Bound by the Mark of Lies (BL)
Chapter 113 - 108: Gabriel’s Revenge (2)

Chapter 113: Chapter 108: Gabriel’s Revenge (2)

The seventh day of the ball had arrived, marking the grand finale to the week-long festivities. The previous day had passed without incident—Gabriel had skillfully continued ignoring his family, avoiding any potential confrontations with the ease of someone who had mastered the art. He knew they wanted to speak with him, but as far as he was concerned, they could wait.

Tonight, however, would be different.

As the day progressed, Gabriel found himself in the Emperor’s study, seeking a moment of quiet before the final night’s inevitable flood of pleasantries and strategic conversations. The soft glow of the ether lamps illuminated the dark wooden desk before him, casting long shadows across the ornate bookshelves that lined the walls.

The door creaked open, and Gabriel turned, half-expecting Damian. Instead, Charles stood in the doorway, his posture straight, his usual unreadable expression in place.

For once, he surprised himself when he realized he was disappointed.

Gabriel arched a brow. "On post tonight? Or did you come here for something else?"

Charles closed the door behind him with deliberate care. "Both. The Emperor assigned me to oversee things here, but I wanted to speak with you."

Gabriel leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "About?"

Charles regarded him for a long moment before stepping closer. "You’ve been avoiding your family." He was dressed in the imperial guards uniform, his hair slicked back and a short sword hanging around his waist.

Gabriel exhaled sharply through his nose and cocked his head slightly. "Avoiding? That’s a strong word. I’d say I’ve been prioritizing."

Charles didn’t look amused. "They’re worried."

Gabriel scoffed. "They’re always worried. Nevertheless, they continue to make decisions for me as if I do not exist. Tell me, Charles, did they send you? Or is this your own idea?"

Charles didn’t flinch at the accusation. "I came on my own." His voice was steady, unreadable as ever, but there was something measured in the way he spoke, something that told Gabriel this wasn’t a conversation Charles had planned lightly. "I want to understand what you’re doing."

Gabriel studied him for a long moment, his amusement fading into something quieter, something guarded. "And if I don’t want to explain?"

Charles exhaled, his gaze unwavering. "Then I’ll wait. But you should at least hear them out."

Gabriel’s jaw tightened. "Hear what, exactly? An explanation for why they decided my future for me? Why they pushed this entire arrangement before I even knew what was happening?" His voice was edged with restrained frustration, but Charles remained calm.

"They weren’t trying to control you, Gabriel," Charles said evenly. "They were trying to protect you. They knew only Damian could break your magical contract. You had no real choice, no matter how long they waited."

Gabriel stilled, his fingers tightening around the armrest of his chair. He had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed sent a cold sensation creeping up his spine. "So why the urgency? Why didn’t they tell me?"

Charles exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Because they knew you wouldn’t accept it. Not at first. Not until it was too late. They couldn’t risk you refusing out of sheer defiance, and they couldn’t bear to watch you suffer under that contract any longer. So they pushed forward, knowing it was inevitable."

Gabriel let out a quiet scoff, shaking his head. "And what? They thought I’d just be grateful afterward? That I’d understand their silence was for my own good? You know very well that I will accept Damian’s proposal. I’ve told all of you that."

Charles met his gaze steadily. "We knew, but you had a history of fleeing. They thought you’d hate them for it. But they also thought you’d survive."

Gabriel’s expression hardened. "Survive?" His voice was quiet, but there was an edge to it, sharp and demanding. "What are you talking about?"

Charles hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line. He looked away for a brief moment, as if weighing whether to speak. Finally, he exhaled and met Gabriel’s gaze again. "Lucius and Theo were hiding things from the rest of the family. But I found out that the contract was consuming you."

Gabriel’s fingers dug into the fabric of his sleeves. "Consuming me?"

Charles nodded. "It wasn’t just about your lost memories. The magic was... eroding you. I don’t know how much they knew or how long they had been watching it happen, but they were terrified. And they knew that, eventually, only Damian could break it. But he hasn’t yet, has he? Which means it’s still there, still taking from you."

Gabriel remained silent, his thoughts churning. He didn’t want to admit that he had noticed it—the way his energy drained faster than it should, the strange exhaustion that came in waves. But telling Damian? That was another matter entirely.

Charles watched him, and after a moment, his expression darkened with determination. "You need to tell Damian."

Gabriel hesitated, fingers twitching slightly before he crossed his arms. "It’s not that simple."

Charles’ voice hardened. "Then make it simple. If you won’t tell him, I will."

Gabriel’s gaze snapped to his, a flash of irritation crossing his face. "You wouldn’t."

"Try me," Charles countered, unwavering. "I don’t care how stubborn you are. If you won’t say anything, then I will, because this isn’t just about you. And if you collapse one day because of this, I’ll be the one dealing with the fallout."

Gabriel’s lips pressed into a thin line. He wanted to snap back, to tell Charles to mind his own business, but the weight of his words lingered. Gabriel knew he should tell Damian, but asking for help was not something he did easily. He would survived alone before, so why should this be any different?

’Oh, I’m really thinking about how to run away from this. Fuck me.’

Charles watched him, unimpressed. "You’re wasting time pretending you can handle this yourself. You saw it too, didn’t you? How he looks at you?"

Gabriel frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Charles sighed, rubbing his temples as if Gabriel were the most frustrating person alive. "The Emperor is smitten with you, Gabriel. Completely. He’d do anything for you. You should learn to ask for help before it’s too late."

Gabriel’s stomach twisted at the words, but he kept his expression unreadable. Damian—doing anything for him? The idea was ridiculous. And yet, when he thought about it... was it, really?