Present…
'I still can't believe he was right.' Ezra thought, biting the inside of his tongue. It was a habit he had picked up over the years. One that only ever surfaced when Kaelis was around.
At least Kaelis never found out.
With Helios's help, Ezra had hidden the truth well enough. To the world, he was a beta. Nothing more. Nothing worth prying into.
"What are you doing here, Kaelis?" Helios asked again, his earlier question having gone unanswered.
Kaelis turned his attention to him with a lazy smile. "I needed to speak with Father. Nothing too grand nor exciting." Then his gaze slid back to Helios. "And you, brother?"
"I went to retrieve Ezra," Helios replied, gesturing toward him. "Father wishes to see him. As you can see, he's returned from his long vacation."
"Yes," Kaelis said, eyes already on Ezra again. "I can see that."
His smile sharpened.
"It's been a long time, Ezra," Kaelis continued. "And you still have that cold look on your face. One I rather adore."
Ezra felt his eye twitch.
Another habit. Another reaction Kaelis had carved into him just by existing.
Over the years, Ezra had grown cold toward Kaelis. Properly cold. Carefully cold.
Cold enough to remain respectful, to keep his head firmly attached to his shoulders.
But also cold enough that Kaelis noticed.
Ezra didn't treat Helios this way. Kaelis knew that. And in rare moments, Ezra didn't bother hiding the narrowing of his eyes when Kaelis spoke.
For reasons Ezra would never understand, Kaelis found this entertaining.
Which only deepened Ezra's dislike.
"You jest, Your Highness," Ezra said evenly, shifting his stance just enough to keep Lior hidden behind him.
'Please don't notice,' Ezra thought grimly. 'God help this man who probably doesn't have any moral compass and will keep his eye on anything with two legs.'
Unfortunately, Kaelis noticed everything.
"Oh?" Kaelis stepped closer, peering around Ezra's side. "And what's this? Don't tell me…" His gaze landed on Lior, who immediately pressed closer to Ezra's back, though he peeked out just enough to see. "You've picked up a little one? You've been busy—"
"He's not mine," Ezra said sharply.
"Really?" Kaelis hummed. "He looks just like you. Minus the pink eyes."
He crouched slightly to Lior's level, smiling. "Hello there."
Lior didn't respond.
"Cold," Kaelis remarked lightly. "Just like you."
'Good boy,' Ezra thought, resisting the urge to smile. If Kaelis was right about one thing, it was that Lior took after him.
Smart enough to stay silent.
Especially in front of someone as creepy as Kaelis.
"If the child isn't yours," Kaelis continued, straightening, "should you really be the one caring for it?"
"It?" Ezra echoed, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't wish to assume," Kaelis replied mildly. "On one hand, he resembles you. On the other, that level of cuteness could rival a princess."
It was meant as a compliment.
Ezra hated it.
"He's doing just fine," Ezra said firmly. "I'm taking him as a student, Your Highness."
"A student?" Kaelis laughed softly. "At that age?" He shook his head. "I knew you were cold-blooded, Ezra, but even you didn't even start training so young."
"I hear you, Your Highness," Ezra replied, voice controlled. "But he's fine."
"Is he?" Kaelis turned his attention back to Lior. "How old are you, little one?"
Lior hesitated.
He hesitated long enough that Ezra prepared to intervene.
Then, to Ezra's surprise, Lior answered.
"I'm four."
Kaelis blinked. "Four." His tone shifted, thoughtful now. "At that age, you should still be playing. Enjoying your youth." He looked back at Ezra. "You were an exception because of your unfortunate upbringing."
Ezra stiffened.
"At the very least," Kaelis continued, "I would expect you not to subject another child to that kind of life. Especially here."
His gaze swept across the palace grounds, the towers and banners standing tall behind him. "Being a knight in this kingdom is not an easy fate."
Ezra said nothing at first.
He stayed silent because he already knew that whatever he said next would not be gentle.
It had been five years since he last had to deal with Kaelis.
Five years of peace. Five years of raising Lior with his own hands, of being a parent before anything else.
