After an awkward time settling in, with Ezra fixing their things and avoiding Kaelis at all costs, both Kaelis and Lior seemed preoccupied with each other.

Ezra did force himself to be happy, to be more energetic whenever Lior approached him, to answer properly, even to smile when needed, but the moment Lior turned away, Ezra would go back to keeping himself busy.

He kept moving.

Kept doing something.

Changing things in the room, adjusting small details, moving objects that didn’t need moving, anything that could make the space feel...different.

Less familiar.

Less...that.

All because now, he had forgotten about Helios’ lies, or at least he pushed them aside for the moment, but stepping inside this room had created a new problem.

A worse one.

Fearing that Kaelis remembered something.

Or worse—

That he might remember everything.

Everything about that night.

Why?

’He’s looking around like he’s familiar with everything...does he subconsciously remember?’ Ezra thought, his hands pausing for just a second before continuing what he was doing, forcing himself not to stare too long.

He glanced at Kaelis anyway.

Just briefly.

Kaelis was with Lior, crouched slightly as he spoke to him, his attention split between the child and the room itself, his eyes moving, taking things in.

Not suspicious.

Not obviously aware.

But still—

It was enough.

Enough to make Ezra tense.

His shoulders stiffened slightly as he turned away again, pretending to focus on folding something that didn’t need folding.

’Please,’ Ezra thought, his jaw tightening faintly. ’Just...stay clueless.’

He didn’t care who heard it.

Aurethys.

Any god.

Anyone.

He just needed that one thing.

In the meantime, Ezra tried to keep calm.

Trying not to be too obvious.

Trying not to look like he was actively avoiding Kaelis, even though that was exactly what he was doing.

But of course—

Of course, the Gods don’t care enough about him.

"Are you avoiding me?"

Kaelis’ voice came from behind him, quiet, close, sudden enough that Ezra’s breath hitched slightly before he could stop it.

It was right after Ezra tucked Lior in for a nap, the boy already curled up under the sheets, his breathing soft and even, all the excitement from earlier finally catching up to him.

It wasn’t every day that Lior would willingly go down for an afternoon nap.

That alone said enough.

Ezra’s eyes widened slightly as he took a slow breath, steadying himself before turning around.

"No, why would I?" he asks, though his voice came out a bit tighter than he intended, something in it betraying him despite his effort to sound normal.

Kaelis smirks.

Not wide.

Not mocking.

But knowing.

"I know all your moods, Captain," Kaelis says, his tone light, but his gaze steady. "Because your moods only consist of hot and cold, you’re either angry at me or don’t want to do anything with me."

"No, that’s not true—"

Ezra starts, but Kaelis cuts him off easily, like he already expected that answer.

"But you never actively go out of your way to avoid me, you just wait until I go away," Kaelis says, stepping back slightly, creating space instead of closing it, then gestures toward the fancy tea table with chairs nearby. "Let’s talk while the little guy’s asleep, shall we?"

Ezra was speechless.

Not because he didn’t have anything to say.

But because of what Kaelis just said.

Because he knew.

He knew.

’He...noticed all of that?’ Ezra thought, something unsettled shifting in his chest as he stared at him.

All this time—

Kaelis knew how Ezra felt about him.

Knew when he was annoyed.

Knew when he didn’t want to engage.

And still—

He said nothing.

Did nothing.

It felt strange.

Unsettling in a way Ezra couldn’t fully explain.

He didn’t know why.

Something about Kaelis now felt...different.

Or maybe—

Ezra was just seeing him differently.

At the very least, less annoying.

Less insufferable.

That alone was strange enough.

’When did that happen?’ Ezra thought, his brows pulling together slightly.

He didn’t even remember wanting to bite his tongue around him lately.

Sure, Kaelis still said things that annoyed him.

That hadn’t changed.

But not enough to make Ezra want to shut him up completely.

Not enough to make him want to punch him into the ground.

That was...progress.

Unwanted.

But still progress.

Ezra slowly nods.

"Let’s talk," he says, his tone settling into something neutral, controlled, even if there was still a faint tension underneath it.

Ezra and Kaelis both sat on the surprisingly comfortable cushioned chairs, the kind that sank just enough to make it hard to stay tense, though neither of them looked relaxed.

There was no tea.

No snacks.

But then again, did they really need any of that right now?

The space between them wasn’t empty, not really.

It was filled with things unsaid.

Ezra sat back slightly, his posture controlled, one arm resting against the side of the chair as he tried to appear unaffected, but his gaze kept drifting.

Discreet.

Back to Kaelis.

Kaelis wasn’t looking at him.

He was looking at Lior.

The boy was asleep on the bed, curled under the sheets, his breathing steady, one arm tucked close to his chest.

Peaceful.

Completely unaware.

Kaelis watched him with a small smile on his face.

It wasn’t the kind of smile he showed in public.

It wasn’t the practiced smile a prince was forced to learn.

It wasn’t sharp or teasing.

It was quiet.

Soft in a way that didn’t match the version of Kaelis Ezra that he had known for years.

And that—

That scared Ezra.

More than it should have.

’Why does he look like that?’ Ezra thought, his fingers pressing lightly against the armrest, his gaze lingering a second longer before he forced himself to look away.

But at the same time—

It didn’t feel wrong.

That was the confusing part.

It didn’t feel like Kaelis was pretending.

It didn’t feel like there was anything behind it.

Just...genuine.

And that made something in Ezra’s chest shift, uncomfortable in a different way.

’He’s not that bad,’ Ezra admitted to himself reluctantly, his brows pulling together slightly. ’At least...not right now.’

The silence stretched for a moment longer.

Not awkward.

But not easy either.

Then Kaelis spoke.

"You know, when I first saw him, I knew instantly he was yours."

The words came out casually, like it wasn’t something heavy, like it wasn’t something that could mean more than it sounded.

Ezra’s eyes flickered back to him immediately.

Caught off guard.

"It didn’t matter who gave birth, he looked too much like you to not be yours," Kaelis continued, still looking at Lior, his tone calm, almost certain, like it had never been a question in his mind.

Ezra didn’t know what to say.

His mouth opened slightly, then closed again, his thoughts stalling for a second before they could form anything coherent.

’What am I supposed to say to that?’ Ezra thought, his chest tightening faintly as he watched him.

Kaelis finally looked away from Lior, leaning back into his chair slightly as if settling in, the softness in his expression easing into something more familiar.

Then he smiled.

That usual smile.

The one Ezra knew.

"It became more obvious when you looked at me like I was a creep for being concerned about his well-being," Kaelis added, his tone turning lighter, almost amused.

Ezra blinked.

Once.

Slowly.

"But it was funny," Kaelis continued, glancing at him now, that teasing edge slipping back in just slightly, "because I said those things to gauge a reaction out of you."

Ezra stared at him.

Just...stared.

"So I had no chance with lying?"

"Nope." Kaelis looked so proud; his smile was wide, and for some reason, Ezra couldn’t help but laugh a bit.

"Well, if I’m being honest, I didn’t peg your highness to be so smart."

"I don’t know if I should be offended or not."

Ezra chuckles again. "I think you should."

"Well, if I’m also being honest, I’m surprised you actually have a sense of humor. I’d never imagined you’d smile, let alone laugh, while I’m in front of you."