"What is it?" Idris asked curiously, his eyes widening as Gabriel handed him a small box.
"You’ll have to see for yourself," Gabriel replied.
Idris carefully untied the knot and lifted the lid. Inside, nestled against the dark fabric, was a silver ring crowned with a polished erald stone. His lips parted in awe.
Alie leaned closer, her eyes catching the gleam of the gem. "Wait... isn’t that the emblem of the three Sinclair brothers?" she asked in surprise.
Gabriel nodded. "It is," he confird. His voice carried both pride and sincerity. "Idris may not be a Sinclair by blood, but to us, he is one of us now. I wanted him to have this, not as a token of duty, but as a sign of belonging."
Idris’s small hands trembled slightly as he picked up the ring. With a beaming smile, he slipped it onto the pointer finger of his left hand. The erald caught the light, glimring like a promise.
His eyes shone with unguarded joy as he looked up at Gabriel. For the first ti, Idris didn’t feel like just a younger outsider boy among princes, he felt like their brother.
"This ans so much to , Prince Gabriel! Thank you!" Idris exclaid, his eyes gleaming as he admired the erald ring on his finger. "It fits perfectly. But... how did you even know the size of my finger?" he asked, looking up in surprise.
Gabriel’s lips curved into a knowing smile. "Let’s just say I’m a good observer," he replied. Then, with a touch of seriousness, he added, "Keep it on always. It’s not just a gift, it’s a bond."
"Of course! I’ll never take it off. Thank you!" Idris bead, his joy almost too big for his young fra to contain.
Their mont of warmth was cut short when a knock sounded at the door.
"Co in," Gabriel commanded.
A palace maid entered, bowing respectfully. "Your Highness, soone has co to see Her Ladyship."
"Is it Zander?" Alie asked quickly, sitting upright.
"Yes, Your Highness," the maid confird.
Idris rose to his feet, clutching his hand with the ring as if it were treasure. "Then I’ll take my leave now," he said with a polite bow.
"Of course," Alie said warmly. "And Idris, your gifts ant the world to us. Thank you."
A shy grin tugged at his lips as he walked out.
"Tell Zander we’ll be there shortly. Also, make him sit in the main hall of Northern Palace," Gabriel instructed the maid. She bowed again and departed.
Alie sighed softly, glancing at the boxes. "Idris is so thoughtful for his age," she murmured with fondness.
Gabriel moved closer, gathering the boxes neatly. "He is. That’s why I wanted him to feel he belongs." Then he knelt, helping her slip on her ballet flats with gentle hands.
"I can do it myself, you know," Alie said softly as she stood up, brushing down her dress.
"I know," Gabriel replied with a faint smile. "But I love doing these things for you."
Leaving her montarily, he went into the washroom to wash his hands. anwhile, Alie set the half-empty bowl of berries on the bedside table and carefully covered it with a tray before stepping forward.
When Gabriel returned to her side, his hand instinctively reached for hers. Together, they left the chamber.
~~~~
Zander thanked the maid who had brought him a glass of water. He took a few slow sips when he sensed the presence of soone strong. He could only belong to one person, Gabriel Sinclair. Lowering the glass, he turned toward the doorway and saw both Alie and Gabriel entering together.
He imdiately rose to his feet, bowing in greeting before lifting his head again. A warm smile curved his lips as his eyes softened at Alie.
"Alie, your baby bump has grown so much," he said with gentle amusent. "I imagine the birth is not far now."
"Yes, most likely by next month," Alie replied warmly. She gestured to the seat he had just vacated. "Please, sit."
"I must apologize for disturbing you both," Zander said, "especially when everyone here must be so busy with preparations."
"It’s no disturbance," Gabriel answered with a calm smile. "We weren’t occupied with anything important. But tell us, what brings you here? Would you like so coffee first?"
Zander shook his head lightly. "No, thank you, Your Highness. I had my coffee earlier at the hotel, and I’m still quite full."
A brief silence lingered before Zander finally spoke again.
"I wanted to speak with Alie... about Flora," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "Alie, I wish to pursue her. But she is so adamant, so determined to keep at a distance. She has shut her heart entirely. The space between us feels so wide now that I can hardly reach her, let alone speak to her openly."
Alie’s brows pinched with sympathy. "Flora isn’t ready for any commitnt, Zander. You know what the Red River Pack did to her, what she endured, and the mistakes she made. Those scars weigh heavily on her. I tried to talk to her, told her she should give herself another chance... but she refused. She told that you deserve soone better than her."
Zander let out a long, heavy sigh, his head bowing as if the words pressed on his shoulders. "Yes. She told the sa. But I don’t believe that. I think Flora could be a remarkable Luna. Around her, I’ve always felt a comfort I can’t explain. As for what people think—" his gaze lifted, "they forget. Scandals, whispers... all of it fades with ti. That’s how society works."
Alie shook her head softly. "They don’t forget, Zander. Not truly. And if you stand beside her, their gossip won’t just be about her past, it will be about you as well."
"I agree with Alie," Gabriel said. "You were Alex’s best friend, his beta. Maybe people are with you today, but you don’t know about tomorrow. Your union with Flora could bring chaos. However, there’s no fun if you don’t pursue your love even in the chaos," he smirked, encouraging Zander.
Reviews
All reviews (0)