By the time they returned to the palace-
The sky had grown quiet again.
The laughter, the warmth, the lingering joy of the evening still clung to Lyra like something fragile she wasn't ready to let go of.
Her steps were slower.
Lighter.
For once-
She wasn't thinking about leaving.
Inside, the palace remained just as calm as before, lanterns casting soft golden light along the corridors as they walked back in.
Aerith was waiting.
Seated comfortably, the baby resting peacefully beside her, her expression brightening the moment she saw them return.
"You're back," she said warmly.
Lyra nodded.
"...It was... nice."
↓
The word felt small.
Too small for everything she had felt that day.
Aerith noticed.
Of course she did.
"I'm glad," she said gently.
Then, as if remembering something, her expression shifted slightly-more excited now.
"Oh-there's something I forgot to tell you."
Kael paused.
"What is it?"
Aerith smiled.
"Tomorrow night, we're hosting a ball."
Lyra blinked.
"...A ball?"
"Yes," Aerith continued, her tone light but filled with quiet happiness. "To celebrate the birth of our son."
She glanced toward the other side of the room-
Where a man now stood, having just entered.
"...And my husband insists on making it bigger than necessary."
He smiled faintly as he approached.
King Orion.
"...It's not unnecessary," he said calmly. "It's important."
His voice was steady, warm-carrying none of the sharp authority Lyra had come to expect from rulers.
Kael inclined his head slightly.
"...You're making it public."
Orion nodded.
↓
"Peace needs to be seen, not just spoken about."
Lyra watched the exchange quietly.
"...You'll both attend," Aerith added, her gaze moving between Kael and Lyra.
It wasn't a question.
Lyra hesitated.
Then-
"... Of course."
Kael said nothing.
But he didn't refuse.
After that, the conversation faded naturally.
The night settled again.
And slowly-
They returned to their chamber.
The moment the door closed-
The silence felt different.
Not tense.
Not heavy.
But charged.
Lyra moved toward the window, her fingers lightly brushing against the curtain as she let out a slow
breath.
"Today was... strange."
Kael stood near the door, Watching her. "Strange?"
Lyra nodded slightly. "I didn't hate it."
Kael's gaze softened. Just a little.
"...Good."
The word came quieter than expected.
A pause settled between them.
Then-
Something shifted.
It started subtly.
A warmth beneath Lyra's skin.
Familiar-
But stronger than before.
Her breath faltered slightly.
"Not again..."
Kael noticed instantly.
Of course he did.
The change in her scent-
The subtle tension in her posture-The way her breathing shifted just slightly off rhythm-
He recognized it.
And this time-It wasn't faint
It was stronger.
Deeper.
Lyra pressed a hand lightly against the edge of the table, her fingers tightening slightly.
"This doesn't feel like before..."
Kael didn't move immediately.
But his expression changed.
Serious
Focused.
"It's not."
Lyra looked at him.
Her brows pulling together slightly.
Then what is it?"
Kael exhaled slowly.
As if choosing his words carefully.
It's your heat"
Silence.
Lyra froze.
"What?"
Kael stepped forward slightly.
Not too close
But enough.
"The bond... my scent it's triggering it."
Lyra's breath became uneven.
The warmth inside her wasn't fading.
It was building.
Spreading
Making it harder to focus.
"Make it stop," she said quietly.
Kael's jaw tightened, I can't."
Lyra shook her head slightly. "No-there has to be something-"
"There is."
The words came low. Careful.
Lyra stilled.
Kael's gaze held hers.
Steady.
But something deeper flickered beneath it now..
I can help you through it."
Silence filled the space between them.
Lyra's heart began to race.
Not just from the heat.
But from what he was saying,
"And after that?" she asked, her voice softer now. Uncertain.
Kael didn't look away.
"After that," he said quietly, "you can hate me
again."
The words settled between them.
Heavy.
Honest.
And for the first time-
Neither of them moved.