CHAPTER 128: CHAPTER 123: THE MORNING AFTER (1)

The dining hall was bathed in soft morning light, the glow of ether-powered chandeliers blending with the natural sun streaming through the arched windows. The air carried the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee, pastries, and warm buttered bread. Despite the elegance of the setting, there was an easy familiarity in the way Damian and Gabriel took their seats, as if their conversation from earlier still lingered between them.

Edward, ever the diligent butler, was already setting their plates with practiced precision. He poured Gabriel’s tea first before filling Damian’s cup with strong black coffee. "I took the liberty of preparing something mild, considering last night’s events," Edward remarked, his voice as smooth as ever.

Gabriel exhaled sharply, biting back a smirk as he picked up his cup. "You’re playing a dangerous game, Edward. I’m not the type to enjoy tea in the morning."

Edward merely inclined his head, utterly unrepentant, before placing a neatly folded napkin beside Damian’s plate. Damian narrowed his eyes at him but said nothing, choosing instead to take a slow sip of his coffee.

"After an eventful night, it is only fitting to begin with a fresh cup of chamomile."

Gabriel refused to lower Edward’s level of pettiness, knowing that the butler was still upset about his use of Rosaline rumors the previous evening. He did not regret it, but after starting the day and a new relationship on such a pleasant note, he decided it would be nice to conceal with the butler.

"Edward... I should say that I’m sorry for the other day." Gabriel started, but Edward interrupted him immediately.

"You should."

"Listen to me; I should, but I am not, and I want you to know that I would do it again if necessary. Answer my questions if you do not want to be blackmailed." Gabriel said, smirking behind his cup of tea, he really wanted a coffee.

"Now I’m curious, what information would be worth Edward’s irritation?" Damian asked, leaning back in his seat. He was wearing a casual linen white shirt and black elegant pants.

"He wanted to find out where you were yesterday so he could speak with you. I assume he felt it was important enough to use Rosaline’s rumors. Honestly, I thought I was done dealing with that." Edward’s frustration was genuine; the fact that rumors reached Gabriel’s ears was a sign of failure in his work, and he refused to accept it.

"Well, you should thank Princess Anya for busting your hard work of dealing with Rosaline. She was the one to tell Gabriel the rumors." Damian was as annoyed as Edward that he had to repeat that name more than was necessary. He would rather talk with Gabriel about their relationship and the next steps in his transition to the role of Empress.

"I see." Edward spoke briefly, but Damian and Gabriel could see how he was plotting his revenge on the princess.

"Can I get a coffee now?" Gabriel asked, setting his empty teacup down with a soft clink, his eyes flicking toward Edward in exaggerated suffering.

Edward gave him a slow, unimpressed glance. "You just had tea."

"I had a floral excuse for a morning," Gabriel corrected, folding his hands neatly over the table. "Now I require caffeine."

Damian raised his cup, smirking behind it. "He’ll keep asking until you give in."

Edward sighed with the air of a long-suffering man. "Very well. But you’re getting half milk. To protect what’s left of your nerves."

"As long as it’s not chamomile again," Gabriel muttered, victorious.

Edward vanished toward the sideboard with the quiet efficiency of a man who never lost an argument; he simply delayed his victory.

As soon as they were alone, Damian’s gaze shifted to Gabriel, his playful demeanor giving way to something quieter. "You wanted to talk to me yesterday. Before the ceremony. What did you want to say that was so important to irritate Edward?"

Gabriel’s smile faded slightly, and he bit the inside of his cheek while deciding how to respond. "Charles insisted on talking to me. "He overheard Lucius and Theo discussing the contract." He sighed, realizing that talking about it with Damian was easier than he had expected. "He said that the contract is consuming me. Whatever this means and that I should talk with you or he will."

That drew Damian’s full attention; he placed his cutlery on the side of his plate and nodded slowly, already ahead of him. "I do."

"You knew?" Gabriel asked, more surprised than upset.

"I’ve suspected for some time. Confirmed it recently." He rested his chin on his hands and watched intently for his responses.

Gabriel’s brows furrowed. "Then why didn’t you tell me?"

"Because I needed to be sure," Damian said, his voice steady and calm. "If I frightened you without having a way to help, it would’ve done more harm than good. Don’t get me wrong, i can remove the contract right this second, but i don’t know what the collateral is for that."

Gabriel fell silent, absorbing the answer.

"The contract draws ether from your body," Damian continued. "It’s been doing so ever since Olivier carved it into you."

At the mention of the name, something shifted in Gabriel’s expression. "Olivier... He is still following me after his death."

Damian nodded. "It has his mark. Imperial. Old magic, structured, hidden under the surface. Most people wouldn’t recognize it now. But I’ve seen it before."

"And you’ve been researching how to break it?" Gabriel asked.

"I have," Damian said. "But I won’t do it until I know the risks. This isn’t like removing a ward or lifting a simple seal. If it is holding something else in place or is improperly connected to your ether, removing it could cause you more harm than good."

Gabriel exhaled slowly. "So you’re saying the only reason I’ve been feeling better here..."

"...is because the palace is rich with ambient ether," Damian finished for him. "It gives the contract something else to feed on. But that’s temporary. Eventually, it will start pulling harder from you again. That’s why I need to end it soon."

Edward returned and placed a fresh cup of coffee in front of Gabriel, warm and rich with just the right amount of milk.

"Peace offering," he said dryly.

Gabriel gave him a nod of genuine gratitude. "Forgiven."

"Not forgotten," Edward replied, stepping back into his station.

Damian watched the two for a moment before turning back to Gabriel. "When we undo it, I want you somewhere safe. Surrounded by healers. No risks."

Gabriel looked down at the coffee, fingers tracing the rim of the cup. "You’ve thought this through."

"Of course I have," Damian said quietly. "You’re mine, Gabriel. I won’t lose you."

Gabriel didn’t answer right away. However, he seemed to hear every word because of the steady, considerate, and gentle acceptance with which he raised the coffee to his lips.

An attendant entered the hall with a bow and addressed the Emperor. "Your Majesty, Lord Maximilian Claymore, is requesting a meeting."