Chapter 153: Keep Being Captain.

“You missed explaining the part as to how this child was able to not get taken. It seemed they have a lot of time to escape. Why didn’t they take him?”

’Here we go.’

Ezra was calm despite the question.

He didn’t move.

Didn’t react.

Even when Samson’s gaze settled on Lior, clearly expecting the child to answer.

Beside him, Kaelis was silent.

Because he actually didn’t know the answer.

His eyes flicked between Lior and Ezra, waiting, expectant.

Lior looks at Ezra, as if asking for permission to speak.

Of course, Ezra nods his head.

A small motion.

That was meant to be reassuring.

Lior took a deep, deep breath before speaking.

“Uhm…”

His voice was quiet.

His head stayed down, his hands fidgeting in his lap, fingers twisting slightly.

Ezra watched him closely and steadily.

They had already talked about this.

He had prepared Lior to answer this question because Ezra anticipated the king would want Lior to answer.

’Just like we practiced,’ Ezra thought, keeping his expression neutral.

“Rico, uh, the bad man realized he was being tricked by the shadow men, he uh… tried to kill me, but then they all suddenly went poof and gone when Master killed Rico because he was trying to kill me,” Lior explains as best as he could.

It wasn’t perfect.

But it didn’t need to be.

It sounded like a child’s explanation.

It was messy.

But it was very honest.

lt was convincing enough.

He made sure of that.

But Ezra had to follow up.

“I’m assuming they knew we were coming, that’s why they left, and they didn’t expect I’d be able to find Lior quickly,” Ezra answers, his tone steady, like he had already thought this through.

Again, it should be believable enough.

And even if it wasn’t a hundred percent solid explanation.

What kind of motivation they think would Ezra have to lie?

Kaelis nods his head in understanding, like something had finally clicked into place for him.

Ezra looks at Samson.

The king was still just smiling.

That same unreadable smile.

Ezra couldn’t tell if he believed it or not.

’Does he believe us?’ Ezra thought, his chest tightening just slightly.

“That makes sense.”

That was all Samson said.

He nodded his head once.

Oh.

That was good?

That was good, right?

Samson believed them.

Or at least—

He didn’t challenge it.

And for now, that was enough.

Still, something about it didn’t sit completely right.

’He’s not showing anything,’ Ezra thought, trying to keep his expression neutral.

“What now, father?” Kaelis asks before Ezra could continue overthinking. “We’ve confirmed the existence of the cultists, they are connected to the Dark Ones, kidnapping, and most likely everything else that’s been happening.”

“Hmm.” Samson takes a deep breath. “Well, first of all, Ezra Belloren. I am sure you already know, but those cultists are going to continue to target you and the child. The child is the only survivor of kidnapping, and unlike Kaelis who is a prince, they won’t avoid you no matter how strong you are.”

Ezra nods slowly.

He knew that.

He had known that the moment everything happened.

Especially now that the cultists knew that Lior had golden blood.

That alone made things worse.

They might even blackmail him.

Use Lior against him.

Use their secret against him.

Force his hand.

’How am I going to deal with that?’ Ezra thought, his jaw tightening slightly. ’I don’t know yet.’

“I spoke to you the moment you came back, Ezra. Because everyone but you and Kaelis is my suspect. This case progressed more the moment you arrived, and I believe you should be assigned to it,” Samson says.

The direct statement hung in the air.

It felt heavy.

So heavy that Ezra felt like he couldn’t breathe for a second.

Something just felt off.

“He already is, father. Ezra has agreed to be assigned to it and commit to investigating,” Kaelis says, glancing at Ezra.

Ezra didn’t speak.

But he didn’t need to.

He just nodded to show the king that what Kaelis said was true.

“That’s good, but are you aware that this means you would no longer be Helios’ captain?” Samson asks, making Ezra freeze.

The words didn’t settle right away.

They hit, then stayed there.

It felt even heavier now.

Maybe because deep inside, he knew the king would say this.

Ezra had just hoped he wouldn’t.

“What?” Ezra asks, the word slipping out before he could stop it. He straightens immediately. “Pardon me, Your Majesty, but why? What does that mean?”

His voice was controlled, but there was something underneath it now.

Something that wasn’t there before.

