Inside the hall, Shane Drakethorne, Sera Azurestorm, and Catherine Fairwind had been discussing various topics that ranged from politics to every other major issue that the empire was facing.
As if remembering something, Empress Catherine Fairwind asked, "Did you find any clue about how Alex was able to heal you, Sera?" Catherine looked at Sera's azure eyes as she asked this question.
Sera Azurestorm was momentarily caught off guard by this sudden question from empress Catherine fairwind, she looked back at her husband who nodded her head to tell her what they know so far, she said,"We've looked at every book, I have asked my parents and Shane had also asked his parents but no one knows of such power that can heal person who is on deathbed. Only the saints and saintesses of the holy kingdom can come near to it, but they too, without the help of prayer and other saints, can't do it alone."
Empress Fairwind, indicating she too had searched for answers, said, "I too have enquired about it to some of the people that could know about this after you asked me when we met. But, they have heard about similar powers that can heal a dying person, but they don't come near to the power that Alex displayed—that too when he was just born."
Grand Duke Shane Drakethorne also nodded his head and added,"You are right, empress. So far, we have not found anyone who comes close to Alex's power. In history, there were people who could heal people out of an almost-death state, but there is no mention of people healing a person who would just die after only a few breaths." Shane Drakethorne felt proud that his son had such great power, but also feared that others would come after him.
Because of such fears, they collectively decided their heir, Alex, would neither leave Drakethorne Palace nor exit its walls. In this way, he could be protected. As long as Paragon Rank Grand Duke Shane remained home, no one would dare attack Drakethorne Palace if they didn't want to die.
Empress Catherine Fairwind hesitated whether to ask this question or not, but couldn't stop herself from asking, "Are you sure Alex healed you, Sera? Could someone else have done it and disappeared?"
Grand Duchess Sera Azurestorm nodded, acknowledging the Empress's reasonable doubts. She replied, "At first, when we were inside the gate, we believed Alex healed me and others. Healing particles radiated from him and covered the battlefield. But, after discussing with my father-in-law, Ragnar Drakethorne, and my mother-in-law, Nyra Blackheart, we considered other possibilities. They, too, doubted how a newborn could do such a thing. Still, we remember clearly: no one else was present besides our troops, and the healing particles emerged from Alex, not elsewhere." Sera was happy that her child had such an ability, and she could not accept anyone else as the healer. Even though another explanation would mean Alex was safer from being targeted, her maternal instinct insisted Alex was the one who healed.
Empress Catherine Fairwind watched Sera intently, keenly aware of the deep maternal love and hope clouding her judgment. Catherine's own heart ached in sympathy, knowing firsthand how a mother's fierce love could defy reason. Every mother wants to believe in her child's uniqueness, shutting out all doubt in the world—even when logic says the child is just an ordinary child.
Empress Catherine Fairwind turned her head slightly to look at Shane Drakethorne, who was sitting directly opposite to her, and she again asked,"What if someone else was?"
Grand Duke Shane Drakethorne knew that the Empress was unsatisfied and responded, "Yes, I totally agree there's a possibility that someone else was involved; all the records show that no child can perform such a miracle. Still, my inner instinct tells me Alex was the one. We were exhausted after the battle and might have missed another's presence." As he spoke, Shane clenched his fist slightly, hesitating before deciding to withhold mention of the goblin emperor who knew his name and his family, recalling his earlier discussion with his parents to keep that secret.
Empress Catherine Fairwind wanted to ask whether they had tested his ability again. But, suddenly, slow footsteps started sounding, and she stopped herself from asking this for now.
Footsteps echoed slowly, steadily, and quietly, as if measured. Everyone in the hall turned toward the entrance, their expressions softening into smiles as Alex Drakethorne and Eva Evernight entered. The two children walked side by side; Alex led by a few paces, while Eva followed behind, both dressed in matching white outfits, Alex's slightly taller frame evident beside Eva.
Alex was leading the way, and Eva was just behind him by a few steps. Seeing they were not holding hands, Empress Catherine Fairwind teased,"Why are you not holding hands with each other like back then?"
