After breakfast, Alie knocked gently on Zilia’s door.
"Zilia? You didn’t co down for breakfast. Is everything alright?" Her voice carried a soft concern.
After a brief pause, the door opened. Zilia stood there, looking fine but faintly tired.
"I went to see Idris early this morning, before his classes started. I told Albus. Didn’t he tell you?"
Alie shook her head slightly.
"No. I didn’t actually ask anyone. I just assud you were still asleep. And... no one ntioned you at the breakfast table."
"Maybe because no one really wants around," Zilia said with a faint chuckle that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
"Don’t say that," Alie countered gently. "Perhaps the others already knew where you’d gone, but I didn’t. That’s all." She offered a reassuring smile. "You should eat sothing now. I’ll have a maid bring breakfast to your room."
"Thank you, Alie." Zilia’s voice softened. "You’re always so kind... even to soone like ."
"Well, you are part of this family," Alie reminded her. "And you’re Brother Casaio’s mate. I rember when we first t, you carried yourself with such confidence. I admired that about you. I hope I’ll see Zilia again soon."
"I think that Zilia disappeared after everything she’s been through," Alie said softly.
"Alie, what are you doing here? I was looking for you in our room," Gabriel’s voice called from the hallway as he approached. "The new room is ready for us. Now you won’t have to climb so many stairs."
"That’s good," Alie replied with a faint smile. "It’s getting harder for to go up and down lately."
"I need to head out with Karn and Denzel," Gabriel said. "Co on, I’ll walk you to our room first."
"Umm... I’ll stay with Zilia for a while. There’s sothing I want to talk to her about. You can go ahead." She paused. "By the way, won’t Brother Nick be going with you?"
"Nick will be joining us. So, the three ladies will have the house to themselves," Gabriel replied.
"I should take my leave. You must stay indoors. Carlos and Casaio will be back at any hour today. By then, we’ll probably have returned as well," Gabriel said.
"Hm. Go," Alie replied.
Gabriel gave her a brief nod before walking away.
Just then, Juniper entered carrying a tray. "Zilia, I brought breakfast for you," she announced.
Zilia quickly stepped toward her, reaching for the tray, but Juniper shifted it away with a small shake of her head. "It’s not heavy," she murmured, walking past her.
Zilia linked her arm through Alie’s and walked inside with her.
As Zilia quietly ate her breakfast, Juniper turned her attention to Alie.
"Hopefully, by today, things will get better. I was so excited about my wedding," Juniper said with a faint sigh.
" I-I’m sorry," Alie replied. "I didn’t an to halt your preparations like this."
"It began with ," Zilia said, glancing at Juniper. "I caused the delay in your and Dominick’s wedding. But I believe the palace must have already started the preparations."
"Yes, they’ve begun," Juniper confird. "And I’m not blaming anyone, so please, don’t take it to heart."
Zilia returned to her al, falling silent as the conversation between the other two won continued.
"I spoke to the Queen earlier," Juniper shared with Alie. "She sounded... low. Did Gabriel and she fight again?"
"I don’t know," Alie replied.
"The Queen never seed so fragile before, not even over calls. I think Gabriel must have been harsher this ti. Sotis, we can’t understand our own parents."
Alie’s tone cooled. "I think the Queen destroyed their relationship fully aware of the consequences."
Juniper’s gaze lingered on her, a flicker of amusent in her eyes.
"I heard your relationship with your parents wasn’t good either," Juniper said. "Maybe that’s why your views differ from mine."
"I once believed the Queen was truly concerned for Gabriel," Alie replied. "I even tried to nd their relationship. But in the end, she chose to eliminate from the picture. Gabriel’s anger toward her isn’t the result of just one incident, it’s been building from many."
"That’s also true. I hope that by the wedding day, everything turns out well. Such a big celebration will not be enjoyed if bitterness persists," Juniper murmured.
Alie didn’t reply since she herself wasn’t sure how Gabriel would end the differences with his mother.
~~~~
"Are you certain this den could be Ophelia’s hideout?" Dominick asked, his gaze fixed on the tablet screen where a single red dot pulsed steadily.
"Yes," Gabriel replied without hesitation. "Karn’s intel has never failed ."
From the driver’s seat, Karn allowed himself a small, confident smile. "Prince Dominick, it took two nights to verify this location. It lies deep in the most treacherous hills of the kingdom, where even seasoned travelers can lose their way. They say the place disorients your very senses. Ophelia didn’t choose it by chance, she planned this hideout with careful planning."
"Then how did she get to Flora?" Dominick asked, his eyes narrowing on Gabriel.
"Given how ancient she is, she may have the ability to teleport," Gabriel replied.
Dominick frowned. "If that forest truly robs people of their senses, how are we supposed to capture Ophelia? She could easily use its unique properties against us."
"You’re forgetting," Gabriel said with a faint smirk, "we’ve co prepared." He shifted his gaze to the seat beside Karn. "Denzel, did you bring the pills?"
"Yes." Denzel took out the small bottle with pills. He turned and handed it to Gabriel.
"Each of us will take a pill before entering that forest. We only have to confirm with our eyes that Ophelia is there. We won’t attack now," Gabriel stated.
"And what if she attacks us?" Dominick inquired.
"We will disappear," Gabriel replied.
"She’s after your life... And Alie’s too. We were supposed to not let her know," Denzel argued.
"Yes. But after she t Flora, insisted on her to wear the locket, I contemplated. She already knows we are after her," Gabriel pronounced. "And to end her ga, I’ve to invite her on the sa field on which I’m standing."
Reviews
All reviews (0)