Breakfast at Earl Castermere’s mansion was anything but quiet, thanks to the twins, who had insisted on sitting as close to Eric as possible.

Eric didn’t mind in the slightest. He had always liked children, and after spending enough time with the boisterous kids of Eldarf, he was more than accustomed to noise. Compared to the elves and dwarves he had lived among, Leonard and Nicolas were barely half as active.

Across the table, Eric noticed that Drac had become the twins’ secondary target.

"Your Highness, will you come see our stables?"

"We have a lot of horses!"

"Do you like horses?" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

The questions came in a rapid stream, the twins turning eagerly from Eric to Drac.

"What about you, Sir Knight?" Nicolas asked.

Drac straightened slightly. "I’m not a knight," he replied, his tone serious and precise.

The twins immediately brightened.

"I’m not a knight," Leonard repeated solemnly.

"I’m not a knight either," Nicolas echoed, nodding with equal gravity.

"Big Brother, do you want to be a knight someday?" Nicolas asked.

"I want to be a knight!" Leonard declared without hesitation.

Drac went quiet, visibly considering the question as though it were a matter of great importance.

"If it’s as per Master’s plan-"

Eric’s eyes widened. He leaned in at once, kicking Drac’s leg from under the table and laughing as he cut in smoothly.

"Oh, yes. That’s the first thing he’s going to do once we return," Eric said easily. "After all, he has to be my knight."

Drac shot him a brief look but said nothing. He wasn’t foolish—but he was honest by default, especially around children. Ocean had taught him that much.

The twins practically lit up.

"Then can we come play at your place?"

"Will you teach us swordsmanship?!"

"Yes," Drac answered without hesitation.

The children cheered, nearly bouncing in their seats.

Eric watched Drac as he interacted with them, memories of Eldarf surfacing unbidden—of elven and dwarven children watching Drac train with wide eyes, of how naturally they had gravitated toward him. He could see why Dragons were loved across races. When they were not terrifying, they were something else entirely- steady, protective, and impossibly safe.

At the head of the table, Thaddeus observed his sons with quiet contentment. Seeing them so open, so delighted- and the First Prince smiling along with them- settled something deep in his chest.

Chelsea exchanged a glance with him and smiled softly, continuing to eat as though the people and the interaction around her were the most natural thing in the world.

Perhaps, Thaddeus thought, this Trial would not only decide the fate of the kingdom but bring a whole new era.

After breakfast, Eric and Drac changed into more casual clothes before heading out into town. Once ready, the two met at the entrance of the mansion, the morning light spilling across the stone steps.

Eric adjusted his gloves, then glanced at Drac only to realize his companion had gone oddly still, staring off into the distance as though listening to something only he could hear.

"Say, Drac," Eric began.

Drac turned to him. "Yes?"

"Your eyes," Eric said slowly. "They don’t... change, do they?"

Drac tilted his head, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Eric looked around instinctively. The entrance was empty, the household busy elsewhere. Satisfied, he stepped closer and lowered his voice.

"I mean- you’re a Dragon, like Master. And Master’s eyes are unmistakably Dragon eyes. So I was wondering... can you hide yours? Make them look human?"

Drac fell quiet.

For a moment, Eric thought he might not answer at all.

"I can’t," Drac said at last.

Eric let out a small sigh, his gaze settling on Drac’s eyes—amber ringed with gold, pupils stretched into elliptical slits that no human possessed. Beautiful, yes. But unmistakable.

"Those eyes might scare Miss Lysanne," Eric said quietly.

"Why?" Drac asked, genuinely confused.

Eric shook his head, exasperated, then muttered, "She seems like the type who could be your other half."

Then, as if a new thought struck him, his eyes sharpened and he leaned in again, lowering his voice further.

"Or are you planning on taking a Dragon bride instead?"

Drac blinked once, then rolled his eyes.

"I’ll marry whoever Master chooses for me."

The answer was calm. Flat. Absolute.

Eric straightened, studying him. There was no resentment in Drac’s voice. No longing, either. Just certainty- the kind that came from a life shaped by duty rather than desire.

"...You know," Eric said after a pause, rubbing the back of his neck, "Master would also like it if you started choosing things for yourself. He’s never told us to ignore our hearts- he can always mold his plans around us."

Drac looked at him, his expression unreadable.

