Chapter 150: Splash.

The king didn’t seem to mind or even care about what was being said between Circe and Kaelis.

If anything, he acted like it wasn’t happening at all.

The only ones seemingly genuinely bothered were Ezra, Lior, and Aurelia.

Circe and Kaelis were staring at each other, and Kaelis wasn’t even hiding his glare, while Circe just stared at him blankly, like nothing about his reaction affected her.

Ezra thought everything would end only once the king stopped talking to Sherry, that the moment would pass naturally.

However, Aurelia cleared her throat with a smile on her face as she looked at Kaelis.

“Her Majesty’s just jesting, Kaelis,” Aurelia says, glancing at Circe, who didn’t even give her a single glance. “It’s just… you are in the frontlines a lot. Does it not bother you?”

Ezra expected Kaelis to still be upset when Aurelia spoke.

But it seemed Kaelis’ eyes softened.

It was subtle.

But Ezra noticed it.

“I appreciate your concern, Auntie.” Surprisingly, Kaelis sounded genuine. “But you know why I keep it this long.”

Aurelia chuckled softly. “Well, yes. It’s because you look so much like Lyra with long hair.”

Oh.

That’s why?

Ezra blinked.

He had always assumed it was because Kaelis’ hair was part of his image, something that drew attention, something deliberate.

But this—

This was different.

“When I look into the mirror, I feel like I see her sometimes,” Kaelis says softly, the softest Ezra has ever heard him speak.

It didn’t sound like Kaelis at all.

Or maybe—

It was the most honest version of him.

’He really is soft with his mother,’ Ezra thought, his eyes widening slightly.

“That’s so nice.”

Lior suddenly spoke.

Unexpected.

But perhaps Kaelis’ words touched him enough that he couldn’t stay quiet.

Unfortunately…

This made all the attention turn to him.

By that time, Sherry had already walked away from the king, and the king had turned to Lior, a smile already on his face.

And as if he didn’t hear what was going on between Circe, Kaelis, and Aurelia, he said:

“Lior, I have heard quite a lot about you.”

“Oh.” Lior says, shyly looking down. “Uhm… that’s good, Your uhm… kingness?”

Ezra’s eyes widened.

’Right, I never taught him how to properly address a king.’

Shit.

But fortunately, Samson just laughed.

Not offended.

Not even slightly.

“Your Kingness? That’s amusing.”

Lior perked up immediately. “Really?”

“Yes, that’s the first time I’ve heard that,” Samson says, clearly entertained, making Aurelia smile as well.

“He’s quite adorable,” Aurelia adds, her eyes softening as she looked at Lior.

Lior shifted in his seat, clearly unsure how to react, caught between wanting to respond and not knowing how.

He couldn’t be his usual clever and cheeky self here.

Not in front of the king.

Kaelis tapped Ezra’s knee discreetly, leaning slightly toward him.

“Don’t talk about the investigation until the ladies are gone,” Kaelis whispers.

Ezra nodded, though confusion settled in immediately after.

They were here for that.

If they couldn’t talk about it in front of the queen and the concubine, then—

’Why are we even here?’ he thought.

“Tell me, Lior,” Samson says, leaning back against his chair, his attention fully on the child now.

Lior looked at him, confused, tilting his head slightly. “Tell you… what?”

“About yourself. I’m curious about you.”

’Didn’t he say he’s already heard a lot?’ Ezra thought, his brows furrowing slightly as he watched Lior glance at him nervously.

“Uhm… uh… my name is Lior,” Lior says shyly, as if everyone didn’t already know that. “I’m four.”

“Four? How eloquent for a four-year-old,” Samson says.

“T-Thank you…?” Lior answers, clearly unsure what that meant. “Uhm… my maman and papa are dead… I don’t remember them… Master Ez… ra? saved me. Now I’m here.”

It was a quick answer.

Simple.

Careful.

And Ezra couldn’t have been prouder.

He kept his expression neutral, but something in his chest eased just a little.

Samson stared at him, still smiling.

Aurelia, on the other hand, looked delighted.

“Is Lior your nephew, Ezra? He looks so much like you, I wouldn’t believe if he wasn’t related to you at all!” Aurelia exclaims.

Ezra tensed up.

His body reacted before his mind could catch up.

But before he could answer, Kaelis answered for him.

“Lior looks nothing like Ezra,” Kaelis says. “Lior is far cuter than Ezra Belloren was at a young age. If only you saw him. He was like a gremlin.”

Ezra’s eye twitched.

“Kaelis,” Aurelia playfully scolds him. “That is not nice.”

Kaelis laughed easily. “I kid, I kid. But I do believe they only look alike because of the hair color.”

“I agree,” Samson says, amused. “I see someone else in him.”

Ezra blinked.

His attention snapped back to the king.

’Who?’ Ezra thought, tilting his head slightly, waiting, even as something uneasy settled in his chest.

Samson didn’t speak, though. He just continued to smile.

That same easy, unreadable smile, like he was watching something unfold exactly the way he expected.

It was Circe who spoke next, but not towards Lior.

