Chapter 112: A Crack on Loyalty.

Ezra was brought to a tent, Aamon’s tent specifically. He was taken away from everyone else for privacy purposes.

Helios and Aamon stood before him as he sat in a wooden chair, as if he were being interrogated.

Lior sat off to the side, quietly watching them. His legs swung from the chair, his body swaying slightly.

It was an adorable sight on the surface, but Ezra recognized the behavior immediately—he knew Lior’s small movements signaled unease, not cuteness.

Lior only did that when he was worried or distressed and didn’t know what to say.

’I’ll make sure to have some alone time with him later,’ Ezra thought as he looked up at Helios and Aamon.

“Prince Kaelis told me there were survivors. He received a letter from them, people from Fleur De Lys who were on vacation at the time of the incident,” Ezra said, sticking to the truth he was allowed to say.

The rest would follow what he and Kaelis had agreed on.

“Why didn’t he tell me about this if he knew?” Aamon crossed his arms.

“He… wanted to gain recognition.” That idea had actually come from Ezra. Kaelis didn’t like it at first, but eventually he agreed.

’For someone who claims he doesn’t care about the throne, he still clings to pride,’ Ezra thought, suppressing a sigh.

“Recognition?”

“He wanted to be seen as the one who saved the remaining survivors of Fleur De Lys,” Ezra answered.

“That does sound like him.” Aamon pinched the bridge of his nose. “You didn’t stop him?”

Ezra gave him a look.

His ’You’ve got to be kidding me.’ look.

Realistically, he couldn’t.

That was exactly why he had developed the habit of eye twitching and biting his tongue.

Because he couldn’t do anything about Kaelis.

“What happened after you made contact? Why were you attacked by kidnappers?” Helios pressed.

“We… no, I figured the couple had already been followed from the start,” Ezra said, lying smoothly.

He considered it a careful and calculated lie, one he had rehearsed in his mind to ensure it sounded plausible.

“Kidnappings in Luxaelis have been increasing, and we still don’t know who they are or how large their group is. I believe the kidnappers already knew about Fleur De Lys, saw the survivors, and targeted their two daughters.”

“You figured?” Helios asked.

“Ricardo mentioned he felt like they were being watched, but he dismissed it as paranoia,” Ezra continued. “We intended to capture one or two of them for interrogation, but we were severely outnumbered.”

Ezra lowered his gaze, shoulders tense.

“It seems they had been planning this for some time. That was the only explanation that made sense. We struggled to fight them off. Prince Kaelis was surrounded, I was surrounded, and the family as well.”

“How did Ricardo’s wife die?”

“She fought back when they tried to take her children,” Ezra said quietly. “She was stabbed.”

“And she didn’t turn into a Dark One?” Aamon asked in disbelief.

“No.” Ezra shook his head. “It seems she died happily, or at the very least, at peace.”

“Even though her children were being kidnapped?”

Ezra glanced at Lior, who was still watching them. “I think her thoughts were that as long as they were still alive, anything is possible. It was better for her that she was the one who died.”

Aamon furrowed his brows. “Mothers… I can never understand how they work.” He sighed deeply.

Helios, however, kept his gaze fixed on Ezra. “How did you get poisoned?”

Ezra was already prepared. “Prince Kaelis realized the children were being taken, and that Lanie had died. He decided to use his Sunlight Ray on the kidnappers.”

“He used his ray?” Aamon’s eyes widened. “That could have been dangerous for all of you.”

“He had no choice,” Ezra replied. “They retreated, taking the two girls with them. And during that chaos, I was distracted and got poisoned.”

“That’s careless, even for you, Ezra.” Helios’ tone was sharp.

“I was frustrated and confused. It had been a while since I returned, and I had just witnessed a death and a kidnapping.”

Aamon nodded. “We shouldn’t hold it against him, Prince Helios. If anything, this is Prince Kaelis’ fault.”

“I don’t remember anything after that. I passed out. The rest… I’m sure Prince Kaelis can explain, or he already has.”

Aamon nodded again. “That settles it then. I’m satisfied with your report.” He turned to Lior, who tensed when the older knight looked at him. “It’s time for me to get to know this little one.”

Lior stared at him and said flatly, “No.” Then he looked at Ezra. “No, right?”

Ezra looked between Aamon and Lior. Aamon had a hopeful smile, while Lior looked plainly confused.

