<h4>Chapter 668: No Longer Allowed to Touch</h4>


    <strong><i>[Third Person].</i></strong>


    Soon, the news of the Fae fortifying the Great Wall reached the Carter Residence.


    But it was not the Wall that unsettled Gabriel. It was something else entirely.


    His mother was in Stormveil, and she had not informed him. Not a word had been sent. No message. There was absolutely no attempt to reach out, despite him being her only son.


    Gabriel sat in silence after hearing it, his expression slowly hardening as disappointment settled in. For all the distance that had grown between them over the years, he had not expected this level of disregard.


    Without dy, he called for parchment and ink.


    The letter he wrote was brief, but it clearly conveyed his grievance. He questioned her silence, her decision toe to Stormveil without informing him, and her refusal to acknowledge him despite their blood ties.


    Once finished, he sealed it and had it sent to the pce immediately.


    —


    At the pce, the letter was delivered into the hands of Meredith’s grandmother, who rested in her chambers.


    "Kira," she called.


    "Yes, Ma’am," Kira responded at once, stepping forward.


    "Read the letter."


    Kira took the letter respectfully, broke the seal, and began to read it aloud. The room remained quiet as Gabriel’s words filled the space. Through it all, the old woman’s expression did not change.


    When Kira finished, she lowered the letter slightly.


    The olddy let out a deep sigh and uttered one word, "Write."


    Kira immediately moved to the table to prepare the parchment. When she was ready, the olddy started dictating calmly.


    "I will not leave the pce. But if he wishes to see me, he maye here."


    Kira wrote the words exactly as spoken, then read them back to confirm. The olddy gave a small nod.


    "Send it."


    The letter was sealed and dispatched without dy.


    —


    When Gabriel received the response, his dissatisfaction deepened.


    He read it over and over again. The message was very clear. She would note to him, and if he wanted answers, he would have to go to her.


    Gabriel exhaled sharply, folding the letter. "I’m going to the pce."


    Margareth, who had been present, did not object. Rather, she followed him when he was ready to leave.


    —


    Their arrival at the pce was proper, but the receptioncked warmth. They were acknowledged and admitted, but there was a distance—subtle, yet unmistakable.


    A servant stood before them after they were made to wait. "My Lord," she said respectfully, "Her Ladyship will not be seeing you."


    Gabriel frowned. "What do you mean she won’t see us?"


    The servant held her ground. "She has given her instructions."


    A pause followed, then she continued carefully. "She said... you neglected one of your daughters. That you showed her no care," the servant went on, her tone respectful but firm. "That you mistreated her... and never once asked about her after she left your home."


    Each word struck deeper than thest. Both Gabriel and Margareth stiffened.


    "And even now, as she stands as Queen... you have not gone to her," the servant added, lowering her gaze slightly.


    Gabriel’s jaw tightened, but no words came. Margareth remained equally silent.


    "She will not receive you," the servant concluded.


    No anger was detected in her voice, only finality.


    With nothing left to say, they turned back. Their visit had ended before it truly began. And as they left the pce grounds, the quiet weight of the rejection followed them unavoidably. And deserved.


    ---


    Later that day, Meredith entered her grandmother’s chambers to spend some time with her.


    And after much time had passed, her grandmother informed her that her parents hade to the pce to see her, but she turned them down.


    Meredith gave a small nod. "That’s fine."


    There was not even an atom of bitterness or anger in her tone. Her grandmother’s hands stilled slightly over the knitting.


    She turned her head toward Meredith, though her sightless eyes could not see her. "You have nothing to say about it?" she asked.


    Meredith’s gaze dropped briefly to her hands before lifting again. "They stopped being my parents a long time ago," she said quietly.


    The room grew silent as her grandmother watched her in silence, an unreadable expression crossing her face.


    Then slowly, she reached out and took Meredith’s hand. "You are not alone," she said.


    Meredith’s lips curved faintly. "I know."


    —


    Muchter that night, the pce had fallen into a deep, restful silence.


    Within their chambers, only the soft glow ofmplight remained, casting gentle shadows across the room.


    Meredith stood by the bed, adjusting the sash of her night robe, her movements slow and unhurried. The events of the day had long settled in her mind, leaving her calm and clearer.


    Behind her, Draven watched quietly for a while. Then he moved.


    Closing the distance, his hands found her waist naturally, pulling her back against him. His chin rested lightly near her shoulder as his presence wrapped around her, warm and familiar.


    "You’ve been thinking too much today," he murmured.


    "I haven’t," Meredith replied, though she didn’t pull away.


    His fingers traced lightly along her arm, slow, deliberate. "That’s not what it feels like."


    She turned slightly within his hold, just enough to look at him. "I’m fine."


    Draven studied her for a moment, then leaned in, brushing his lips against her cheek twice, then he moved lower.


    "Draven."


    "Hm?"


    "That’s enough."


    "It isn’t." His tone was certain. Then his hand shifted slightly, sliding from her waist, and immediately, Meredith caught it in a firm grip.


    Next, she guided it away and ced it carefully over her stomach instead. "No further."


    Draven blinked. He looked down and then back at her. "You are using them as a shield now?" he asked.


    Meredith raised a brow. "Theye first."


    "They are not stopping me."


    "They are."


    He narrowed his eyes slightly. "They don’t even know what’s happening."


    "That’s exactly why they need protection."


    A brief silence followed as Draven looked at her, then at her stomach, and then back at her again. "I don’t like this alliance," he muttered.


    Meredith almost smiled.


    His hand remained resting over her belly. For a moment, he said nothing—just feeling. Then he exhaled.


    "They are already interfering with me," he added.


    "They are your cubs," Meredith replied calmly.


    "That doesn’t make it better."


    She turned fully to face him now, one hand still lightly resting over his. "Go to sleep."


    Draven stared at her. "You’re dismissing me?"


    "Yes."


    He didn’t move. Instead, his gaze lingered, clearly unconvinced. Meredith tilted her head slightly and asked, "Do you want me to ask them to behave again?"


    That earned a reaction. A small, incredulous scoff left him. "You’re threatening me with my own children now?"


    "It seems effective."


    He let out a breath, running a hand through his hair before stepping back. "This is unfair."


    "It’s temporary."


    "That doesn’t help."


    Meredith walked past him and climbed into bed, settlingfortably before ncing at him again. "Are youing or not?"


    Draven stood there for a second longer before finally moving. He joined her, though not without a faint, lingering dissatisfaction in his expression.


    As hey beside her, he shifted slightly closer, one arm moving instinctively around her. But this time, his hand stayed where it was allowed—over her stomach.