"I’ll skip breakfast. Make sure you and Kate eat something," Gabriel said, standing up from his seat.
"Is it because Amelie’s not feeling well?" Casaio asked, studying his brother’s face.
Gabriel gave a small nod. "Hmm."
"Thank you for talking with me," Casaio added sincerely. "I think I finally have some clarity on what I need to do."
Gabriel offered a brief, approving glance. "Good."
There was a pause before Casaio suddenly spoke again. "Hey... do you want to go on a run later? It’s been ages since our wolves ran together, last time was when we were kids." His tone carried a faint wistfulness. "Kate is with Amelie now, so I know you can spare me a little time."
"I went for a run this morning," Gabriel replied with a hint of a smile. "But... how about tomorrow?"
"Sounds good to me," Casaio agreed with a nod.
Gabriel turned on his heels to head upstairs, but then paused mid-step. He glanced back at Casaio.
"I’m sorry... if I’ve ever hurt you with my words," he said. "I felt you deserved an apology."
Casaio blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected apology from Gabriel. But before he could respond, Gabriel was already ascending the staircase, as though he didn’t want to wait for, or face, his brother’s reply.
A slow smile tugged at Casaio’s lips. "He’s changed," he murmured under his breath. "Should I call it Amelie’s effect?"
Shaking his head with amusement, he reached into the pocket of his long overcoat, pulled out his phone, and finally switched it on.
Casaio glanced at the screen, noting several missed calls, most of them from his father, and a few from others he didn’t feel ready to answer yet.
With a resolute expression, he tapped his father’s name and raised the phone to his ear.
"Good morning, Dad," he greeted. "I’m sorry I couldn’t take your calls earlier. I’m bringing Zilia to the capital... and I apologize for letting my feelings cloud my judgment."
A brief silence followed before his father replied, "I’ll wait for your return."
Casaio slowly lowered the phone after his father abruptly ended the call. Without hesitation, he dialed his beta’s number.
"Yes, Prince?" Estelle’s composed voice came through the line.
"Meet me at the mansion at exactly eleven this morning," Casaio said, his tone firm but tired.
There was a brief pause before she responded, "Understood."
He ended the call without another word and slipped the phone back into the pocket of his long overcoat.
Albus cleared his throat softly, drawing Casaio’s attention. He offered a respectful bow as their eyes met.
"Breakfast is ready, Your Highness," he announced. "Please proceed to the dining hall."
His gaze then shifted to the staircase, and saw Katelyn descending the stairs.
"You as well, Princess Kate," he added with a courteous nod.
"Send some fresh fruits to Gabriel and Amelie’s room. They won’t be joining for breakfast," Casaio ordered before making his way toward the dining hall.
Albus bowed deeply in acknowledgment. "As you wish, Your Highness."
Katelyn hurried after her brother, catching up to him just as he settled into his seat and tucked a napkin into the collar of his shirt. Without wasting a second, she slipped into the chair beside him.
"Brother," she began, unfolding her napkin and placing it over her lap, "when I asked you why you looked so gloomy that day, why did you lie to me? Do you still think of me as that little girl who needs to be shielded from everything?"
"That’s not true, Kate," Casaio said.
"Then why was I the only one kept in the dark?" Katelyn asked, gripping her fork a little tighter. "Everyone else knew. Even Mom and Dad."
Casaio sighed, resting his hands on the edge of the table. "Because I was still trying to process it myself. I didn’t intend for anyone to know, not until I was ready to share it with you all." He paused, then added, "Gabriel arrested Zilia that day. Nick was with us when it happened. Our parents only learned the truth later, after everything had already unfolded."
"Oh."
"Let’s start eating before it gets cold," Casaio suggested.
"Hmm. Brother, if you ever feel upset, you can talk to me. I’m always there for you," Katelyn said.
Casaio simply smiled and nodded at her.
~~~~~
Gabriel gently caressed Amelie’s hair, watching as she lay fast asleep. Leaning down, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, lingering there for a moment before carefully sliding off the bed to avoid waking her.
He picked up his phone from the nearby table, his eyes landing on his mother’s contact. His thumb hovered over the screen, but he hesitated to make a call.
’If I ask her about the mark, she’ll deny it without hesitation... but she knows a lot more than anyone. That high priestess told Mom more than she actually speaks,’ he thought, turning to stand by the window.
After contemplating for a moment, he decided to call his trusted spy so that he could find out about Leena and her friend, Glenice.
Just as Gabriel was about to call his mother, his phone buzzed in his hand. He frowned slightly when he saw the caller ID, David Conley, Amelie’s father.
He answered the call. "Hello?"
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, David got to the point.
"I called to ask if Amelie could spend some time here... with her mother and the rest of us," he said.
Gabriel stepped out onto the balcony before he responded.
"Then you’ve called the wrong person, David," Gabriel said. "Amelie has made her stance very clear. Right now, she doesn’t want her family involved. If you truly care about your daughter’s well-being, then give her the time and space she’s asking for."
"I understand, Your Highness. We thought to pamper Amelie when she’s carrying the pup," David said.
"Sorry, but Amelie doesn’t want to go to her house. All of you lost the chance to pamper her when you should’ve," Gabriel said, pinching the skin between his brows. "Let’s not go in the direction of arguments. Amelie is doing well here. If you want to see her, you are welcome here anytime but please ask Amelie first."