CHAPTER 131: CHAPTER 126: WELCOME TO THE LYONS (2)

Max stood, adjusting his coat with a theatrical sigh. "Well, delightful as this has been, my neglected company desperately requires attention. Damian, try not to plunge the empire into chaos while I’m gone."

Damian waved a dismissive hand, clearly entertained, his imperial ring catching the morning light. "I make no promises. Gregoris has a knack for finding me, even in the bath if something really happens."

Gabriel glanced up from his tea, smirking. "Ah, the infamous bathing interruptions. I’ve had my share."

Damian’s gaze sharpened instantly, humor fading. "Explain."

Edward froze mid-step, suddenly acutely attentive. Max leaned forward eagerly, eyes bright with amusement. "Do tell."

Gabriel set his cup down casually. He didn’t believe that Damian could be the possessive type, but he was wrong. A thought wandered in his mind.

’What would Damian do if I tell him about Linnea?’ He leaned back into his chair, considering how to phrase everything as neutrally as possible. "A maid wandered into my bathroom at the von Jaunez manor. Quite uninvited."

Max’s brows lifted with amused disbelief. "And she just strolled in? Without permission?" He threw his coat back on the chair and sat down; this would be too entertaining to miss. "I’m sure it’s a hell of a story; why don’t you entertain us with this?"

Gabriel paid close attention to Damian, noting the subtle tension radiating from the emperor’s previously relaxed posture. Edward stood motionless, an unreadable expression settling across his face, whereas Max practically vibrated with eager anticipation, already savoring the drama.

Max’s brows lifted with amused disbelief. "And she just strolled in? Without permission?"

Gabriel smiled, clearly amused. "Permission wasn’t her concern. She entered the room like she was in her own domain. She tried to lure me with the promise of finding something important from my past. My memories. While trying and failing to seduce me."

He looked for Damian’s reaction, but the man seemed in control, so Gabriel sighed before finishing the story. "I promised her that I would talk to her after dinner, but instead I made her my family’s problem. They are still dealing with her, but Alexandra told me that someone manipulated her.

"Who?" Max was clearly amused by his brother’s annoyance.

"I don’t know. Someone kept me busy last week." Gabriel raised his cup to Damian. "A blonde, green-eyed Alpha, as she recalls, could very well be someone else."

Damian’s eyes narrowed dangerously, fingers tapping a slow rhythm against the armrest of his chair. The relaxed morning atmosphere evaporated instantly, replaced by palpable tension. His voice dropped to a deceptively calm tone, edged with icy restraint. "When did this happen?"

Gabriel took a measured sip of his tea, letting the silence stretch for just a moment longer, enough to make Max shift in excitement and Edward stiffen like a man awaiting orders. Finally, he answered, "About three weeks ago. The day I got back to the capital and von Jaunez manor. Now that i think of it, it was a really rush encounter".

Damian leaned forward slightly, no longer relaxed but not yet explosive. His voice remained quiet, but there was steel beneath it. "And you didn’t think to mention it until now?"

Gabriel tilted his head, his tone light. "Why would I bring it up to you? We were in no position to discuss it. We weren’t this close."

Damian stood, slowly, the chair legs scraping against the floor like a warning. "We are close now," he said, his voice like velvet over a blade. "And I do not like surprises, especially ones involving you, half-naked, and the other Alphas in your household. I begin to wonder what your family is doing to keep themselves so busy that they will not notice a spy in their home."

"I was naked."

Max nearly choked on nothing, slapping the table with delight. "Oh, naked, were you? That makes it infinitely worse. Or better, depending on your audience."

"Do you bathe dressed? Do not make this something strange or unusual. Gabriel gave Max a look to prevent him from annoying Damian any further.

Max was clearly having a great time, as he grinned from ear to ear. "No, no, please—by all means, go on. This is the most fun I have had all week, and I had to watch a councilor become trapped in his own ego and a revolving door."

"Max." Gabriel’s voice was low with warning.

But Max only waved a hand. "I’m just appreciating the drama. Our Emperor is looking like he might execute the air itself for daring to witness such sacrilege."

Damian’s stare didn’t waver. He hadn’t looked away from Gabriel since the word naked left his mouth.

Gabriel muttered again, this time more quietly, as though to himself, "I should not have said that," but the damage had already been done. He had definitely said that.

"Blonde, green-eyed alpha" Slowly ignoring the jokes between Gabriel and his brother, Damian said, "Max, does this sound familiar to you?"

Max leaned back in his chair, fingers drumming against his knee. "Blonde and green-eyed narrows it down to maybe half a dozen in our lovely cesspit of nobles. But if we’re talking someone stupid enough to meddle in your business..." He tilted his head, thoughtful. "That’s fewer."

Gabriel glanced between them, the levity of the moment replaced by a new kind of alertness. "Do you actually suspect someone?"

"I suspect a lot of people," Damian said coldly. "But it depends on the context. You said she was manipulated. Promised knowledge about your memories. That’s not seduction—that’s strategy, a poor attempt at one if i have to be honest. But whoever’s behind it knew enough to bait you."

Max nodded slowly. "That kind of information isn’t public. So either it’s someone with access to your records..." Edward nodded slightly as he glanced at him, already weighing the ramifications. Or is there someone who worked with you long enough to locate the data he required, and my cousin is the only one who fits the description?

"Elliot."