Candles flickered along the walls, positioned between heavy red curtains that completely obscured the windows. A line of knights stood at attention, keeping a disciplined distance from one another. In the center of the throne room sat a long table covered in a vibrant red cloth.

  A feast was laid out—a bizarre and steaming spread of baked dishes. There were large, succulent fish, roasted lizard tails, shimmering jellies, and various other exotic species, all smelling surprisingly delicious. The chairs were made of dark wood, their backs draped with red fabric embroidered with the eagle sigil of Rustalia.

  Aurelius sat at the head of the table, commanding the center. Lyra and Niya sat together on the right side, while Lili sat alone on the left, with empty chairs flanking her on either side. Lyra’s hair was tied in a ponytail, with loose strands falling over her shoulders and brushing against her pointed ears. Niya wore her hair loose down her back, dressed in a brown waistcoat over a crisp white shirt and peach-colored pants. Lili, as usual, wore her signature black gown, her hair flowing freely.

  Suddenly, Lili slammed her hands on the table and stood up abruptly. Her head had been resting on the table, but now she looked around in a rage.

  "What the hell?" she snapped. "Why isn't he here yet? It’s been an hour!"

  Lyra closed her eyes, a weary smile tugging at her lips. "Ugh, Lili... he’s probably on his way. Just wait a little longer."

  But Lili wasn't listening. She shouted at the ceiling, "Who does he think he is? That’s it—I’m going to find him myself!"

  Lili stormed toward the exit while Lyra continued her verbal attempt to stop her, but her words fell on deaf ears. As Lili’s stubbornness grew, so did Lyra's irritation; she was beginning to lose her temper, forcing Niya to step in and try to calm her down. Meanwhile, at the head of the table, Aurelius leaned his head on his hand. "Oh, come on..." he muttered.

  Just as Lili reached the massive throne room gates, they swung open. Leo stepped through, dressed in a crisp white shirt and black trousers, his fingers fumbling with the buttons on his cuffs. He looked up just in time to see Lili’s fury-filled face—and then her fist.

  She landed a solid punch right on his chin.

  The force of the blow sent Leo sprawling to the floor. Aurelius, Lyra, and Niya watched in stunned silence. Aurelius winced, a smirk creeping onto his face. "Ouch... that looked like it hurt."

  Lyra snapped her head toward him, her eyes narrowing. "King Aurelius?"

  "Oh, sorry," he replied quickly, trying to hide his grin behind his left hand.

  Leo groaned, rubbing his sore chin as he glared up from the ground. "Ouch! What the hell, Lili? What was that for?"

  Lili planted her hands on her hips and leaned over Leo as he lay on the floor. "Oh, really? Where the hell were you? We’ve been waiting for over an hour! Even the food has probably gone cold by now."

  Leo gave her a deadpan look. "Are you angry because I’m late, or because you didn't get to eat while the food was hot?"

  Lili’s eyes narrowed as she snapped back, "Both!"

  Then, her expression softened, and she reached a hand down to him. Leo looked up as she said, "It’s alright. Come on, stand up."

  Leo smiled and took her hand. But the moment he pulled himself to his feet—

  BOOM!

  Dozens of party poppers exploded at once. Everyone in the room, even the knights at their posts, shouted in unison.

  "Happy Birthday, Leo!"

  From the head of the table, Aurelius watched Leo with a small, rare smile. "Happy birthday," he murmured under his breath.

  Leo stood frozen, his brain struggling to process what was happening. Colorful confetti was scattered across his hair; he brushed his hand over his head to clear it away and walked forward. Everyone was watching him with wide, happy smiles.

  Leo’s eyes widened. He wanted to ask why they were doing all of this for him—especially when he had been trying so hard to distance himself from them—but the words wouldn't come.

  Lyra stepped closer and grabbed his wrist gently. "So, shall we start the party, Leo?"

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Leo began to smile, but then he blinked. In that split second, a cold black light swallowed the room.

  Tinkkkkkkkkk!

  The sound echoed like shattering glass. When Leo opened his eyes again, the warmth was gone. He stared at the ceiling, his heart heavy. 'Ah...' he thought bitterly. 'It was just a dream.'

  Leo realized he was still sitting in his chair, his head resting on the cold surface of the table. He stood up and looked around; the feast was over, the candles had burned out, and the knights had long since retired.

  Lili, Niya, and Lyra were still there, fast asleep in their chairs. Lili was slumped over, still clutching a leftover drumstick in her hand. Lyra’s head rested on the table, her breathing deep and rhythmic. Niya was in a similar state, mirrored by her daughter. But Aurelius was missing.

