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    284/286: Move On


    The next morning, Althea attended the court session with Gavriel, seated beside him on the royal dais. It wasn’t her first time attending a meeting like this, yet somehow she still felt


    nervous.


    Gavriel had been unusually quiet since morning, and she already knew why. Even now, she could hardly believe how petty the once ruthless Gavriel could be when it came to her. He was truly waiting for her to show everyone, right there in court, how much she doted on him.


    The great doors swung open as the guards announced the arrival of the four remaining candidates for the position of Minister of Justice.


    Althea’s eyes immediately found Kael among them. At the same moment, his gaze searched for hers as well,


    Her fingers tightened unconsciously around the Hem of her gown.


    ‘No,’ she gasped silently under her breath. She had to blink several times to make sure she was seeing it correctly.


    She couldn’t believe it.


    A dark demonic spirit like a serpent wastched onto Kael’s back, its long shadowy body coiling around him tightening its im over its prey.


    Its upper half looked disturbingly human, with hollow eyes and thin strands of hair hanging limply around its face. But its tongue was long and forked, slithering out again and again as it leaned close to Kael’s ear, whispering something only he could hear.


    Althea’s fingers trembled.


    Without thinking, she reached for Gavriel’s hand and squeezed it lightly.


    “He has it,” she whispered, her lips barely moving.


    Gavriel immediately tightened his grip around her fingers.


    “Don’t worry,” he murmured calmly beside her. We’ll take care of it.”


    She nodded, steadying herself as the four candidates stepped forward together and dropped to one knee before the throne.


    “Your Majesties,” they greeted in unison.


    “Rise,” Gavrielmanded.


    They stood again.


    Kael’s gaze remained fixed on her. More precisely on the hand she was holding.


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    Althea did not look away.


    Instead, she deliberately tightened her fingers around Gavriel’s and intertwined them with his, making her position unmistakably clear as she listened quietly while Gavriel addressed the candidates.


    Only after he finished speaking did she lean slightly forward and add, “I would like to invite the four of you to have dinner with my husband tonight.”


    A faint stir passed through the court.


    It was improper for a queen to address the king so casually in a formal session. Yet no one dared object. Everyone already knew how deeply the king favored her, and even more so now that she carried the royal heir. Gavriel rarely denied her anything, and the court had long since learned to ept the gentle exceptions made only for her.


    Across the hall, Kael’s expression darkened almost imperceptibly. Because the invitation was not simply a courtesy. It was a deration for Althea. A deration that whatever he believed before… whatever hope he still clung to… Althea now stood openly and firmly at her husband’s side.


    Kael also needed deliverance.


    Althea could not ignore what she had seen. She wanted to save him before the darkness fully consumed him.


    Kael was a good man. She had witnessed that herself many times in the past. But perhaps his desire, his stubborn attachment, and the choices he had begun to make had opened a door for something darker to take hold of him. Now that darkness hadtched onto him and was slowly tightening its grip around his soul.


    The presence surrounding him was not weak. It had already gained a stronghold. And that frightened her more than she wanted to admit.


    The meeting continued, but Althea never once let go of Gavriel’s hand,


    From time to time, she turned toward him and gave him warm, genuine smiles filled with affection. She even leaned slightly closer whenever the opportunity allowed. If Gavriel wanted the court to see how much she doted on him, then she would give him exactly that.


    And she made sure Kael saw it too.


    Only when the session finally ended did Gavriel dismiss the court.


    One by one, the nobles bowed and left.


    But Kael remained.


    His


    eyes stayed fixed on her.


    Althea met his gaze calmly and offered him a gentle smile.


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    “It has been a while, Lord Kael,” she said politely. “Let’s talk moreter over dinner.”


    He looked slightly surprised by her invitation.


    Still smiling, she endured the irritation crawling beneath her skin as she watched the demonic spirit coil tighter around him, its forked tongue flicking near his ear, whispering poison into his thoughts nonstop.


    When the hall had nearly emptied, she finally released Gavriel’s hand and stepped forward.


    “Althea,” Gavriel growled low in warning.


    She nced back at him and gave him a reassuring smile.


    “It’s fine. I can handle this. I would rather do it now than wait any longer,” she said softly. “I can’t bear to see that ugly creature clinging to him.”


    Then she walked straight toward Kael.


    Without hesitation, she reached for his hands and held them.


    They were cold.


    Kael stiffened immediately. Confusion crossed his face, followed by a deep frown as he stared at their joined hands like he could not understand what was happening.


    Althea gently tightened her hold.


    “Look at me,” she said quietly but firmly.


    He obeyed.


    His eyes lifted to hers.


    “Let go of your feelings for me now, Kael,” she said softly. “I know you loved me for a long time. And I know you only ever wanted what was best for me.”


    Behind him, the shadowy spirit shifted restlessly


    “But Gavriel and I… we may not have started the right way,” she continued, her voice steady, yet everything has fallen into ce now. He loves me. And I love him just as deeply.”


    Her hand instinctively moved to rest over her stomach.


    “We’re building a family together. I’m carrying his child.”


    Kael’s breathing faltered.


    “I have never been happier than I am now,” she said gently. “And I want you to find that same happiness too. But to do that… you must move on ”


    Her gaze sharpened slightly as she spoke her next words with quiet authority.


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    “You need to let go of the darkness trying to take hold of your heart and mind.”


    Behind him, the demonic spirit hissed. Its body tightened like a coiling rope resisting her words.


    But Althea did not release his hands.


    “Break free from it, Kael,” she whispered. “You are stronger than this.”


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