Katelyn drank the water when she heard the footsteps outside her door. She turned around only to see Amelie at the door and surprisingly, Gabriel was also with her.
"Amelie!" Katelyn rested the glass on the nightstand and rushed to her. She hugged her warmly. "Thank you for convincing my brother," she whispered.
Amelie pulled away and tilted her head to look at Gabriel. "Welcome your sister," she said.
"I already did," Gabriel replied in his usual cold tone.
"He’s lying," Katelyn said.
"Didn’t I say you are welcome to stay here when we crossed paths in the living room?" Gabriel arched his eyebrow at his sister. "Don’t inform my matters to the palace. I won’t hesitate in sending you back, Kate."
"You think I’m a spy sent by our parents," Kate looked at her brother in disbelief. Her two older brothers were better than Gabriel, but she couldn’t even compare them. Everyone were different and special.
"I will see you later," Gabriel whispered near Amelie’s ear. She felt the brush of her lips and a tint of red hue appeared on her cheeks. She turned her head and found him walking away.
Katelyn held Amelie’s both hands and dragged her into the room. "I’m so excited to be here till your wedding," she pronounced. "Have a seat," she pronounced, telling Amelie to sit on the bed.
"What about the others in the palace? I know they were upset because I chose to stand by Gabriel," Amelie stated, furrowing her brows in worry.
"Only Mom is upset. Rest are happy for my brother, especially Dad," Katelyn replied. She held Amelie’s hand and continued, "My brother had occasional fights with mom but this was the first time it crossed all the limits. Our mother just doesn’t like Brother Gabriel. I have no idea why. Maybe it’s because the way he acts. But Amelie, I do think a mother is a mother. Maybe Mom has her own insecurities toward my brother. She didn’t punish you that means she does care for Gabriel’s choice."
’A mother is a mother’ this sentence itself made Amelie wonder if her mother had insecurities too regarding her. No, that couldn’t be true. In her eyes, some mothers might get selfish.
"What are you thinking?" Katelyn’s voice broke through her trance.
"Uh-nothing," Amelie replied. "You should rest, Kate. It must be a tiring journey," she added.
"Yeah, a little. I’ll have my dinner, then go to bed. Are you guys not eating yet?" Katelyn inquired.
"I don’t know. Gabriel has gone somewhere and he may probably return late," she replied. "I’ll ask Albus to send dinner for you in the room."
"Alright," Katelyn said. "We are going to be besties, Amelie. Let’s go to the shopping tomorrow, okay?"
"But I’ve to go to the office tomorrow. Can we go in the evening?" Amelie suggested.
"You work? Where?" Katelyn was surprised because she didn’t imagine Amelie be working. ’How did Gabriel even allow for it?’ she thought.
"Gabriel hired me as his secretary in his company," Amelie replied.
"Oh! That’s crazy," Katelyn chuckled.
"Yeah. He never hired any secretary before that too, a female," Amelie remarked.
"Yeah. He’s head over heels for you. You must keep him around your finger," Katelyn remarked while smiling.
Amelie shook her head and stood up. "You can freshen up. I’ll send the dinner for you shortly," she pointed. "I’m glad you came here. I can definitely go for shopping with you in the evening after work."
Katelyn nodded and waved at Amelie, who exited the room, closing the door behind her with a light thud.
As Amelie arrived in the living room, she saw Gabriel was discussing the incident related to the east wing. She stopped by and heard them speaking how it could be from their enemies, whom Gabriel had confronted in the past.
"My enemies?" Gabriel chuckled. "What’s wrong with the security of the mansion? Didn’t you think of that first, Karl?" he bore his gaze at the leader of the warriors.
"I made a mistake. But I assure you it won’t happen in the future," Karl stated.
"The autopsy report of the wolf will soon be in our hands," Karmen said.
Albus cleared his throat as he stopped near Amelie. "Miss, you shouldn’t hear such conversations," he whispered.
"It seems trouble is there," Amelie said in a low voice.
"Master and the others will solve it soon. It’s not first time such a thing happened," Albus said as they both began walking toward the kitchen.
"It happened in the past too?" Amelie inquired.
"Umm... Such wolves are found dead earlier too, but definitely not in the mansion. But don’t be bothered about it. You should focus on yourself," Albus opined.
"Hmm." Amelie stopped by the kitchen’s entrance. "Does Gabriel really have enemies?"
"Yes, Miss. But it’s not because of his methods but because how he reveal the evil sides of some of the pack alphas," Albus explained to her.
"Oh."
"But Prince Gabriel isn’t easy to be harmed. May I know why did you come to the kitchen?" Albus then inquired.
"Princess Katelyn wishes to have dinner early. She’s tired and will retire to bed right after having her supper. So, I wanted to ask the maids if they prepared the dinner or there’s still time for it." Amelie looked inside the kitchen and saw the chefs were already preparing for it.
"It will be done shortly. I’ll send the dinner for Princess Katelyn. You can go upstairs to your room and rest for sometime," Albus suggested to her. "Oh, by the way, how did the call go with your mother?"
"Ahh... It didn’t go well. I don’t want to see her or Dad. It’s a long story, Uncle," Amelie whispered.
"I understand," Albus said and didn’t press her further.
Amelie turned around and went upstairs. While sitting on the bed, she gazed at the screen of her phone, wondering if she should talk to her mother. Her mind had calmed down and she felt she overreacted earlier.
"But it would be wrong to forgive them. It’s true that they would not have even bothered if Gabriel weren’t there. They were happy with my disappearance," she murmured and sighed.
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Thank you everyone for supporting me through GTs, votes, coins etc. I won gold in the cupid quill and it really wouldn’t be possible without all of your support. I will give a mass release soon for this achievement😊.