The King’s ambition is gradually showing. Anyone who has been to Zloimond knows.”

“You’ve been to Zloimond?” The King asked coldly, the anger in his eyes still not subsiding.

Isolde replied, “Yes, I have. I know that in Zloimond, everyone knows there is one king, but they don’t know there is a Royal Court and the King.”