Instead, she was looking at Ezra.

“Ezra Belloren,” Circe calls out, making Ezra flinch a bit under the table, though he kept his expression steady as he looked at her.

He smiled carefully and very politely.

“Yes, Your Majesty?” Ezra asks.

“Helios has told me a lot about you.” Circe rests her elbows on the table, placing her chin on top of her hands, her gaze fixed on him in a way that felt too direct to be casual. “It is a shame that this is the first time we’ve met in all the years you’ve loyally served my son.”

There was something in her tone.

Not unkind.

But not entirely warm either.

Ezra held his posture.

“I agree, Your Majesty. I have heard such lovely things from Prince Helios about you,” Ezra answers in a very polite manner, the words smooth and practiced, the kind he had used countless times before but mostly towards other nobles and the king.

Kaelis raised an eyebrow slightly at that.

“I heard you were sickly. I do hope you’re feeling well now.”

Samson scoffed.

It was quiet.

It was subtle.

Easy to miss.

But Ezra noticed it.

’Why did he react like that?’ Ezra thought, though he didn’t let it show on his face.

He didn’t react outwardly.

Didn’t question it.

Especially since Circe seemed like she had something else to say.

“Well, I wouldn’t miss meeting you finally.” Circe smiles faintly, then glanced at Aurelia. “Though…”

“Here we go,” Ezra hears Kaelis mutter under his breath.

Ezra didn’t look at him.

Didn’t move.

But he heard it.

And it made something in his chest tighten.

“I do wish we met under different circumstances.”

Ezra hesitated for a fraction of a second.

“Different circumstances…?” Ezra asks, though now he felt like he shouldn’t have.

Something about the way she said it—

It didn’t sound like a simple comment.

“Well,” Circe continues, her gaze steady, her tone unchanged, “I would’ve loved to meet you without my husband’s main mistress present.”

Silence.

Awkward silence.

It settled over the table immediately, heavy and unavoidable.

Ezra felt it.

The shift.

The tension that hadn’t been fully spoken before now sitting out in the open.

’Oh…’ Ezra thought, his fingers tightening slightly against his lap.

Now he understood why the king didn’t let her out much.

Not that she was at fault, of course.

After all, she was the legal wife.

“Hah. Circe, you promised you would behave,” Samson says, making Kaelis roll his eyes.

The sound of it felt louder than it should have in the quiet garden.

Aurelia just stayed silent, keeping her head down.

She didn’t even try to look at Circe.

“What? Did I say something wrong?” Circe feigned innocence, her tone light, almost playful, like she didn’t understand what she had just done.

“You know what you said,” Samson says, narrowing his eyes at her. “I only let you come because you insisted on meeting Helios’ favored knight. If I had known you would use this to—”

“Is that why she’s here? Seriously, father?” Kaelis interjects with an exasperated tone.

There was no attempt to hide it now.

The irritation.

The disbelief.

“Watch your words, bastard,” Circe says, her tone no longer kind.

’Bastard? What the fuck?’ Even Ezra couldn’t believe she just called Kaelis that.

It didn’t sound like an insult thrown in anger.

It sounded… familiar.

Like something she had said before.

“Circe…” Aurelia says quietly, like a warning, like she was trying to stop something from escalating.

Kaelis ignored her.

“With all due respect, father, but you know something important has happened, and we need to talk about it—”

SPLASH.

Ezra gasps.

The sound cut through everything.

Instinctively, he moved from his seat, one arm coming up to shield Lior, pulling him closer without even thinking.

“Circe!” Samson screams angrily.

Circe had just thrown a cup of tea on Kaelis.

The liquid dripped from his hair, from his face, down the front of his clothes.

And Kaelis—

Kaelis didn’t react.

He didn’t flinch.

Didn’t raise his voice.

He just blankly stared at Circe as if he was used to it.

That was the worst part.

“Kaelis…” Aurelia stood, moving toward him, concern clear in her voice.

But Circe was faster.

Circe stomped toward Kaelis, grabbing him by the collar, her grip tight, her expression twisted in anger.

“You disrespectful bastard!” Circe exclaims. “Just because my son isn’t here to correct you, doesn’t mean you can speak like that about me!”

Oh.

Ezra felt something shift.

So her sickness was in the head.

But—

’Helios… corrects Kaelis?’ Ezra thought, his eyes widening.

What did she mean by correct?

That didn’t sound right.

That didn’t sound normal.

“Kakay?” Lior whispers, looking up at Ezra, his small hand clutching onto him. “Help Kakay?” he whispers again, his voice smaller now.

Right.

Kaelis was practically getting attacked now.

But the one attacking him was the queen.

Helios’ mom.

Ezra hesitated.

He didn’t want to touch Helios’ mom.

Didn’t want to interfere in something like this.

But fortunately, he didn’t have to.

“Sherry, bring the maids. Drag Circe back to her room.”

“No!” Circe yells, her head snapping toward Ezra. “Help me, Ezra. Don’t let them take me.”

Ezra froze.

“Don’t listen to her, Ezra Belloren.” Samson orders.

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