Chapter 73: You Seem…Happy.

’Since when did he refer to me like that?’ Ezra wondered.

My captain.

It was not unusual. Princes often referred to their assigned captains that way. It implied duty. Loyalty. Structure.

But the way Helios had said it—

Warm.

Almost protective.

’I am overthinking,’ Ezra told himself. ’It is a common phrase.’

Still, something in his chest had tightened.

Aurien, however, seemed entirely unbothered.

He smiled easily. “I had a great time. As expected, Captain Ezra is still the best and the most reliable when it comes to being a captain.”

Ezra nearly choked again.

What.

He stared at Aurien for a second.

Aurien had his own captain.

And he had just declared that in front of his brother.

It was fortunate Zaide was not present yet. Even Ezra felt a strange twist at the thought of Helios praising another order’s captain that way.

Praise like that was… personal.

“Of course,” Helios replied without hesitation. “Even after five years of absence, he is still Ezra.”

There was no bitterness in his tone. Only certainty.

“You can understand why I kept the captain post empty for him.”

Ezra’s gaze shifted to Helios.

’So he openly talks about it?’

He knew that. Of course he knew that.

But hearing it said aloud to someone else still did something to him.

“I have always understood why,” Aurien answered calmly.

Ezra’s eyes flicked between them.

There was something unspoken passing through that exchange.

Something steady.

Something old.

’What exactly is happening right now?’ he wondered.

If he did not know better, it almost felt like—

“Well,” Helios said lightly, interrupting the tension before Ezra could finish that thought, “I must excuse my captain now, Aurien.”

He gestured slightly for Ezra to follow.

“Now that the exercise is done, I would like a word with him.”

Aurien fell silent.

Just for a second.

It was subtle, but Ezra caught it.

Then Aurien glanced at him and smiled again.

Not teasing.

Not challenging.

Genuine.

“It was an honor to have you as my captain for a short while,” Aurien said. “I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Ezra’s eyes widened faintly.

There it was again.

That warmth.

He placed a hand over his chest instinctively and bowed.

“The honor was mine, Your Highness,” he replied sincerely.

And then—

Before he could overthink it—

“And… I look forward to that drink.”

Aurien’s eyes widened.

Slowly.

Very slowly.

As if the words had taken a moment to register.

A faint flush crept over his face.

Ezra noticed.

He absolutely noticed.

Aurien recovered, though the pink did not fully fade.

“Of course,” he answered softly. “As promised.”

Then he turned, walking toward a group of knights who immediately gathered around him.

Ezra watched him go.

Watched the easy way he spoke to them. The way they leaned in to listen.

’To think this would be the day I would actually want to befriend him,’ Ezra thought quietly. ’The way I am friends with Helios.’

That realization felt strange.

Not unwelcome.

Just… new.

“You seemed to have enjoyed yourself, Ezra.”

Helios’ voice cut gently through his thoughts.

Ezra blinked and turned.

Helios was watching him.

Not casually.

Intently.

There was something sharp in his gaze. Observant.

Ezra straightened unconsciously.

“Yes,” he answered evenly. “It was… refreshing.”

Helios studied him for another moment.

“Refreshing,” he repeated softly.

And Ezra suddenly felt as though he was being examined.

“Tell me all about your time with Aurien.” Helios says, though not in a demanding way.

But something about it did feel demanding.

Ezra answered anyway.

And he didn’t even realize he was smiling when he started talking.

“At first, Prince Aurien didn’t want to defend,” he said, almost amused. “I suggested we take the upper ledge and force them to climb. You know. The usual.”

Helios hummed quietly, listening.

“But he stopped and said it would be more enjoyable to meet them head on.” Ezra shook his head faintly. “Head on. Against six teams.”

There was no criticism in his tone.

Only something softer.

Interest.

“I thought he was being reckless again,” Ezra admitted. “But he wasn’t. He had already thought it through. If we pressured them first, we would become the primary threat. They would have no choice but to coordinate.”

He exhaled lightly.

“And they did.”

Helios didn’t interrupt. He simply watched him.

“Prince Aurien was observing closely too,” Ezra continued, a bit more animated now. “He pointed out Rhevan’s recovery and Lydon’s stamina control before I even finished assessing them. He’s… sharper than I ever gave him credit for.”

The words slipped out easily.

Too easily.

’When did I start speaking about him like this?’ Ezra wondered faintly, but he kept going.

“And then there was the wager he proposed.”

Helios’s brow lifted slightly.

Ezra rolled his eyes, though there was no real annoyance behind it. “He said the winner owes the other a drink.”

“A drink,” Helios repeated.

“Yes. And when I asked what the prize was, he asked why I was already assuming I would be the one buying.”

A faint flush crept up Ezra’s neck just remembering it.

“I walked straight into that.”

Helios remained silent.

Ezra continued anyway.

“He said maybe he wanted to buy me one.”

There was a small pause after that.

Then, almost sheepishly, Ezra added, “Honestly, I always knew Prince Aurien was kind. And that he wanted to befriend me.”

His voice softened without him meaning to.

“But I am surprised at how open he is about it now. In the past he would have stumbled over his words.”

He huffed out a quiet breath that might have been a laugh.

“I know I used to be hard on him. You reminded me of that often.” He glanced briefly at Helios. “You said he would grow. That he would become braver.”

’You were right,’ he admitted inwardly.

“And I—”

He stopped.

Because Helios was staring at him.

Not smiling.

Not amused.

Just staring.

Ezra’s smile faltered slightly.

“…What?” he asked.

Helios did not answer immediately. He tilted his head just slightly, studying him in a way that made Ezra feel oddly exposed.

“You seem… happy,” Helios said calmly.

Ezra frowned.

“It was a good exercise,” he replied automatically.

“That is not what I meant.”

Silence stretched between them.

Ezra shifted his weight faintly.

“He has improved,” he said more quietly. “Prince Aurien has improved a lot. I did not expect that.”

Helios’s gaze did not soften.

“And the drink?” he asked.

Ezra blinked. “It is just a drink.”

“You are looking forward to it.”

Ezra opened his mouth, confusion flickering across his face.

’Why does that sound like an accusation?’ he thought.

He was about to answer—

“—Helios!”

Kaelis’s voice cut sharply through the air.

Ezra’s eyes twitched in irritation.

’Damn it.’

He closed his mouth slowly, swallowing whatever he had been about to say.

But the irritation faded almost instantly.

Because behind Kaelis stood the six teams.

Some looked furious.

Some ashamed.

Some tense enough to start another fight.

Ezra exhaled softly.

His mood shifted just as quickly as it had risen.

“Oh,” he murmured under his breath.

’Something happened.’

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