Chapter LXXX: Divided

Isabella felt her heart split in two. She was elated in ways she couldn't even describe knowing now that Allendor still resisted. She had heard whispers of the rebels, but she had no idea that the Duke of Pallor not only survived the war but was actively opposing the Dragon King's domain. On the other hand, she was the mother of the Dragon King's first and only son, and she was his favorite concubine.

Conflicting emotions tore through her. The joy of knowing her homeland still fought for freedom clashed with the reality of her current life. The memories of her past life as a princess, now mingled with her present role as her enemy’s concubine, left her feeling torn and confused. She had a new life, new duties and purposes… But her old life, her allegiance to the Kingdom of Allendor, her homeland, wasn’t entirely gone. In the end, she knew it all came down to the conflicted feelings she had for the Dragon King himself; her conqueror, her captor, the father of her son, her lover.

Isabella went back to her room and looked for Alicent, who was supposed to be tending to Ikkar. She went to Ikkar’s crib and saw him sleeping peacefully, his tiny chest rising and falling with each breath. Relieved, she leaned down and kissed his forehead, taking a moment to savor the calm.

Then she heard footsteps and assumed it was Alicent returning. "Alicent?" she called softly, but there was no reply. A sense of unease began to creep over her. She turned around, scanning the room, but there was no sign of her companion.

"Alicent?" she called again, a bit louder this time, but still, there was only silence.

Suddenly, from behind her wardrobe, Prince Damian emerged, a sly smile playing on his lips. Isabella's heart raced as she took a step back, her eyes wide with surprise and apprehension.

"Prince Damian," she said, her voice steady despite the nervous flutter in her chest. "What are you doing here, your Highness?"

He took a leisurely step toward her, his eyes glinting with mischief. "I wanted to see you, Isabella."

Isabella's mind raced. She had to stay calm, for Ikkar's sake. She straightened her posture, meeting his gaze with as much confidence as she could muster. "This is my private chamber. You shouldn't be here, your Highness."

Damian chuckled, unfazed. "So serious and stern… Where is that girl I remember enjoying back in the harem’s bathing house?"

Isabella felt a surge of anger at his words but kept her composure. "If you have any respect for your brother, you will leave now, your Highness."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the tension he was causing. "Respect? Of course I respect my brother, he’s the king, isn’t he? And you’re his favorite little whore… After tasting you that night, I understood why he likes you that much."

She took another step back, her hand instinctively moving to Ikkar's crib. "Leave. Now."

Damian's smile faded slightly, replaced by a look of determination. "I just wanted to see you, Isabella. There's no need to be afraid."

She felt a cold shiver run down her spine but stood her ground. "I'm not afraid of you, Prince Damian. But I am warning you. Leave my chambers now, or I will call for the guards."

Damian towered over Isabella, his presence overwhelming. He grabbed her cheeks, forcing her to look up at him. Isabella's heart pounded in her chest, fear coursing through her veins.

"You are a beautiful creature," Damian whispered close to her face, his breath hot against her skin. "And I want more of you."

Isabella's fear intensified. She glanced over at Ikkar, who was still sleeping peacefully in his crib. "My son is here," she said, her voice trembling. "The king would be furious to know that his own brother disrespected his heir like this."

Damian's grip tightened momentarily before he released her, a sinister smile spreading across his lips. "The king doesn't need to know everything," he said, his tone dripping with malice. "But very well, I'll leave you... for now."

He leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her ear. "Just remember, Isabella, that just like my brother, I am the kind of man who gets what he wants… And I assume you know exactly what I want."

With that, he stepped back and turned to leave, his eyes lingering on her for a moment before he disappeared through the door. Isabella stood there, her heart racing, her body trembling with the aftershocks of fear. She rushed to the door and shut it. She thought about ordering the guards to not let anyone but Alicent and herself enter her room, but it would be useless; orders like that wouldn’t apply to the very own Dragon Prince.

Isabella carried Prince Ikkar to the king's room to say goodnight. The king’s stern expression softened immediately when he saw his son in Isabella’s arms.

"There's my boy!" the king exclaimed, his face lighting up with joy. He swiftly crossed the room, reaching out to take Ikkar from Isabella.

"Come here, little dragon," he cooed, lifting Ikkar high into the air. The baby giggled, his tiny hands grasping at his father's beard. The king laughed, a warm, rich sound that echoed through the room. He cradled Ikkar against his chest, gently rocking him and planting a kiss on his forehead.

"You've grown so much already," he marveled, his eyes full of love and pride. "Look at you, so strong and healthy. Your mother’s milk is turning you into a warrior."

Isabella watched them with a soft smile, her heart swelling with love for her son. The king's genuine affection for Ikkar was one of the few things that reassured her amidst the turmoil of court life.

The king then noticed that Isabella was already dressed for bed. "You're not joining me for dinner?" he asked, his brow furrowing slightly as he shifted Ikkar to one arm, still holding him close.

Isabella hesitated, looking down at her attire. “I hope you can excuse me, my king, but I prefer to stay in my room tonight.”

The king’s brows furrowed slightly. “Is something wrong?”

Isabella paused for a moment, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. She raised her arms and the king promptly handed their son back to her. Isabella kissed Ikkar’s cheek and then handed him to Alicent, who had been standing quietly nearby. “Alicent, please take the prince back to my room, you can tuck him in bed,” she ordered gently.

Alicent nodded and took the prince, leaving the room quietly. Once they were alone, the king stepped closer to Isabella, his expression serious.

“Tell me, Isabella,” he said softly, yet firmly. “What’s bothering you?”

Isabella looked into his eyes, trying to find the right words. “It’s Prince Damian,” she finally confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. “He... he came to my room today. He frightened me.”

The king’s face darkened with anger. “What did he do?”

“He... He said he wants more of me,” Isabella said, her voice shaking. “He didn’t do anything, thankfully Ikkar was asleep and he just left, but he made it clear that he won’t stop coming after me.”

The king’s jaw tightened, and his eyes blazed with fury. “I’ll deal with him,” he promised, his voice cold and deadly. “Don’t worry about this anymore.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, feeling the weight of the day’s events pressing down on her. With her voice trembling slightly, she looked up at the king. "I regret allowing Prince Damian to take me," she confessed, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and frustration.

The king's brow furrowed in confusion and a hint of anger. "I thought you wanted it," he replied, his tone guarded.

Isabella shook her head, her voice steady but tinged with sorrow. "I thought it was what you wanted, my king," she said, her eyes searching his face for any sign of understanding.

The king's expression softened slightly, but he still seemed confused. "I gave you a choice, Isabella," he reminded her, his voice gentler now.

Isabella sighed, feeling the weight of her emotions pressing down on her. "But I heard the stories," she said quietly. "The tales of the Dragon Princes sharing their women, even your own royal concubines. How could I refuse Prince Damian without offending him? You have always shared your favorite whores, haven’t you? And that's what I am."

The king's face hardened, a mix of regret and anger flickering in his eyes. "Isabella, you know you are more than that," he said firmly. "You are the mother of my son. I never intended for you to feel like you had no choice."

Isabella looked down, her fingers twisting together nervously. "I was afraid," she admitted. "Afraid of what would happen if I refused him. I didn't want to anger you or Prince Damian. Much less cause a problem between you two… Having you both sharing me in bed was the best solution I could find and… Maybe I enjoyed it that one night. But now Prince Damian wants more. And I don’t want to give him more."

The king pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. “You are under my protection, Isabella,” he said fiercely. “No one will harm you or take you without my consent. Not even Damian. He knows damn well you belong to me and to me only.”