Chapter 155: Alyce.

Eight Years Ago…

“What’s going on?” Ezra asks as he leaves his house.

It had been quiet.

Unusually quiet.

It was a rare peaceful month, meaning no major Dark Ones threats, no missions, rest. Ezra had almost gotten used to it, the slower pace, the absence of urgency.

But the moment he stepped outside, that calm was broken.

Knights and servants were running around, moving quickly toward the public gardens, carrying things in their arms, chairs, trays, and decorations.

Everything looked rushed.

Organized, but rushed.

’Is Helios throwing a tea party or something?’ Ezra thought, scanning the area as he tried to make sense of it. ’He would’ve told me though?’

Then he spotted a familiar face.

“Leomord!” Ezra exclaims, calling out to the long-haired knight who was currently carrying a stack of chairs.

Leomord turns to him and smiles. “Captain Drunky!” he exclaims, making Ezra frown almost instantly.

“I told you not to call me that,” Ezra says with a warning tone, his brows knitting together as he crosses his arms.

Leomord just laughed as he set the chairs down, completely unbothered, then walked closer to him.

“Not my fault, it’s starting to stick to me,” Leomord says. “Next time, try not to get drunk, and by the way, the legal drinking age in the kingdom is eighteen.”

“Yes, you’ve mentioned that when you helped me, and like I told you…” Ezra crosses his arms tighter against his chest. “Taverns are places where age limits don’t apply.”

“They should now, considering how drunk you got and how much mess you made.”

“Oh, whatever,” Ezra says, rolling his eyes, though his patience was already thinning. “Just answer my question, please. What’s going on? Why are you carrying chairs?”

“That’s surprising,” Leomord says, his eyes widening slightly. “You haven’t heard? You? Prince Helios’ best friend and captain?”

Ezra froze at that.

“Huh?” Ezra asks, his brows furrowing deeper.

There was a pause.

A small one.

But enough.

“Prince Helios’ fiancée, whatever her name is, is coming to Luxaelis today. Prince Helios will be hosting a small tea party for her,” Leomord says, chuckling a bit.

Ezra’s heart stopped.

’Fiancée?’ Ezra thought, his body reacting before his mind could catch up, taking a small step back.

What fiancée?

Since when did Helios have a fiancée?

Why didn’t Helios tell him?

What kind of bullshit was this?

“You’re joking, right?” Ezra asks slowly, his voice quieter now, strained in a way he didn’t intend.

“No? Why would I joke about this?” Leomord asks, still smiling, completely unaware of what he had just said.

Ezra couldn’t breathe properly.

Not for a moment.

“Oh. Alright.”

The words came out flat.

A little too flat because of what he was feeling inside.

Helios was engaged.

Ezra knew Helios would get engaged eventually.

He always knew.

That was part of being a prince.

But not now.

It was too early, right?

Helios was only eighteen.

He wasn’t even king yet.

Why…

Why was he engaged?

Why didn’t he say anything?

’Why didn’t you tell me?’ Ezra thought, his chest tightening.

“You should go to Captain Aamon, he’s been hounding everyone to help for the prepa—”

“Guys! There you are!”

A familiar voice cut through.

Friendrinn.

Both Ezra and Leomord turn to her.

“Fried Chicken!” Leomord blurts out, making Friendrinn roll his eyes.

Ezra didn’t even react.

Not really.

“Shut up,” Friendrinn says, brushing it off before shaking his head. “Come quick! The princess has arrived, and everyone’s taking a look at her.”

’A princess? So she’s from another kingdom,’ Ezra thought, his thoughts still scattered, but his body already moving.

“Let’s go,” Ezra says blankly.

He didn’t sound like himself.

He didn’t feel like himself.

But there was only one thing on his mind now.

He wanted to see.

He wanted to see her.

Ezra moves quickly.

“Whoa, Captain. Wait up.”

“This is the first time Ez’s running fast to see a woman. He’s usually so disinterested.”

He moves faster than Leomord and Friendrinn, who were both surprised at how suddenly he took off, barely giving them time to react before he was already ahead of them.

He headed straight toward Helios’ palace, his steps uneven at first before settling into a steady run.

His heart was aching as he ran.

It didn’t make sense.

Or maybe it did.

Even though he knew he had no right.

’You have no right to feel like this,’ Ezra thought, his breath coming out a little heavier than usual. ’He’s a prince. This was always going to happen.’

Ezra was nothing but a friend.

A confidante.

That didn’t stop it.

Didn’t make it hurt less.

After running, he saw a crowd of knights and servants gathered near the gardens, their attention all focused in one direction.

“Oh, is that her?”

“She’s pretty.”

“I heard her name is Alyce.”

“Prince Helios chose well.”

