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Tiny feet scrambled over grass. The children's laughter wasn't cruel. It wasn't sharp. It was warm, bubbling, real. The dread loosened its grip on Elias's chest. His lips curved.
He stepped forward slowly, hands out, moving with a grace that made even fumbling look elegant.
"Shhh! He's coming this way!" Leya whispered, but she was giggling too hard to keep quiet.
Elen, never one to miss a chance, nudged Lucien's shoulder. "Hey, hey, don't let her get caught. Protect her, knight!" he teased loudly, enough to make Leya glare and Lucien go rigid.
Lucien instinctively grabbed her wrist, tugging her just out of Elias's reach. Their eyes met in the rush — too close, too fast — and both flushed before jerking apart like they'd touched fire.
Elen clasped his hands dramatically. "Ohhh, what is this? A forbidden romance in the middle of a battlefield?"
"Shut up!" both snapped at once.
Elias, blindfolded but smiling faintly, tilted his head toward the voices. "Interesting…" he drawled. "What are you two plotting, hm?"
Lucien panicked. "N-nothing!"
Elen, smirking, swooped in for the kill. He leaned against Lucien's shoulder, lowering his voice in mock-seduction: "Oh, my brave knight, will you protect me too?"
Lucien's face turned scarlet. "Get off me, idiot!" He shoved him away, but Elen clung tighter, batting his lashes exaggeratedly.
Leya doubled over with laughter. Even Elias cracked, blindfolded and all, covering his mouth to stifle the chuckle slipping out.
"Stop it or I'll—!" Lucien floundered, grabbing Elen by the collar and shaking him, but Elen only groaned dramatically.
"Ahhh, so strong… my heart can't take it…"
By now, everyone was in stitches. Even Elias bent forward, laughter low and unrestrained, the sound mingling with theirs. For once, the air was light.
Finally, with a swift step, Elias lunged forward and caught both Elen and Lucien in his arms. The twins yelped, wriggling like trapped foxes.
"Got you," Elias murmured, pulling the blindfold just enough to peek. His eyes shone under the fading sunlight, gentler than the children had ever seen. "Cheaters get caught first."
They collapsed on the grass, breathless, still laughing. Elias lay down too, blindfold slipped around his neck, silver hair splayed across the green. Above them, clouds drifted lazily, shaped like dragons, rabbits, castles if you squinted enough.
"Look," Leya pointed, voice soft. "That one looks like a crown."
"More like a potato," Elen countered.
Lucien just smiled faintly, still catching his breath, eyes flicking to Elias who looked at peace, the last of the shadows in his expression fading into the sky.
For the first time, they felt what childhood was supposed to be.
"Let's go," Elias said, calling the children as he slipped into his coat.
The noon had been spent lazily—games, laughter, a quiet meal that felt far removed from the chaos that usually followed him. But now, it was time to move again. First, he would visit the king, spend a little time with his old friend. After that… Nia.
The thought of her tugged at him. He hadn't seen her since he'd left all those years ago. She had been busy—tied down by duty, caring for her ailing father, carrying burdens far too heavy for her age. He had wanted to write, to send a word, anything… but he hadn't. And now, guilt whispered at him, urging him to go. He would see her. He would meet the duke. He owed them both that much.
Shaking off his thoughts, Elias glanced at the mirror.
The boy staring back wasn't the same child who once hid behind a blindfold. No more restraints, no more chains. His mismatched eyes—red and blue—caught the light with an unnatural brilliance, framed by a face too flawless for its own good. Ethereal. Otherworldly. A prince stolen out of some fairy tale.
He tilted his head slightly, a faint smile curling at his lips.
"…I know how to use my charm," he murmured at his reflection.
Then he blinked, laughed quietly to himself, and shook his head. "Before someone thinks I'm a narcissist, I should probably stop."
When he stepped outside, the children were already waiting, tugging at their new clothes bought from the market yesterday. Elen was fiddling with the collar of his shirt, clearly proud of how neat he looked. Leya twirled once, humming softly, her ribbons fluttering. Lucien stood with his usual quiet grace, though Elias noticed the boy's hand brushing the fabric, as if unused to wearing something that fit so well.
For a moment, Elias only watched them, the mirror forgotten.
These three—more than any reflection—made him feel alive.
---
When Elias finally stepped out, the three pairs of eyes instantly turned to him.
"Finally," Elen groaned, hands on his hips. "We thought you got lost in the mirror!"
Leya clasped her hands behind her back, tilting her head with mock innocence. "Were you… admiring yourself again, my lord?"
Even Lucien, quiet as ever, let the corner of his mouth twitch upward. "Took you long enough. Mirrors don't fight back, you know."
Elias arched a brow, his expression calm—too calm—but the faintest glimmer of amusement flickered in his eyes. "So," he said evenly, "all of you have grown bold enough to tease me now."
The children exchanged quick glances, then broke into laughter.
"Because you were too obvious!" Leya said, her voice like a chiming bell.
Elias stepped closer, lowering himself slightly so his gaze met theirs. "Hm. Then perhaps next time I'll simply wear the blindfold again. That way, you'll never know where I'm looking."
Their laughter grew louder at that, Leya covering her mouth, Elen nearly doubling over, and Lucien shaking his head with quiet amusement.
Elias let them enjoy it. His face didn't shift much, but his chest warmed. He had missed this—the simple chaos of being teased, the ordinary noise of children happy enough to poke fun at him.
"Come," he said finally, standing tall again. "If I truly spent too long in front of a mirror, then you three must prove yourselves better. Let's see if the king thinks you outshine me."
That, of course, only earned him more protests and laughter as they followed him out.
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