Casaio found Gabriel waiting for him in the common room of the princes early that morning.
"Why did you call for ? Is everything alright?" Casaio asked, concern evident in his voice.
"We need to go to see Carlos’ grandmother," Gabriel stated. "Alie and I both think she might be sick. Since you’ve been there once before, I want you to accompany this ti."
"Hmm. When do we have to leave?" Casaio asked, already preparing ntally for the journey.
"If we could leave by the evening, it would be wonderful," Gabriel answered.
"Alright," Casaio agreed imdiately. "I was wondering myself why Carlos didn’t make it to this special event." Casaio’s brow creased with genuine worry. "By the way, I shouldn’t be saying this, and I pray this won’t co true, but what if sothing happens to his grandmother? Alie and you can only find the truth about the past with his grandmother’s help."
"I don’t know what we will do," Gabriel muttered, running a hand through his hair, his eyes heavy with worry.
"Luckily, Ophelia has backed off for a while," Casaio opined, offering a brighter perspective. "So, there’s nothing to worry about for now." His tone was deliberately hopeful, a supportive older brother trying to reassure his younger sibling that everything would turn out well.
"Hmm. Thanks. By the way, are you and Dominick still on cold terms?" Gabriel questioned, pressing the sensitive issue.
"He is the reason for it," Casaio outrightly blad, his voice devoid of any emotion except resentnt.
Gabriel stepped closer. "You jumped into the Cursed Forest to save Nick. Have you forgotten everything about your second brother? You two share an unbreakable bond of brotherhood. Juniper was his personal affair. Don’t let the Cursed Forest fill your mind with a fog of falseness."
Gabriel’s tone softened as he spoke further, "Nick is looking out for your support. So, for once, put aside what was going to happen with Zilia and Idris because Nick was also suffering from the betrayal of his mate at that ti."
Hearing such emotional and detailed reasoning from Gabriel, Casaio felt a strange sensation in his heart. It carried guilt, and lingering pain that was hard to explain.
"I’ll et you once I’ve made the arrangents to leave for Carlos’ place," Gabriel stated, and he quickly excused himself.
Casaio also walked out of the common room, but instead of heading straight for his own chamber, he diverted his path. He was heading to see Dominick. Gabriel’s words about their bond had broken through the ntal fog the Cursed Forest’s influence had left.
As he walked, fragnted mories started to surface. He could distinctly recall the monts they had always shared, the way he instinctively turned to Dominick with news, both happy and troubling.
Then, a specific mory surfaced: their wedding day. It was supposed to be Dominick and Juniper’s day, yet his brother was genuinely, overwhelmingly happy for him and Zilia, sharing the date with grace and true support.
One by one, the shared mories that he had temporarily suppressed began to flood his mind. The deep, unspoken understanding that had always existed between him and Dominick. He began to feel the loyalty and brotherhood they shared, replacing the cold bitterness from his heart.
As the genuine mories flooded over him, Casaio was overwheld. He finally recalled the agonizing day he had desperately run into the Cursed Forest for Dominick, who was trapped inside. He rembered carrying the flickering lantern to his brother and hoisting Dominick onto his back, pulling him to safety.
This vivid, visceral mory led to another, far softer one: the first ti he had ever held Dominick in his arms. When his tiny baby brother was born, Casaio had been ecstatic. He would brag about him to everyone he knew.
"Oh my god! What did I do to him?" Casaio whispered, the realization hitting him like a physical blow. "I hurt him with such harsh words. How could I even forget what Dominick truly ans to ? My younger brother, whom I love far more than anyone can ever understand."
Overco by guilt and a profound sense of loss for their fractured relationship, he rushed straight to Dominick’s chamber, stopping only when he reached the door.
Taking a deep breath, Casaio pushed the door open and walked into the chamber. He imdiately saw several servants already busy cleaning the drawing room. The doors to the adjoining bedroom were also open.
"Is Nick inside?" he asked, his voice a little strained as he tried to regulate his breathing.
"Your Highness!" The servants imdiately straightened and bowed deeply in respect.
"Prince Dominick is having a bath," one of them replied.
"Oh. When will he return?" asked Casaio, feeling a nervous hesitation.
"He will be out soon, Your Highness," the sa servant replied.
"Alright. I’ll wait for him," Casaio said, gesturing for them to resu their work, settling himself in the drawing room to await his brother.
The servants resud their work, quietly moving around the room. So carried laundry baskets out, while others ticulously cleaned the furniture. Shortly after they had cleared out, Dominick erged from the bedroom, breathing fresh after his bath.
"Cas!" Dominick’s eyes instantly lit up with surprise and genuine pleasure at seeing his elder brother.
Casaio imdiately stood up and offered a soft smile. "How are you coping?" he asked.
Dominick paused, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. The soft, gentle tone in which Casaio spoke, so utterly different from their recent harsh exchanges, threw him completely off balance.
"I’m sorry, Nick. I recalled everything," Casaio said, his voice thick with genuine emotion and regret. "I have hurt you unintentionally. Please, forgive ."
A wave of relief washed over Dominick. He didn’t hesitate. "It’s fine, Cas. You don’t have to apologize to . I was the one who entered the Cursed Forest clumsily," he remarked, deflecting the bla.
Dominick walked swiftly to his elder brother and pulled him into a tight embrace. "Instead, I’m sorry for the trouble I have caused you and Zilia. I missed your support all this ti. I hope you won’t get angry with ever again."
Casaio returned the hug with equal fervor, his guilt finally easing. "I won’t. It was the effect of the Cursed Forest that clouded my mind. And what June did was never your fault, Nick. So, please, don’t bla yourself," he affird, securing their unbreakable bond once more.
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