northernbook Chapter 215: Calm Before The...?
Chapter 215: Calm Before The...?
"Maman, is Kakay going to visit us again today?" Lior asks, looking up at him as he sat comfortably on Ezra’s lap, his small hands absentmindedly playing with the sleeve of Ezra’s clothes.
It had been a few days.
A few days of somewhat peace after all the revelations Ezra found out, though "peace" still felt like the wrong word for it.
Because even if things had quieted down on the surface, the kingdom itself felt tense now.
A lot had happened in just a short amount of time.
The king had publicly announced the existence of the Cultists, the possible origin of the Dark Ones, and the fact that the kidnappings were likely connected to both.
The announcement caused panic within Luxaelis almost immediately.
Witnesses were asked to come forward.
Any information, rumors, suspicious sightings, even vague tips were encouraged to be reported.
The king also warned the public to be careful around mysterious figures, especially those who concealed themselves with cloaks and masks.
And after that came the mourning ceremony for Fleur De Lys.
An island once admired for its beauty.
Now empty.
The survivors left were only those who had moved away to Luxaelis long before the tragedy happened.
Ezra still remembered the silence during the ceremony.
The grief.
The fear.
People weren’t just mourning anymore.
They were terrified.
Another thing worth noting was Kaelis himself.
Kaelis had begun visiting Ezra and Lior consistently over the past few days, though most of those visits involved planning rather than casual conversation.
Now that the information was public, they had to carefully plan their next steps.
Especially because the suspects now knew exactly who the main investigator was.
Kaelis.
And the three people they currently suspected most were Helios, Aurien, and Aamon.
Though after overhearing Aurien and Aamon together that day, Ezra and Kaelis now had reason to believe the two of them may have been working together somehow.
That thought alone still made Ezra’s chest tighten sometimes.
Especially when it came to Aamon.
’I still can’t believe it...’
"He might, but we have work today," Ezra says gently as he brushes his fingers through Lior’s soft hair. "I might be gone for hours. Will you be okay with that?"
Lior immediately grins brightly.
"Yup! If it’s Maman and Kakay’s important work to keep me safe, then it’s okay!"
Ezra couldn’t help smiling slightly at that.
"How understanding of you."
"And Gramma Love is gonna come take care of me again!" Lior adds excitedly, practically bouncing a little in Ezra’s lap.
"Do you like Love?" Ezra asks curiously, tilting his head slightly.
Love had also started coming around often whenever Kaelis and Ezra needed quiet time to talk without Lior overhearing serious conversations.
And surprisingly, Lior had grown attached to her very quickly.
More than he ever attached himself to Fizzy, if Ezra was being honest.
Lior had even started calling her "Gramma" naturally one day and simply never stopped afterward.
"I really, really like Gramma Love!" Lior exclaims happily. "She tells me funny stories about Kakay, and teaches me words and colors and stuff!"
Ezra lets out a small breath of relief at that.
Apparently, Love used to be one of Kaelis’ tutors when he was younger, so she knew quite a lot about handling children.
Whic,h honestly eased one of Ezra’s biggest worries lately.
Because of everything happening, Ezra had started feeling guilty that he hadn’t been able to properly teach Lior new things recently.
Lior was unusually smart for his age, but he was still a child.
And Ezra constantly worried he wasn’t doing enough for him.
’I don’t want him growing up trapped in survival alone...’
"Well, I heard she’s going to teach you more new things today." Ezra smiles faintly before placing a small kiss on top of Lior’s head. "Tell me all about it when I get back, okay?"
"Of course!" Lior exclaims happily without hesitation.
Then suddenly, Lior gasps dramatically as if he just remembered something important.
"Oh! And Gramma Love said Kakay used to cry because he hated reading lessons!"
Ezra blinks in surprise.
"...He did?"
"Mhm!" Lior nods enthusiastically. "She said he used to hide under tables!"
Ezra immediately snorts before he can stop himself.
The image of Kaelis, proud and dramatic Kaelis, hiding under a table to avoid lessons, was absurd enough that it actually made him laugh.
And strangely enough, it felt nice.
Nice to laugh without tension twisting in his chest for once.
Lior seemed oddly delighted by the fact that Ezra laughed.
Actually delighted.
His eyes immediately brightened, and he started giggling too despite clearly not finding the story itself nearly as funny as Ezra did.
"Maman laughed!" Lior exclaims dramatically, like it was some sort of historical event.
Ezra snorts again despite himself.
