"Before I explain, let me make one thing clear," Kaelis says, leaning back into his seat as the carriage begins moving again.
His tone is calm, but there's something firm underneath it. "I'm not lying to you. Aurethys help me, you always assume I'm trying to make Helios look bad."
Ezra blinks, still trying to process everything that just happened.
"It's… related to Prince Helios?" he asks, the surprise still obvious in his voice.
"Why else do you think I said she recognized your uniform?" Kaelis replies, his gaze steady, though there's a hint of frustration now.
Ezra exhales slowly.
He doesn't like where this is going.
But Kaelis had a point.
'He's not wrong.'
That alone made Ezra's chest feel heavier.
"Right…" Ezra murmurs, shifting slightly as he adjusts his hold on himself more than anything. "I'll keep an open mind."
Kaelis studies him for a second, as if he's deciding whether to continue.
Then he does.