He then glanced at Helios, who seemed like he still had more to say.

Ezra took a breath.

“You can get to know him. He’s… nice,” Ezra told Lior, his tone gentle.

Lior tilted his head. “…really?”

It seemed like he really didn’t want to.

Which Ezra understood because Aamon could be… strange.

Aamon smiled wider. “Don’t worry! I raised your master here. I am very nice. You can even call me grandpa.”

“Grandpa–?”

“No, he’s not going to do that,” Ezra said as he stood up from the chair.

“Aamon, I will be speaking to Ezra privately, if you don’t mind,” Helios said, gesturing for Ezra to step outside.

“It’s no problem.” Aamon waved them off, still smiling at Lior, who gave Ezra a strange look in return.

’Sorry, little one. It was bound to happen at some point,’ Ezra thought as he followed Helios outside.

And the moment they stepped out, Helios’ expression turned serious.

Helios didn’t speak right away.

Instead, he just looked at Ezra.

It wasn’t the usual calm, composed look Helios wore. This one was sharper, and it made Ezra tense up without meaning to.

“Tell me what really happened,” Helios said.

Ezra blinked. “Your Highness, I already—”

“Ezra.”

“Helios…”

“In the forest,” Helios cut in, his voice quiet but firm. “What actually happened?”

Ezra held his gaze.

For a second, he considered it.

Telling him.

’I want to tell you,’ Ezra thought. ’Really, I want to tell you…’

But…

’No. I can’t.’ Ezra took a slow breath.

“There’s nothing else to tell,” Ezra said, his chest tightening slightly. “There’s no reason for me to lie. Especially not to you, Helios.”

Helios didn’t respond.

He just stared.

And for the first time, Ezra felt uncomfortable under that stare.

Not the usual pressure. Not the usual weight of being observed.

This felt… different.

It made something in his chest tighten.

Helios took a step closer.

“Do you want Kaelis to be punished?”

Ezra froze.

“…What?”

Did he hear that correctly?

“His decision led to what happened,” Helios continued. “A civilian died. Two children were taken. You were put in danger. If I decide to hold him accountable, I can.”

Ezra stared at him, caught completely off guard.

Helios didn’t do that.

He never did.

He always stood by his brothers, no matter what. Ezra respected that about him, even if he found it strange at times.

But this was different.

This was different.

“You’re… going to punish him?” Ezra asked slowly.

“If that’s what you want.”

Ezra’s brows furrowed. “No.”

Helios’ eyes narrowed slightly.

“No?”

“He made a mistake,” Ezra said. “An irrational one, yes. As I said, it was irrational. But he did it to get closer to the truth. I already told you this, Helios.”

’What is going on with him?’

“He used civilians as bait,” Helios said, his tone hardening.

Ezra hesitated.

“That’s not true. He couldn’t have known.” Though Ezra knew that Kaelis did use them as bait.

Helios went quiet again.

Ezra continued, more firmly now. “If you’re going to blame someone, then blame me too. I was there. I couldn’t stop it.”

“That’s not the point.”

“It is,” Ezra said. “Because you’re asking me if I want him punished, and I don’t. What happened… already happened.”

Helios’ jaw tightened.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then—

“Why,” Helios said slowly, “have you been defending him?”

Ezra stilled.

The question hung between them.

And for some reason, it didn’t feel simple.

’I’m not defending him.’

At least, that’s what he wanted to say.

But when he opened his mouth—

Nothing came out immediately.

Because Helios was still looking at him like that.

Like he was waiting for something more than just words.

“You’ve disliked him all this time. Let’s not pretend otherwise,” Helios said, taking a few steps closer. “Is it because of what he did for you when you were poisoned?”

Ezra stiffened. Flashes of what happened between him and Kaelis forced their way into his mind, and he pushed them down immediately.

“N-No, Helios. I’m just being logical about this. Why… aren’t you?”

Helios didn’t answer. Instead, he just turned around. “From this point on, you and Kaelis are both suspended from this mission.”

Ezra’s eyes widened. “What—”

“You will be staying here, protecting the base. I will be taking all the men who were previously assigned to remain here, and you will stay with the rest,” Helios said.

“But, Helios, you—”

“I am not taking any complaints,” Helios cut in, then walked away without giving Ezra a chance to continue.

And Ezra just stood there.

’Why…’

Ezra stared at Helios’ back.

’…is he being so harsh?’

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