Chapter 22: To drive her out

"I chose to stay behind," Ilias replied. "We need to talk. You can ask a maid to change Caroline’s dress. She’s rather uncomfortable in that wedding gown."

Andrew pressed the nearby service bell, and a maid entered the bedroom moments later.

"Change Caroline into something comfortable," he commanded before stepping toward the exit.

As the grand doors clicked shut behind them, the two princes walked across the drawing room toward the broad, open balcony.

"I believe Caroline is telling the truth," Ilias said, leaning against the stone balustrade. "Which leaves me wondering—what motive does Nina have to lie to us?"

"How should I know?" Andrew scoffed. "She didn’t just lie. She openly confessed to ordering the hit on Caroline and her parents."

"Perhaps Victor is manipulating her," Ilias mused.

Andrew chuckled coldly. "I don’t care. Once we gather enough evidence, she’s going straight to a dungeon cell. I swear it."

"As if our mother will let that happen," Ilias replied, resting his shoulder against the stone pillar. "You can’t exercise your authority outside the jurisdiction of Redwood High. Father placed strict restrictions on your power here. You had better not act recklessly, or the punishment will fall on Caroline instead of you."

It was a stern warning to his younger brother, who was clearly drowning in frustration and disappointment toward his own bloodline.

"Don’t lecture me on what to do, Ilias," Andrew snapped. "And leave. I don’t want anyone from the main palace staying under this roof."

Andrew turned on his heel to walk away, but Ilias called out after him.

"You might actually need me, brother. Nina won’t speak to you, nor will you get near her without causing a scene. I can act as your bridge and help you get the information you need."

"And why would you help me?" Andrew asked, arching a single eyebrow in suspicion.

"I want to help Caroline," Ilias replied calmly. "You know as well as I do what Mother will attempt to do to drive her out of your life. She demands that the royal bloodline remain untainted, and your marriage to an Omega has already thrown the whole court into chaos. On top of that, Victor is clearly manipulating our sister. We need to protect Nina, too."

"You can save her, Ilias. Not me," Andrew stated, his jaw tightening. "I want Nina to face severe punishment for what she did. She’s a woman herself, yet she didn’t show an ounce of mercy for what Caroline suffered."

Ilias fell silent, knowing Andrew wouldn’t understand.

"Your Highness, it’s done," the maid announced from behind them.

Andrew glanced sharply at his brother before walking back inside. To his surprise, Caroline was beginning to stir.

"Caroline." He immediately walked toward her.

"Andrew, how did I get here?" she asked as she opened her eyes. She brought a hand to her head, only to notice the IV connected to her arm.

"You fainted." Andrew sat beside her, his palm gently caressing her cheek. "Dr. Vance has asked you to rest. You must be hungry. I’ll ask the maid to bring you something fresh and light to eat."

As he stood up to leave, Caroline stopped him by catching hold of the sleeve of his blazer.

"Thank you, Andrew," she whispered, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "You stood up for me." A faint smile touched her lips.

"Always," he replied softly.

Unable to resist, he leaned down and pressed a long, gentle kiss to her forehead. "Don’t worry about anything. And I apologize for my family’s cruelty. They’ve left, so you won’t have to face them again."

Caroline’s smile widened slightly. "You’re exceptionally kind to me."

"Isn’t that how a man is supposed to treat his mate?" he mused. He reached out and gently squeezed her hand. "Rest for now. We’ll talk more later."

He stood up, offered her a reassuring look, and stepped outside to give the maid further instructions.

~~~

After finishing her meal, Caroline swallowed her medicine and set the empty glass on the nightstand. Left alone with her thoughts for a moment, she took in her surroundings. Her eyes landed on a massive framed portrait on the far wall; Andrew posed with an effortless power that practically radiated off the canvas.

The snap of a closing wardrobe door drew her attention back. Andrew walked toward the bed carrying several luxury gift bags.

He placed them on the mattress beside her, prompting Caroline to shift into a cross-legged position. "What are these?"

"Gifts for you," he replied simply.

"What?" She looked up, startled.

"I picked them up last night," Andrew explained, setting one of the embossed bags closer to her. "I wanted to get more, but time was against me."

Caroline accepted the bag with a touch of hesitation. "Thank you... Though I don’t have a wedding gift for you."

"You don’t need to give me anything," Andrew said quietly. "Having you here is the greatest gift I could ask for. I don’t mean to reduce you to an object—it’s just a metaphor."

A genuine smile softened her pale features. "I understand."

"Open it. I want to see if you like it."

Reaching inside, she pulled out a heavy velvet box tied with an elegant silk ribbon. Unraveling the knot, she lifted the lid to reveal a stunning pair of earrings with lustrous center pearls encased in a delicate halo of fine diamonds.

"They’re designed for everyday wear," Andrew said, watching her face carefully for any sign of approval.

"They are breathtaking. Let me put them on."

As she clipped them into place, Andrew retrieved a small hand mirror from the vanity and held it up for her.

"They suit you perfectly," he murmured, his dark eyes fixed on her, refusing to blink.

"Thank you," she whispered.

No one had ever pampered her like this. It wasn’t that she went around expecting presents, but simple, genuine kindness would have been enough to make her happy. Andrew, however, was giving her the gentle warmth and devotion she had always dreamed of receiving from her true mate.

Andrew placed another bag in her hands when he noticed tears in Caroline’s eyes.