Chapter 223: Three Children, One Forged Letter, Zero Remorse
Chapter 223: Three Children, One Forged Letter, Zero Remorse
Elyn’s POV
The moment the child ran into the office, Azerion moved.
There was no hesitation in his movements. He also ran, and then the two of them collided in what I could only describe as the most enthusiastic reunion I had ever witnessed.
They hugged each other like they had been separated for years. Like long-lost brothers. One would think they were made from the same rib with that enthusiastic reunion.
It was quite funny because just a few minutes ago, Azerion was arguing with another child about tiny brains and smoke, and now he had done a full 360 and was hugging Aziren, a smile on his face.
"Aziren!" Azerion said, his voice lighting up in a way I had not heard before.
Aziren laughed, bright and warm, his entire face glowing like a tiny sun. "I missed you!"
Azerion nodded immediately. "I missed you too."
Oh my days! Azerion could miss someone?
"Azerion knows how to miss people?" Rin asked in shock.
I gave her a look, and she immediately kept quiet.
The fact that Azerion could hug Aziren freely was kind of... unfair? Whenever Aziren was next to me, I needed fire-resistant clothes, but with Azerion, he could be himself.
Okay, so maybe I was a bit jealous of the fact that Azerion could hug Aziren freely and I could not. What’s there not to be jealous about? Aziren was a ball of sunshine after all. He had to be the cutest child I had ever met. He was so honest, and the fact that he didn’t steal my snacks was an added bonus.
Unlike one other demon I knew.
Eventually, the two of them pulled apart, though not by much. Azerion still held onto Aziren’s arm like he might disappear if he let go.
Then Aziren turned to me.
His face lit up the moment our eyes met, and I didn’t know what it was about this child, but that smile of his just made me smile too. Every single time. Without fail.
It brightened his face, and the little flames in his hair looked like they were excited to see me too.
"Your Majesty," he said brightly. "Can I hug you? I missed you too."
"Hello, Aziren."
I wanted to hug him. I genuinely did.
But I looked down at what I was wearing and thought better of it.
"I would have hugged you," I told him. "But I didn’t know you were coming. I’m not wearing fire-resistant clothes. You know what happened the last time."
His ears dropped, but he nodded at that.
Just then, footsteps came from the corridor, and Ysera walked in.
I knew without anyone even telling me that she was the one telling Aziren to slow down before. I knew I knew that voice, I just couldn’t place where I had heard it from before. Well, no need for guesses anymore.
Her eight tails swept in behind her, the ember tips catching the light. She bowed.
"Your Majesty."
"Ysera." I smiled. "It’s good to see you."
She straightened.
"Your Majesty," she said slowly, "what do you mean you didn’t know Aziren was coming?"
I chuckled. "I know I gave you an open invitation. I meant it. But I just didn’t think you’d use it two days later."
Ysera stared at me.
"Your Majesty," she said, "I didn’t plan to bring Aziren today."
I blinked. "Pardon?"
"I thought you would be tired after the ball," she continued. "I had no intention of coming so soon." She paused. "But then we received a letter from the palace."
I went still.
"A letter," I repeated.
"Yes. Inviting us. With your signature, Your Majesty." She paused again. "Although Aziren didn’t let me finish reading it before he—"
She stopped and then turned to her son.
I followed her gaze.
Aziren had suddenly found his own fingers very interesting. He pressed the tips together slowly, eyes dropping to the floor, then sliding sideways toward the other child beside him.
I looked at the other child properly then.
He was not as small as Aziren; he looked around Velira’s age. Black hair, slightly disheveled, with a faint reddish tint where the light caught it. Black fox ears rose from his head, pointed and tipped red at the edges, matching the red of his eyes behind his glasses, which sat at a slight angle on his nose. Two tails, black streaked with red at the tips. A single piercing in one ear, red beads swaying. He was dressed neatly in a dark fitted jacket and collared shirt.
And he was currently looking at his own hands.
Adjusting his jacket.
Smoothing a sleeve.
He did everything to avoid looking at Ysera, whose gaze had now moved to him.
"Zayrion."
Her voice came out low.
"Aziren," she called. "Did you guys trick me?"
Neither of them said anything.
Aziren pressed his fingers tighter together.
Zayrion cleared his throat.
Then he reached up and adjusted his glasses.
"Define trick," he said.
Rin converted a laugh into a cough. Vaelory too looked like she was holding hers in, while Morthen just adjusted his glasses, his antennae moving with the motion.
Ysera stared at Zayrion.
"Do not play smart with me," she said.
Zayrion looked back at his hands.
Ysera sighed.
Then she turned back to me.
"Your Majesty, I apologize. I had no idea this was something they had planned." She shook her head slightly. "I also had no idea they could forge your signature."
I hummed.
Because my eyes had moved to Azerion.
Who was standing very still.
Chin slightly lifted. Expression neutral.
And very carefully adjusting the collar of his shirt with two fingers.
He smoothed it down, then adjusted it again.
And he was not looking at me at all.
I watched him for a moment.
Then I looked back at Ysera.
"It’s alright," I said. "You have nothing to apologize for."
She just stared at me.
"Though," I added, "I think the apology needs to be a little wider."
Ysera frowned. "Your Majesty?"
I let my gaze move.
From Aziren, who had gone completely still.
To Zayrion, whose ear beads had stopped swaying.
To Azerion, who was on his third collar adjustment.
"There were three children involved in this scheme after all," I said.