Chapter 193: The Night That Helios Waited For. Pt.1

Five years ago...

"Heli, are you sure it’s okay to serve Supernova at such an important event?" Alyce says nervously as they both danced in the middle of the ballroom, her voice quieter compared to the overwhelming music and chatter surrounding them.

The grand hall shimmered with gold and crystal, nobles laughing beneath enormous chandeliers while servants continued pouring glowing glasses of the famous Celestial Rays liquor from tray after tray.

Supernova.

The prized drink of Alyce’s kingdom.

Sweet.

Expensive.

And most importantly, dangerously intoxicating.

Helios could already see the effects taking hold around the ballroom.

Nobles leaning closer to one another, cheeks flushed, guards laughing louder than usual, even some of the older aristocrats looking pleasantly dazed beneath the glittering lights.

And at the center of it all—

He and Alyce.

Helios could feel everyone staring at them.

Watching them dance like they were some divine pairing blessed by Aurethys himself.

The golden prince of Luxaelis and the ruby princess of Celestial Rays.

The sun and stars.

But to Helios?

This was nothing but a job.

A performance.

A show carefully crafted for the kingdom to consume.

And Alyce—

Alyce was simply another puppet helping him maintain that image.

"Nonsense," Helios says smoothly, his voice warm and charming as he smiles down at her, the perfect picture of a loving future husband.

Deep inside, though, he wanted nothing more than to get this over with and do what he actually came here to do.

"My brothers love it. I haven’t seen Aurien and Kaelis drink so much."

"But..." Alyce hesitated, her hands tightening slightly against his as they continued to move across the dance floor. "Aren’t you worried about the side effects? As delicious as it is, it’s usually very easy for people to get drunk on it, especially if they’re not used to it."

"But it’s your national drink, no?" Helios says gently, guiding her into another elegant turn. "As the future queen, you’re simply sharing your culture and look..."

He gestures subtly toward the crowd.

"...everyone loves it. Just like they love you."

Alyce’s entire face turned red almost instantly, matching her crimson eyes beautifully as she looked away shyly.

Predictable as always.

She was always this easy to fluster.

To the point that Helios almost found it embarrassing.

"How about you?" Alyce whispers after a moment, her steps slowing slightly.

"What about me?" Helios asks with perfectly crafted curiosity, though in reality, he couldn’t care less about where this conversation was going.

"Do you love me?" Alyce asks shyly, looking up at him through her lashes, batting them slightly as if trying to draw him in.

But—

’Disgusting.’

Helios thought immediately, resisting the urge to cringe right there on the ballroom floor.

He genuinely couldn’t understand how someone raised as a princess could behave this shamelessly.

She was too desperate.

Too eager.

Unlike Ezra.

Ezra never begged for affection.

Never threw himself at people.

Never looked pathetic trying to be loved.

Ezra carried himself with pride even at his weakest.

Ezra was perfect.

Ezra was worth loving.

Not Alyce.

But Helios couldn’t exactly say that out loud while he still needed her kingdom, now could he?

"Well..."

Helios did what he always did whenever Alyce became too emotional.

He lifted a hand gently to her face, holding her cheek softly, making sure to stare directly into her eyes in that practiced way he knew made her melt immediately.

And then—

Oh. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

As they moved across a certain part of the ballroom, Helios’ gaze shifted past Alyce’s shoulder.

Straight through the crowd.

And landed on Ezra.

But Ezra wasn’t alone.

He was with Kaelis.

’No...’

Helios’ expression almost twitched before he caught himself.

’What are they doing together?’

His eyes narrowed faintly as he glanced toward the grand clock near the orchestra.

’It’s almost time...’

His stomach tightened.

Ezra shouldn’t be left alone with Kaelis.

’I have to stop this dance.’

Immediately.

Because this part mattered.

Everything depended on timing tonight.

But how was he supposed to leave Alyce when the entire ballroom was watching them?

He—

"Heli?"

Alyce’s voice pulled him sharply from his thoughts.

"What’s wrong? You look troubled."

Almost instantly, Alyce had already forgotten her own question about love the moment she noticed his expression change.

That could work.

