King Drakkar was talking quietly with Reyna and Isolde.
Reyna gently placed her hand on Isolde's shoulder.
— Your Majesty, allow me to introduce you to Isolde.
Drakkar turned his deep red eyes on her, calm but piercing.
— Isolde... I heard about you. Reyna has already told me about your exile, your wounds... and your strength.
Isolde tilted her head, moved.
— Thank you, Majesty.
Reyna continued, briefly recounting Isolde's childhood, the loss of her mother, her survival, and the difficult road that had led her here. Drakkar listened in silence, his face serious.
It was then that a young woman approached, hesitant.
— Forgive me… Majesty.
Drakkar turned his head.
— Yes, my child?
- I'm Marlie... I wanted to greet you... and ask you... - she hesitated, troubled - if we had already met.
A strange silence fell.
Drakkar's features froze. Slowly, he got up and approached her, observing her as if he were seeing a ghost.
"Your eyes…" he whispered. The same as him...
Reyna frowned.
"Your Majesty… what's going on?"
Drakkar took a deep breath.
— Marlie… do you know who your parents were?
She lowered her head.
— No… I only know that they died when I was little.
Drakkar gently placed his hands on her shoulders.
—Your father's name was Ride. He was part of my bodyguard. One of the most loyal... He died to protect me and your mother too.
Marlie trembled.
"Before they died… they begged me to take care of you.
Marlie's eyes misted.
— When I arrived on the scene... they were almost dead... and you... you were missing. I thought I lost you forever.
Isolde put a hand to her mouth, upset.
"I've been researching for years…" Drakkar murmured. And I later learned that a child had been saved... then abandoned in an orphanage. It was you.
Marlie let out a sob.
— I wanted to come and adopt you… but I learned that you ran away when you were fifteen.
She lowered her head, ashamed.
— I… I wanted to be free…
Without another word, Drakkar hugged her.
— You have nothing to reproach yourself for, my daughter... You are alive. That's all that matters.
Marlie clung to him, crying silently.
Isolde approached, hesitant.
— Marlie... I... I'm sorry for what I did to you...
Marlie wiped away her tears and smiled softly.
— It's nothing… You too suffered. Sometimes pain makes us unjust… but there is still time to make peace.
Isolde nodded, moved.