Chapter 248

Chapter 248

Just as Isella was about to say more to Verdic, he spoke first, intentionally cutting off the conversation.

“This won’t do.”

Isella stared at her father, stunned by his reprimand, but Verdic pressed on more sternly.

“We’ll have to postpone your marriage to Zion Electra. As you said, you’re not ready for marriage.”

“Father, that’s not the issue right now.”

Ignoring Isella’s words, Verdic continued.

“Isella, you’re grounded indefinitely. Whether it’s for one year or two, you won’t leave until you come to your senses.”

“What? Years?”

“Yes. Return to the main house immediately and reflect on your mistakes.”

Isella felt her heart drop. Not for days, but for years? This was practically imprisonment. She was so shocked that she questioned him. The joy of their reunion had vanished in the blink of an eye.

“What did I do wrong?”

“Leaving the house was your mistake! If you hadn’t gone out on your own, none of this would have happened.”

“What?”

Verdic was treating the entire incident as a mere runaway episode. He turned to his wife.

“Selena, it would be best if you stayed with Isella for a while. I’ll need to visit His Highness Gueuze and apologize with a gift for the inconvenience.”

“That man is a lunatic!”

“Be quiet! You must have misunderstood. Where did you get such nonsense?”

Verdic almost smashed a vase nearby, but he restrained himself. His arm muscles tensed as he desperately gathered his remaining self-control.

“Isella, you... you misunderstood. His Highness would never do such a thing. Do you know how much money I’ve given him? He would never kidnap and kill my daughter, not even by accident. A room full of corpses? You must be mistaken... Selena, please.”

“Alright. Isella, let’s leave tomorrow.”

“Father!”

“I’m leaving now.”

Bang!

“We can’t lose you. We have to acknowledge that, to royalty, we’re just a source of money. Isella, we are not in a position to help anyone else right now... We should be grateful just to have preserved your life. Accept your father’s limitations.”

Would Carynne die because of her? Isella regretted telling Carynne she would come back to save her. Who was she to save anyone? She couldn’t even take care of herself.

“Please, let’s just lay low...”

“Mother...”

“Please.”

Tears welled up in Selena’s eyes.

Isella found it difficult to speak further with her mother.

But the idea of forgetting Carynne also terrified her.

‘Carynne is pregnant.’

The thought weighed heavily on Isella.

It was only at night that Isella could be alone. By the next day, she would have to go down to the main house with Selena. Once she went down this time, she would be trapped at home for years. The thought sent shivers down her spine.

She had even avoided telling Carynne about her pregnancy, burdened by the truth. This incident involving royalty felt too overwhelming for her.

‘If I close my eyes, will it all just end?’

Her father would do everything to protect her from Crown Prince Gueuze. Isella didn’t doubt that going down to the main house with her mother would be the safest and happiest path for her. Her parents had always given her the best.

Even the terrifying dungeon now felt like a distant dream while lying in her plush room. If she went to the main house, she could forget everything and return to her usual life.

“I can’t survive anyway.”

Carynne had also said she wouldn’t survive. She was certain she wouldn’t get out alive. If Isella could just ignore a bit of guilt, she could ensure her own safety for life.

Crown Prince Gueuze was going to be the king of this country.

Realizing this again sent chills through Isella’s body. It wasn’t just her—her entire family was at risk. Her father, all the businesses and wealth built up by their ancestors could be ruined.

It made sense that Verdic was going to bow and beg to Crown Prince Gueuze. If you got kicked while walking, and it was royalty who did it, you were at fault for being in their way. You had inconvenienced them by making them lift their foot.

Crown Prince Gueuze could pass a single unfavorable law and their accumulated wealth would vanish instantly. Isella remembered Verdic clutching his head in agony, cursing after such events. After that, he became desperate to form connections with the nobility and royalty.

‘This is my limit.’

/subliminalwayfarer