  A sudden thought struck Leo as he witnessed all of this. 'Hmm... so it wasn’t a dream after all.'

  He glanced around once more, but the King was nowhere to be seen. Leo stretched his arms over his head, letting out a long, lazy sigh as the sleepiness began to fade. Just as he was about to leave the room, he turned toward the massive windows. The red curtains had been drawn back and tied, allowing the moonlight to stream through the transparent glass.

  Leo walked toward the window. Outside, the sky was a deep, dark void illuminated only by the moon's glow. The Empire city was silent; most of the house lights were extinguished as the citizens slept, leaving only a few streetlamps to flicker in the distance.

  As Leo prepared to turn away, something caught his eye in the front garden of the castle. Down below, in the center of the perfectly manicured lawn, sat Aurelius. He was perched on the edge of the fountain, staring up at the stars. From the window, Leo could only see the King’s back, draped in a simple blue robe.

  The fountain was still active, though the water flowed gently rather than with its usual force. The circular basin was adorned with four arches of vibrant red flowers that looked like roses, nestled in patches of soft green grass. The entire pathway surrounding the garden was paved with clean white bricks, glowing faintly under the moon.

  'Ah, there he is,' Leo thought.

  He left the throne room, crossing the grand hall before descending the wide, sweeping staircase. The steps were covered in a plush red carpet, flanked by ornate red handrails. He pushed open the heavy brown doors to the garden and stepped out into the night air.

  Aurelius sat by the fountain, his eyes closed and his face tilted toward the stars. He heard the door click shut and sensed someone approaching. 'Now, who could this be?' he wondered.

  He turned his head slightly, but the shimmering spray of the fountain obscured his vision. Once he confirmed it was Leo, he turned back to the sky, this time keeping his eyes open.

  Leo approached slowly, his footsteps soft on the white bricks until he reached the edge of the fountain. He didn't look at Aurelius; instead, he mirrored the King’s posture and stared up at the dark expanse above. Leo was still in his same clothes which he was wearing when he came to party, while Aurelius looked relaxed in a simple blue robe, matching trousers, and white slippers.

  "Hey, Aurelius," Leo said quietly. "I have a question for you."

  Aurelius let out a long sigh and turned his gaze toward Leo. His expression was stern, the look of a man who didn't appreciate being disturbed. "What is it now?" he asked, his tone flat.

  Leo’s face twisted into a skeptical scowl. "You were the one who planned all of that tonight, wasn't it?"

  Aurelius didn't answer immediately. He stood up slowly, towering over the fountain's edge. "Yeah. Why?"

  "What the hell do you mean, 'why'?" Leo snapped. "Do you even know what I’m trying to do here? What I'm planning?"

  Aurelius placed a finger on his chin, looking up at the moon, then down at the grass, then past Leo’s shoulder, before finally locking eyes with him. "Uhhh, no. And I don’t particularly want to know."

  Leo’s irritation boiled over. He stepped forward and grabbed the lapels of Aurelius’s robe. "Oh, really? Well, you might not want to know, but I'm going to tell you anyway!"

  Aurelius didn't push him away. He simply stood there, watching Leo with an expectant, almost patient look, as if waiting for his ward to say something meaningful. But then, Leo said the one thing he shouldn't have.

  "I’m literally trying to make them stronger, and you—"

  Before he could finish, a sharp crack echoed through the garden. Aurelius had slapped him.

  Leo’s head snapped to the right, his eyes wide with shock. He remained frozen in that position, unable to look back. Aurelius glanced down at his right hand, the one he had used to deliver the blow. "Hmm. That felt about right."

  "You say you want to make them stronger?" Aurelius continued, his voice dropping into a low, dangerous rumble. "Then make yourself stronger first, you dumbass. You aren't making them tougher, Leo—you’re weakening them. They love being with you, and yet you insist on keeping this distance?"

  Leo finally turned to face him, his eyes still wide. Aurelius sighed, regaining his composure.

  "Leo, I don't know where you got this idea that isolation leads to strength. You might have your plans, but..." He turned his back to Leo, staring at the moon once more before glancing back over his shoulder. "...that’s not how you build a person up."

  Leo looked down at the white bricks, his mind racing. He felt the weight of his mistakes crashing down on him. He had been the one creating the problems all along.

  Aurelius walked back to him and placed a firm, grounding hand on Leo’s shoulder. "It’s not too late, Leo. Find a different way to make them stronger. I know you can do it."

  Aurelius walked past him toward the castle. He paused for a single second at the back door, then stepped inside, leaving Leo alone in the silent, moonlit garden.

  'Distance, weakening. Damn it Aurelius. How do I figure it out alone?'