Katelyn walked through the lobby when she encountered Flora, who had a coffee cup in her hand.
"Your Highness!" Flora greeted her with a slight bow.
"How have you been?" Katelyn inquired gently.
"Good," Flora replied.
"Alie is doing well, too. You have not t her in a long ti, right? Did Ophelia try to approach you after that day?" Katelyn asked, concern coloring her voice.
"No. Did sothing happen recently?" Flora asked, imdiately worried by the question.
"Umm... They had gone to Carlos’ place and found out about their past as well," Katelyn replied, revealing the crucial update. "Turns out you don’t know anything about this," she added.
"You must be getting late. You should go," Katelyn stated, excusing Flora.
Flora bowed to her and walked past her. As she stepped into the elevator, she pulled out her phone. "Zander keeps ssaging every day," she murmured, sighing softly at the constant contact.
"I will talk to you after returning ho." She quickly sent the ssage to Zander and then opened a new inbox for Alie.
She typed a ssage for her, letting her know she was worried, and then lowered the phone just as the elevator’s doors opened, and she stepped out.
~~~~
Gabriel and Alie stepped out of their car at the school grounds. Ashna carefully pulled out the stroller with Noah inside it. Gabriel fixed the warm scarf around Alie’s neck before taking hold of the stroller handle.
"Idris is going to love the surprise, isn’t he?" Alie excitedly said, taking a shopping bag from Ashna.
"Yeah," Gabriel agreed with an anticipation in his voice.
The hostel warden where Idris was staying welcod them warmly and imdiately took them to his private office space.
"I have already sent soone to bring Idris, Your Highnesses. Would you like to take coffee or tea? It was quite cold outside," asked the warden in a humble tone, eager to serve the royal family.
"No, thank you," Gabriel refused politely after Alie had already shaken her head.
The warden had his hands nervously resting on his knees, occasionally moving them, as it was his first ti sitting in front of Prince Gabriel. The door finally opened, and Idris walked in.
"Prince Gabriel! Sister Alie!" Idris greeted them with a bright smile, his eyes alight with surprise and happiness.
"I will give you three a personal space." The warden rose to his feet and quickly left the room.
"Idris!" Alie stood up imdiately and opened her arms for him. He hurried to Alie and hugged her tightly. She caressed his hair while gently patting his back with the other hand.
"How have you been?" she asked as they pulled away and looked at his face intently. "Your wound has healed. Why didn’t you tell us about being bullied earlier?" She scolded him in a much lighter tone.
"I-I didn’t want to trouble any of you," Idris murmured, pulling back slightly from the embrace. He then glanced at Gabriel, who had his eyes fixed on him.
"Your Highness, if you hadn’t called that day, I would not have gotten saved. Thank you," Idris expressed his gratitude sincerely.
"Alie was worried for you. Her intuition is strong," Gabriel remarked, acknowledging his wife’s foresight. "From now on, don’t hide anything from us. I heard Cas has forgiven the kid who hit you."
"Yes, and now, Jake has beco a friend of mine. He even apologized to personally," Idris stated, pleased with the unexpected positive outco.
"That’s wonderful," Alie replied, relieved that the conflict was resolved peacefully.
Idris nodded and glanced inside the stroller. "Noah is sleeping," he murmured, his gaze soft.
"We ca to shop outside, and Noah got tired," Alie replied, sitting back down. "You should sit too."
As Idris took a seat across from them, Gabriel grabbed the shopping bag. "Here, for you," he said, forwarding it to Idris.
"Your Highness, it wasn’t needed," Idris said before accepting the bag from him.
"By now, you should grow accustod to it. We buy these for you because we love and care for you," Gabriel stated simply, but with sincerity.
"Yes, I know. Thank you again," Idris replied. "How is my sister doing? I read the strange rumors that are being spread about her. She won’t tell anything; that is why I ask you," he added, his voice dropping with concern for Zilia.
"Zilia is a fighter," Gabriel stated. "And the rumors will be quashed soon."
"They won’t. It is my fault," Idris confessed, his gaze becoming troubled and thoughtful. "I heard my sister saying that she made a mistake by accepting Prince Casaio’s proposal. We had run away from here. But I called Prince Casaio that day, asking him to take us back. I never imagined one day people would get back at Prince Casaio and my sister. The choice he made is being questioned, Your Highness. And it was I who brought a downfall to Prince Casaio," Idris affird, burdened by guilt.
"Casaio chose Zilia after a long contemplation. You aren’t to bla at all," Gabriel stated in a reassuring tone. "Even if you hadn’t told him about Zilia, he would have eventually found her. Hardships are common in anyone’s life, especially those in the public eye. It was supposed to happen, Idris."
He offered the young boy guidance. "What you need to do is focus on doing well in your studies and keep yourself safe. Casaio and Zilia will soon win the hearts of the people. The darkness you’re seeing today will vanish tomorrow."
As Gabriel provided the words of warmth and conviction, he extended his hand. "Co here," he said softly. Idris imdiately held his hand, leaving his seat and walking over to Gabriel. He stroked Idris’s hair and continued, "Don’t get upset with all of this, okay?"
Idris nodded at him, smiling softly. He didn’t stop himself and hugged Gabriel.
"Idris, you don’t have to take so much stress and just enjoy your youthful days," he stated, patting his back.
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