Leo and Luca stepped into a quieter chamber, shutting the door behind them. The muffled noise of the corridor faded, leaving them in a tense silence.
Luca broke it first, his voice gentle.
"Leo… do you want to talk about it?"
Leo hesitated, his small hands clenching at his sides.
"Uncle… it's about Mother… and me… in her womb."
Luca's brow furrowed.
"What about it?"
Leo's voice was soft, but heavy with concern.
"Uncle… do you also believe that Mother… cheated on Father?"
Luca's eyes widened in disbelief.
"That's impossible. I don't believe it, Leo. I trust your mother. She would never betray Eyan."
Leo's lips trembled, and his gaze fell to the floor.
"Leo… why are you making that face?" Luca asked gently.
"Uncle… I think Father's trust in Mother wavered just now."
"Wavered?"
"Yes… I think he doubts that I'm not his child."
Luca's jaw tightened, his thoughts racing.
"No… no, it's not like that, Leo."
"If it's not like that," Leo pressed, "then why wasn't Father happy when he heard about me? He looked… confused."
Luca sighed, shoulders slumping slightly.
"Leo… to tell you the truth, I'm a little confused too. How can the child already be one month old when your mother and father were only married two weeks ago?"
Leo's eyes brightened with quiet resolve.
"Uncle… there's a reason for that."
"A reason?"
Leo lowered his voice, leaning closer.
"Uncle… I've never told anyone this… not even Mother. I wasn't born like a normal child."
Luca's eyes widened.
"What do you mean?"
"A normal child takes nine months to grow inside the womb… but I… I was born after five months."
"Five months?!" Luca exclaimed, astonished.
"Yes," Leo said calmly. "Because of my power… because I am Zeradros… it only took me five months to fully develop into a healthy child."
He paused, letting the words sink in.
"That's why I'm already one month old in Mother's womb now."
Luca exhaled slowly, relief and awe mixing in his expression.
"That… explains everything."
Leo's small shoulders sagged with exhaustion and worry.
"But… I can't tell this to Father. He thinks… he thinks I'm not his child."
Luca placed a comforting hand on Leo's shoulder.
"Don't worry, Leo. I'll do everything I can to make him believe it."
Leo's eyes shimmered with hope.
"Please, Uncle… I don't want Father to ever doubt Mother's loyalty to him."
Luca smiled gently.
"I promise… I'll talk to him. Everything will be alright."
Leo nodded, finally allowing himself a small, tentative smile.
----
(Prince Velco's Chamber — Royal Palace)
Velco lounged in his chair, fingers tapping idly against the armrest as he stared at the paintings that lined the wall — faces of: Eyan, Eva, Luca, and little Leo.
A knock at the door, then a man entered and bowed low.
The man: "your highness Prince velco"
Velco looked back without rising.
Velco: "what"
The man straightened, a small smile of triumph flickering across his face.
The man: "i bring you a good news"
Velco's tapping paused for a heartbeat.
Velco: "good news"
The man: "yes your highness"
Velco drummed his fingers on the chair again, impatience and amusement dancing in his eyes.
Velco: "tell me what is it"
The man's voice dropped, reverent and quick.
The man: "your highness the Queen is with a child"
Velco's fingers stopped mid-motion. For a moment his face was unreadable — then a slow, satisfied smile carved itself across his lips.
Velco: "finally the wait is over"
He rose from his chair as if pulled by a new, fierce energy.
Velco: "I can began my hunt now"
His hand tightened into a fist at the thought. He leaned forward, eyes sharp.
Velco: "tell 'him' to do his job perfectly"
The man bowed again, voice steady with duty.
The man: "as you wish your highness"
When the man left, Velco rose and walked to the wall of portraits.
Velco: "who should I hunt first"
His gaze skimmed over each face. Then, with a slow smile that never reached his eyes, he decided.
Velco: "him"
He set his dagger carefully against Leo's picture, the metal flashing briefly in the torchlight.
Velco: "let's hunthim down first"
---
(Outside Eva's Chamber — Evening)
Luca and Leo returned after their talk. Eyan still stood by the wall, pale and hollow-eyed, as if the marble itself could steady him.
Luca's tone was sharp with worry. "Eyan, why are you still outside?"
"Go to sister— she is alone," he urged.
Eyan's reply was flat, hollow. "Lady Aranel is inside."
"She hasn't woken up yet," he added.
A sudden, high voice cut through the air. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE—GET OUT NOW!."
Aranel's scream sliced the silence. "YOUR MAJESTY!"
Alarm surged through Eyan, Luca, and Leo as they rushed into the room.
Eyan demanded, frantic, "Lady Aranel, what happened?" He stopped dead, eyes falling on a scene that made his stomach drop.
A man sat on the edge of Eva's bed, clutching her hand and weeping openly. His presence looked impossible—an intruder kneeling at the Queen's side.
Aranel's voice trembled as she explained. "Your majesty, this man entered the room through the window."
"He is not letting go of Eva's hand."
Eyan moved like a coiled thing—swift, furious. He strode forward, pried the man's fingers from Eva's hand, and threw the man's grip aside. "Take your damn hand off her!"
He pinned the intruder with a furious glare. "Who are you and how did you enter the palace?"
The man sobbed, voice ragged. "Your majesty, my name is Gray. I came here to see the Queen." He kept crying. "Forgive me, your majesty, but I couldn't stop myself when I heard the Queen fainted."
Eyan's voice trembled with cold fury. "Why would you care about the Queen? What relation do you share with her?"
Gray's answer fell like poison. "Your majesty, I'm the father of the Queen's child."
For a beat the world stopped—Eyan's legs nearly gave out. Shock carved through the room.
Luca, furious and disbelieving, snapped, "Stop talking nonsense!"
Gray only sobbed louder. "I'm not lying, your majesty. I'm the father of this child." He jabbed a trembling finger toward Eva's limp form. "The Queen was having an affair with me behind her first husband's back."
Eyan's heart sank as though a weight had landed upon it.
Luca grabbed Eyan's hand, voice sharp with pleading. "Eyan, don't listen to him—he's lying."
He looked fiercely at his friend. "You trust sister-in-law, right? She could never do that."
Eyan didn't answer. The silence stretched.
Luca turned back to Gray, his expression deadly calm. "You—if you utter one more nonsense, I'll kill you."
Gray's face blanched; fear replaced his tears.
Luca barked a command. "Knights!"
They responded instantly, bursting into the chamber. "Yes, Master Luca," a voice said.
Luca's command was terse. "Get him out of this room and throw him in the dungeon."
Two knights moved forward with practiced speed, seizing Gray and dragging him toward the door.
Gray, even as they pulled him away, flashed a thin, triumphing smile—one that didn't reach his eyes. Inside, a thought crawled through him like ice. My work here is done, he mouthed silently, then looked back once more at Eyan. Let's see what you will do now your majesty.
The knights hauled him away, the chamber door slamming shut behind them. The accusations hung in the air, heavier than any lock.
---