Chapter 281: A punishment for love

Words : 1619 Updated : Oct 5th, 2025

Carlos exited the car and looked at the grand palace’s entrance. "Let’s go in," Karmen said, guiding him forward. They ascended the marble staircase. Carlos took in his surroundings, the lavish floral arrangements, the gleaming chandeliers, the air scented faintly with roses and cedar. When they reached the main hall, Lester, who had been waiting near the entrance, greeted them with a polite bow. "Please wait here. I’ll inform His Majesty of your arrival," she said before quickly disappearing down a corridor. Carlos sank into one of the plush velvet sofas, crossing his legs with ease. He was excited to meet the Queen rather than the King. "The Queen doesn’t entertain light conversation, Carlos. She is quite blunt sometimes. Also, the Queen doesn’t like to beat around the bush. So, it would be better if you’re direct in approaching her," Karmen advised him. Carlos was least interested in knowing that. He was a man of his word. "Karmen, what are you doing here?" Katelyn’s voice echoed in the hall. Both of their eyes drifted in her direction. "And who’s this with you? He’s not a wolf. But his energy... Is different." Katelyn’s eyes gleamed silver for a brief second. Carlos rose from his seat and offered a polite nod. "My name is Carlos. I’m a mage." Katelyn’s expression shifted, momentarily stunned. A flicker of surprise passed through her eyes. "A mage?" she echoed. "Why are you here?" Before he could answer, Lester returned and stepped forward. "Please come this way. The Alpha King has requested your presence in his private chamber." "Just me?" Carlos asked. "No, Sir Karmen is to accompany you as well," Lester replied. Without another word, Carlos and Karmen followed Lester, their footsteps echoing softly along the marble floor. As he was about to disappear from view, Carlos glanced back at Katelyn. "You should ask Prince Gabriel," he said, then vanished around the corridor with Karmen. While walking through the unfamiliar hallway, Karmen leaned slightly toward him and said, "Princess Katelyn and the other princes aren’t aware of what Gabriel and Amelie are facing. It’s good you didn’t mention it." Carlos nodded. "Gabriel prefers to keep his siblings out of his burdens. I understand that now. It’s not my place to bring his personal matters into their circle." Lester came to a halt a few steps ahead and turned to face them. With a respectful gesture, he motioned toward a large ornate door. "Please, go inside." Karmen gave a polite nod in thanks, while Carlos stepped forward and entered first. Once inside, he respectfully bowed to the Alpha King, his eyes quickly scanning the chamber for the Queen. "So, you’re the mage my son puts so much trust in," a regal voice rang out. Queen Mabel stepped into view, her presence commanding as always. The two men bowed in unison, lifting their heads only after her signal. "Your Majesty," Karmen began respectfully, "thank you for agreeing to Prince Gabriel’s request and granting this meeting to Carlos." "Spare me the flattery," Mabel said curtly, her sharp gaze flicking between them. "I know very well what opinions you two likely hold of me." Beside her, King Raidan sighed and shook his head gently, clearly disapproving of her habitual need to needle others with her words. Unbothered, Carlos took a step forward, his voice steady. "I want to know the name of the high priestess who made the prophecy about Prince Gabriel." He didn’t use any titles or honorifics. He was direct, and clear that he wasn’t here to indulge in formalities. "Before that, why should I trust you?" Mabel asked, arching a single eyebrow, her voice laced with suspicion. Carlos met her gaze without flinching, holding it for a moment before responding. "Your Majesty, you don’t have to trust me. But perhaps you should place that trust in Gabriel." Her expression flickered. "You’ve allowed him to carry the weight of being the unloved child," Carlos continued calmly. "Yet you love him the most. And that contradiction... that silence... has become his burden to bear." The words settled heavily in the room, and even the ever-composed Mabel couldn’t mask the faint shift in her posture. "Since you’re a mage," Mabel began, her voice firm as she returned to her seat, "tell me, what do you see in me?" Carlos held her gaze with a calm expression. "Why don’t you both take a seat as well?" Raidan offered warmly, gesturing to the chairs across from them. "My queen has a habit of testing people with her words. Don’t let them get to you." Carlos gave a small nod and sat down, unbothered. "I understand, Your Majesty. I’ve learned not to take people’s words to heart, especially