Genesis Code: The Genetic Awakening-Chapter 139: Rising Concerns

"May the Goddess be with you, Caleb."

King Gray said to Caleb, presenting his hand for another handshake. They had spent a few hours discussing several matters regarding what Caleb was to do.

"Of course," Caleb replied with a warm smile, taking the hand in his. "And thanks for the resources, they’ll come in handy."

The king nodded as he and the commander approached the stairway leading upstairs. However, before they stepped foot on the stairs, King Gray turned around, a knowing smile on his face.

"I’m glad the Duchess found someone like you, Caleb." His words raised Caleb’s brows in mild surprise. "She’s one of a kind." With that, he put his hood back on and disappeared into the darkness with his commander.

"Why did I ever think the king wouldn’t know?" He thought back to the messenger who came to the Duchy. "And it’s only a matter of time before the others find out..." Caleb let out a sigh and disappeared.

...

It was a new day in the Crownlands as the sun shone its beautiful rays across the land. People were back to the daily grind; workers were going about completing the repair works across the city.

Word was still going around about the recent events, the call for the king’s stepdown and the king’s decree in response to the calls.

Things were far from normal, but this time, it was the nobles of the kingdom on edge, constantly looking over their shoulders.

In the Royal Palace, one person in particular cared nothing for what was transpiring within the kingdom. Perhaps that was not the best way to say it, as this person’s loved ones shielded her from the darkness.

Princess Celine has been up and about ever since she recovered from her ailments. Her infectious smile and look on life brought a refreshing atmosphere to those around her; this was what her loved ones wished to protect.

Celine had dedicated her time to learn all that she couldn’t before. The queen, her mother, made sure to prepare the best instructors in the city to be her tutor.

While most students would complain about subjects, Celine had a perspective on every new subject she was introduced to, leaving her instructors amazed by her intelligence and outlook on things.

The instructors had nothing but praise for her. However, there was one singular problem they couldn’t get rid of. From time to time, she would lose focus and daydream with a silly grin on her face.

Her instructors found this perplexing, but they attributed this to her newfound outlook on life. When the queen was informed of this behaviour, she quickly diagnosed the problem and couldn’t help but shake her head.

Celine would not let go of her infatuation with the man who saved her from the darkness. To her, he was her knight in shiny armour. What was even more shocking was that her mother found a poster of Caleb hidden in her room.

The queen could tell how she got her hands on the poster, not that it mattered. The issue here was that she needed to do something about this before her daughter went insane.

"Alexander, we have to do something about your daughter," Anastasia said to her husband while they shared some alone time together. "Her infatuation with this Caleb fella is getting out of hand."

The two were sitting opposite each other with a small table separating them. They were sharing a cup of tea while discussing family matters.

"Mmhmm." King Gray nodded with a knowing smile, picked up his cup for a sip. The queen looked at him with a blank stare.

"I’m serious, Alex." As a mother, how could she not be worried? "This might turn into an obsession. And who knows? She might one day sneak out of the castle in search of that man."

"You’re worrying too much, dear." King Gray put his cup down, his expression turning serious. "Celine is a smart girl. She might not know what’s going on now, but I doubt she would do something so stupid."

"You sure?" Anastaisa wasn’t convinced. "Her instructors are getting worried about her behaviour, which is worsening by the day!"

The queen wasn’t aware of her husband’s late-night visit to their person of interest. Moreover, with the ongoing rumours about Caleb, Anastasia was getting worried.

Sure, Caleb saved her family, but that didn’t mean she wanted her daughter associating with a man of that kind of reputation. Who knew what trouble associating with him could bring?

"What does Osbourne think of all this?" King Gray asked instead.

"W-well, he seems to be supportive of her desire to see that man," Anastasia replied while fidgeting with her fingers. "I’m really worried, Alex." One of these days, Osbourne might give in to his sister’s persistent asking and puppy dog eyes to find Caleb.

"What do you want, Ana?" The king sat forward and looked directly into his wife’s eyes. "Do you want to see Celine with Caleb or do you want her far away from him?"

"..."

The queen couldn’t answer. She was not sure what she wanted. On one hand, she was scared for her baby girl’s life if she was associated with Caleb; on the other hand, she wanted to make her daughter happy.

The Goddess knows Celine had suffered enough. But this was a difficult situation, and King Gray understood his wife’s concern very well.

"How about this..." He decided to make a proposal. "Once the mess with the nobles and the Growian Kingdom is handled and Caleb clears his name, we can allow the two of them to meet."

"Do you believe he’s innocent of the charges against him?" Anastasia asked skeptically, tilting her head slightly.

"Mmhmm." King Gray confirmed with conviction, surprising the queen. "For a man who saved this city and our family to go around killing nobles doesn’t make a lot of sense. You should know as well as I do..." He didn’t complete the sentence, but Anastaisa knew.

The queen had no reason not to believe her husband. Also, the way he spoke of the man made her think he knew something she didn’t.

’I’m sure he’d tell me if it’s something important.’ The queen thought silently.

"Fine..." She actually said. "But please make sure she’s always watched. I don’t want her running off."

"Of course."