Chapter 11

KAEL’S POV

There was absolutely nothing I could do to shake the flustered feeling from Isabelle’s boldness.

Her brash demands to have me in her bed were outrageous but she whispered them like it was absolutely normal.

I felt trapped, not by her words, but by the intensity of her gaze as she stared at me waiting for a response.

My ears flushed crimson, and an intense heat spread through my body, but I quickly quelled the fire, my jaw clenched in frustration.

My instinct was to shut her down and end all of this. But I couldn't think of hesitating to deny her, not now that we were finally making some progress on the case.

If Isabelle abandoned the investigation now, my brother’s life would be ruined, and I just couldn’t allow that to happen.

For Levi's sake, I had reluctantly agreed to her terms, even though I was still reeling from the implications of her words.

When Rowan offered to also help solve the case, I could see the reluctance in Isabelle's eyes that she was going to reject him.

I couldn't let that happen, I knew if Rowan worked with us the truth would be uncovered faster and my brother would be out of that hellhole.

But as I stepped in to accept his help, Isabelle's eyes flashed with annoyance, her expression suddenly turning sour.

I tried to ignore her sudden reaction but I couldn't help the questions rising in my mind.

Was she still concerned about Rowan? Was that why she always tried to avoid him?

I gritted my teeth in frustration, I hated the uncertainty I felt about her especially when her sudden change of attitude left me so unsure.

The next morning, I woke up at the crack of dawn dressed meticulously in my formal uniform, complete with my sword strapped to my side.

I didn’t know why I was putting in so much effort and felt the need to present myself so formally—it wasn’t as though I needed to impress her.

And yet, when I found myself waiting in the grand hall of the princess’s villa, I couldn't help but glance at my reflection on the polished marble floors, adjusting my lapels.

I waited in the halls of the villa for two long hours before Isabelle finally descended the staircase, her casual grace commanding my full attention.

I raised my gaze towards the stairs and my breath hitched briefly, my heart skipping a beat at the sight of her—she was radiant, her face simply perfection.

I caught myself immediately, averting my eyes from her. I avoided her gaze as she approached, her steps echoing on the marble tiles.

Anxiety clawed at my sides when she stood right in front of me, the sun shining around her like a halo.

I sputtered for words and then to hide my nervousness, I commented on her sleeping in till noon.

She merely flicked a strand of her hair away from her face, teasing me about having many girlfriends. My immediate instinct was to deny, though her question still lingered in my mind.

Does she really think I was that kind of man?

ISABELLE’S POV

I bit back a smile, secretly amused by Kael’s reaction to my teasing.

The way his eyes widened slightly, with the faint blush creeping across his cheeks, it was almost endearing.

There was something about his quiet, stoic demeanor that intrigued me. He was strong and disciplined, but also pure and innocent underneath his hard exterior.

Still, I quickly brushed my thoughts aside as my wolf growled softly in my mind, urging me to regain focus.

This wasn't the time to get distracted or lose focus. We still needed to solve this case before Kael’s brother was executed.

In the car, I was surprised as Kael held out a baseball cap and a mask.

I turned to him with raised brows.”What are you doing?” I asked with a squint.

“You should wear these,” he responded coolly, his tone gentle but firm. “We don't need to go in there and draw attention to ourselves.”

I hesitated, arching an eyebrow to him but after a second I complied, pulling the cap over my head and wrapping my hair into a low bun and slipping on the mask.

I gave him a subtle glance, finding his concern amusing but oddly touching.

The café was bustling with activity as we walked in. The bell dinged loudly to announce our arrival.

Shelves filled with rows of books lined the walls, and small groups of people were scattered throughout the room, sipping coffee, reading, or working on laptops.

And in a large corner, a group of artists sat sketching and painting on large canvases.

Kael leaned in, whispering. “The café is hosting an art competition sponsored by the royal family. The winners would go on to become court painters.”

“Court painters?” I echoed, intrigued.

“It’s a rare honour,” He continued. “For the artists, regardless of their background, it’s a ticket to fame and fortune.” He explained.

My eyes flickered to the artists, my gaze lingering on the vibrant colours of their works and the pure concentration on their faces.

The atmosphere was a little strained, and as we walked up the stairs to a quieter section of the café, I sighted Rowan's figure leaning against the railing and watching the crowd.

I approached him without hesitation, he looked up as we got closer, greeting with a slight bow.

“When did you arrive?” I asked, replying with a curt nod.

He straightened from the railing, adjusting his collar. “Just got here.” He replied casually.

As Kael and Rowan exchanged greetings I caught snippets of gossip from some of the patrons below.

“Did you see the woman who just came upstairs?” someone whispered. “She’s beautiful—even as she hid her features with the cap and mask.”

“With her grace and the knight by her side,” another voice chipped in, “she must be someone important—maybe rich or noble.”

Another voice muttered with growing excitement, “If we gain her favour, our lives could change forever. Just like the stories.”

My eyes snapped towards them, my brows furrowing in confusion”

What were they talking about?