Iris and Kaine sat together on one of the royal balconies of Aetherio's palace. Kaine, ruler of the Aetherio clan and a close friend of Iris, had managed to preserve his warrior's physique despite the burden of leadership.
Battle and bloodshed were what earned him the right to claim Aetherio's throne.
He was a massive man, standing nearly two meters tall, his long black hair flowing down to his mid-torso. A full, dark beard framed his stern face — the mark of one of Aetherio's greatest fighters in history.
The two sat at a table on the balcony, and Iris, already half-drunk, stared blankly at the horizon. Despite the natural charisma and discipline he was known for, Iris was deeply unsettled today. He no longer cared for appearances.
On the opposite side, Kaine sat in silence, a look of disbelief carved across his features.
Iris had told him the truth about Ethios.
Sooner or later, everyone would know anyway. There was no point in hiding secrets anymore.
Kaine sighed heavily.
"But I still don't understand what exactly your problem is with him."
Iris's silver hair fell partly over his eyes as he glared at Kaine.
"My problem with him? It's not him… it's Alexa. Her sense of priority is broken."
Kaine leaned back in his chair.
"Alexa's priorities are her own. You can't rearrange them for her, Iris."
Iris clenched his jaw. His frustration burned hotter with every passing word. Alexa's obsession with Ethios had blinded her. Yes, she was his mother — but as the Queen of the Siren clan, her duty to her people had to come first. Family came after.
He emptied another glass of wine and slammed it against the table.
"If she had led the battle differently, the outcome would've been different."
Kaine exhaled slowly.
"I don't disagree. But watch your words, Iris. Even if she's your wife, she's still the revered Queen of the Siren. If anyone suspects you of scheming against her, you'll be branded a traitor."
Iris poured himself another glass. His hand trembled slightly. He was on the edge of losing consciousness.
"Is that what you think I'm after? To hell with the throne, Kaine. I just want to protect my people."
Kaine had suspected Iris of trying to discredit Alexa to claim the throne himself — but that wasn't the case. Iris cared little for power; he only wanted what was best for the Siren, no matter who sat upon the throne — Alexa or anyone else.
Kaine sighed again.
"Then why don't you speak to her directly? Maybe you two could find common ground."
Iris rested his elbow on the table and rubbed his temple.
"Our relationship is at its worst since the fall of the capital. Talking won't help now. I know Alexa too well, Kaine. Ethios is her first and only priority. Nothing else matters."
Kaine took what was left of the wine and poured it into his untouched golden glass. He swirled the liquid slowly, letting the crimson color spiral.
"Avoiding each other will only make things worse. Silence won't fix anything, Iris. Maybe the first talk won't work, but eventually… you'll find a way. These problems won't stand forever. You love her — and she loves you. That love once changed the terms of our truce with the Alliance."
Iris ran his hand down his face, fingers dragging through his silver hair.
"And that same love might ignite another war."
Silence fell between them. The weight of Iris's words lingered like ash in the air.
He pushed his chair back and stood up sluggishly.
"But you're right, Kaine. Silence won't solve anything."
He turned and walked back into the palace, his mind heavy with conflict. Was he truly doing the right thing for his clan? Or had his own emotions blinded him to what was best for his people?
He staggered through the corridors of the royal palace, half-dizzy from the drink, until he reached the wing reserved for his family — himself, Alexa, and Ethios.
When he stopped before Alexa's door, hesitation gripped him. It had been nearly a week since he'd last seen her. His chest tightened with unease.
He pushed the hesitation aside, gripped the handle, and turned it hard.
The door creaked open.
He stepped inside and closed it behind him.
There, on the lavish bed, sat Alexa.
The entire room was adorned with furniture carved from black wood, each piece inlaid with gold, diamonds, and emeralds — a masterpiece of wealth and power.
Alexa had been discharged from medical care only a day ago. Though she was recovering, the bandages wrapped around her head and limbs told a different story.
Iris dragged a chair forward and sat across from her.
Despite the tension between them, a faint trace of longing flickered in their eyes.
He drew in a slow breath.
"Alexa… how are you? You seem to be healing."
She nodded lightly.
"Yes. The doctors said there's no longer a reason for me to stay in the medical ward. I'll be fully recovered in a few days."
A faint smile crossed Iris's lips.
"That's… good to hear. Truly."
He straightened his posture.
"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner. I thought… maybe we both needed space to clear our heads. But Alexa, we need to talk — to settle things."
She immediately understood what he meant.
"You mean… the way I led the battle in the capital."
He continued calmly.
"It's not just that. It's your insistence on keeping Ethios a secret for so long."
Alexa's expression hardened.
"My insistence? You're angry that I kept him hidden? You, of all people, know it was for the sake of the entire world."
Iris cut her off.
"Because you thought you could hide him forever. But come on, Alexa — even Ethios himself wouldn't have accepted living his whole life locked away. It was only a matter of time before someone found out. Yet you kept choosing secrecy — no matter the cost."
The air grew thick with anger and grief.
Alexa spoke through gritted teeth.
"What are you implying, Iris?"
Her glare burned into him, and something inside him snapped.
He shouted.
"I mean your priorities, Alexa! Tell me — was Ethios worth all that? No matter what he means to us, his life is still only one life among thousands. Tell me, was he worth the fall of the capital? Worth killing everyone there just to protect a secret that was doomed to come out? Do you think you're the only mother in this world? You slaughtered thousands of them that day — each one who loved her child as fiercely as you love yours. Even Ilara—"
Alexa lunged from the bed, slamming into Iris and knocking him off the chair. She pinned him to the floor, her knees pressing into his chest.
"Don't you dare speak for my sister, you bastard!"
Her hands clutched his collar, choking him.
"Ilara died protecting our entire clan. She sacrificed herself to save countless lives — yours included!"
Her grip tightened.
"Yes… I killed thousands of mothers to protect Ethios. Tell me, Iris — if one of them were in my place, can you swear she wouldn't have done the same? Remember this — I am a mother before I am a queen. And I will protect my child no matter what it costs. Even if it means the end of the world — then let the world burn!"
Iris punched her in the stomach and shoved her aside. He gasped for air, forcing breath back into his lungs, then slowly rose to his feet.
"A ruler must never let emotion dictate their judgment. If you can't separate the two, Alexa, you should abdicate the throne."
A faint, bitter smile crept across her lips. She wiped sweat from her cheek.
"So that's why you came here, Commander? To declare your queen unfit to rule — so you can take the throne yourself? Are all your noble ideals just a path to your own ambition?"
Iris charged forward, slamming her against the wall. His hand closed around her throat.
"You know damn well I don't care about the throne. I only care that whoever sits on it protects our people — all of them. Not just their family."
Alexa turned her head aside, spitting to the floor. Her eyes blazed.
"Do you know why my reign has lasted this long, Iris? When I stand in the throne hall, I look into the eyes of those who once tried to bring me down. I gave them no chance to succeed. Your eyes now burn brighter than all of theirs combined."
Iris tightened his grip on her collar.
"Then which one of us is truly after the throne, Alexa? Seems to me you'd rather die than surrender it — even knowing someone better stands before you."
Alexa's hands wrapped around his neck in return.
"The throne means nothing to me except as a way to protect my son. To hell with what anyone else thinks."
She pushed him back suddenly, faster than he could react. His body crashed into the door — which shattered on impact — and both of them fell outside into the corridor.
When they struggled to rise, they froze at the sight before them.
Ethios sat against the wall across the hallway…
He had heard everything.