Katelyn stepped out of her room, stretching her arms with a quiet yawn, only to stop mid-motion when she saw Karmen walking down the hallway with a file in hand. She quickly lowered her arms, straightening up just as he approached.
"Good morning, Princess," he greeted, offering a polite nod.
"Good morning," Katelyn returned with a small smile. "And thank you for the muffins. I ate them, they were delicious."
"That’s good to hear," Karmen replied. "I have some work to take care of, so I’ll be on my way."
He gave her a courteous bow before turning to leave.
Katelyn watched his retreating back with a sigh. "Why is he acting so cold all of a sudden? He confuses me," she murmured to herself.
Reaching the living room, Katelyn spotted Casaio seated on the couch, his posture slouched, eyes distant as if lost in a storm of thoughts. Quietly walking up behind him, she gently placed her hands over his eyes.
"Kate," Casaio said instantly.
"What? How did you know it was me?" she asked, pulling her hands away with a mock pout as she stepped in front of him.
"I know my sister’s hands," he chuckled softly.
Albus, standing nearby, motioned to a maid and instructed her, "Bring green tea for His and Her Highness."
"You look better," Casaio remarked, taking in her presence with a small smile.
"Yes. The first three days are unbearable, but after that, the pain eases," Katelyn replied with a shrug, then narrowed her eyes slightly. "But you don’t look so good. Did Mom scold you again?"
"No," Casaio responded.
"Then why does my brother look like the world just crumbled around him?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.
The maid arrived with the tray. Katelyn thanked her with a soft nod and took a sip of the green tea, her eyes still fixed on Casaio, waiting for him to explain. But the answer never came.
She didn’t push him further. Instead, she sat beside him, silently sipping her tea.
Just then, Albus returned, holding a phone.
"Your Highness, the Queen has called," he announced.
Casaio took the phone and brought it to his ear. Before he could say a word, Mabel’s voice rang out from the other side.
"Come to the palace. It’s better if you teleport."
"Is everything alright, Mom?" Casaio asked.
"You’ll find out once you’ll be here," Mabel stated.
"Sure." Casaio handed the phone back to Albus. He placed the cup on the saucer and rose to his feet. "Don’t go around without bodyguard. I’ll be back soon," he instructed Katelyn before disappearing.
"Why did Mom call for him?" Katelyn inquired Albus.
"Pardon me, Your Highness, but I’m not aware of this," Albus responded truthfully.
"Oh." Katelyn got worried, but didn’t express it.
~~~~
"Greetings, Father. Mother." Casaio bowed respectfully, then lifted his head, his eyes moving from Raidan to Mabel before settling briefly on Dominick, who lounged quietly on the nearby sofa chair.
"Have a seat," Raidan gestured calmly.
Casaio sat down on the sofa across from them. "Is everything alright?"
Mabel didn’t waste a moment. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she asked, "Why didn’t you tell us Zilia was arrested for espionage?"
Casaio held her gaze but said nothing yet.
"How long were you planning to keep this from us?" she pressed in a much sharper tone. "Since when did you start acting like Gabriel, doing things behind our backs and refusing to listen to us?"
"Calm down, darling," Raidan gently placed his hand on Mabel’s. "Let’s hear him out first. I’m sure Casaio had his reasons."
"I wanted to handle the matter in my own way," Casaio responded.
Mabel’s eyes narrowed. "Bring her here," she ordered coldly. "She doesn’t deserve to live. Ten years... for ten years she deceived us, tricked you and committed treason by weaving herself into our lives. Casaio, you should never have kept something this serious from me," she added, her voice tinged with deep disappointment.
"She will be sentenced to death for—"
"Mom!" Casaio’s voice rose sharply, cutting her off. "Let me handle this," he continued. "I’m the one she deceived. I’m the one who let my guard down. So I’ll be the one to get the truth out of her. Please... don’t interfere."
Mabel stared at her son, anger simmering beneath the surface, but Raidan gently placed his hand over hers again, silently urging to stop.
Casaio clasped both hands tightly, his gaze fixed on the floor. "More than any of you, I’m the one who’s hurting. I can’t just... execute her. Because I—I loved her for a long time. And no matter what she did, it’s not easy to bury those feelings overnight."
Raidan leaned forward with concern. "Son, emotions can cloud your judgment. In moments like this, it’s easy to make choices you’ll regret. Are you sure you’re the right person to be handling this?"
"I understand what you’re saying, Dad," Casaio replied, lifting his head. His eyes held a flicker of both pain and conviction. "But I won’t let my emotions take over. I’ve already learned that lesson the hard way. Zilia won’t open up to anyone else... and I have to know the truth. Why she chose loyalty to someone else over me, why I was never enough and why the bond never mattered to her."
Mabel watched him closely, feeling the pain her son was undergoing.
"Don’t go soft on her. She–she has hurt you," Mabel said, her eyes turning misty.
"I won’t. Thank you, Mom, for letting me handle this," Casaio said while taking a sigh of relief.
"Stay here for tonight," Mabel told him.
"Kate will be alone in the mansion then," Casaio said.
"She’s people around her to take care of her. You need not to worry for her," Mabel told him.
Casaio nodded at her. He gazed at Dominick briefly, wondering if he was the one, who told their parents the truth.
’I did nothing. Mom found out on her own,’ Dominick mindlinked with his brother.
’I see,’ Casaio replied. He frowned thinking who could be the spy in Gabriel’s mansion.