Story in a nutshell: How exactly did Gabe react to the events of "King of the Carnaval?"

"And the entire town caught them," said Euan Higgins in one breath. "It was amazing."

Gabe stared at the redhead before looking around the room with the crown jewels. Unbelievable, he thought looking around at the pristine room. It was quiet except for the three men: the captain, the lieutenant, and whatever Higgins was supposed to be. "I got one off day with my parents and someone tries to steal the crown jewels," he said dismayed. He tried to think back to the story that they told as best as they could.

"They nearly had us," said Diego as he looked around the room. "None of us went in to check."

"Did you get check your pockets or at least hold on the key until you were a safe distance away?" asked Gabe as he looked frustrated around the royal treasury. His mind racking for things that he would have done. "Isn't it standard protocol to check people?"

"It was Victor, Esteban's friend-" said Higgins as he thought of what else they could have done. He wasn't sure if someone like Julio would have checked them before letting them into the palace walls.

"Euan that doesn't matter. Why didn't he think about visiting before? Who decides to come uninvited? He may have had a reason but it was still out of nowhere," argued Gabe still thinking. What would he have done? Is there a bigger motive or even plot going on? "After Fiero I am checking everyone. I'm making it protocol to check. Study movements and what people do, how they dress."

With that he stalked off with the two following him. At least he heard one of them lock the door behind him he thought. "I think the Fiero event really got to him," said Diego as he rounded the corner to the library. Forget those two, he thought, it was right to check them over. At least Carla and Victor were gone permanently being banished and all. Gabe wished that he got a look at them to remember their faces. He was good at remembering faces after all those years working in his parent's shop.

Crap, he thought, carnaval was going to be the prime time for people to try anything. He should have said no to having that day off. Instead of selling empanadas at his parent's bakery. After Fiero he should have learned. It was then did he decide to go to the library and do research. Plenty of research. Books on psychology like how to read people. Heck he even convinced aunt Alicia to enroll him for free in a psychology class at the university.

Sitting down and grabbing a few books while he was still on his lunch hour, he thumbed through the text looking for anything useful. How to get in the mind of a thief? Gabe flipped through another book as he saw pages on motivations. That was useful, he thought putting it aside as he tried to find other things that might have been helpful. He wanted to keep his job thank you very much.

The door opened as he didn't even look up hearing the familiar boots of the chancellor. "Lieutenant Nunez, what are you doing? Surely you should be with Elena or patrolling the halls?" asked Esteban confused and surprised at all of the books around him.

"I'm on my lunch hour," he said flipping through the pages. "I'm just looking through what could help more with my job."

He looked up and saw the confused look on Esteban's face. "Like how to read someone or something useful. After Fiero and now someone stealing from the treasury. I don't even know how they got past the defense system. I volunteered to help redesign it with Isabel's help."

That made Esteban pause as he looked at the young man. That was a good thing and a bad thing, he thought trying to keep his face neutral and relaxed stance. Not only was he helping Isabel redesign the entire system but also learning how to tell if someone is acting suspicious. Esteban was going to get caught by the lieutenant. Of all people he was going to get caught by the person that he helped hire.

"Well that's good that you're so invested in your position," he said calmly. "Do you need help with either?" Esteban had to know how to get around the system, otherwise he could be caught going in there himself and that makes himself look guilty. Even if it was just to look around.

"Nah, I studied harder than this in school when I was trying to get my dad to notice me. Found loads of interesting stuff though. Did you know that you're not supposed to greet the King of Satu with a handshake, but with a bow?"

"I did actually," he said looking at the boy with a careful look. Gabriel studied those books intently trying to find what makes people tick. Just that thought made him nervous. "Gabriel, what if I gave you some lessons in royalty? I mean, you might have to go with Elena to visit foreign countries. It'd be nice for you to know what you are doing."

Gabe gave him a blank look for a moment before looking at the books. "Chancellor, Diego, Higgins, and I were already given the basics on that when we first got hired."

"Well at a more intermediate level. You are guarding the crown princess and eventual queen. It'd be useful would it not?" he mused trying to convince him. Anything to pull him away from the books and maybe get him to tell him about that defense system. Gabriel and Isabel would know the system forward and backward.

Gabe cleared his throat as he watched Esteban smile at him. "Esteban, are you hiding something from me? You're never this nice."

"Of course not," he said pretending to be appalled at this accusation. Dang it, he caught on quick. The quicker the distraction the better. "I just figured that it might help you. It might even impress Elena."

He had no idea of the young lieutenant's feelings toward his cousin. Still noticing that he had a contemplative look on his face. Then looked at his books Esteban waited. "Well, I don't see why not. Although I still should meet with Isabel and knowing this stuff is part of my job. Sure chancellor, I have to go clock back in."

Esteban sighed in relief, at least he had to divide his break as he volunteered to put his books away for him.

Gabe closed the door behind him before looking at the door. Yep, he was definitely hiding something. He just had to figure out what.