This sudden teasing from the empress also made Alex stumble. His cheeks turned so red that he was a flushed red tomato. He looked at Empress Catherine Fairwind, who was smiling at them. "I guess Princess Eva learned teasing from her mother?" Alex wondered silently. He noticed her stare, trying to dig deep into his soul. Feeling uncomfortable with the intense look, he turned to his mother.
Eva Evernight felt the teasing was meant to attack Alex more than her, so she didn't mind it much, but felt her cheeks turning slightly red from embarrassment because she could have broken the hold of Alex's grip if she had applied all her powers, but she didn't do so.
Grand Duke Shane Drakethorne said to the Empress, "Control yourself." Alex and Eva were momentarily shocked that the Grand Duke almost ordered the Empress to control herself for just teasing them.
Empress Fairwind replied, "I'm just looking at your son. You won't even let his future mother-in-law admire him?" Shane and Sera knew she was probing deeper with magic, so Shane intervened. Alex and Eva didn't know about this.
Grand Duchess Sera Azurestorm, sensing the growing discomfort in the hall, shifted forward in her seat and interjected to redirect the mood. She turned to Princess Eva and asked, "Did you like the garden?" Her tone was gentle and encouraging, masking her underlying concern.
Princess Eva Evernight nodded and replied, "Yes, I liked the garden. The flowers were beautiful, and I also liked the dragon statue situated at the centre of the fountain."
Sera Azurestorm, noticing the ease between her son and Princess Eva, smiled and gestured toward the sofas. She invited them, "Come, have a seat here with us," her eyes lighting up with relief that they have formed a seemingly friendly relationship.
Without sitting, Alex remained standing in front of his parents. He looked back and forth between them and asked with genuine curiosity, "Can I heal a person who will die soon?"
The hall's atmosphere shifted. Silence fell, broken only by the sound of breathing. Shane Drakethorne paused before answering. "We don't know," he said at last.
Alex Drakethorne, feeling puzzled by the answer, as he would expect 'no, you can't' but wondered why he said "don't know,"
Alex turned to look at his mother, not satisfied with the answer, he asked, "What do you mean by 'don't know'? Tell me, Mother, can I heal or not?"
Feeling her son's tenseness, Sera Azurestorm couldn't stop herself. She said, "We are not sure as of now, but you did heal me when you were born."
Alex Drakethorne felt sad that his parents had kept such a big secret. He said, "Why didn't you tell me all this time? You could have told me. Why did you hide it? Yes, it must be a lie. How could I heal you? I can't even heal myself. This is a dream, yes, a dream, I must be dreaming right now." He pinched his cheeks while trembling. He was shocked by this revelation; he wasn't able to accept that he could heal the dying person.
Unable to bear her son's vulnerability, Sera Azurestorm vanished from her seat and appeared beside Alex in an instant. She lifted him into a gentle embrace, her hands shaking slightly as she caressed his hair and face, her own eyes misting with tears. "This is not a dream. Steady yourself, Alex. You are the heir to Drakethorne; you must stay strong, my precious child."
Alex started feeling weak and looked into his mother's azure eyes through his own, which resembled hers. His eyes were slowly falling down. As he fell asleep, he murmured, "Tell me everything."
Shane stood and told the Empress and Princess Eva, "You should rest; you must be tired from travel."
Empress was not happy that he was sending them away, but knew this was a private affair and they shouldn't meddle too much in it.
A maid entered the hall and led the empress and princess to their chambers. Princess Eva Evernight glanced back at Alex, who was sleeping on his mother's lap. She couldn't believe he didn't know about his powers and tales.
Shane joined Sera and gently stroked sleeping Alex's head on her lap.
Sera looked at her husband, worried. "It seems this has hurt Alex's trust."
Shane Drakethorne replied, "We'll tell him everything we know. We can't hide it anymore—not when our child doesn't trust us. We can't break his trust, or he'll think we don't love him."
Sera Azurestorm's heart ached with a crushing pain at the thought of her son even imagining that they did not love him.