Kaelis takes a deep breath, it seems he was about to answer, but Samson raises a hand to stop him.

“You’re bothered?” Samson asks, still mostly amused than anything negative. “Why are you bothered, Ezra? Enlighten me.”

Ezra hesitated.

For once, he didn’t have a composed answer ready.

“W-Well… I…” Ezra wasn’t expecting to be questioned like this. Not like this. “I don’t think it’s necessary, Your Majesty. I honestly think it might even bring suspicion because Prince Helios will wonder, and Prince Kaelis mentioned that nobody knew about the investigation.”

His thoughts were trying to keep up with his words.

Trying to make sense.

Trying to sound reasonable.

’I need to sound reasonable,’ Ezra thought, his fingers curling slightly. ’Not emotional.’

“I am about to announce the correlation of the kidnapping to the Dark Ones. I believe it’s time the people know,” Samson says.

Ezra’s eyes widened.

So did Kaelis’.

“Father, wouldn’t that tip off the cultists and make them more careful?” Kaelis asks.

“Not when they still have something they might want.” Samson looks at Lior.

Ezra followed that gaze instinctively.

His chest tightened.

“They have a plan, they have an end goal. This will just make them more impatient and make mistakes like yesterday. I don’t think they meant to show themselves at first, but they needed Ricardo.”

Did they?

Ezra frowned slightly.

What would they even do with Ricardo?

He was one man.

What would they need from the family besides killing them?

But then again—

Why did the cultists let themselves be known?

That part still didn’t sit right.

Ezra’s head hung low.

The thoughts didn’t settle.

They just stacked on top of everything else.

“Your Majesty, I want… to remain by Prince Helios’ side. I need to keep being his Captain. He… He…”

His voice faltered.

He knew it.

He knew he was rambling.

Knew this wasn’t how he usually spoke.

’This sounds pathetic,’ Ezra thought, his jaw tightening slightly.

But he couldn’t stop.

He was desperate.

Ezra was mad at Helios.

Helios had been acting strangely.

Keeping too many secrets from him.

Not telling him things he should have told him.

And yet—

Ezra still owed Helios his life.

That hadn’t changed.

Not even a little.

Samson stares at Ezra, and from Ezra’s peripheral vision, he could see Kaelis rolling his eyes as if disappointed by how Ezra was acting.

Ezra didn’t care.

Not right now.

He stares back at the king expectantly, holding his gaze even if it felt heavier the longer it lasted.

’I’m not backing down from this,’ Ezra thought, his jaw tightening slightly.

It was silent for quite some time.

Long enough that Ezra could feel the weight of it pressing against his chest.

Then—

Samson chuckles.

The sound caught Ezra off guard.

“When they say you’re loyal to Helios, they weren’t joking,” he says. “For that part, you remind me a lot of Aamon.”

’That old geezer?’ Ezra thought, tilting his head slightly, unsure how to take that.

He didn’t know if that was praise.

Or something else entirely.

“I’ll let you keep being Helios’ captain,” Samson said, making Ezra visibly relax, even if only slightly. “But in one condition.”

The relief didn’t last long.

Ezra straightened again immediately.

“What is the condition, Your Majesty? Anything.”

He didn’t hesitate.

Didn’t even think about it.

“When Kaelis needs you for a mission, investigation, anything… you will prioritize it. No matter what Helios says or makes you do. Do you understand, Ezra Belloren?”

Ezra paused for a brief moment.

Just enough to process it.

Then he nods his head.

It did seem fair.

More than fair, actually.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you.”

Samson nods as well, then glances at Kaelis.

“You seem displeased, son.”

“Of course, I am, father,” Kaelis says, crossing his arms against his chest.

Ezra frowned slightly.

’Why is he displeased? This doesn’t concern him,’ Ezra thought, confusion settling in.

“Wouldn’t everything be even more complicated now, especially once Ezra Belloren finds out who the suspects are?” Kaelis says, his tone sharper now, more pointed.

The words made Ezra pause.

His attention snapped back immediately.

“The… suspects?” Ezra asks, turning to look at Samson, who now slightly narrowed his eyes at Kaelis. “Who are the suspects?”

Something about the way Kaelis said it—

It didn’t sound like a casual remark.

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