"So even if you start liking a girl," Eric continued, voice lighter but earnest, "you can go ahead and not worry that it’ll disrupt Master’s plans. Do you understand?"

Drac remained silent for a moment, his gaze steady.

"Maybe," he said at last.

Eric stared at him, searching his face for something- anything- before letting out a quiet sigh.

Just then, footsteps approached.

Eric looked up to see Earl Thaddeus walking toward them, a sheepish smile on his face.

"I’m sorry," Thaddeus said, bowing his head slightly. "I’m late."

Eric smiled easily. "Oh, not at all. We just got here ourselves."

Thaddeus glanced between the two young men before gesturing toward the entrance.

"Shall we go, then?"

The trio stepped outside, where three horses had already been brought out by the servants. Two were powerful stallions—one chestnut brown, the other pitch black—while a white mare stood a little apart, reins held loosely.

Thaddeus stopped short the moment he saw them, surprise flashing across his face.

Eric walked toward the chestnut stallion without hesitation, while Drac, almost instinctively, headed straight for the black one.

"Ah- Mr. Rayburn, that-" Thaddeus began, but Drac had already reached the horse.

The stallion had been restless just moments ago, shifting and stamping as the young stable boy struggled to keep hold of the reins. But the instant Drac placed a hand against the horse’s forehead, the tension drained away.

Drac met the animal’s gaze.

The stallion went still.

Its ears flicked forward, breath evening out as it leaned subtly into Drac’s touch- calm, receptive, as though recognizing something far older than instinct.

"Uh... m-my lord..." the boy stammered.

Drac glanced at him, then at Thaddeus, who now looked distinctly uneasy.

"Is there a problem?" Drac asked.

"Th-that’s Miss Lysanne’s horse," the servant blurted.

Drac immediately withdrew his hand. "Oh. I’m sorry."

At once, the stallion let out a low, displeased whine, stamping a hoof against the ground as though protesting the distance.

"That’s... surprising," the servant holding the white mare murmured.

Eric, already mounted, glanced over. "Why?"

Thaddeus stepped closer, eyes fixed on the black stallion. "Angus doesn’t allow anyone near him. Not unless it’s Lysanne."

Drac looked back at the horse, then to Thaddeus.

"He’s... a volatile one," Thaddeus added carefully. "Mr. Rayburn."

"Hurry and fetch another horse," one of the senior servants snapped at the boy.

"I-I’m sorry!" the stable boy cried, tugging at the reins in panic.

Angus responded with an irritated snort, hooves striking the stone sharply.

Before the horse could lash out, Drac moved- grabbing the boy by the collar and pulling him clear in one smooth motion. With his other hand, he patted Angus’s neck, firm and steady.

The stallion huffed once... then stilled.

The reins slackened in the boy’s trembling hands.

"I–It’s shocking to see Angus so calm around you, Mr. Rayburn," Thaddeus said, disbelief lingering in his voice.

Memories surfaced unbidden—of bruised hands, torn gloves, and the months his daughter had spent nursing injuries while trying to earn the stallion’s trust.

Eric glanced at Drac, then smiled easily. "Animals like Drac, my lord. If it wouldn’t offend Miss Lysanne, may we allow him to ride Angus with us today?"

Thaddeus hesitated, eyes shifting between Eric and the black stallion. Angus showed no sign of returning to his handlers, if anything, he stood closer to Drac now, posture relaxed, almost possessive.

"And," Eric added lightly, "it does seem like Angus has already made his choice."

Thaddeus let out a small, awkward laugh. "I suppose he has."

After a moment’s thought, he nodded. "Very well. But please be careful, Mr. Rayburn."

Drac inclined his head. "Thank you, my lord."

He mounted Angus without resistance. The stallion accepted him as though it were the most natural thing in the world, letting out a satisfied whinny- head held high, proud rather than restless.

Thaddeus watched in silence before mounting the remaining white mare.

With the earl leading, Eric and Drac followed as they rode toward the town.

What they didn’t notice were the two small heads peeking out from the barn, cheeks puffed in identical pouts.

"They left without us," Leonard groaned, folding his arms dramatically.

Nicolas didn’t answer. Instead, he stared toward the stables, eyes narrowing with interest, before poking Leonard insistently in the arm.

Leonard followed his gaze and then froze.

A slow, mischievous grin spread across his face.

Nicolas mirrored it perfectly.