Chapter 256: Children Who Were Never in Bed, Parents Who Knew Better, and Answers That Vanish Too Quickly
Chapter 256: Children Who Were Never in Bed, Parents Who Knew Better, and Answers That Vanish Too Quickly
Elyn’s POV
No one spoke.
For a moment after I finished explaining what had happened, the office was so silent that I could hear the faint crackle of the fireplace in the far corner.
Every duke and duchess in the room stared at me.
Wide-eyed with shock.
Caleth and Faelyra turned to stare at each other.
Neither of them said anything at first, but I saw the way both of them swallowed, the way their expressions shifted from shock to something far more unsettling.
Fear.
Then they both turned back to me.
I frowned.
Because yes, I had expected surprise.
Maybe confusion.
But this? This was something else entirely.
Caleth cleared his throat.
"Your Majesty, pardon me, but what do you mean," he asked slowly, "by our children being in the palace?"
I blinked.
"What?"
He stared at me, his voice uncertain now, almost like he didn’t believe the words coming out of his own mouth.
"They are in the Thalasar domain," he said, though even as he spoke, his tone weakened. "They should be in bed by now."
I looked at him, confusion settling deeper in my chest.
Before I could reply, Faelyra closed her eyes.
Her hand rose to her forehead like she was trying to steady herself.
Then she spoke.
"They fed us a sleeping potion."
The office went quiet again.
I stared at her as she slowly opened her eyes.
"That is why we feel so rested," she said.
Caleth closed his eyes too, the expression on his face tightening as if he had just realized something deeply humiliating.
I looked between the two of them.
Then Draeven spoke.
"Are you certain," he asked carefully, "that you saw Brixton?"
I turned to him.
"Yes?"
He frowned.
"Because Brixton told me he was going to—"
He stopped.
His words cut off abruptly.
I watched realization spread across his face.
His brows drew together and then lifted slightly, like the thought had only just formed.
"Oh."
Aurelixa sighed.
"Zayrion was supposedly taking a nap," she said, folding her arms. "Which should have been suspicious enough, because my son never willingly naps when there is an opportunity for mischief."
She closed her eyes briefly.
"We should have known," Xaleron said with a sigh.
I stared at her.
"It was all a prank," she repeated with a sigh.
Xaleron let out a long breath and shook his head.
Seraphielle gave a short, humorless laugh.
"Even my own daughter pulled a prank on me," she said.
I looked around the room.
One after the other, the realization settled over all of them.
Every single one of them had been tricked.
By their own children... well, except Ignivar and Ysera.
And somehow, out of all of them, Caleth and Faelyra looked the worst.
The others were embarrassed.
Those two looked like they were on the verge of collapse.
Faelyra stepped forward.
"If the children are still here," she said quickly, "we will take them."
The others nodded immediately.
"Yes," Draeven said. "We should take them home."
"That would be best," Aurelixa added.
I stared at them with a frown.
"Surely," I said slowly, "you do not actually plan to do that."
Caleth looked confused.
I gestured slightly in frustration.
"After what I just saw those children experience, you think dragging them out of bed and hauling them home immediately is the best option?"
No one answered.
I folded my arms.
"They are exhausted," I said firmly. "They were terrified. Whatever happened affected them badly, and right now they need rest."
Seraphielle chuckled softly.
It was quiet, but enough to draw attention.
"The rest of us may leave our children," she said, glancing around the room, "but not Caleth and Faelyra."
The twins’ parents nodded immediately.
"Yes," Caleth said.
"Absolutely," Faelyra added.
I stared at them.
My frown deepened.
I didn’t understand why the twins were suddenly being singled out.
"The children are resting," I said firmly. "No one is taking them anywhere tonight."
Caleth stepped forward.
"Your Majesty—"
"No," I said.
He looked startled.
I held his gaze.
"They are sleeping," I repeated. "And after what happened, I am not letting anyone disturb them."
Faelyra looked desperate now.
"Please," she said. "At least let us take the twins."
I blinked.
"They truly should return with us," Caleth said to me.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "I already said no, Caleth."
"The children need to rest," I replied.
Caleth swallowed.
Then, to my complete shock, he looked almost pleading.
"Please," he said.
I stared at him in shock, because I had not been expecting that.
But I did not move.
"No," I said again, firmer this time. "The children are staying where they are. You can pick them up after they wake up."
Faelyra looked like she wanted to argue.
But I continued before she could.
"And that is not even the issue right now."
"I am far more interested," I said slowly, "in knowing why Zorathys reacted the way he did."
The office was quiet, and then Guilidern spoke.
"It is quite obvious—"
He didn’t get to finish his words because he winced just as Ignivar turned to him.
Ignivar turned toward him.
I didn’t know what passed between them.
No words were spoken, but it was obvious they had a conversation with just a look.
And somehow that was enough.
Guilidern stopped speaking immediately.
His mouth closed.
He straightened.
Then, to my complete confusion, he cleared his throat and smiled awkwardly.
"Actually," he said, "I just remembered I have work to do."
I stared at him.
What?
He stepped back.
"Yes," he said quickly. "Important work."
No one said anything.
And before I could question him, smoke curled around his feet.
Then, with a soft puff, he disappeared.
I turned to the others, and they too, before my very eyes, started departing. Seraphielle following immediately after her husband, Xaleron and Aurelixa next, Draeven with a heavy sigh, Ysera and Ignivar, and lastly Caleth and Faelyra.
Though it would be more accurate to say Faelyra took her husband away, and soon I was alone in the office.