Chapter 56: More Surprises For Ezra.

’Should I greet him?’

Ezra slowed his steps without meaning to.

’Or should I just turn around…use another exit?’

It would not be the most dignified move. But dignity felt negotiable at the moment.

He took half a step back.

Too late.

The man turned as if he had sensed him. Their eyes met, and Ezra felt his muscles lock instantly.

“Captain Ezra!”

’Damn it.’

Ezra lowered his head at once. “Prince Aurien,” he greeted smoothly, stepping forward despite the tension creeping under his skin. “What brings you here?”

Aurien wore a soft smile.

Gentle.

Almost shy.

Which somehow made this worse.

Seriously. Why was he here?

Especially when Helios had already left for the meeting grounds.

’Aurethys, please don’t let this be about me.’

“I was hoping to have a brief conversation with you,” Aurien said, tilting his head slightly. “If you do not mind, of course.”

’Do I have a choice?’ Ezra thought.

Outwardly, he remained composed. “It would be my honor, Prince Aurien.”

His voice was steady. Respectful.

Inside, his mind was already racing.

Why?

Why privately?

Was this about the conversation from the other day? About improvement. About gratitude. About how he had changed.

If so, this was going to be painfully awkward.

’I still haven’t processed the fact that he bowed to me.’ Ezra resisted the urge to rub his forehead. ’Princes are not supposed to bow to me.’

“Shall we?” Aurien gestured lightly, indicating the garden path to the side.

Ezra nodded once. “Of course.”

They began to walk.

Side by side.

Aurien’s pace was calm, almost leisurely. Ezra matched it automatically, though he would have preferred to be anywhere else.

The morning air felt thinner.

’Stay neutral,’ Ezra reminded himself. ’You have no reason to be rude.’

Now, if this was Kaelis…well, Ezra didn’t even want to imagine it.

They walked in silence for a few steps before Aurien spoke first.

“I heard from Brother Helios that you are staying in his palace temporarily,” Aurien said gently. “There was a small incident with the child, Lior?”

Ezra kept his gaze forward. “Yes, Your Highness.”

“I hope he is well.”

“He is,” Ezra replied. “It was a sugar crash. Too much candy. First time.”

Aurien blinked in mild surprise. “Ah. I have heard of that. It is uncommon, but not unheard of. And certainly not deadly.”

Ezra nodded once.

And then… nothing.

The air between them felt strangely thin, like something fragile stretched between two people who did not quite know where they stood.

’I really don’t know how to treat him. He’s not really that bad…’ Ezra admitted to himself. ’But at the same time it’s just…’

It was Helios.

It was always Helios.

Ezra had always been openly partial. Loyal to a fault. And he had never hidden his irritation over the king’s visible favoritism toward Aurien.

Even if Aurien himself had never asked for it.

Aurien either did not notice the tension, or he chose not to acknowledge it.

’Then again, he noticed that I saw him weak.’

“I am relieved he is alright,” Aurien added softly. “Normal children can be very fragile.”

There was something subtle in his tone.

It was pointing out a fact.

Ezra knew what he meant.

Princes with golden blood did not fall ill easily. Their bodies were… different. Hardened by something ancient and unfair.

“Yes,” Ezra said before he could stop himself. “They can.”

He felt the weight of that answer settle.

Another pause followed.

Ezra could sense the awkwardness building, the way silence began to stretch too long. He had never been good at filling silence. Helios always did it for him, effortlessly.

Apparently, Aurien had learned how as well.

“I am looking forward to this joint operation,” Aurien said, a faint brightness entering his voice. “It has been some time since we have worked alongside the Sunward Sentinels.”

Ezra’s brow furrowed slightly. “Worked alongside?”

“Yes,” Aurien continued. “The Dawnward Bloom has coordinated with Kaelis and the Goldflame Order before. It was… very productive.” A small smile curved his lips. “I am curious how it will be with all three orders.”

Ezra glanced at him then.

Surprised.

“I was unaware,” Ezra admitted carefully.

“It was not widely announced,” Aurien replied. “It was meant as an experience. Father wished for us to learn cooperation outside our own circles. It was a particularly large horde as well. Not as large as the one we are about to face, but significant.”

Ezra absorbed that quietly. His brows drew together.

“Forgive me for asking,” he said evenly, “but if it was meant for cooperation, why were Prince Helios and the Sunward Sentinels not involved?”

Aurien did not seem offended.

“Oh, there is no need to ask forgiveness,” he said gently. “Brother Helios declined. He was focusing on a kidnapping case he had taken on.”

Ezra’s steps faltered slightly.

“A kidnapping case?”

Aurien nodded. “Yes. The disappearances of children. At the time, there had been around fifteen reported cases. It was suspected that a coordinated group was responsible.”

Ezra’s surprise deepened.

“Wait,” he said, his voice sharpening before he could soften it. “You mean the same kidnapping that is still happening now?”

“Yes,” Aurien replied, studying him. “You have heard of it?”

“I have,” Ezra said shortly.

“Impressive,” Aurien added. “You have only been back for a few days, and you are already aware of the kingdom’s major issues.”

Aurien meant it as praise.

Ezra barely registered it.

Because something did not sit right.

’Helios would not willingly miss the chance to work alongside both his brothers,’ Ezra thought. ’Not unless the matter was urgent.’

“And how long ago did this begin?” Ezra asked, his tone quieter now.

Aurien thought for a moment. “About four years ago. It began roughly a year after you left.”

There it was.

Again.

Something significant.

Something heavy.

And it had happened right after Ezra had disappeared from their lives.

’Is this really a coincidence?’

“And Prince Helios,” Ezra pressed, trying to keep his voice neutral. “Is he still assigned to the case?”

Aurien blinked, faint surprise crossing his features. “He has not told you?”

“We have not had much time to speak since my return,” Ezra replied smoothly.

It was not entirely a lie.

But it was not the full truth either.

’Please do not think he hid it from me,’ Ezra thought, a flicker of defensiveness rising. ’Or worse… that he chose not to tell me.’

Ezra feared that was the case, but he did not want Aurien to think it.

“Ah,” Aurien nodded in understanding. “Princess Alyce is visiting, after all. That would take much of his attention.”

Ezra forced himself not to react to that.

“Well,” Aurien continued, “Brother Helios handled the case for about a year. There were no leads. No significant traces. And at the time, he was working with a relatively new group of knights.”

Ezra’s jaw tightened slightly.

“And then,” Aurien said calmly, “Brother Kaelis requested to take over. With Father’s permission.”

Ezra stopped walking.

“Kaelis?” he repeated.

“Yes.”

’Kaelis?’

Of all people.

Kaelis.

“The case is still ongoing,” Aurien added. “But Brother Kaelis has uncovered several leads over the years. Suspects as well. We realized it was a far larger network than initially believed.”

Ezra barely heard the rest.

All he could hear was that name.

’That reckless, impulsive, womanizer of a prince?’ Ezra’s thoughts spiraled. ’He took over a child kidnapping case? From Helios?’

A faint ache began forming behind his temples.

’How could Helios let that happen? Did the king force him? Did he step back willingly? Why would he?’

Helios was relentless when it came to protecting civilians. Especially children.

Ezra knew that better than anyone.

He had seen it in Helios’s eyes.

He had felt it last night when Helios spoke about Lior.

“So Prince Kaelis has had the case for… three years?” Ezra asked slowly.

“Closer to that, yes,” Aurien confirmed.

“And Helios?”

“He assists when requested,” Aurien said. “But it is no longer primarily his responsibility.”

Responsibility.

The word landed heavily.

’How…could that happen?’

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