Reyna approached slowly.
— "Orne…
you remember that day, after Amor's death…
when I asked you for custody of Isolde? »
Orne looked down.
— "Do you remember what you answered me?
What you begged me for? "
Silence.
— "You begged me to leave it to you.
You said you wanted to make amends with Amor…
by raising her daughter well. »
His voice hardened.
— "Did you keep that promise?" »
Orne turned his head away, ashamed.
— "I entrusted you with the apple of Amor's eye…
and what have I learned?
That you let that shrew and her daughter torture her.
That you didn't do anything.
And even worse...
that you abandoned her in the pouring rain…alone…hurt…"
A horrified murmur ran through the crowd.
— "Tell me, Orne…
if Henry hadn't found her that evening...
What would have happened to him, huh?
It wasn't enough for you to let your mother die...
now you wanted to kill his daughter? »
Orne burst into tears.
— "No… no… I never wanted to hurt him…
She's my daughter…"
— "Then explain these injustices to me.
These humiliations.
These abandonments. »
He sobbed:
— "I blamed myself… so much…
Every time I looked into his eyes...
I saw those of Amor judging me… accusing me…"
— "That doesn't justify anything.
Nor these tortures.
Nor these silences. »
Isolde lowered her head, hot tears sliding down her cheeks.
Rana intervened coldly:
— "It doesn't matter.
He is her father.
He has rights over her.
Even the council can't do anything. »
Henry took a step forward, angrily, but Reyna raised her hand.
— "Really… are you sure?" »
She turned to Orne.
— "Do you remember my promise?
I had sworn… on Amor's head…
that if you broke your word...
I will take Isolde away from you forever.
Without ever allowing you to see her again. »
Orne looked up, terrified.
— "Have you forgotten?" »
Rana protested:
— "You have no rights!" »
Reyna smiled and took out a document which she threw at their feet.
— "Here is the proof. »
Rana picked up the parchment.
His hands began to shake.
— "No…
No… it's impossible…"
— "Oh yes.
You know, Orne…
by never declaring Isolde as your daughter in the werewolf register...
You made my job so much easier. »
She continued calmly:
— "It was enough for me to prove that you refused to recognize her because of her blood.
To show traces of abuse.
The testimonies.
And your abandonment in the rain.
The council has decided.
Isolde was to have a new family. »
A crushing silence fell.
— "And now…
Isolde is my legitimate daughter. »
Everyone's eyes widened.
Henry smiled and took out another parchment.
— "And even without that…
there was nothing you could have done.
I am married to her.
Certificate signed by the board. »
Ida almost collapsed.
— "No… it's impossible…"
Rana shouted:
— "Isolde!"
They take you away from your father and you say nothing?! »
Isolde finally looked up.
His gaze was icy.
— "As I said…
you are not my family.
My mother is dead.
And my father...
ceased to be the day he betrayed my mother. »
A tear slipped.
— "For me…
he is dead. »
Then she turned around.
— "Let's go…"
And left with Reyna.
Henry stopped, turned back to Lord Veyron with a dangerous smile.
— "By the way…
Lord Veyron…
you are excluded from the council. »
— "Wh…what?!"
You have no right! »
— "Oh yes.
I am a prince just like Axel.
And you insulted my wife...
and offended the future queen of wizards. »
Lord Veyron turned pale.
— "I… I beg you…"
— "Immediate decision. »
He turned on his heel.
Lord Veyron collapsed.
— "I'm finished…
finished…"
Ida murmured, broken:
— "How…
how could all this happen...? »
And in the distance...
Isolde finally walked free