Chapter 88: Your distant cousin

Andrew came downstairs and found Jeremy waiting for him in the living room.

"Your Highness, is Caroline all right? She looked devastated earlier," Jeremy asked with concern.

"She’s sleeping now," Andrew replied.

"That’s good." Jeremy paused before continuing. "Caroline suspects that someone in the capital has been keeping track of your movements. The same person might have targeted Emmett’s family after learning that he was helping us."

Andrew’s expression grew serious as he listened.

"I’ve contacted the palace security team and asked them to send me the details of the bodyguards assigned to you and Caroline when you arrived in the capital after your honeymoon," Jeremy explained.

Andrew glanced at him curiously. "Why did you ask for those details?"

"Caroline suggested it. Those bodyguards were among the people closest to you that day, so it makes sense to investigate whether any of them could have leaked information about your movements." Jeremy paused before adding with a faint smile, "She’s clever, isn’t she?"

"Yeah," Andrew agreed, a smile spreading across his face. "I didn’t even think in that direction."

Edmund cleared his throat. "Your Highness, a letter has arrived addressed to Luna Caroline."

Jeremy took the sealed envelope from the butler and handed it to Andrew. Andrew examined it, looking for the sender’s name or any other identifying details, but found nothing. After tearing open the envelope, he unfolded the letter and began to read.

"Caroline,

This is your distant cousin, Lyra. I saw that you got married to Prince Andrew, but I couldn’t come to see you. Call me once you receive this letter."

Andrew’s gaze shifted to the phone number written at the bottom of the page.

"There’s no sender’s address. Why would someone send a letter without including one?" Jeremy muttered, looking at the envelope.

"I’ll ask Caroline whether she knows any distant cousins named Lyra," Andrew replied, frowning slightly as he studied the letter again.

"I’ll look into it," Jeremy offered.

"Not yet. Caroline might have a cousin named Lyra," Andrew replied. He wanted to hear what his wife had to say before investigating the matter further.

He sat down on the sofa and placed the envelope and letter on the side table. Meanwhile, Jeremy answered his ringing phone.

"All right. I’ll check it. Thanks," Jeremy said before ending the call.

He glanced at the list of bodyguards he had received from the palace security team and began reviewing their details. After making a note of the information, he prepared to leave and attend to the rest of his duties.

~~~~~

Alarick glanced at his phone as he dialed Ilias’s number. A few seconds later, the call connected.

"Hey," Ilias greeted him from the other end.

"You sound down. Don’t tell me Andrew picked a fight with you," Alarick remarked, leaning against his desk with a wineglass in his hand.

"Something else happened," Ilias replied, his voice unusually serious. "Emmett’s family has been murdered."

"What? Who did it?" Alarick asked, straightening as the news caught him off guard.

"No one knows yet," Ilias answered, rubbing his forehead as he tried to make sense of the situation. "Don’t tell anyone in the palace about this yet. Andrew will only end up fighting with us," Ilias warned.

"I won’t. But when are you two planning to head into rogue territory?" Alarick asked, lifting his glass to his lips and taking a sip of wine.

"Andrew hasn’t said anything yet. I ended up lecturing Caroline, and Andrew showed up in the middle of it. We had a small argument because of that." Ilias let out an irritated sigh. "He’s become far too protective of her. I swear, he’s completely lost his head because of his mate."

A smile spread across Alarick’s face at the other end of the call. "Weren’t you the one who said Caroline wasn’t a bad person? Why are you suddenly so worked up about her?"

He placed the empty glass on the desk and leaned back in his chair, clearly amused by his brother’s frustration.

"She’s not a bad person. It’s just..." Ilias paused before chuckling. "She gets on my nerves today."

What irritated him most was Caroline’s willingness to sacrifice herself, even if it meant accepting a death sentence for the trouble she had supposedly brought upon the royal family.

He couldn’t understand why she would be prepared to pay such a price when she wasn’t even certain what punishment awaited her. Her willingness to accept the worst without defending herself had frustrated him more than he cared to admit.

"Return to the palace if Andrew doesn’t make a decision tonight," Alarick advised. "There’s no point in trying to reason with him when he’s only going to argue with you."

"Hmm. I’ve been thinking the same thing," Ilias replied. After a brief pause, he changed the subject. "How’s Nina? Has she started her service?"

"Yes. She’ll be working with the Omegas," Alarick answered. "Mother is still upset about her decision, though. Meanwhile, Father has ordered a celebration to welcome Caroline into the family."

Ilias let out a quiet sigh and added, "If only Andrew could see how hard Father is trying to make him happy."

"Wait a moment!" Alarick called out, turning toward the door when he noticed a servant standing there.

"Your Highness, Miss Lavina Futardo wishes to see you," the servant informed him with a slight bow.

Alarick raised his eyebrows in surprise. Before he could respond, Ilias’s voice came through the phone.

"Why is Lavina there?" Ilias asked, sounding equally puzzled.

"I don’t know. She says she wants to see me," Alarick replied, glancing toward the servant.

"I broke up with her an hour ago. Send her away," Ilias instructed bluntly. "If you meet her, she will start crying. It’s better not to talk to her."

Alarick fell silent for a moment, taken aback by his brother’s cold response.

He covered the phone and ordered the servant to send Lavina away.

Returning to call, he asked, "I thought you two were going well. Why did you break up with her?"