Chapter 455
“How will you help me?” she challenged, her voice filled with skepticism. “Don’t insult me by saying you’re a guide sent by the Moon Goddess. If she were truly present and cared for me, she would not have made me an orphan in the first place, only to be abandoned yet again p>
She sank deeper into her immediate despair. The agonizing wound of rejection by her mate hadn’t even begun to heal when the deeper, the pain of her family’s abandonment was ripped open.
The old woman remained still, her bright eyes fixed on Juniper’s face. “Will you believe me if your family accepts you back?” she asked softly.
Juniper flinched at her question. “Don’t pester me,” she snapped, dragging her luggage past the woman. She was already crippled by stress and humiliation; this strange woman’s impossible promises only rubbed salt in her wounds. Her adopted family would never take her back.
“You foolish girl! Accept my help and you’ll be rewarded with unimaginable things,” the old woman’s voice persisted behind her, ringing with an almost unnatural clarity.
Juniper paid no heed. She was utterly done with empty words and fake promises. She had chased one grand promise, a Queen’s crown, and it had cost her everything. She just focused on walking, dragging the burdensome luggage behind her.
“Juniper p>
The sharp voice cut through the chaotic din of her thoughts. She paused, slowly lifting her head. Standing a few yards away was a man whose presence immediately triggered a fresh wave of panic.
“Karmen?” She furrowed her brows, seeing Gabriel’s beta. She instantly gulped, convinced he was there to arrest her. “I—I am leaving the capital. Please, don’t arrest me. I beg you,” she muttered quickly, clasping her hands together in a desperate plea.
Karmen looked genuinely confused by her intense pleading, his gaze shifting from her distressed face to the sight of her packed trolley bag on the pavement. He was certain he had seen her talking to someone, but now there was only the street. He wondered if she had been talking to herself.
“I am not here to arrest you,” Karmen stated.
“Then?” Juniper managed, still wary.
“Why are you leaving your house?” he asked, indicating the direction of the Vittileo gates.
Juniper dropped her gaze, unable to meet his eyes or offer a truthful answer about her forced exile.
“Speak,” Karmen instructed.
“I’m thrown out of my house,” Juniper confessed, a harsh chuckle escaping her lips. “This is the punishment I got for betraying everyone. A fitting end, wouldn’t you say p>
Karmen was utterly shocked. He knew the Vittileo family was furious, but to cast her out entirely was extreme.
“Then, where will you go?” he inquired.
“I am not obliged to answer you,” Juniper replied curtly, her gaze fixed on the ground. She was done taking orders.
Karmen’s mind raced. His immediate fear was that the dark witch Ophelia might sense Juniper’s despair and vulnerability. Juniper, recently connected to the royal court and now isolated, would be the perfect pawn to use against the Amelie or to gain entry to the palace. He had to keep her contained and accounted for.
“You have to answer. You are under strict scrutiny for a month due to the severity of your actions against the crown. You cannot simply vanish. You must report your intended location.” Karmen lied smoothly, improvising an official decree.
Juniper did not challenge the lie. She knew instantly it was Prince Gabriel’s doing. It was a petty move to control her even after her humiliation.
“I don’t know where I will go,” she finally admitted with genuine desperation. “I am utterly abandoned. If that’s what Prince Gabriel wants to hear, then tell him the truth: my family doesn’t want me anymore. My mate has already rejected me. I’m left with no one by my side.” As she spoke, the tears poured freely down her cheeks, a complete surrender to her grief.
“You will be living somewhere, won’t you? Even if it’s temporary,” Karmen suggested, pushing for the required information. “You can give me that address, and once you settle, you can report the permanent one p>
“I have to search for one first,” Juniper said, gesturing vaguely down the road. “Now, if you’ll let me leave, then it would be nice p>
“Wait here for a second,” Karmen ordered, already pulling out his phone. He turned his back to her, walking a short distance away to ensure she couldn’t overhear his conversation with the Prince.
Gabriel answered the call, his voice slightly muffled as he held his son, Noah, in the crook of one arm.
“Yes, Karmen?” he asked.
“I’m outside June’s house. Listen to me carefully and tell me what I should do,” Karmen stated, wasting no time before explaining the entire situation.
“Are you sure you saw her talking with someone, but you couldn’t see that person?” Gabriel asked.
“Yes. I’m certain,” Karmen confirmed. “That’s why I stopped her. We have to give her a secure shelter where I can keep a watchful eye on her. Her vulnerability right now is a huge risk p>
Gabriel paused for a moment, clearly considering the implications. “Hmm. Take her to your house for the moment. I’ll arrange a safe house in a few hours,” he asserted.
“Alright. I do have a private apartment, but I don’t take anyone there,” Karmen stated, indicating his reluctance to compromise his personal security.
“No,” Gabriel countered. “We don’t need to give her a luxury treatment. Just give her a small room in the servants’ quarter for a while. It’ll be secure and discreet. I’ll get back to you soon with a permanent solution. This Ophelia is becoming desperate to get close to me or Amelie,” he muttered, his voice dropping to a low growl, clearly gritting his teeth at the mention of the dark witch.
“Papa!” Noah called him out softly.
Karmen smiled hearing that sweet voice. “I’ll hang up. Your son doesn’t want you to think about the witch p>
“Yeah. Thanks, Karmen, for all your hardwork,” Gabriel stated and hung up on him.
Karmen pushed back the phone into his pocket and walked back to Juniper.
“You’ll be coming to my house,” he told her.
“What? Why? I don’t want p>
Karmen hissed in anger. “Just do what you’re told to,” he instructed, “if you don’t want to be arrested p>