Has Aurien always been this… big?
"Your Highness." Ezra bowed respectfully. "What a surprise."
Fizzy bowed as well, then quietly stepped away. He didn't say a word, simply leaving Ezra alone with Aurien, who smiled down at him.
"I'm even more surprised, Captain Ezra," Aurien said. "When you didn't return for a year, I feared you never would."
"You can just call me Ezra–"
He gestured toward Ezra's door.
"May I come in?"
Ezra's eyes widened. "Uhm."
He hesitated.
For one, no matter how little he cared for Aurien personally, the man was still the king's favorite. That alone made everything complicated.
And more importantly, Lior was inside, and God knew that—
The door swung open.
Not because of Ezra.
Not because of Aurien.
"Hm?" Aurien glanced down, his eyes widening slightly. "Oh. This is quite a surprise."
It was Lior.
Somehow, the child had climbed down from the bed and made his way to the door without Ezra noticing.
"Lior, what are you—"
Lior froze.
His eyes widened as he stared up at the prince. Even wider when he took in the golden eyes.
"G-Gold eyes," Ezra heard Lior whisper as he bowed his head. "Hello…"
The sound of it made Ezra's chest tighten.
He had already explained what to do when meeting someone important, drilled it into Lior carefully just moments ago.
So the words themselves didn't surprise him.
What did was the way Lior's hands trembled at his sides.
He was still scared.
'I can't blame him. I didn't even expect a prince to just waltz in here to talk to me, not even Helios would do such a thing.'
"Hello there," Aurien said softly, bending down so he wasn't towering over the child. He extended a hand, slow and open. "And what's your name?"
Lior stared at the offered hand, frozen. His breathing hitched, eyes darting between Aurien's face and his golden eyes.
"Please," Lior blurted out, voice cracking. "Don't take me!"
Ezra moved immediately.
"No, no, Lior," he said, dropping to one knee beside him. "Remember what I taught you about meeting new people?"
He demonstrated with his own hands, curling his fingers together in a simple, familiar motion. Ezra kept his movements calm and unhurried, just like he always did.
Understanding slowly dawned in Lior's eyes.
"O-Oh… sorry…" Lior glanced back at Aurien. He hesitated, then reached out, grasping two of Aurien's fingers since that was all his small hand could manage. He gave a shaky little shake. "My… name is… L-Lior…"
Aurien smiled, genuine and warm. "Lior. What a unique name." His expression softened. "Don't worry. I don't have any plans on taking you, why in Aurethys did you think I would take you?"
"He has trust issues," Ezra answered gently, resting a hand on Lior's shoulder. He guided the child back just a step, positioning himself between Lior and the doorway. "Which is why I was going to regretfully turn down your request to come in, Your Highness."
Ezra inclined his head. "My apologies. I hope you understand. This boy is quite… easily frightened."
Aurien's eyes widened. "Oh. Oh, no, of course." He straightened quickly. "I only intended to catch up and speak with you for a bit. I didn't mean to impose, and I certainly wouldn't want to scare your son—"
"He's not my son," Ezra said at once.
The words came out sharper than he intended.
Aurien blinked, visibly surprised.
"Really?" he said after a moment. "He looks so much like you. How curious."
"Yes, so I've been told."
His gaze shifted to Lior, who had retreated fully behind Ezra's leg. "Then… who are the child's parents? It's quite unlike you to take in a child."
'Why does everyone say that?' Ezra thought, frowning slightly. 'Anyone would take in a child this small whose parents allegedly died.'
"He's a child I picked up during my vacation," Ezra replied evenly. "His parents died in an accident. And as everyone likes to point out, he reminded me of myself."
His fingers curled faintly at his side.
"So I took him under my wing," he continued. "I wanted to give him a better life. Preferably one where he could grow strong. Maybe even become a knight."
Aurien blinked once more.
"Oh," he said quietly.
Aurien stayed silent.
So Ezra stayed silent too, because what the fuck was he even supposed to say?
'So, can I know what kind of conversation you had in mind that led you here?'
'What would you even want to talk about with me?'
And of course, the one he wanted to voice the most.
'Please just go away.'
But Ezra didn't say any of it.
Unlike Kaelis, who seemed to exist purely to provoke him into snapping back, Aurien hadn't actually done anything wrong.
He was… kind.
But severely awkward.
Still, Ezra's respect for him as a royal was almost nonexistent. Their first meeting had seen to that.
Ezra didn't feel anger toward him.
He felt pity.
And that was exactly what he shouldn't be feeling for a prince.
Ezra had never once pitied Helios. Helios had been perfect in a way that mattered. He could be vulnerable without being weak.
He never hid behind the king's favor, never relied on it to carry his authority.
'I wish it was Helios here instead,' Ezra thought. 'At least we'd actually have a conversation I could enjoy. But then again… Lior is here, so—'
"Forgive me."
Aurien's voice cut cleanly through Ezra's thoughts.
Ezra blinked and tilted his head. "Pardon?"
"I…" Aurien hesitated, then let out a quiet breath. "I'm sure you noticed that I went silent. And I was the one who came here, so I should be the one speaking."
He looked away, rubbing the back of his neck in a nervous gesture that felt strangely out of place on a prince.
"Actually, I don't know what to say to you," Aurien admitted. "I didn't even know what I planned to say when I came here. The child was… a good conversation starter." His mouth curved into a faint, self-conscious smile. "And I know you were never fond of conversation to begin with."
Ezra stared at him.
'What is actually happening right now?'
Aurien had gone from saying nothing at all to completely unraveling in the span of a few seconds.
He was babbling.
And somehow, that made everything even more uncomfortable.
'He's so much taller than me now. Broader too. And yet he's still acting like a ten-year-old, shy… whatever this is.'
Ezra resisted the urge to cringe as Aurien stood there, visibly gathering himself.
"I never got to thank you," Aurien said after taking a deep breath.
Ezra frowned. "Thank me? For what?"
He was genuinely confused.
'Did I ever do anything worth being thanked for?' Ezra thought. 'For him?'
"Five years ago," Aurien continued, "I asked you to help me learn the sword."
Oh.
It was about that.
"Even though my new staff and knights were… more or less competent and obedient," Aurien said slowly, "I trusted you more." His gaze flicked to Ezra, then away again. "And I knew you were busy. You always were."
Ezra didn't interrupt.
"You still made time. After training your men, after exhausting yourself, you came to train me personally." Aurien's voice softened. "I was going to thank you after the ball. But then you were suddenly gone, and my brother announced you were on vacation."
Aurien bowed his head.
Ezra's eyes widened instantly.
"Prince Aurien, what are you doing—"
"Thank you, Ezra," Aurien said firmly.
"Please, raise your head—"
"Because of you," Aurien went on, not lifting his gaze, "I've been able to hold my own. I earned my knights' respect. I can even handle some work around the kingdom now." His fingers curled at his sides. "If it weren't for your honest words, and for helping me despite the fact that I know you…"
He hesitated.
"…think I'm weak."
Oh.
Ezra's breath caught.
'He noticed?'
"I—I don't think you're weak," Ezra said quickly. "I just—"
Aurien lifted his head.
Ezra froze.
Aurien's face was bright red, ears burning, eyes shining with something dangerously close to determination.
"I will prove to you that your efforts weren't wasted," Aurien said, voice steady despite the flush. "You'll see. In the coming days."
And then he turned around.
And walked away.
Just like that.
Leaving Ezra standing there, stunned, confused, and—
'He didn't even let me speak!'
—frustratingly annoyed.