Chapter 630
“Why are you cooking when we have a full staff of servants for this?” Casaio asked, his voice a low vibration near her ear. He leaned in from behind, resting his chin on Zilia’s shoulder as he watched her deftly chop spring onions.
“The weather has been acting strange since the evening,” Zilia stated, her focus never wavering from the blade. “I decided to send the maids home early tonight. Besides, a husband should occasionally enjoy a meal prepared by his wife’s own hands. Now, move along so I can work faster p>
Casaio chuckled and took a step to the side, leaning his back against the marble counter. He crossed his arms, his eyes tracing every movement of Zilia’s face as she worked.
“We are royals, Zilia,” he reminded her gently. “Even if they work fixed hours, you aren’t obligated to dismiss them just because of a little storm p>
“It seems you don’t actually love my cooking—” she began, but Casaio quickly cut her off.
“That’s not true,” he pointed out, a playful glint in his eyes. “But you work alongside me throughout the day; I don’t want you exhausted. If you insist on doing this, tell me how I can help. Should I prepare the rice p>
“Sure,” Zilia replied with a small smile. “The rice cooker is right there p>
“Hmm p>
Zilia wiped her hands clean with the kitchen cloth and turned around to check on Casaio’s progress. He had finished setting the cooker and was already gazing back at her with a soft, lingering look.
“Already done?” Casaio asked, closing the distance between them.
“Yes,” Zilia whispered. She reached out, her fingers lacing into his as she pulled him a fraction closer. Their noses brushed gently, and they shared a smile.
“If it snows, we will play in the morning,” Zilia said, her eyes bright with the thought of the fresh powder.
“Sure, but only in our wolves’ form,” Casaio answered, his voice dropping into a playful rumble.
“Hmm. That will be more fun,” she agreed, leaning her forehead against his.
Zilia suddenly pulled away, her expression shifting from playful to serious as she looked deep into his eyes. “I’m still worried. How are you going to stop Theo? Tomorrow is the council meeting, and I know how he has powerful senior members on his side. Just… Stay calm. I know you will… But still,” she stated.
Casaio reached out, cupping her face in his hands to steady her gaze. “You worry too much, mate. I will not let Theo succeed in what he desires,” he promised her. “He thinks he can manipulate the council, but he has forgotten that his evil tactics to earn money can’t be forgiven p>
Zilia hummed as she turned back to the stove. The honey-soy glazed chicken was now perfectly cooked, the sauce having reduced into a glistening glaze that clung to the meat.
She carefully transferred the chicken into a large porcelain serving bowl. Then, she scattered the freshly chopped spring onions over the top.
After covering the bowl with a lid, she quickly moved to the counter to toss a salad. Meanwhile, Casaio reached into the cellar rack and pulled out a bottle of aged wine, a precious vintage Estelle had gifted him a year ago.
He carried the wine to the table and gently pressed his hands onto Zilia’s shoulders, guiding her into her seat. “Rest for a moment, mate,” he murmured with a smile. “I’ll bring the rest from the kitchen p>
Returning to the counter, he saw the rice cooker had finished its cycle. He fluffed the steaming grains and emptied them into a large bowl. Once the table was fully set with their handmade meal, Casaio took his seat beside Zilia.
Casaio poured the wine into two glasses. He handed one to Zilia, his eyes softening as he met her gaze.
“To our love,” he whispered. He clinked his glass against hers with a delicate chime and took a long, slow sip. Zilia smiled and drank the wine.
After they finished their meal, they cleaned the kitchen together. Once finished, they moved into the living room to relax. Zilia had just lowered herself onto the plush velvet couch when the sudden chime of the doorbell echoed through the residence.
“Who could be here at this hour?” Casaio murmured. “I’ll check. Stay here p>
He walked to the foyer and checked the front security camera. To his surprise, Estelle was standing outside. He quickly unbolted the door and ushered her inside.