Perfectly, actually.

"Alyce, is it okay if I excuse myself?" Helios asks softly, immediately watching her eyes widen in concern.

"Why? What’s wrong?"

"My captain is getting harassed by my brother again," Helios says with a small sigh, carefully layering exhaustion into his tone. "As you know, they don’t get along. I love my brother, but he’s hardly the perfect person to make conversation with."

Helios almost felt sick saying that.

’I love my brother.’

What a revolting sentence.

But Alyce immediately looked sympathetic anyway, exactly as expected.

"Oh no..." she whispers worriedly. "Prince Kaelis is bothering Captain Ezra again?"

Helios lowers his gaze slightly, pretending to look conflicted.

"He means well sometimes," Helios lies effortlessly. "But Kaelis can be...overbearing."

Meanwhile, inside his head—

’Stay away from him.’

The thought came colder than ice.

Sharper than any blade Helios had ever held.

Helios was getting anxious the longer he watched them.

Even from across the ballroom, he could see Kaelis talking comfortably, leaning slightly toward Ezra while Ezra actually stayed there instead of immediately walking away like he usually did.

That alone irritated Helios more than it should have.

’Why is he still standing there?’ Helios thought, forcing himself to keep his expression pleasant while his jaw tightened faintly. ’What is Kaelis saying to him?’

Kaelis always had that look whenever Ezra was involved.

Helios hated it.

Especially tonight.

Tonight of all nights.

Ezra shouldn’t have been anywhere near Kaelis right now.

Not when Helios had already prepared everything so carefully.

Not when timing mattered this much.

And unfortunately, Kaelis looked...comfortable, happy even.

Like he actually enjoyed Ezra’s company.

Of course, he did.

Kaelis had obviously had his eyes on Ezra.

That part made Helios feel something ugly crawling beneath his skin.

Jealousy.

Possessiveness.

Something worse.

"Heli?"

Alyce’s soft voice interrupted his thoughts again.

Helios immediately looked back at her, smoothly forcing warmth back onto his face before she could notice the irritation underneath.

"You seem worried," Alyce says gently, her hands still resting against his as the music continues around them. "Maybe we should conclude the dance now so you can help Captain Ezra."

Oh.

That worked even better than expected.

Helios softened his expression immediately, carefully crafting gratitude into his gaze.

"Alyce..." Helios says quietly, sounding touched by her understanding. "Thank you."

Alyce smiled shyly at him again, clearly pleased by the reaction.

’Easy.’

The thought came almost automatically.

Then the music slowed into its final movement.

Perfect timing.

Helios guided Alyce effortlessly through the ending steps of the dance, their movements graceful and practiced beneath the glittering chandeliers as the crowd watched them with admiration.

The final spin came naturally.

Alyce’s dress flared around her beautifully as Helios pulled her gently back toward him before both of them bowed elegantly toward the applauding ballroom.

Clapping erupted almost instantly.

Nobles smiling.

Whispering.

Watching the future king and queen with sparkling eyes.

Helios barely heard any of it.

His attention was already elsewhere.

Already locked onto Ezra.

"I’ll look for you later," Helios tells Alyce smoothly as he lifts her hand toward his lips politely.

Alyce looked pleased enough by that promise that she didn’t question it.

But inside Helios’ mind—

’No, I won’t.’

Because after tonight—

He would be busy.

Busy with Ezra.

The thought alone settled something darkly satisfied inside him.

Helios finally stepped away from Alyce and immediately started moving through the crowd, polite smiles barely masking the sharpness growing underneath his calm exterior, the closer he got.

And there they were.

Ezra and Kaelis.

Still talking.

Kaelis was saying something when Helios finally reached them, and without hesitation, Helios stepped directly beside Ezra before placing a possessive hand firmly against his shoulder.

The contact was deliberate.

Claiming.

Ezra visibly stiffened beneath his touch.

Meanwhile, Kaelis immediately looked up—

And flinched.

Actually flinched.

Helios smiled pleasantly.

"Kaelis," Helios says calmly, though his eyes narrowed slightly as he looked directly at his younger brother. "I see you’re talking my captain’s ear off."