"Why don’t we invite Alie and Zilia too?" Gabriel suggested.
"That’s a good idea. Call them! We brought enough," Casaio agreed heartily. He flagged down a passing maidservant, giving her quick instructions to fetch the Alie and Zilia imdiately.
The four n then walked into the room, breaking the quiet sanctuary Katelyn had been enjoying while watching a drama on the TV.
"Kate! Look what we brought for you! Ta-da!" Casaio announced with the flourish of a magician. "Your favorite chili garlic chicken noodles, hot corn soup, and plenty more."
"What? Are we actually having outside food?" Katelyn’s eyes shimred instantly with pure excitent. The scent of the spicy noodles hit her, and her stomach gave an appreciative growl.
"Yes," Dominick answered, lowering the heavy bags onto the table. anwhile, Casaio handed over the shopping bags. "Since you can’t go out to the boutiques yet, we brought the boutiques to you. Winter is coming, so check these beautiful dresses out."
As Katelyn began eagerly peering into the bags, Gabriel noticed the volu of the feast.
Stepping back out into the hall, Gabriel signaled to the staff. "I need a larger dining table brought in here imdiately," he commanded. "And bring extra chairs along with all the cutlery."
Zilia arrived first with her brother Idris. She imdiately stepped into her role, gracefully assisting the servants as they transferred the steaming food from takeout containers into fine porcelain bowls.
Idris, however, walked straight to the edge of the bed. With a shy but sincere expression, he handed Katelyn a small card.
"What’s this?" Katelyn murmured. She opened it to find a beautiful, handmade recovery card. The ssage inside was simple but heartwarming, written with a care that brought a genuine glow to her face.
"Thanks, Idris," she said. "This ans a lot."
Gabriel once again excused himself as his phone buzzed in the pocket of his trousers. Seeing Karn’s na on the screen, he answered it after stepping into the quiet hallway.
"Have you arrived in Zedrion?" Gabriel questioned.
"Yes. Louis and I are here. We have checked into a hotel for now. After taking so rest, we will go back into the work," Karn stated.
"Good," Gabriel grunted, his eyes fixed on the far end of the corridor. "Listen, if the Alpha King of Zedrion demands to know why we’re hunting for a bloodsmith, tell him the truth."
There was a pause on the other end because of Karn’s skepticism. "Are you sure? Revealing Ophelia’s shadow to another kingdom... It’s a massive risk, Gabriel."
"It’s the only way and he’s trustworthy," Gabriel replied, his resolve absolute. "He needs to know the stakes are real." He spotted Alie was walking toward him, her presence like a calm breeze in the storm he was experiencing. "I have to go. I’ll talk to you later."
He slid the phone into his pocket and waited for her. As she reached him, she passed a warm smile to him.
"Are we having dinner together? It’s been long since we last sat together for dining," Alie stated.
"Not everyone is present. Only the siblings, then you, Zilia and Sage. Idris too," he asserted. "Is Noah with Ashna?"
"No, Flora is with him. He’s asleep, so we don’t have to worry," Alie answered, stepping closer to him. "So, how did it go with her? I’m hoping it went well."
Gabriel didn’t just take her hand; he interlaced their fingers, anchoring himself to her. "It did. Better than I deserved, honestly."
Without another word, they began to walk back toward Katelyn’s room, hand-in-hand.
~~~~
In the quiet elegance of the royal dining hall, Raidan and Mabel sat down for their supper. The atmosphere was peaceful until Lester approached to provide his evening report.
"The princes are currently dining with princess Katelyn," Lester inford them with a respectful bow. "The wives of the first and third Alpha Princes are in attendance as well, along with Sage and Idris."
A genuine, warm smile spread across Raidan’s face as he picked up his spoon. "That’s wonderful. It’s been far too long since they’ve all been in one room without a crisis at the center of the table."
Mabel, however, remained focused on her daughter’s recovery. "Did you ensure the kitchen sent up the dicinal porridge for Kate?" she asked.
"Actually, no, Your Majesty," Lester replied, clearing his throat slightly. "Prince Casaio and Prince Dominick brought in food from outside the palace."
Mabel froze, her spoon halfway to her mouth. She shook her head in disbelief. "What? They are feeding her restaurant food? In this state? Don’t they realize her system is delicate? She needs to eat light to regain her strength!"
Raidan chuckled softly, reaching over to pat his wife’s hand in a calming gesture. "My dear, don’t forget their history. Whenever Kate was sick as a child, Cas and Nick’s cure was always a bag of greasy food and a hidden stash of sweets. They’ve always spoiled her that way. Besides, she’s an Alpha, her tabolism will burn through those spices and use the energy to heal. It’s the joy of the al that will do her the most good."
Mabel sighed, though the edge of her worry remained. "Still," she murmured, "at a ti like this, they really should have refrained from such heavy foods. I hope they don’t give her a stomach ache on top of everything else."
"No, it won’t happen," Raidan stated firmly. He gave a subtle nod to Lester and the surrounding staff. Understanding the unspoken command, they bowed and retreated, leaving the King and Queen alone in the vast dining hall.
Raidan set his spoon down and looked at Mabel, his expression shifting. "Gabriel is under imnse stress. Have you had a chance to talk to him privately?"
Mabel sighed, her gaze drifting to the empty seat where her son usually sat. "Not yet. I haven’t found the right mont. I felt... He needed space to process everything on his own terms."
"He is haunted by what happened to Kate," Raidan said. "I am beyond proud of our daughter. In the depths of my heart, I was terrified for her, but she proved her bravery in a way I hadn’t yet seen. She stayed strong while being held by the witch."
He leaned forward, his eyes reflecting a deep empathy for his third son. "Think about it, Mabel. Ophelia is a strategist of pain. She would have eventually demanded that Alie or Gabriel sacrifice themselves in exchange for Kate’s life. Gabriel knows this. He is likely playing those scenarios over and over in his head, the ’what ifs’ are eating at him. I can sense his turmoil as clearly as if it were my own."
Mabel humd in understanding. "I know. Tomorrow," she assured him, "I will find him. I’ll make sure he knows he doesn’t have to carry the guilt of what has happened."
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