Chapter 96: The Investigation.

“That’s not true.”

Ezra’s eyes widened slightly.

“Blind loyalty? There’s nothing blind about it.”

His voice carried a sharp edge now.

“Prince Helios has done nothing but think about this kingdom. Not just the kingdom either. Everyone in it.”

Ezra stepped closer to him.

“You know why I’m even here?”

His gaze hardened.

“Because Prince Helios brought me here from the streets, or maybe you have forgotten?”

He pointed vaguely toward the battlefield behind them.

“And before that?”

Ezra let out a short breath.

“He kept bringing me bread.”

The memory rose clearly in his mind.

The alley.

The cold nights.

The wrapped loaf was placed on the same spot.

“And he got into trouble for it too.”

Ezra had figured it out eventually.

Helios couldn’t have just happened to pass by that alley over and over again.

The bread had always been clean.

Fresh.

Still warm sometimes.

Wrapped properly.

Someone had prepared it.

Someone who cared enough to make sure it reached him.

Even though they had never spoken about it, Ezra knew the truth.

And that truth had only pulled him closer.

’That’s why I fell for him even more.’

And why his heart never stopped.

“That’s not blind loyalty,” Ezra said quietly. “I’m loyal to him because I can see—”

“Wh—”

His words cut off.

Kaelis suddenly grabbed his arm.

Hard.

Ezra barely had time to react before Kaelis yanked him forward.

“Y-Your Highness, where are you—”

“Shut it.”

Kaelis didn’t even look at him as he dragged him down the street.

Ezra stumbled slightly as he was pulled along.

Only then did he realize where Kaelis was heading.

A run-down wooden house near the edge of the village.

The door hung crooked on its hinges.

The windows were cracked.

’Why are we going there?’

Ezra’s eyes widened slightly as Kaelis shoved the door open.

The wood slammed against the wall.

Kaelis pulled him inside.

Then the door slammed shut behind them.

The sudden quiet felt heavy.

Kaelis finally released his arm and turned toward him.

His expression was completely serious.

“Something is going on here.”

He spoke immediately, like he had been holding the words back the entire time.

“And it’s my job to figure out what that is.”

Ezra blinked.

Kaelis stepped closer.

“You are one of the smartest captains we have,” he continued. “And believe it or not, despite the fact that you somehow despise me simply because I’m not perfect like Helios…”

His voice hardened slightly.

“I don’t care where your loyalty lies.”

He gestured vaguely toward the battlefield outside.

“And I don’t care about whatever story you’ve built in your head about me or your life.”

Kaelis’ gaze sharpened.

“Because right now you should care about the kingdom.”

His voice lowered slightly.

“Not just one person.”

He paused for a brief moment before continuing.

“And I was there when my brother stopped being perfect.”

His eyes didn’t leave Ezra’s.

“When you left, it was me and Aurien who stayed.”

Ezra froze.

His eyes widened.

He hadn’t expected that.

Not the tone.

Not the words.

There was too much packed into that sentence.

Too much that Ezra didn’t know how to respond to.

’What…?’

For a moment, he simply stared at him.

Ezra Belloren, the captain who usually had a sharp answer ready for everything, found himself completely speechless.

Kaelis’ words had struck somewhere he hadn’t been expecting.

And some part of what Kaelis said felt…

Too accurate.

Too close to the truth.

Enough that Ezra couldn’t immediately snap back.

But there was one part that stuck in his mind.

’What part of my life story did I supposedly make up?’

Ezra frowned slightly.

He didn’t understand why Kaelis would say that.

What story?

What lie?

Ezra opened his mouth, ready to ask.

But before he could speak—

Rustle.

Rustle.

Both of them froze.

The sound was quiet.

But unmistakable.

Ezra and Kaelis glanced at each other.

Neither spoke.

Both raised their swords.

Kaelis tilted his head slightly toward the far side of the room.

A silent gesture.

Check it.

Ezra inhaled slowly.

Then nodded.

He stepped forward carefully.

The old wooden floor creaked softly beneath his boots as he moved across the dim room.

His eyes scanned the space.

Broken furniture.

Dusty shelves.

And at the far end of the room—

A closet.

A large one.

Too large for simple storage.

Ezra’s grip tightened around his sword.

’That thing’s big enough for someone to hide in.’

His mind ran through the possibilities quickly.

Survivors.

Or Dark Ones.

Either way, whatever was inside that closet had made that noise.

Ezra stopped a few steps away.

Slowly.

Carefully.

He reached for the handle.

Tightening his grip on it as he took a deep breath.

He slowly pulled the closet door open.

The wood creaked loudly in the quiet room.

Ezra raised his sword.

He was ready to strike in case it was a Dark One.

“Ah—!”

A scream cut through the air.

Ezra froze.

Before he could react, Kaelis grabbed his wrist and stopped the blade from moving any farther.

“Wait.”

Ezra blinked.