And Ezra was not about to let anyone, prince or not, dictate what was best for his child.
Still, he reminded himself of the truth.
No one here knew.
They didn't know Lior was his.
They didn't know what Ezra had sacrificed.
And Lior wasn't being trained as a knight. Ezra would never subject a child to that life, not after living it himself.
Ezra finally lifted his gaze, eyes narrowing just slightly.
"I…" He paused, choosing his words carefully. "…simply wanted to be kind. Like Prince Helios was kind to me."
His voice was steady, controlled, but there was something raw beneath it.
"He took me in. Gave me a name. Gave me a future." Ezra exhaled slowly. "You're right. The life of a knight isn't ideal. But neither is sleeping in the streets. Neither is being nameless. Or having parents who never come back."
His jaw tightened.
"As you said, Your Highness, I lived that life." Ezra met Kaelis's gaze without flinching. "And this is the only life I know."
Kaelis's eyes widened.
Just a fraction.
Just enough.
As if he hadn't expected Ezra to push back.
Ezra didn't care.
At this point, all he wanted was to take Lior and leave.
Before the tension could sharpen further, Helios finally spoke.
"Now, now," Helios said lightly, stepping in. "Kaelis, that was rather insensitive."
He smiled, tone teasing. "I know you enjoy provoking the captain of my knights, but let's avoid that today. I'd rather not scare him off into another five-year vacation."
The joke was deliberate. Gentle. Perfectly timed.
The tension eased, if only a little.
Ezra turned to Helios and allowed himself a small smile.
'He always knows what to do,' Ezra thought. 'This is why he deserves the throne.'
Kaelis clicked his tongue softly, then inclined his head. "My apologies, Brother. And to you, Ezra. I meant no harm. I was merely expressing concern."
The moment the apology left his mouth, whispers rippled through the knights nearby.
Of course they would.
A prince apologizing to a knight was rare enough. Especially since Ezra wasn't even of noble blood.
Once, that attention would have unsettled him.
Now, it only reminded him of something he often forgot.
His standing here was different.
Because of Helios.
Because of what Ezra had done as a knight.
Because of who he was.
"There's no need for an apology, Your Highness," Ezra said calmly.
In moments like this, Ezra always found himself in an odd position of power. Every time Helios stood beside him, every time Helios defended him, Ezra emerged untouchable in the eyes of others.
That was why people admired him.
"I am only a knight," Ezra continued, his tone polite, composed. "And I may have been overly sensitive. I trust you understand why."
There was no smile on his face, but there was no hostility either.
Kaelis stared at him.
This time, Ezra couldn't read his expression at all.
After a moment, Kaelis straightened. "Very well. I'll take my leave."
He turned to Helios. "Good luck with your audience with Father. And Brother, we still have matters to discuss. Do come by my palace."
"Of course," Helios replied smoothly, patting Kaelis on the back. "I haven't forgotten."
'What could those two possibly need to discuss?' Ezra wondered, unease flickering briefly in his chest.
Kaelis paused, casting Ezra one last look before his gaze dropped to Lior.
"Enjoy your stay," he said to the child.
Then he turned and walked away, his presence lingering long after he was gone.
Ezra watched Kaelis disappear down the stone path before he finally released the breath he'd been holding in his chest.
Annoyed didn't even begin to describe it.
Still, there was a small, bitter sense of satisfaction beneath it all. Kaelis hadn't won. Not this time. And Lior was still safe, tucked close behind him, untouched by those sharp, prying eyes.
Helios stepped closer. "Come," he said quietly. "We shouldn't keep Father waiting."
Ezra nodded and moved to follow, only for Helios to stop him with a raised hand.
"You'll have to go in alone," Helios added, his voice softer now. "Without me."
Ezra froze.
Alone?
'That's… not ideal,' Ezra thought, his jaw tightening. 'Facing the king without Helios there? That's just asking for trouble.'
"And without the child," Helios continued calmly. "He can't be present for this audience."
Ezra's breath caught.
What?