Chapter 228: To stay out of this
Amelie filled the jar with water and sealed it with a lid. As she turned to leave the kitchen, her gaze landed on the Queen. She immediately stopped and bowed respectfully.
"We have palace servants for a reason," Queen Mabel said. "I’d like to speak with you."
Amelie’s grip on the jar tightened slightly, but she nodded and followed the Queen in silence. They walked into a private room, one Amelie had never entered before. Her eyes wandered across the space, settling on the framed photographs on the wall: the Queen with her children, including a much younger Gabriel. A soft smile tugged at Amelie’s lips at the sight.
"Take a seat," Mabel gestured toward one of the upholstered chairs.
Amelie placed the water jar on the table and sat down across from the Queen, folding her hands neatly in her lap. A hint of anxiety stirred within her. Was this a reprimand for everything that had happened to Gabriel?
"How is Gabriel?" Mabel asked.
"He’s much better, Your Majesty. The healers visited earlier. They gave him a pill to help his body recover, and he fell asleep soon after taking it," Amelie explained, her tone gentle.
"Hmm. Gabriel has never been this weak before," Mabel murmured, her expression thoughtful. Then, she looked Amelie in the eye. "But I don’t blame you for it."
Amelie was stunned to hear her. A heavy burden she hadn’t realized she was carrying seemed to lift all at once.
"This morning, Karmen shared something rather interesting," Mabel continued, a faint smile appearing on her lips.