Chapter 233: The empty chamber
Izaak’s lips lingered above hers, their dance slowing to a halt before he reluctantly pulled away. He knew he shouldn’t have given in to his desires, but the pull was too strong to resist. Now, he feared, Melody would despise him even more. He retreated a step, his mind racing to find the right words to justify his actions.
Melody raised her head to meet his gaze. "What just happened?" she asked, her voice a mix of betrayal and confusion.
Izaak responded, his voice laced with a strange mix of frustration and longing. "Didn’t you hear what I said? Ever since you entered my life, I’ve been spiraling into madness," he confessed. "It drives me to the brink when you look at me with those questioning eyes. And my heart, it’s ready to again feel love," he asserted while furrowing his brows together.
Melody attempted to speak, but words failed her. Her eyes flickered uncertainly, akin to a flame dancing wildly on a windy night. Her heart, mind, and body were no longer in harmony. The thought of falling in love with the prince was a dream she was forbidden to entertain.
With a swift turn, she faced away from him. "May I take my leave, Your Highness?" Melody asked in a low voice, seeking his permission. She was desperate to escape his sight. Those eyes were full of desires, which in her eyes developed because he was alone for a long time. She found every reason to convince herself that Izaak wanted her body, her blood more than her.
Understanding the awkwardness, Izaak decided to let her go. "Yes, you may," he replied.
Melody took a step toward the door when Izaak said, "I was betrayed in love... Four times. I know it sounds absurd, but I trusted four times. My heart, as irrational as it may seem, is prepared to risk it all for a fifth time. Please, don’t judge me. I’ll be an open book if you have any questions," he confessed. In the final moment, he remembered Magnus’s counsel. He felt it was crucial to reveal his true identity to Melody.
She again pivoted on her sandals and turned to him.
"Your Highness, I don’t know what your former late wives did, but killing isn’t the answer," she clarified. "And I never knew your help wasn’t genuine. It wanted something from me in return," she asserted.