"Right..." Kaelis says, his attention now fully on Ezra, the earlier amusement gone, replaced with something more measured. "Now, I want you to know, Ezra, that this is the king’s decision, and his decision is final. You’re aware of that right?"

"Yes." Ezra answers, the aching feeling inside his chest still there, but now replaced with nervousness, something heavier settling in his stomach. "I understand that, the king’s decision is always final."

He said it easily.

’Because I don’t really have a choice,’ Ezra thought, his fingers pressing lightly against the edge of the table.

Kaelis nods slowly, watching him for a second longer before continuing.

"He wants you and Lior to move."

"To move? Like...leave this house?" Ezra asks to confirm, his eyes widening slightly, the words taking a second to fully register.

He somehow expected this.

In the back of his mind, it had always been a possibility, especially after everything that happened, especially after what the king said.

But since the king didn’t mention it directly, he didn’t bother asking.

He thought maybe that wasn’t an option.

Maybe he could stay.

Maybe things wouldn’t change that much.

But to think Kaelis was just casually telling him over the table?

It was just shocking.

"Yes, you have to leave this house, and well, Heliocrest."

"Leave...Heliocrest? But didn’t his majesty allow me to remain as Prince Helios’ captain?" Ezra asks, blinking his eyes slowly, like saying it out loud would make it make more sense.

Kaelis nods his head without hesitation.

"You can still be his captain; however, you will have to leave this place, and just come when summoned. I don’t think that’s a problem; some knights don’t prefer to live in quarters provided by their princes."

That was true.

Especially since most knights are nobles, they preferred to have their own apartments or their own homes if they lived close.

They had the option.

They had the choice.

Ezra...didn’t feel like this was a choice.

’This isn’t the same,’ Ezra thought, his jaw tightening slightly. ’This is being moved from my only home.’

A home built for him.

"Right...where does his majesty plan us to move?" Ezra asks slowly, his voice more controlled now, steadier.

There was no room to argue, so he didn’t. Might as well just find out where they were going to stay.

Kaelis smiles a bit, like he already knew what kind of reaction this would get.

"His majesty is preparing an accommodation for you in the Sunspire throne palace."

Ezra didn’t react right away.

The words took a second to settle.

"In...the palace?" Ezra asks in shock, his voice lowering slightly, like saying it too loudly would make it more real.

Even more shocking than the fact that they were going to move.

"In the palace."

"The king’s palace?"

"The king’s palace," Kaelis confirms, nodding his head, his expression calm despite what he had just said. "I knew you would be shocked, but know that the king already made preparations for you."

Ezra was beyond shocked.

The Sunspire throne palace was the main palace.

Not just any residence.

Not just another royal estate.

The main palace housed the king and queen, their children before coming of age, and a few selected consorts or concubines, along with a few selected sons, being Kaelis and Aurien in the past before they came of age as well.

It wasn’t a place people just...moved into.

Not even guests from other kingdoms, diplomatic guests, or other royal guests get to stay.

Because the whole entirety of Sunspire was huge, it could be another small kingdom.

It housed many small palaces for concubines, children, and distant relatives of the royal family, and had guest palaces for guests.

Separate spaces.

Separate boundaries.

Everything was structured in Sunspire.

So it was a HUGE deal.

A HUGE deal that Ezra and Lior were allowed to stay there.

Ezra’s fingers tightened slightly against the table as the realization fully settled in.

"Why...?" Ezra couldn’t help but ask, the word slipping out before he could stop it, his brows pulling together as he tried to make sense of everything all at once.

"Why?" Kaelis asks, tilting his head slightly, his long, white-silver hair cascading down his shoulder as he watches Ezra carefully, like he already knows where this was going.

"Why there? It’s a great honor, but isn’t it...too much?" Ezra asks, glancing at Lio,r who was curiously looking between them, his small face shifting as he tried to follow a conversation that clearly wasn’t meant for him.

’This doesn’t feel like just protection,’ Ezra thought, his fingers tightening slightly against his lap. ’This feels like something else.’

"My father thought it would be safer; he isn’t thinking about status or anything of that. Right now, you both are important to the investigation, so he’s thinking about what’s best for you and the kingdom," Kaelis explains, his hands moving slightly as he spoke, like he was trying to make it sound simple, reasonable.

Kaelis glances at Lior, his gaze softening for a brief moment. "Besides, it would be unexpected to the cultists that you would suddenly move, and if they do expect it, they won’t expect you to move in the Lion’s den."

The Lion’s den.

Ezra’s lips pressed together at that.

’That’s one way to put it,’ he thought, the phrase sitting heavier than it should.

"So, hold on... does that mean then... I won’t be allowed to tell anyone where I’m staying? Won’t rumors spread just by servants seeing me there?" Ezra asks with pure concern, the questions coming out one after another, unable to hold them back.

It didn’t make sense.

Not completely.

It felt like something would slip through.

Like someone would notice.

’They can’t seriously think this won’t spread,’ Ezra thought, his mind already jumping ahead, already imagining whispers, glances, questions.

"It won’t be a secret, but since there are only minimal people allowed in Sunspire, and the fact that it’s heavily guarded, the Cultists won’t be able to get to you or Lior easily," Kaelis explains again, his tone patient, like he expected this kind of reaction.

Then he chuckled.

Not loudly.

Just enough to piss him off.

"I can tell by your expression you thought we just didn’t think things through."

Ezra didn’t answer right away.

Because he did.

He really did.

’Well...can you blame me?’ Ezra thought, exhaling quietly through his nose as he looked away for a second, his gaze dropping to the table as if it would help him sort through everything.

But then again, it wasn’t just that.

It wasn’t just doubt.

It wasn’t just questioning the plan.

Deep inside, Ezra wanted to find a hole in their plan, something small, something valid, something he could hold onto.

Because if there was a flaw, then maybe—

Maybe he wouldn’t have to go.

’This doesn’t feel right,’ Ezra thought, his fingers curling slightly against his lap. ’Leaving just like that...’

He didn’t want to move.

He didn’t want to leave the house that Helios built for him.

It wasn’t just a place.

It wasn’t just shelter. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

It was something Helios gave him.

Something that meant more than it should have.

It was Helios’ gift.

And walking away from it felt...wrong.

Like he was abandoning something important.

Like he was letting go of something he wasn’t ready to let go of.

But he couldn’t reject the offer.

He knew Lior would be safer there.

He knew that better than anyone.

It was the safest place in the whole kingdom, and it was an honor in itself to be able to stay there.

Safety over sentiment.

That’s what this was.

That’s what it had to be.

So, as much as it hurt him to ask—

He took a deep breath, steadying himself, forcing his voice not to waver.

"When are we supposed to move?"