"Roman, look at you, my boy!" King Nyxen proclaimed after Roman had greeted him with a deep, practiced bow. The King leaned forward and lifted the boy into his arms with a hearty laugh.

"You have grown taller since I last saw you. Tell me, what is it you desire? Your grandfather will grant you anything you wish." He settled the boy firmly against his side, his royal robes rustling.

"Your Majesty, I... I do not know what I should ask for," Roman admitted, tapping his chin as he fell into deep contemplation.

"Well, you need not worry. I have prepared several gifts for you myself," King Nyxen asserted, his eyes twinkling. "And you have much to open; the Queen, your uncle, and your aunt. the Crown Prince and Princess, have all sent treasures from the capital."

Damian stepped forward, noticing the King’s slight breathlessness. "Your Majesty, you should sit down. Please, let me hold Roman."

King Nyxen waved a dismissive hand in the air, his rings catching the light. "Nonsense, Damian. I am not so old that I cannot hold my own grandson on his fifth birthday." He finally moved to a large, gilded chair, keeping the boy perched proudly on his knee.

Damian’s smile lingered as he glanced toward his mother. She sat slightly apart, a soft longing in her gaze that made it clear she was reaching for the memory of his father on this significant day.

"Your Majesty, I want a sword," Roman finally declared, his small voice ringing with sudden clarity.

"A sword?" King Nyxen asked, arching a silvered brow in curiosity. "And what would a five-year-old do with such a weapon?"

"I will protect my mama and my father too," Roman replied firmly. He looked up at the King with a serious expression. "Recently, something happened... I do not know everything, but I know someone tried to hurt my father. I must be ready."

Hearing the boy’s words, a surge of pride warmed Damian’s chest, his eyes shining as he looked at his son. He found himself wishing Eilika were standing beside him; she would have been moved to tears by the boy’s devotion.

Leaning slightly, Damian beckoned a nearby servant and spoke in a low, private tone. "Where is the Duchess?"

"The Duchess is currently overseeing the final preparations for tonight’s banquet, Your Grace," the servant whispered back.

Damian hummed in acknowledgment and gestured for the man to return to his post. He turned back to the King and Roman, the weight of his earlier conversation with Eilika still fresh, but softened by the sight of the boy’s fierce loyalty.

"A noble goal, Roman," King Nyxen said, his voice softening. "Very well. A training blade of the finest craft shall be yours. But remember, a true protector also needs a sharp mind."

"A sharp mind?" Roman furrowed his tiny brows together, wondering what did that mean.

~~~~

"No, I want the banners to be hung higher. And what of the cake? Is it ready?" Eilika asked, her attention fixed on the head of the banquet as he coordinated the staff.

"Not yet, Your Grace. The confectioners require another three hours to finalize the details," the banquet head replied with a respectful bow.

"You are so deeply occupied with these preparations, yet I have been searching for you everywhere," August’s voice cut through the air.

Eilika turned to face him, her expression composed as she offered a humble, practiced bow. "I suspect Prince August has much he wishes to say to me," she said calmly. Without waiting for a response, she walked out of the bustling hall toward the quiet of the corridor, while August trailed silently after her. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Eilika stood against the stone railing of the open balcony, the wind catching her skirts as she finally turned to face him. August stopped a few steps away, his silhouette sharp against the morning light.

"Why did you return? Is this how you fulfill your promise?" August asked, his voice tight with suppressed annoyance.

"I did not anticipate that Damian would find me," Eilika answered steadily, though her heart hammered in her chest. "But since I am here, Prince August, I have uncovered something. I must ask, is it true? Did Liliana know you before she ever met the Duke?"

"Why should I tell you anything?" August snapped. "You have no idea how much anger I have been holding inside me. I see now that you are just like the rest of them. I thought you were different. I actually believed... that I could trust you."

He stepped closer, the bitterness in his voice palpable. "You went back to him. You chose the man who took everything from me, and now you come here questioning the past?"

"August, you have no right to speak to my wife in that manner," Damian’s voice echoed across the balcony. He moved, stepping firmly between Eilika and the Prince.

"Damian, it is good you have arrived. It saves me the trouble of finding you," August remarked, a sinister grin spreading across his face. "I think I shall make an announcement tonight. I’ll tell every guest that Roman isn’t yours, that Liliana cheated on you with me. Imagine the scandal."

"How dare you?" Damian growled, his hand moving toward his side, but before he could lung forward, Eilika stepped around him.

"That won’t happen. You will not say a single word at my son’s birthday party," she interjected, her voice ringing with a cold authority that even surprised Damian.

"Your son? He isn’t yours," August sneered, looking down at her.

"And he is definitely not yours," Eilika pronounced, her eyes flashing with fury and disgust. "I take my words back, you are not a human. If you were, you would never use a child as a weapon against Damian. You would have fought your battles the right way. And if you truly believed you were a father to Roman, you would care for his soul instead of planning to ruin his life for the sake of a grudge."

She took a step closer to August, glaring at him with such intensity that his grin faltered. "A father protects his child. You only seek to destroy yours. That makes you nothing to him."