Chapter 11: The Invitation

Just sitting opposite each other was enough to throw Kaelith off balance. He could swear Caelum was staring at him.

Hard you could say.

"Caelum, you haven't touched your food," Kaelith said, eyes narrowing slightly. "Are you not hungry? Or is the meal not to your taste?"

He spoke almost like a challenge, his voice low with suspicion.

Prince Caelum offered a faint smile — just a twitch at the corner of his lips — before his usual cold mask returned.

"I'm already full," he replied smoothly, "just watching you."

Kaelith choked on his food.

He reached for his water and gulped it down in one go, his ears burning.

"Kaelith, are you okay?" Lysenia asked, patting his back with concern. Her eyes then shot a sharp glare at Caelum.

'Damn it, no I'm not! Who the hell says something like that with a straight face?! This fish… this sea demon… he's doing this on purpose!'

"I… I'm fine, Lys," Kaelith said quickly, flashing her a strained smile and ruffling her hair to brush off the moment.

But Caelum wasn't done.

"Princess Lysenia," he said, turning to her with a rare softness in his voice, "you resemble your brother quite a lot. I've brought you a gift."

Kaelith froze.

Lysenia raised a brow, intrigued now. "A gift?"

Kaelith's frown deepened as he stared at Caelum like he'd grown a second head.

'Is he… trying to bribe my sweet little Lysenia now?! Unbelievable. First, he flirts with me over breakfast and now he's charming my baby sister?!'

His stomach twisted.

'I swear, if he gives her anything shiny, I'm throwing him off a cliff.'

Caelum slowly raised his hand above the table, his movements smooth.

A soft swirl of water magic coiled around his fingers, like a living ribbon, dancing briefly in the air before vanishing into mist.

Lysenia's eyes sparkled with wonder as she leaned forward, completely captivated by the graceful display.

Then, with a subtle motion, Caelum turned his palm upward. A small, elegant box shimmered into existence, materializing from thin air.

He offered it to her with a slight nod. "For you, Princess."

Like the curious child she still was at heart, Lysenia eagerly accepted the box, her fingers trembling slightly as she lifted the lid.

Inside nestled a delicate blue moon-touched coral hairpin, shaped like a crescent moon wrapped in seafoam.

The coral gleamed faintly, pulsing with soft bioluminescent light, as if the sea itself had breathed life into it.

Her mouth parted in awe. "It's… it's beautiful," she whispered.

Kaelith stared at the hairpin, then at Caelum, then back at the hairpin.

'Of course it glows. Of course it's shaped like a moon. What next? A poem with it?'

He pressed his lips into a thin line, resisting the urge to throw a napkin at Caelum.

Lysenia looked up at Caelum, eyes wide. "What is it made of?"

Caelum's voice was calm, almost gentle. "Moon-touched coral. It only grows in the deepest parts of the Midnight Trench — under moonlight that filters through enchanted waters."

He met her gaze. "It's said to protect the wearer and glow brighter when they're surrounded by people who care for them."

Lysenia blinked, touched. "Thank you, Prince Caelum."

Kaelith, meanwhile, tried not to choke on his tea again.

But Prince Caelum wasn't done.

He reached into the folds of his cloak once more, and with a subtle flick of his wrist, another small box appeared, this one made of dark, polished shell with silver lining.

"And here is another gift for you," he said, placing it gently on the table before Lysenia.

She blinked, clearly surprised. "Another one?"

Kaelith arched his brow. 'Seriously? Two gifts now? Is he trying to adopt her or marry her off to the sea?'

Lysenia opened the box slowly, and inside were several small, gleaming pearl-like pills, nestled in soft seafoam-green silk.

"What are these?" she asked, picking one up curiously.

Caelum answered, "Mana-recovery pearls. Crushed from purified sea pearls and deep-water herbs. Take one when you feel drained after training, they'll help stabilize your mana without exhausting your body."

Lysenia's eyes lit up with awe. "That's… really thoughtful."

Kaelith stared at the pearls, then at Caelum. His expression was unreadable, but his jaw twitched slightly.

'Okay, that's it. First the glowing hairpin, now magical ocean medicine? What's next… a full enchanted wardrobe?'