those of the older generation. In fact, every sharp remark only pushes me to try harder... to earn their respect, if not their affection." Raidan chuckled softly, visibly pleased by Carlos’s spirited response. Carlos then turned to Mabel, his tone shifting to something more serious. "There’s something I must tell you about Prince Gabriel, since you want to test my abilities. Years ago, when he fell gravely ill, your two elder sons had already left for the academy, and the King was away on official matters beyond the capital. In that moment of uncertainty, someone came to you with advice you couldn’t ignore." Mabel’s expression subtly changed, her brows knitting ever so slightly. "It was the High Priestess," Carlos continued. "She told you to withdraw your affection from your third son. To detach yourself from him. She claimed it was the only way he might survive... because Gabriel was carrying a curse. A curse born of a sin not from this life, but a past one. A punishment for a love he had for Amelie." The room fell quiet at such a revelation. "She said he was doomed never to feel love, never to receive it. And you, believing it might save his life, did what no mother should ever be forced to do. You locked away your heart... even though you loved him most of all." Carlos smiled a little and the same smile reached his eyes as well. Mabel, who had never once faltered, not even in the face of Gabriel’s harshest words, suddenly looked shaken. Her composure slipped. She blinked rapidly, as if Carlos’s words had exposed a truth she had buried long ago, one she had never dared to speak aloud. "How do you—" Her voice wavered, but she couldn’t finish the question. Carlos answered before she needed to. "I come from the Ashfall family," he said calmly. "A lineage of powerful witches. We carry the blood of seers. I see things. I get visions, fragments of what was, and at times, what will be. Not everything... but enough to know about the person." Raidan turned his head to his wife, his brow furrowed. "Is this true, Mabel?" he asked softly. Mabel didn’t speak right away. Her lips trembled slightly as she nodded, her eyes growing glassy with unshed tears. "Yes," she whispered, her voice strained with guilt and grief. "It’s true. Gabriel was... destined for misfortune from the start. The High Priestess came to me after his birth. She said his soul carried the stain of an ancient sin. That he had, in a past life, angered a witch. That he was responsible... for the death of her child." She paused, struggling to hold her tears back. "The Priestess warned me that if I showed him too much love, it would only draw misfortune upon him. Or worse... death. So I did what I thought was right. I did what she said would keep him alive," her voice cracked, "even if it meant breaking both our hearts." ~~~~~ Amelie lowered her spoon into the bowl of warm soup as she met Gabriel’s gaze. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, tucking the loose strands behind her ear. "Why? Can’t I watch you eat your soup?" Gabriel replied. "Of course, you can. But it seems like you’re worried about me. You don’t look fine. And even when I ask you to eat some snacks, you refuse. You simply sit there and watch, as if staring at me brings you some sort of calm," Amelie said softly. Then, letting out a soft sigh, she set the bowl down on the tray resting on the bedside table. "Rest your head on my lap," she whispered. "You should finish—" "No," Amelie interrupted gently, patting the space beside her. "I want you to come here and lie down." Her gaze was steady on him, leaving no room for protest, as she waited for him to come to bed. Gabriel climbed onto the bed and gently rested his head on her lap. His eyes lingered on hers, searching for comfort, while her hand hovered protectively above his head. "I know what happened last night could’ve shaken anyone," Amelie spoke softly. "But it’s over now. Everything’s fine. You need rest, Gabriel. Close your eyes." As her warm palm settled gently over his eyes, he finally let them close, surrendering to the peace her touch offered. ’I am not scared of the witch. I am just scared of losing you. You’re the only one who loves me even with my faults,’ he thought. His body was slowly going into slumber, and he didn’t even realise whether it was the gentle caress of Amelie’s hand or her pheromone presence or both. But whatever it was, it didn’t take him long to drift off to sleep. ’Gabriel, I am sorry for becoming the reason for your hurt. I wonder if I stay by your side will you keep hurting yourself like this?’ Amelie thought.

Chapter 281: A punishment for love

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