It was a brand new day.

And Ezra was awoken by a knock on his door that jolted him awake, his body reacting before his mind could even catch up.

It was abrupt.

Sharp enough to pull him out of sleep instantly.

Half because he was so exhausted, his body still heavy from everything that happened the day before.

Half because he went to bed with his thoughts running, his mind refusing to settle, his chest tight with worries he couldn’t shake.

Well—

Mostly Lior’s safety.

Even now, just waking up, that was the first thing he felt.

That lingering tension.

That need to check if everything is still okay.

’Now, I’m starting to like the idea of moving,’ Ezra thought as he pushed himself up, running a hand over his face before making his way to the door.

He didn’t bother fixing himself much.

Didn’t bother thinking too hard about who it could be.

He just opened it.

And standing outside—

Was a man.

Dressed formally.

Not overly extravagant.

But clean.

Put together.

Structured in a way that didn’t resemble the palace uniforms Ezra was used to seeing.

It wasn’t Luxaelian.

Not even close.

The clothing was simpler, but there was a quiet elegance to it, something that felt intentional rather than lacking.

Ezra paused for a second.

Taking him in.

"Good day, Captain Ezra of the Sunward Sentinels."

The man’s voice was smooth, controlled, and carried an accent that Ezra recognized almost immediately.

Similar to Alyce’s.

But stronger.

More pronounced.

There was a weight to it.

A rhythm that made every word sound deliberate.

Almost...alluring.

’That’s...a voice,’ Ezra thought, blinking once as he straightened slightly without realizing it.

"My name is Carlisle. I am Princess Alyce’s butler."

Carlisle steps forward just slightly, extending something toward him.

A piece of paper.

Soft pink.

Decorated with red roses that framed the edges neatly.

’This is...very feminine.’

"She has asked me to deliver this invitation to you for a tea party."

Ezra blinks again, his gaze dropping to the invitation for a second before he reaches out to take it.

The paper felt thicker than expected.

Not just decorative.

Carefully handmade.

"Thank you," Ezra says, still a bit caught off guard as he looks back up at him. "Uhm, you didn’t have to come all this way, though. We have messenger birds ready to use."

It felt like too much.

For something like this.

Carlisle doesn’t seem to mind.

"She wanted it to bring me in person, as I am also tasked to take you to the venue."

Oh.

Ezra’s eyes widen just slightly.

That changes things.

"Does that mean we’re leaving now?"

The question comes out faster than he intended, his mind already racing ahead of him.

He wasn’t ready.

Not even close.

He had just woken up.

Lior was still asleep.

The house was still quiet; he didn’t even know how his things were going to get moved.

"No, not now, but when you’re ready," Carlisle answers calmly, adjusting his monocle with a practiced motion, like this was routine to him. "I have a carriage waiting, and I’ll be staying there while you get ready."

Ezra pauses again.

Processing that.

"You’ll...wait?"

"Oh, okay," he adds quickly, a bit unsure. "Isn’t that a little too inconvenient for you?"

"Nonsense."

Carlisle smiles, polite and composed, like the question itself didn’t make sense to him.

"I’m happy to wait. I know that it may be a cultural shock for you, but this is how we do most personal invitations in our kingdom, for nobles at least, with their friends."

There’s a small pause before he continues.

"That means, her highness considers you a friend."

Ezra stills slightly at that.

A friend.

The word lingers.

’Already?’ Ezra thought, his fingers tightening slightly around the invitation.

Wasn’t it too early?

They had only spoken once.

One conversation.

One meeting.

And now—

This?

’Or is this just how they are?’ Ezra wondered, his brows pulling together slightly as he glanced down at the rose-decorated paper again.

For some reason, that didn’t make him feel more at ease.

Ezra liked to get to know people before considering them friends.

People who consider others close friends just after meeting are somewhat of a red flag for him.

Ezra didn’t let the silence stretch too long.

He folds the invitation once, carefully, like he didn’t want to crease it too harshly, then looks back up at Carlisle.

"Give me thirty minutes," Ezra says, more composed now, even if his mind was still catching up to everything. "Lior and I will be ready by then."

Carlisle inclines his head slightly, like he expected nothing less.

"Of course. Take all the time you need, Captain Ezra."

There was no rush in his tone.

No pressure.

Just quiet assurance.