Some whispered among themselves, others stood still, watching.

Ezra didn’t slow down.

He moved through them, pushing past carefully but urgently, not caring if he drew attention.

He just needed to see.

He needed to confirm it.

And then—

He saw it.

He saw Helios.

Standing there, composed as always, dressed properly for the occasion, like this was just another duty he had to fulfill.

And next to Helios—

Was a woman.

A very beautiful woman.

She was wearing a beautiful gown that fit her perfectly, the fabric catching the light in a way that made her stand out even more among everyone else.

Her orange-red hair fell in soft curls, styled neatly, framing her face in a way that made her look almost unreal.

Her eyes—

Bright red.

Sharp, but elegant.

She had a crown on her head, decorated with red gems that matched her eyes, each one catching the sunlight as she moved.

And she was holding Helios’ hand.

Ezra stopped.

Right there.

Like his body refused to move any further.

’So it’s real,’ Ezra thought, his chest tightening in a way that made it hard to breathe properly.

There was no denying it now.

No misunderstanding.

No joke.

This was real.

His gaze stayed on them longer than it should have.

On their hands.

On the way, Helios didn’t pull away.

On the way, she stood beside him as she belonged there.

The smile on her face was bright, as if she were the happiest girl in the world.

Ezra’s heart broke quietly.

Almost gently.

“She’s beautiful,” he whispers.

Present…

It’s unfair.

It was so unfair.

Alyce was the same age as Helios, meaning she was twenty-six years old, and Alyce just got even more beautiful than the last time he saw her.

The kind of beauty that didn’t fade or stay the same, but somehow sharpened, refined, like time only worked in her favor.

Even more elegant, even.

The way she carried herself, the way she stood, even the way she looked at him now felt composed, effortless, like she belonged exactly where she was meant to be.

Of course, Ezra had no chance to begin with.

’Not then… and definitely not now,’ Ezra thought, forcing himself to steady his breathing before speaking.

“Princess Alyce.” Ezra greets, bowing his head. Lior noticed the word ’Princess,’ and then his eyes widened before quickly bowing as well, though it was a bit clumsy.

“A princess.” Ezra hears Lior whisper in amazement and fascination, his voice barely contained, like he couldn’t believe it.

“Ezra Belloren.” Alyce also greets him gently. “I feel like after all these years, this is the first time I’ve seen you up close. It almost seemed like you were avoiding me.”

’I was.’ Ezra thought immediately, the answer coming too naturally, but of course, he couldn’t say that out loud.

“N-No, of course not, Your Highness,” Ezra says, trying to avoid her gaze, but he can still see her smiling, and somehow that made it harder.

“Really? You are my fiancé’s closest aide and confidante, and yet I don’t think I’ve spoken to you until now.”

“I’ve been… busy, especially on most days, uhm—” Ezra was stuttering, his words not coming out as clean as he wanted them to.

He didn’t know how to act in front of her, didn’t know how to stand, where to look, or what expression to keep.

Then she giggles.

It was soft.

’God. Even her laugh sounds angelic. Is there anything wrong with her?’ Ezra thought, almost irritated at himself for even noticing.

“I was jesting, Captain,” Alyce says with an assuring tone. “I know how busy you are, and with your five-year vacation, I’m sure this is the rare time you aren’t, though you were deployed with Heli yesterday.”

Heli.

Alyce called Helios “Heli.”

That didn’t even make any sense.

’Since when does he let people call him that?’ Ezra thought, something tight settling in his chest again.

Alyce glances at Lior. “And who is this little one? How adorable you are.”

Ezra watched as Lior’s face turned red almost instantly, flustered by the attention. “I’m Lior. You’re… a pretty princess.”

“Oh my, quite a charmer. Thank you, Lior.” Alyce says, her smile softening as she spoke to him, making Lior’s face even redder as he looked down shyly.

That annoyed Ezra a bit.

It was small.

But it was there.

She already had Helios, and now she was talking to Ezra’s son like this?

Okay, no.

That was too immature of Ezra.

’Get a grip,’ Ezra thought, forcing himself to calm down.

He had no right to feel anything about this.

“We were just heading back. I am assuming you’re here for the king, Princess?” Ezra asks, trying to find a way for Alyce to let them go, keeping his tone polite and neutral.

“No,” Alyce answers. “I’m here to talk to you, actually. I heard you arrived, and I was hoping to be able to speak with you privately, if you don’t mind.”

Ezra blinked.

Once, and slowly.

“Speak to me privately? I hope you don’t mind me asking, Your Highness, about what?” Ezra asks, confusion slipping through despite his attempt to stay composed.

’What could we possibly talk about?’ Ezra thought, his brows knitting slightly.

Alyce smiles. “Come with me to my carriage. I can’t say it here.”

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