The Omega Knight's Secret Baby Daddy is A PRINCE?!-Chapter 98: What Do We Do Now?

"You..." Ezra’s lips parted slightly. His head throbbed from the flood of information. "...Is... is that why no one can know? You think everyone is a suspect? Why... why do you—"

Kaelis didn’t want to tell Aurien.

He didn’t want to tell Helios.

Helios.

Kaelis’ older brother. The perfect prince. The prince Ezra had sworn loyalty to.

Helios... was also a suspect?

Aamon was a suspect?

Then how was Ezra not a suspect when—

"Hey."

Kaelis’ voice cut through his spiraling thoughts. Ezra blinked and looked up.

Kaelis was staring at him with an awkward expression, like he wasn’t sure what to do with the look on Ezra’s face.

"I know what you’re thinking," Kaelis said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But can you think about that later? I get that everyone’s suddenly being honest with their feelings lately, but I’m not used to seeing you so... human."

"What?" Ezra asked, caught off guard.

"Just... I know it’s a lot to take in. The missing children investigation, the Dark Ones evolving... all of it." Kaelis gestured toward the table. "Let’s focus on the letter first."

Right.

Yes.

Right.

Ezra could do that. Even if Kaelis was giving him a headache. If anything, it made him more irritated.

’And what does he mean he’s not used to seeing me so human? This bastard,’ Ezra thought.

Still, he took a slow breath to calm himself.

"Alright then," Ezra said, pointing at the paper. "What is this letter about?"

Kaelis glanced down at it.

"I’m not sure, actually," he admitted. "But according to the letter Ricardo sent me, the leader wrote this for him before his... death."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"And someone delivered it around the same time the Fleur De Lys people started turning. One by one."

Ezra frowned.

"Apparently, Ricardo wasn’t just any medic," Kaelis added. "He was the clan head’s personal medic."

The clan head’s medic.

That was a big deal. It was practically the same as serving royalty.

"I think it might help with our investigation," Kaelis said quietly. "About the Dark Ones. About what might’ve happened to them. Their clan head died, but you and I both know that shouldn’t be enough to explain all the Dark Ones out there."

Kaelis unfolded the letter and stepped closer so they could both read it.

Ezra leaned in.

The paper was worn, the edges softened with age. Just from looking at it, he could tell it hadn’t been written recently.

The handwriting was pristine. Elegant, almost beautiful.

’This is the clan head’s writing?’ Ezra thought, briefly impressed.

But the moment he actually started reading, that thought disappeared.

"Oh."

Ezra’s eyes widened.

Beside him, Kaelis suddenly went rigid.

’Holy shit,’ Ezra thought.

Dear Prince Kaelis,

I am writing this letter in the event of my death.

Before I pass, there is something you must know. A group of men has come to our clan. Strange men, all wearing masks. They threatened to torture my family in front of me if I refused to obey them.

Our clan has been held hostage ever since.

Our children were taken one by one, right under our noses. Our carrier pigeons have been killed. Several of my men are already dead.

I know you are investigating the Dark Ones, but I do not believe these people are aware of that.

They ordered me to take my own life on March 12, by whatever means I see fit.

By the time you read this, I will likely already be dead.

I sent my medic, Ricardo, and his family away the moment I began to suspect something was wrong. I told them to take a vacation far from here. Ricardo is a smart man. He will be useful to you if you allow him to serve you. Please give him and his family protection and work if you can.

In return, I am risking everything to send you this message.

I will follow their order and end my life. My death should create the distraction they want. While they focus on that, I will have this letter delivered to Ricardo.

They want us to disappear, Prince Kaelis.

And we have no choice.

I have only one last request.

Please find the children who survived. They are still out there somewhere. They are the only reason my heart feels any peace in making this sacrifice.

Thank you.

And good luck.

For the last time,

Clan Head Iroh Sunflower Fleur

Fleur De Lys Clan

"I..." Kaelis spoke first, though the word came out strained. He looked at Ricardo, who was already watching him. "Have you already read this?"

"Yes," Ricardo admitted quietly. "I hope you don’t mind. I didn’t... know it was addressed to you until I had already read it."

His voice faltered.

"When I finished reading it..." Ricardo glanced at his wife, Lanie. She was staring down at her hands, eyes glistening with unshed tears. "We were heartbroken. And scared. I never... I never knew."

He swallowed hard.

"I felt guilty. Wondering why the clan head chose to spare us. We were out here enjoying ourselves while everyone else was..."

"Honey, no." Lanie quickly wrapped her arms around him. "That’s the survivor’s guilt. The clan head knew how hard you worked. He knew about your talent for medicine. You know everything about Fleur De Lys’ unique medicines. Everything."

Their two daughters, Larnie and Ranie, immediately hugged him as well.

"Daddy..."

"Daddy, don’t be sad."

Ezra frowned at the sight, though his mind was still racing.

Then he turned toward Kaelis.

"This letter..." Ezra said slowly. "It confirms all your theories, Your Highness. But..."

"But?" Kaelis asked. His voice sounded distant, like he was still trying to process everything himself.

"Doesn’t this mean the children’s kidnappings are connected to this cult?" Ezra continued. "To the Dark Ones?"

According to the letter, the children of Fleur De Lys had been taken right under their noses. And once the clan realized what was happening, they had already been silenced.

Kaelis didn’t answer right away.

Silence filled the room.

Both of them were still looking at Ricardo and his family, but from the corner of his eye, Ezra noticed something.

Whatever he was feeling right now...

Kaelis seemed to be feeling it too. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The same heavy realization.

The same dread.

After a moment, Kaelis finally turned toward him. The stress was obvious on his face now.

"Yes," Kaelis said quietly. "It would seem so."

"What...do we do now?"