Inside the closet were four figures huddled together.

A family.

A woman clutched two small children close to her chest. A man stood in front of them, clearly trying to shield them even though there was barely space to move.

Their clothes were unusual.

Bright fabric.

Floral patterns.

Clothing Ezra had only seen a few times before.

’Fleur De Lys survivors…?’

The man stared at them in shock, his breathing uneven.

Kaelis slowly lowered Ezra’s sword hand.

“It’s alright,” Kaelis said calmly. “We’re not here to harm you.”

The man hesitated.

Then he slowly stepped out of the closet, helping the woman and the two children follow behind him.

They looked exhausted.

Dust clung to their clothes. The children’s faces were pale with fear.

The man looked at Kaelis carefully.

“…Are you Prince Kaelis?” he asked.

Kaelis nodded once.

“Yes.”

The man let out a shaky breath.

“So you were the one who received our letter.”

Ezra blinked.

’Letter?’

The man straightened slightly.

“My name is Ricardo,” he said, placing a hand gently on the woman’s shoulder. “This is my wife, Lanie.”

The woman nodded nervously.

“And our children.”

He gestured toward the two kids hiding behind her.

“Ranie and Larnie.”

The children peeked out cautiously at the two armored men standing in front of them.

Ezra lowered his sword fully now.

He studied them carefully.

“You’re from Fleur De Lys, right?” Ezra asked.

Ricardo nodded.

“Yes, sir.”

Ezra frowned.

“How did you survive this?” he asked. “Or better question, how did you end up here at all?”

Ricardo exhaled slowly.

“We were returning from a short vacation,” he explained. “I’m a medic, so I was called back urgently.”

His voice trembled slightly as he continued.

“This village is usually the port between Fleur De Lys and Luxaelis. It’s where travelers pass through before heading inland.”

He glanced toward the door.

“But when we arrived…”

His expression darkened.

“It was already like this. Abandoned. Destroyed. We were confused.”

Ricardo swallowed.

“We hid immediately.”

Lanie tightened her hold on the children as he spoke.

Ezra frowned slightly.

“But how did you contact the prince?”

Ricardo looked toward Kaelis.

“A messenger pigeon trained to contact the royal family.”

Ezra blinked. “What? Is there such a thing?”

In all the years Ezra was a knight, he never knew that.

Ricardo nodded.

“We used it to send a message to Prince Kaelis specifically. We told him we were alive and hiding here.”

He paused.

“The same pigeon carried our first letter as well.”

Ezra slowly turned his head toward Kaelis.

’So that’s why he knew there were survivors…then why didn’t he just say so?’

Ricardo looked between the two knights.

“We didn’t know if the letter would reach you, so we wanted to give it personally.”

His voice lowered slightly.

“But we hoped someone would come.”

Ricardo reached into his satchel and carefully pulled out a folded letter.

The paper looked worn, the edges slightly creased from being carried around.

Kaelis’ eyes immediately fell on it.

“Is that the confidential letter you mentioned?”

’Confidential?’ Ezra thought, tilting his head slightly.

Ricardo nodded.

“Yes. As our leader instructed, the contents of this letter are meant only for you to read.”

He hesitated.

Then his eyes shifted toward Ezra.

Ricardo clearly wasn’t sure if he should hand it over with Ezra standing there.

Ezra noticed the look.

His eyes widened slightly.

But before he could say anything, Kaelis shook his head.

“I trust him.”

Kaelis gestured toward Ezra without even looking at him.

“Ezra Belloren is the Crimson Fae.”

Ricardo’s eyes widened instantly.

“T-The Crimson Fae?”

His voice nearly cracked from surprise.

“But I heard he disappeared…”

“The Crimson Fae?!” one of the children suddenly gasped.

The little girl stepped forward with wide, sparkling eyes.

Her mother immediately grabbed her shoulders.

“Sweetheart, do not shout,” Lanie whispered, pulling her back gently.

She gave Ezra an apologetic smile.

“My apologies. She… enjoys stories about heroes.”

She looked down at her daughter.

“She has read quite a few tales about you.”

Ezra blinked.

Then he chuckled softly.

“Well, I’m flattered.”

He crouched slightly so he could look at the girl at eye level.

“I’ll answer your questions later, alright? After I speak with your father.”

Larnie’s eyes lit up.

She squealed in excitement.

A very small squeal.

Lanie quickly covered her mouth before the sound could grow any louder.

Ricardo laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Uhm… right.”

He held the letter out toward Kaelis.

“Then I suppose I can give this to you now.”

Kaelis accepted it without hesitation.

Ricardo’s expression turned serious again.

“This letter was meant only for you.”

He glanced briefly toward Ezra.

“And… I suppose the captain as well.”

His voice lowered slightly.

“But what’s written in there…”

He swallowed.

“…should not be shared outside the investigation.”

Ezra frowned slightly.

“The investigation?”

He looked toward Kaelis.

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