Chapter 71: Carrying a conviction

Two days later

Andrew and Caroline returned to Redwood High. As they entered their bedroom, Caroline tossed her bag onto the bed and turned to face him.

"You should inform your father that we have reached safely," she said, her tone carrying a gentle insistence as she watched him shrug out of his jacket and let it drop over the back of a chair.

"Later," Andrew muttered dismissively, already running a tired hand through his silver hair, pushing the loose strands back from his forehead as he let out a low sigh.

Caroline’s gaze softened, noting the tight set of his jaw. She stepped closer, resting her hip against the edge of the window frame. "You’re still stressed about Victor, aren’t you? They still haven’t been able to unearth anything about where he is."

Andrew stopped, his dark burgundy eyes locking onto hers with a brooding intensity. He walked over and dropped into the armchair opposite her.

"We have no diplomatic communication lines with the rogue territory Alpha," he replied. "Without an open channel or a foothold in their lands, tracking him down from here is nearly impossible."

Caroline crossed her arms. "I told you before to let me handle this matter. Now that we are back, you need to focus on managing your duties, while I put my full attention into finding him."

"Yeah. I trust you with that," Andrew replied. He reached into his trousers pocket, pulling out his phone. "I’ll call Dad now to inform him about our safe landing."

"Sure," Caroline said, nodding as she turned and headed toward the washroom, leaving him to make the call.

Andrew brought the phone to his ear, listening as the line rang through. "Dad, good morning. Yeah, Caroline and I arrived five minutes ago. It was a smooth landing."

"You were away from the palace for two days," Davian complained from the other end of the line with disapproval. "At least you should have stayed here while you were recovering. Even though Jereth mentioned that your wound is completely healed, we were still worried about you."

"Didn’t you see how your wife was acting toward mine?" Andrew countered sharply, his eyes drifting toward the closed door of the washroom. "I didn’t want Caroline to get hurt or deal with any more hostility. She has already undergone enough terrible things. That is why I felt it was better for us to stay away from the palace."

There was a silence for a moment before Davian picked up the conversation again.

"Nina isn’t doing better either," Davian sighed. "She’s undergone a heartbreak. I admit it was our fault not to trust Caroline. I want to throw a welcoming party for Caroline. By the end of this week, it will happen. It is important for her to be recognized by the whole family and the country, and it is a way of offering my sincere apology as well."

Andrew was stunned to hear his father’s sudden change in perspective. His eyebrows drew together as he processed the declaration, his grip tightening slightly around the phone.

"I hope there is no hidden humiliation behind all of this," Andrew stated.

"Why do you think like that?" Davian scolded him lightly from the other end of the line. "You know the rigid protocols we have followed for centuries. Only alpha she-wolves were wedded into the Kensington family alphas. This is the first time the tradition has ever been broken. Caroline is an omega, and the entire country will question her place."

"Dad, you’ll see her rise as the best Luna our history has ever known," Andrew pronounced, his voice carrying a conviction that left no room for argument.

Inside the washroom, Caroline had heard last bits of the conversation. She froze mid-motion against the sink.

Hearing the faith he placed in her made her wonder if she truly could live up to the towering expectations he held for her.

She looked down at her hands, then slowly raised her gaze to meet her own reflection in the glass.

’Since my husband has shown so much faith in my abilities, I have to prove myself too, she told herself silently, her resolve solidifying. I’ll be the Luna the world has never seen before.’

Drying her face, she stepped out of the washroom only to find Andrew was no longer on the call. Instead, he was lying on the bed, his head resting low against the headboard.

"Don’t you want to freshen up?" she asked. "I’ll see what has been prepared for our meals."

"Sure. But don’t you need to change?"

"I wore this in the morning," Caroline replied. She moved toward the door, then paused and turned back around. "Thank you, Andrew, for everything."

With that, she walked out, leaving him slightly surprised.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she found Jeremy sitting on the couch with a tablet in his hands.

"Jeremy?"

The moment she called his name, he stood up immediately and bowed. "Madam."

"Just Caroline," she said, offering a warm smile. "You did a wonderful job. If not for you, we wouldn’t have spotted Victor escaping. Thank you."

"It was my duty. Though I must apologize for failing to catch him," Jeremy stated, a brief frown creasing his forehead before fading. "He was so close. If that unknown figure hadn’t appeared, it wouldn’t have happened. Also, Victor’s parents are locked in one of the dungeons. I have yet to inform the Alpha Prince." 𝖋𝙧ⅇ

"I will interrogate them," Caroline stated firmly. "Andrew allowed me to look into this matter and take help wherever I need."

"That’s wonderful!" Jeremy passed her a smile. "I’ll take you to the dungeon later then," he added.

Caroline hummed with a smile when her eyes landed on the butler, who was walking in her direction.

"Madam, the meals are ready to serve."

"I’ll inform Prince Andrew," Jeremy volunteered. "Please go ahead."

Caroline nodded and headed to the dining room, following the butler’s lead. Once they were in the dining, her eyes swept across the table which was filled with multiple dishes.

"That’s a lot," she murmured.