Chapter 378: Used to be my crush
"What? No! Why should we even tell them this?" Katelyn questioned.
"Sage, can you give us a moment?" Raidan urged.
"Of course, Your Majesty." Sage stood up and walked away.
"Kate, tell me what’s actually going on," Raidan asked, keeping his voice gentle. "Why are you so adamant of not getting married? I get it you don’t like Sage, but what if I bring another proposal for you? Are you going to refuse for that too?"
"Dad, you told me you would give me a month," Katelyn asserted.
"Yes, I told you that. However, hearing you talk makes me feel you are going to refuse to marry Sage. I never stopped you ever from doing anything. But it seems you’re refusing to marry not because you don’t want to marry, but you’ve someone in your heart. Am I right?" Raidan squinted his eyes.
Katelyn fidgeted with her fingers as she heard her father’s words. ’Did Sage tell my father? I requested him not to do this.’
"Say something, Kate," Raidan said.
"Dad, I’ve no one in my heart," Katelyn lied with a straight face.
"If you have someone, then tell me," Raidan encouraged her in a gentle voice.
"No, Dad. There’s no one," Katelyn repeated.
"Then, tomorrow if such a question be asked, you are supposed to handle it wisely. You’re not a commoner, you are a Princess. Keep that in mind. Your words carry a lot of weight. I don’t understand what you don’t like in Sage. He’s such a sweet boy. Despite losing his birth mother, and living under the same roof with her stepmother, he never once let the others see what pain he has been going through. He understands people well. That’s why his pack respects him a lot."
Katelyn was shocked to learn that Sage’s mother whom she met that day wasn’t his birth mother.
"Are you saying that his mother died long ago?" Katelyn asked.
"Yes. You don’t know!?" Raidan furrowed his brows together. "Seems like you’re not communicating at all with Sage," he said with a soft chuckle.
"No, we do. But he never told me, Dad. He acts so sweetly in front of his stepmother I thought she was his real mother," Katelyn answered.
"Because Sage is a lovely boy. He respects his elders," Raidan answered. "You may regret losing such a nice proposal, Kate, if you keep showing the resistance. Parents don’t want bad for their children. I, as your father, want your best."
"I understand, Dad," Katelyn said.
~~~~~
"Jaxon didn’t tell me about Ophelia’s whereabouts. You shouldn’t search for her either," Gabriel instructed Caleb.
"Sure," Karmen agreed without pressing further. His sharp eyes, however, lingered on Gabriel. "But you look troubled. Is everything alright?"
"I received a strange box this morning," Gabriel revealed. "I’ll show you its contents later. There’s nothing dangerous in it, but it’s related to a request for help from Aurevalis."
"What kind of help?" Karmen asked, confusion flickering across his face.
"I don’t know," Gabriel replied with a small shake of his head. "It’s just... unusual. I’ll show it to you once the wedding is over. For now, I just wanted to make you aware."
"Hmm." Karmen nodded slowly, then straightened as though remembering something important. "By the way, I also have something to tell you."
"Hmm? Say it," Gabriel said.
"Mom has brought a proposal for me," Karmen said.
"And?" Gabriel arched his eyebrow.
"Do you remember there used to be a girl named Aisha?" Karmen asked.
"No, I don’t," Gabriel replied promptly.
"Well, she used to be my crush," Karmen replied.
"What? Seriously!? Why didn’t you ever tell me? You’ve always been so... Mysterious," Gabriel said with a chuckle. "So, you want to give it a try?"
"Aisha had a mate," Karmen said. "As far as I know she was deeply in love with him and the same went for him. I don’t know why her mother came to mine with such a proposal."
"Who knows Aisha send her mother?" Gabriel jested.
"Gabriel!" Karmen chuckled lightly. "It’s serious," he said.
"I’m sorry, Dude," Gabriel apologized, the smile fading slowly now. "What’s in your mind? Don’t tell me you want to refuse for it."
"No. I liked her back then and even during sophomore years. I’m just curious to know what has happened," Karmen said with a serious expression.
"Maybe her mate rejected her. So, she wants to move on," Gabriel murmured.
"I do not think so. Her mate was not a jerk. He is a good person," Karmen stated.
"Who was her mate?" Gabriel asked.
"Joshua," Karmen answered.
"I don’t know who that person is. Maybe you should ask her yourself. I suppose you’re looking forward to your meeting with your crush."
"Hey," Karmen laughed again, "I’m not a little boy anymore. It was just a crush. No hard feelings."
"Yeah, I get it," Gabriel said, not believing him this time. "You never told me, Karmen. I feel hurt."
"Because it wasn’t that important," Karmen said. "You know that I don’t pay heed to unnecessary things," he asserted.
"I know. I hope Aisha and you become mates," Gabriel prayed.
"I agreed to meet her because I was curious, Gabriel. I do not have high hopes," Karmen explained.
"But I do have high hopes for this meeting. You know, I’m so eager to see my friend falling in love with his mate, having kids with her. Then, our kids will play together with each other. Doesn’t that sound too beautiful?" Gabriel asked.
"I don’t know," Karmen said.
Gabriel shook his head. "I hope Aisha makes you feel love daily, then this heart of yours will soften a bit. I want to see the romantic Karmen, who’s chasing his mate and talking about love," he asserted.
"Gabriel, that’s a far-fetched thought. I don’t know what Aisha is even like. She was just too simple back then. That’s the only thing attracted me toward her," Karmen stated. "But so many years have passed. I don’t want to be biased while meeting her, but let’s hope I find what I’m looking in a mate."