Chapter 72: Wrong impression of her

Andrew had put on a loose shirt and turned to walk out when he encountered Jeremy.

"Your Highness, the dining table is set," Jeremy informed him.

"Did Miller go home?" he asked.

"Yes. He insisted on staying, but I asked him to rest until the evening," Jeremy answered.

"Great."

As they walked down the staircase together, Jeremy brought up a new matter. "Caroline said she wished to take over the task of looking into Victor."

"Yes. Assist her," Andrew stated. "By the way, did you look into any witch societies? I need to find a trustworthy one to figure out what we encountered in that forest."

"I’m still searching, Your Highness," Jeremy answered. "It’s difficult to find a trustworthy contact since they don’t live in the main parts of our territory. And even if they do, they are mostly restricted to the western border. Per the treaty, they aren’t allowed to move out of that region."

"Alright. Take your time," Andrew replied.

"There’s another pressing matter you need to check, Your Highness," Jeremy stated. "Do you remember Alpha Tristan from Menika Province?"

"Yes. What about him?" Andrew asked.

"He requested an audience with you," Jeremy stated. "The message arrived before you found Caroline. At the time, we set all other matters aside to focus entirely on her search."

"Tell him I will see him tomorrow," Andrew said. "Did he specify the reason?"

"Yes. He is requesting your assistance regarding unusual rogue movements within his territory," Jeremy explained.

"Ilias usually handles border security," Andrew muttered, pulling his thoughts together. "I will address it with him tomorrow. Have you eaten breakfast? If not, join us."

"I have already eaten, Your Highness," Jeremy replied, stopping at the foot of the stairs. He bowed respectfully before turning to leave, while Andrew made his way into the dining room.

~~~~~

"Nina, what is this behavior? You have stopped eating and won’t even step out of your room," Seraphina questioned her daughter, her tone laced with concern and frustration. "You cannot keep dwelling on a scumbag like Victor."

"Mom, please stop," Nina said, drawing her knees closer to her chest. "You have no idea how this feels. I’ve known him for years. It isn’t as if we drifted apart, we were constantly talking. He looked me in the eye and lied to me. I even lied to protect him, yet in the end, he abandoned everything and ran away."

Seraphina sat down beside her daughter and placed a gentle hand over hers. "I understand your pain," she said softly. "He will be brought to justice for betraying you like this. Do not waste your tears or thoughts on him. Come downstairs and eat something, then you and I are going out to attend an event."

"Mom, I have to fulfill my punishment," Nina stated quietly.

"There is no punishment," Seraphina dismissed with a slight wave of her hand. "Andrew and Caroline have already returned to Redwood High. Besides, why would you take orders from that omega?"

"Mom, you’re still harbor so much resentment toward Caroline. Why?" Nina looked up, her expression weighed down by guilt and self-disappointment. "I accepted that punishment in front of Father. I cannot break my word. I refused to trust Caroline and trampled on her dignity at every opportunity."

"She doesn’t love Andrew. It’s in her eyes," Seraphina said, her voice dripping with skepticism.

"But Andrew loves her," Nina replied quietly. "And I’m sure Caroline will fall for him soon, if she hasn’t already."

"How can you suddenly defend her?" Seraphina looked at her daughter in utter disbelief. "Weren’t you the one yelling at me just days ago for punishing her?"

"Because I was blinded," Nina replied, her eyes heavy with regret. "Mom, you shouldn’t hate her either. Caroline lost everything. When she tried to explain, I refused to understand and blamed her instead. I can’t even fathom what she went through, it’s too painful to even imagine standing in her shoes."

"Caroline has never known real power or wealth," Seraphina countered, her tone hardening. "The day Andrew returned injured, she actually dared to argue with my attendants. It is her insolence that I despise. She acts as though she is above everyone else simply because Andrew stands behind her. She got pregnant by Victor, yet turned around and agreed to become Andrew’s wife the instant he offered his support. What kind of woman does that?"

Seraphina’s temper continued to flare, her voice sharpening. "It is fortunate that her pup with Victor did not survive; otherwise, it would have been a stain on our family. A sin. Andrew doesn’t listen to me anymore, so I know he would have kept the child. Caroline knows exactly how to manipulate men for her own gain. Do you honestly believe she had no idea Victor was two-timing her?"

Nina sat in silence, listening to her mother with no defense left to offer.

"Only I know how the high-ranking alpha families are gossiping behind our backs. Even my closest friend has stopped speaking to me. It is all because of that omega," Seraphina muttered bitterly.

She had expected Andrew to finally pay attention to her once Jessica became his wife. Instead, the entire dynamic had flipped. Now, Andrew was entirely wrapped around Caroline’s finger.

"Mom, please calm down. You are the Queen," Nina said, trying to steady her. "As for Caroline, I don’t think she is the person you perceive her to be. I held a completely wrong impression of her myself. She lost everything—her family, her safety—and whatever warmth she once had likely transformed into a sharp survival instinct. Besides, I suddenly feel a bit hungry. Let’s get something to eat."

Nina hoped to pull her mother back from a resentment that would only end in the same bitter regret she was currently grappling with.

"And as for Jessica, Andrew never would have married her. You know that as well as I do," she added firmly.

"Well, everything is ruined. Andrew will regret one day for choosing Caroline," Seraphina muttered with a frown.