Chapter 29: Because of a tradition

"No! No! Mom, please... Dad..."

Caroline cried in her sleep, tears streaming down her face as the nightmare haunted her. Then, with a gasp, her eyes shot open, and she realized it had only been a dream.

As she leaned back against the pillows, she saw Andrew sitting beside her. His thumbs gently moved across her cheeks, brushing away the tears that had dampened her skin.

"It was a nightmare," she murmured.

Andrew’s jaw tightened. The traumatic experience Caroline had endured had taken a heavy toll on both her body and mind.

"They will answer for every single tear you’ve shed," he said firmly.

Leaning down, he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"You can sleep a little longer if you want to. It’s still early morning."

"I won’t be able to fall asleep," Caroline replied, propping herself up on her elbows. "Did I wake you?"

"No. I woke up half an hour ago," Andrew answered. "It’s my usual time to go for a run," he added.

"Then you should go," she said softly. "I will freshen up and get ready. Don’t delay your run for me. I’m perfectly fine."

"I fear that in my absence, you may cry again," Andrew stated.

She smiled and shook her head. "I won’t cry. You told me that crying won’t bring my loved ones back. It will only take a toll on my body. So, rest assured. Follow your routine. Don’t change it for me." Her gaze briefly landed on his muscular arms. "When I get better, I’ll go with you too."

"Okay."

Andrew suddenly looked excited at the thought. He quickly got out of bed.

"I’ll see you later."

He put on his running shoes and left the room.

Caroline finally got out of bed and walked toward the balcony. As the fresh morning air brushed against her face, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Victor, I’m coming for you," she whispered, her expression hardening. "I will make you suffer the same pain you inflicted on my parents."

~~~~~

When Andrew returned from his morning run, he immediately noticed the pleasant aroma of freshly prepared food throughout the drawing room. He slowed his steps and looked around, wondering where the smell was coming from.

"Your Highness, Madam is preparing breakfast herself today," the butler announced.

"What?" Andrew’s expression changed instantly. "Why was she allowed to work? Don’t we have maids and cooks for this, Edmund?"

"Forgive me, Your Highness," Edmund said, lowering her head. "Madam insisted on preparing the breakfast herself. We tried to stop her, but we couldn’t bring ourselves to refuse her. We thought you might be upset if we prevented her from doing what she wanted."

Andrew’s brows furrowed. He clearly wasn’t pleased with the explanation.

"She is still recovering," he said, his voice filled with concern. "She shouldn’t be standing in the kitchen and exhausting herself."

At the same time, Andrew felt that the cooking might keep Caroline occupied and distract her for a while. "I’m going to take a bath," he said before heading upstairs.

After taking a hot shower, Andrew changed into formal attire and descended the stairs. He stopped when he saw Caroline standing in the drawing room, engaged in a lively conversation with a few servants.

"Really? I didn’t know such a festival existed here," Caroline said with genuine curiosity.

The moment she sensed Andrew’s familiar scent, she turned around. The servants surrounding her immediately lowered their heads in respect.

Caroline’s eyes widened slightly when she saw Andrew. He had changed into a formal outfit, and somehow, the sight of him in it caught her off guard.

He wore a fitted black waistcoat over a crisp, dark shirt. A small gold emblem shaped like a wolf served as the brooch on his pocket, subtly displaying his status and connection to the royal family. The waistcoat followed the sharp lines of his broad shoulders and torso, giving him a commanding appearance. His silver hair had been neatly brushed back, leaving a few strands falling naturally around his face.

Andrew’s gaze soon shifted to Caroline, and he found himself equally surprised by her appearance.

She had chosen an outfit that complemented his. She wore a fitted black high-neck top with full sleeves that covered her arms comfortably without restricting her movements. The simple design emphasized her slender frame while keeping her appearance elegant. Over it, she wore a long black skirt that fell all the way to her ankles. The dark outfit made her complexion stand out, while her wedding ring remained clearly visible against the fabric.

Miller walked into the drawing room to inform Andrew about the information he had gathered, but he stopped when he noticed Andrew standing in front of Caroline, seemingly mesmerized by her appearance.

’They even matched their outfit colors,’ Miller thought, glancing between the newlyweds.

Andrew stepped closer to Caroline and gently took her left hand. He lifted it to his lips, the diamond ring on her finger catching the light as he pressed a soft kiss against her knuckles.

"You look pretty," he whispered, his eyes lingering on her face.

"Thank you," Caroline replied with a small smile. "I forgot to tell you yesterday, but your silver hair makes you look different from everyone else. I mean..." She hesitated, suddenly feeling a little shy. "You’re handsome."

Andrew’s lips curved into a pleased smile at the unexpected compliment.

She lowered her eyes, blinking a little faster as she suddenly felt shy under his gaze.

"Uh... breakfast is ready. I heard you were upset that I went into the kitchen." She paused before explaining, "I only did it because of a tradition my mother told me about a long time ago. When a bride enters her husband’s home for the first time, she’s supposed to prepare the first meal for her husband."

"I can’t wait to try it, then," Andrew replied with a grin.

"Sure." Caroline turned toward the dining room while Andrew followed her.

’Let’s talk later, Miller,’ he told his beta through a mindlink while following Caroline closely.