“Your Highness, Theo is dead,” Estelle informed him the moment she stepped in. “He was found in the forest moments ago p>
“What?” Casaio exclaimed with shock.
Zilia, who had followed closely behind Casaio the moment she heard Estelle’s voice, stood frozen.
“How did he die?” Zilia inquired with disbelief and worry.
“A shifter killed him,” Estelle explained. “But it wasn’t a wolf. They said the claw marks were unlike anything they’ve ever seen. They were deeper, jagged… As if something far more powerful tore him apart p>
“I need to go and check for myself,” Casaio said.
“Wait! I’ll get your coat and phone,” Zilia called out, already hurrying toward the bedroom.
While she was gone, Casaio turned his focus back to Estelle. “Is the body being sent for a post-mortem p>
“It is,” Estelle confirmed. “The physicians have already begun. We should have a preliminary report shortly, though the damage was… Extensive p>
Casaio began to pace the small foyer, his eyes blinking rapidly as he processed the impossibility of the situation. “It’s strange. Why would he be killed now, on the eve of the council? And how did an unknown shifter bypass the capital’s perimeter and not even caught p>
“Maybe they were always around and pretended to be like us,” Estelle stated.
Casaio stopped, his hands resting on his waist.
Zilia returned, draping his heavy wool coat over his shoulders and handing him his phone. “Be careful,” she whispered, her eyes searching his.
“Hmm. Don’t open the doors for anyone. And go to bed,” Casaio told her, giving her a quick peck on the lips before leaving with Estelle.
Zilia watched them enter the car and waved at Casaio before locking the door from inside.
Casaio and Estelle arrived at the mortuary. A line of sentinels snapped to attention the moment the prince stepped into the dimly lit hallway.
“Is the area sealed? I want every possible hiding spot searched, dungeons, rafters, and the outer perimeter,” Casaio commanded. “If a shifter is on these grounds, I want them found before sunrise p>
“It’s already been done, Your Highness. We have patrols circling the entire capital sector,” the head sentinel explained, stepping forward with a grim expression.
He then held out a evidence bag containing a small notepad.
“However, you must see this. We retrieved this from Theo’s pocket. It was torn badly, likely during the struggle, but a few pages remain intact. We believe there might be something here that explains why he was targeted p>
Casaio took the bag, his eyes narrowing. The leather was shredded, deep gouges cutting through the cover, marks that looked as though they had been made by metal talons rather than wolf claws.
“Get it checked in the forensics,” Casaio passed the bag back to the head sentinel. “Also, is the family here p>
“Yes. They are on the opposite side,” the head sentinel answered.
“Interrogate Theo’s wife. We need to find out who wanted Theo dead. It’s clearly a murder,” Casaio said with a frown. It’s the first time when such a murder happened in the capital. For some reason, Casaio felt the death might be related to what could be unveiled tomorrow in the council.
In the palace, Gabriel’s sleep abruptly broke in the middle of the night upon hearing Noah’s slight weeping sound. Amelie almost woke up but Gabriel put her into sleep, telling her he would check.
Holding Noah up from the crib, he found Noah had his diaper wet. Once he changed it, he tried putting Noah back into the sleep. He walked into the washroom while carefully keeping Noah to his one side and washed his hands.
Returning to the bedroom, he found his phone being lit up as if some messages were flooding on it. Because it was silent, the sound couldn’t be heard.
Gabriel picked up the phone and looked at the screen. There were messages from Karmen, telling him about an attack on a well-known moneylender in the capital.
“What do I have to do with this?” Gabriel murmured and typed back a reply.
Before he could put back the phone, Karmen’s message came through. He had sent a picture of a torn paper which mentioned his name.
Gabriel frowned wondering what was the entire matter. He glanced at Noah, who was wide awake.
Typing a message, Gabriel sent, “Let’s talk in the morning. My boy needs me and I can’t leave the palace at the moment p>
He lowered the phone to the nightstand and brought his hand onto Noah’s back, who smiled and closed his eyes.