Then, without another word, he steps back and turns away, his movements smooth and practiced as he walks off, most likely heading back to the carriage he mentioned.

Ezra watches him go for a second.

Then exhales.

’Alright...thirty minutes,’ Ezra thought, already turning back inside as he closed the door behind him.

The house felt the same.

It was quiet.

But now there was something else layered over it.

A schedule.

A plan.

He moves toward the bed without wasting time.

Lior was still curled up, half-covered in his blanket, breathing evenly.

His expression looked peaceful, almost happy even.

Ezra pauses at the doorway.

Just for a second.

Watching him.

’At least he got a good sleep despite everything that conspired,’ Ezra thought, his chest easing just a little before he walked over.

He sits on the edge of the bed and reaches out, brushing a hand gently over Lior’s hair.

"Lior," Ezra says softly. "Wake up."

Lior stirs slowly.

A small groan slips out as he shifts under the blanket.

"Mmm..."

Ezra waits, then nudges him a little more.

"We have to get up. We’re meeting Princess Alyce again."

That does it.

Lior’s eyes open almost immediately, blinking a few times before fully waking up.

"Princess Alyce?" he asks, his voice still a little hoarse from sleep.

Then his face lights up.

"The pretty princess?"

Ezra huffs out a quiet breath, already standing up. "Yes. That one."

Lior sits up quickly, the blanket slipping off his shoulders. "We’re going now?"

"In a bit. We need to get ready first."

"Okay!" Lior says, already climbing off the bed like he had all the energy in the world.

’Well, he’s excited.’ Ezra thought, shaking his head slightly as he guided him toward the bathroom.

Everything after that moved quickly.

It was like their old routine.

And it was very familiar.

Ezra helps Lior wash up first, making sure he doesn’t rush too much despite how eager he is.

A bit of splashing that Ezra had to stop before it got out of hand.

Then drying him off, helping him step out carefully, wrapping him up before setting him aside.

After that, Ezra washes himself just as quickly.

No time to linger.

No time to think too much.

Just enough to feel awake.

And of course, look clean and presentable.

Once they were both done, Ezra moved to the small wardrobe, opening it as he scanned through what they had.

Lior’s clothes were easy.

Fizzy had made sure of that.

All the hand-me-down clothes he provided looked cute, neat, and fancy.

Actually appropriate for something like this.

’Good thing Fizzy exists,’ Ezra thought, pulling out a set for Lior that looked especially put together. ’At least one of us won’t look out of place.’

Lior stands still as Ezra helps him get dressed, though he keeps glancing at the door like he is already ready to leave.

"Stay still," Ezra mutters, fixing his collar.

"I am!"

"Barely."

Lior pouts a little but doesn’t argue.

Once Lior was done, Ezra turned back to his own side.

And pauses.

His options weren’t great.

Knight uniforms.

Variations of the same thing.

Not exactly...tea party material.

’Of course,’ Ezra thought, running a hand through his hair as he stared at them. ’I don’t have anything...more normal.’

He exhales.

Then, just pick one.

Something cleaner.

Less worn.

Still a knight’s outfit, but at least it didn’t look like he came straight out of training.

’This will have to do,’ he thought as he changed quickly.

Not ideal.

But acceptable.

Once they’re both dressed, Ezra steps back, looking at Lior properly this time.

Then Lior looks back at him.

They both end up standing in front of the mirror without really planning to.

Lior beams.

Ezra just stares for a second.

"...you look good," Ezra says finally.

"I know!" Lior says proudly, puffing his chest just a bit.

Ezra almost smiles.

Then his expression softens slightly.

He crouches down a bit so he’s at Lior’s level.

"Listen," Ezra says, his tone quieter now.

Lior tilts his head. "Hm?"

"When we get there...don’t talk about the bad people, okay?"

Lior blinks.

"The bad people?"

"Yes. The ones from the other day." Ezra keeps his voice steady. "That’s...private. We don’t talk about that with others."

Lior processes that for a second.

Then nods firmly.

"Okay!"

"Good," Ezra says, resting a hand briefly on his head. "Just be yourself."

Lior grins. "I am always myself."

’That’s what I’m worried about,’ Ezra thought, but he doesn’t say it out loud.

Instead, he stands back up and moves toward the door.

"Alright," Ezra says, reaching for the handle. "Let’s go to the carriage."