"Yes, yes, apparently the great and mighty Kakay–I mean, Prince Kaelis, used to fear books."
"He was scared of words!" Lior says proudly, as if exposing Kaelis’ embarrassing childhood secrets was the greatest thing in the world.
Ezra shakes his head, still smiling faintly.
And honestly...
Now that he didn’t absolutely hate Kaelis’ guts anymore, stories like that were funny.
Because Kaelis suddenly felt more human now instead of just Prince Kaelis.
Not the irritating prince Ezra spent years avoiding.
Not the kingdom’s biggest flirt.
Just...Kaelis.
A person.
One who apparently hid under tables to avoid reading lessons.
And maybe the reason Ezra found it even funnier was because he could suddenly see so much of Kaelis in Lior now that he stopped denying it.
Lior’s dramatics.
The confidence.
The way he tried to act mature while still being ridiculously expressive.
Even the way Lior proudly exposed embarrassing stories felt painfully similar to Kaelis teasing people.
’God...’ Ezra thought tiredly. ’He really is his father’s son.’
The realization no longer made him panic the way it used to.
If anything, now it just felt strangely amusing.
Then suddenly—
Knock knock.
Ezra looks toward the door.
"Come in," he says.
The door opens shortly after, revealing Love stepping inside with a warm smile on her face.
In her arms were several books stacked neatly together, along with a tray filled with small snacks and tea.
Lior immediately gasps.
"Gramma Love!"
Love laughs softly at the enthusiastic greeting.
"Well, someone seems excited today."
"I am!" Lior practically wiggles in excitement before immediately climbing out of Ezra’s lap and running toward her. "Are we learning more colors today?!"
"And reading," Love says knowingly. "You promised me you’d practice."
Lior groans dramatically.
Ezra immediately bites back another laugh.
’Definitely Kaelis’ child.’
A thought he never thought he’d comfortably say inside his mind.
Love carefully sets the tray and books down nearby before gently patting Lior’s head.
"Are you ready for today’s lesson, little prince?"
"Yes!" Lior answers immediately before pausing. "Wait, no, not prince. Maman said no prince."
Love’s expression softens slightly at that.
"Right. My mistake. I’m used to teaching princes."
"Well, I could be...someday! If I find my own kingdom!"
"Of course."
Ezra quietly watches the interaction for a moment before speaking.
"Thank you again, Love."
And he genuinely meant it.
Because despite everything happening lately, Love had become one of the few people Ezra actually trusted around Lior.
Love immediately waves him off.
"Oh, it’s quite alright. It’s been a delight taking care of a child again," she says warmly before smiling down at Lior. "Let alone the son of the great Crimson Fae."
Lior beams proudly at the title despite clearly not fully understanding it.
Ezra couldn’t help smiling faintly at that too.
Yes, Love knew Lior was his son.
Mostly because Ezra told her himself.
At first he hesitated, but Kaelis trusted Love deeply, and after everything that happened, Ezra decided he would trust her too.
And honestly?
Love barely even looked surprised when he told her.
Ezra still remembered it clearly.
"I know," Love had said gently back then. "It was obvious from the moment I saw him with you. A mother’s eye never fails to recognize another."
The memory still made something warm settle quietly inside Ezra’s chest.
Because she didn’t judge him.
Didn’t question him.
She simply accepted it.
Lior suddenly tugs at Love’s sleeve excitedly.
"Gramma Love! Tell Maman the story about Kakay getting stuck under the table again!"
"Oh, I have many stories," Love says ominously.
"Please don’t encourage him," Ezra says immediately, though he was already smiling again. "He might tease Kaelis to death."
Love laughs softly.
"I make no promises."
Ezra shakes his head before finally standing up properly.
"Well...behave while I’m gone."
"I always behave!" Lior says confidently.
Both Ezra and Love stare at him silently.
Lior pauses.
"...Mostly."
Ezra finally laughs quietly under his breath before leaning down and pressing another kiss against Lior’s forehead.
"I’ll be back later."
Then he glances toward Love again, giving her one last grateful nod before finally turning toward the door.
And the moment Ezra stepped outside the room, the warmth inside his chest slowly faded again.
Not completely.
But enough for reality to settle back over him.
Because waiting outside that door wasn’t laughter, stories, or peace.
It was something he dreaded.
’I haven’t seen Helios since that time he walked away after being questioned.’ Ezra sighs. ’Now, I have to act like I’m not bothered by it.’