He forced a smile. "Prince Caelum, should I expect a treasure chest by tomorrow?"

Caelum raised a brow, his expression calm and unreadable. "Only if your sister asks for one."

Before Kaelith could fire back a retort, the sharp sound of someone clearing their throat broke the moment.

King Malrec.

The monarch's eyes narrowed slightly at Kaelith before shifting to Caelum, his tone cold, too cold.

"How thoughtful of you, Prince Caelum," the King said, lips curving into a smile that didn't touch his eyes. "Gifting my daughter. I see you and Kaelith are... making progress."

Caelum inclined his head slightly, his face unreadable as ever, "It's nothing. I simply wanted to bring a gift for my little sister-in-law. And look…" he gestured toward Lysenia, who was still admiring the hairpin with wonder, "... she seems happy with it."

Then came the twist of his knife, the smirk Kaelith recognized far too well. 

"Besides, I only managed to find something that would make her smile thanks to Kaelith's help."

Kaelith nearly choked on air again he bit the inside of his cheek.

 A glare slipped through before he caught himself, his eyes shooting daggers across the table. 

But all he could do was nod stiffly, keeping his expression composed while his hands curled under the table.

The King's smile faltered slightly, his gaze flicking between the two men.

He could see it… the shift. Something was changing between them.

'I hope this brat isn't falling for that fish. Still… he's doing well. I guess Kaelith was able to break through that fish shell. Hmm.'

But then the King's eyes darkened with thought, his fingers drumming once against the table.

'Regardless, I'll have to remind him… this political marriage was never meant for love.'

Then the door chamber creaked open.

A guard stepped in, holding a silver tray with an envelope placed neatly on top.

He bowed. "Your Majesty, a letter from the House of Glass Isles, marked urgent."

King Malrec looked up slowly. "Bring it here."

The guard approached and placed the silver tray before him, bowing low.

Kaelith's gaze locked onto the envelope, elegant cream parchment, sealed in soft gold with a hawk sigil etched in wax.

His brows drew together.

"That's from Virelle's family," Lysenia said softly.

Kaelith turned to her, frowning. "How do you know that?"

Lysenia shrugged, a hint of discomfort crossing her face.

"Back when you two were still... close, she used to send me letters. Poems too. I never really liked them."

Her nose wrinkled slightly in distaste, though she quickly masked it.

"Oh," Kaelith murmured, leaning back in his seat. 

But from the corner of his eye, he noticed Caelum watching him closely, a small crease forming between his brows.

Then King Malrec cracked the seal and unfolded the card.

He read it in silence. His expression didn't change, calm, focused, until he gave a small, pleased smile. 

The kind of smile that said everything is going according to plan.

"She's getting married," the King announced. "In three days."

Kaelith went still.

"To Lord Vaelen of the Obsidian Isles," Malrec added, voice light, almost amused. "And she has personally invited us."

Caelum remained silent, his gaze sharp as he studied Kaelith's reaction.

Under the table, Kaelith's fists clenched.

His mind raced.

'I thought she and Adriel were together… Guess not. So my cousin, well, this body's cousin… isn't connected to her anymore. That clears him from my investigation... but still…'

He exhaled slowly.

'What's her angle?'

Kaelith looked up, tone deceptively casual. "Funny. I saw her enter the ballroom with Adriel that night. I assumed they were together."

King Malrec chuckled lightly, folding the letter back into its envelope. 

"No, they're not. I forgot to mention… Adriel only attended in place of your uncle. He couldn't make it that night."

Kaelith froze.

'Wait. My uncle?'

He blinked. "You mean… Adriel's father?"

Malrec shook his head, his smile darkening slightly. "No. My youngest brother."

Kaelith's heart skipped.

'I didn't know he had another brother…'

King Malrec looked at Kaelith with a smile on his face.

"You will attend."

Kaelith didn't respond. Truthfully, he had no intention of attending the wedding.

But then again… there was a silver lining. It might give him the chance to speak with her, to finally understand what had really happened.

'Damn it… I still haven't read the letter.'

"After the wedding, we'll be going on a hunt, Kael," Caelum said, snapping Kaelith out of his thoughts for a moment.

Kaelith merely nodded absentmindedly, still lost in his own mind.