The dream always began the same way.
A grand hall.
Banners hanging from high stone pillars. Nobles standing in perfect rows. The scent of polished steel and candle wax filling the air.
It was the day of the Accolade—The ceremony of dubbing.The choosing of royal knights for his heirs. Every man who had trained from youth to adulthood stood assembled in formal lines, armor gleaming beneath torchlight.
Darius stood among them.
He was younger then.
But just as determined.
At the center of the hall sat the king upon his throne. To his right was Prince Alaric—composed, observant, already carrying himself with gentle dignity. To the king's left sat Prince Caelum.His posture was straighter than usual, hands gripping the armrests as if he could barely contain himself.
His eyes searched the rows until they found Darius.
And when they did—
He smiled.
Even from a distance, Darius could see it clearly. That look said everything.
Caleum's face full of hope,trust and anticipation.
You'll be mine.
Years of training together. Years of whispered promises beneath trees in the training grounds.
"You'll protect me, won't you?"
"Always."
Darius remembered saying it.
He meant it.
The king's voice echoed across the hall.
"Step forward."
One by one, names were called.
Then—
"Darius Greyward."
His heart pounded once.
He stepped forward and knelt.
Silence fell.
The king descended from the throne, sword in hand.
"For loyalty, skill, and unwavering discipline," the king declared, "I name you personal knight to Prince Alaric."
The blade tapped each of Darius's shoulders.
The hall erupted in formal applause.
But Darius heard none of it.
Because the air had changed.
He could feel it.
Darius forced himself to lift his gaze.
Their eyes met.
Shock flickered across Caelum's face...then confusion.
But he was still hoping.
Darius could see it.
Refuse,Caelum's eyes seemed to say.
*You can still refuse.
Darius could refuse.
He could.
He could say no.
The consequences would be severe. The king's displeasure would not be light. But Caelum was still a prince. He still held some standing.
He could still protect him.
The hall waited.
Darius swallowed.
"Yes, Sire."
The words echoed louder than any applause.
Caelum's face fell.
It wasn't dramatic. It wasn't loud.
But the disappointment in his eyes cut deeper than any blade.
The ceremony concluded in formal procession. Nobles gathered. Musicians resumed.
But Darius only saw one figure walking away.
He followed.
"Your Highness, I—"
"You could have said no."
Caelum didn't turn around.
His voice trembled, though he tried to keep it steady.
"I know the consequences wouldn't have been easy," he continued, shoulders stiff. "But I would have found a way. I would still be able to protect you."
He turned then.His fists clenched.
His hazelnut eyes were shining.
Tears welled up, but he blinked them back stubbornly.
"You should have had faith in me. Even just a little."
"Your Highness, I'm sorry," Darius said urgently. "It's not what you think. I—"
"You promised me!"
Caelum's voice broke.
"All those years, you promised you would stay by my side and protect me!"
The hall suddenly felt suffocating.
"I thought you were different," Caelum whispered, tears finally slipping down his cheeks. "But I guess you're just another liar."
Darius felt his chest tighten painfully.
"It's not like that," he said desperately. "I… I have my own reasons."
"I don't care about your reasons.From now on, don't talk to me. Don't come near me. Pretend you don't know me."
He turned and walked away.
Darius called out to him.
But Caelum never looked back.
—
"Uncle Darius!"
"Uncle, wake up!"
Darius jolted awake.
The dream shattered like glass.
Small hands were shaking his shoulders. Two worried faces hovered above him.
"You were talking in your sleep," Rhen said.
"And frowning," Riven added softly.
Darius blinked, trying to steady his breathing.
Sunlight flooded the room. It was already late morning.
And it's the day of departure.
"…I'm fine," he said quietly.
The twins exchanged a look but didn't press further.
They climbed off the bed and waited for him as he gathered himself.
The past lingered at the edges of his mind—but it felt distant now.
Because this time was different.
—
They headed to the kitchen together.
Eiran was already setting the table, moving efficiently as always.
"Good morning," he greeted warmly.
The twins immediately insisted on helping.
"No, no, it's alright—"
"We can carry the plates."
"We won't drop them."
Eiran laughed. "Then I suppose I have no choice."
He handed them simple tasks, unable to refuse their determined expressions.
As Darius stood quietly to the side, Eiran glanced at him.
"If you don't mind," he said gently, "could you call the young master? He went to the smallholding early again."
Darius nodded.
"I'll fetch him."
—
The path to the smallholding was familiar now.
The air was crisp. The scent of damp soil rose with the morning warmth.
He spotted Sion almost immediately.
He was kneeling by a row of plants, sleeves rolled up, fingers carefully adjusting the soil around tender stems. His expression was serious,focused,but not tense.
There was something deeply attentive about the way he worked.
Careful.Patient.
As if the world narrowed down to the fragile life in front of him.
It had been a long time since Darius had seen that look.
Back then, Caelum used to look at books that way.
Or injured birds he tried to nurse back to health.
Darius stopped walking.
For a moment, he simply watched.
Sion looked… peaceful.
Not guarded.Not sly.
Just quietly existing.
And perhaps it was because of the dream—
Or because of the memory of promises broken—
But Darius moved without fully realizing it.
He approached him and pulled Sion towards him,wrapping his arms around Sion.
It was sudden.Firm.Protective.
Sion froze.
"…What are you doing?"
There was no sharpness yet—only confusion.
Darius didn't answer immediately.
He hadn't even realized what he'd done.
His mind was still half in the past.
This time…
He tightened his hold slightly.
This time, I'm really going to stay by your side.