The guard lowered his head, his fingers curling slightly at his sides as heat crept up his cheeks. Embarrassment tightened his throat, but beneath it lay a quiet gratitude—Ceremus had noticed something was off. Yet, the words lodged in Hael's chest, refusing to surface.
Would telling him only make things worse? Would it drive him further away?
His eyes flicked up, catching the expectant look on the king's face. That steady gaze, unwavering and patient, made something inside Hael shift. Ceremus had been vulnerable with him earlier. The least he could do was return the sentiment.
Swallowing his hesitation, he exhaled softly and spoke.
"I first wanted to apologize for my behaviour that night at the temple. I realized that I might've acted too rashly with you and my actions caused you to leave…I don't know why, but whenever I'm near you, I have this unbearable desire to behold you close and I understand if you felt uncomfortable with me touching you in a manner that should only be reserved for those who love one another and are in a committed relationship with each other." His voice faltered.
Ceremus' breath hitched, his heart sinking into his chest. "H-Hael—"
"Please let me finish." He pleaded.
The king swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded for him to continue.
"Though I am sorry, I am upset that we never got the chance to talk about it. It felt as though you were avoiding me over the past few days. I just wished that you would tell me whenever I do something to upset you instead of shutting me out. Anyway, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me." Hael said.
"Though I regret my actions, what hurt me more was the way you avoided me afterward." Hael's brows knit together, his voice raw with frustration. "I just wish you would tell me when I upset you instead of shutting me out. I—" He inhaled sharply. "I only hope you can forgive me."
Ceremus took a step forward. With deliberate gentleness, he reached out, tilting Hael's chin up with his fingers until their eyes met.
"Hael," he murmured, " I won't forgive you because there is nothing to forgive." He assured him.
"If I didn't like what you were doing, I would've struck you dead." He said in a teasing tone, but his eyes were serious, making the guard swallow unconsciously.
Hael swallowed. "Then why?" His voice was barely above a whisper. "Why did you leave if you didn't mind?"
A flicker of something unreadable crossed Ceremus' face. He hesitated.
This was the question Ceremus was avoiding the most. Mostly because he couldn't bring himself to find the correct answer. Was it truly because he wasn't ready? Or was there something more, a hidden feeling he wasn't aware of. The king didn't have the correct answer, and he knew it would be unfair to give Hael false hope.
"I'm not sure." He said honestly. "But I do know this—whatever the reason, it wasn't because I disliked you. Or what you did."
Hael searched his face, wanting—needing—something more. But this was all Ceremus could give him.
And that alone frustrated him.
Hael wasn't content with what Ceremus said, but he accepted it anyway. When it came to the king, anything was fine as long as it came from him.
"You are what completes me, but why do I get the sense that you do not feel the same? " Hael wondered to himself.
~*~
The four gathered in the lounge, their expressions grim as they prepared to confront the woman who had caused them so much grief.
Meliše sat bound, her staff confiscated. Even without it, she radiated an unsettling calm, her gaze unreadable as she regarded the king.
"There's really no need for all this," she said, voice smooth as silk. "Without my staff, I'm powerless."
Ceremus lifted his teacup, taking an unhurried sip before setting it down with a soft clink. A slow, knowing smile curved his lips.
"Then why," he mused, "do I feel as if that's not quite true?"
Meliše's expression didn't falter, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—annoyance? Amusement?
Hael, watching her closely, suddenly tilted his head. "Where's the child?"
Silence.
Ceremus and Loki froze. Meliše's lips parted slightly before curling into a smirk.
"…You mean to tell me you haven't figured it out yet?" Loki asked, sounding almost bewildered.
"What?" Hael frowned.
Meliše let out a low, amused chuckle. "Your guard dog isn't very bright, is he?"
Hael bristled, but before he could snap back, Ceremus cut in smoothly.
"He's more clever than he looks." His voice was soft, yet sharp enough to slice through the tension. "It's simply his innocence and kindhearted nature that blinds him to the cruelty of the world." He took another sip of his tea. "How could he possibly imagine someone would be cruel enough to use a child as a mere illusion?"
Loki nodded his head in agreement.
Meliše scoffed. "And yet, you lecture me about cruelty?" Her smirk darkened. "You are no saint, Your Majesty."
"Enough of this; I am not the one on trial here. You will answer my questions truthfully lest you wish to never see your precious staff again." Ceremus said, his tone now icy.
Meliše gulped. " Triviae.." she whispered.
"Now, who is this he you keep referring to? Is he the one who's after the shield and sword?" He asked.
She closed her eyes, as if contemplating whether she should tell him anything. But seeing his right grip on her scepter, she knew she had no choice.
Fine, I'll give them little bits and pieces. She thought.
"It would be wrong to say he wants the golden aegis and divine spatha," she said slowly. "They're merely… a means to an end."
Ceremus' eyes narrowed. "What end?"
"Exactly what I said. The weapon isn't his ultimate goal, but simply a small part of his plans." She shrugged.
"And what are those 'plans'?"
Meliše paused for a moment. The group thought that perhaps this was a question she couldn't answer until they saw her mouth shape into an evil smile. She leaned on the table, looking at each of them intently before saying in a low and intentional whisper, "To bring about your destruction."
Hael blinked. Ceremus let out a slow sigh and leaned back in his chair.
"Is that all?"
Meliše's eye twitched. "What do you mean, is that all? He wishes to destroy you! How could you give me such lukewarm reactions?"
Ceremus shrugged. "I'm a king from a thriving nation. My enemies are greater than the grains of sand on the ground, and as vast as the sea. It's no surprise someone wishes to see me fall."
Meliše's lips parted in disbelief. What is wrong with this man?
Ceremus lazily twirled the staff in his grip. "So? How does he plan on destroying me?"
The sorceress was initially going to leave this part out, but Ceremus' laid back attitude was starting to bother her. She wanted to see his smug face fold.
"The bull of judgment. He'll be sending down the bull of judgment."
"Sending down?" Hael repeated. His gaze fell on Loki, and he froze when he saw how tense he looked.
"Loki?" He called. "What's wrong?"
The bird was brought out of his daze and looked at Hael. "Oh, it's nothing. Please continue." He said as he returned his attention to Meliše.
Hael narrowed his eyes at the bird. He had known Loki for a long time now and was familiar with his mannerisms. When something was wrong with him—which was rare, he would tense up and wouldn't tell anyone what was wrong unless forced.
I should make sure to grill him about this later, he thought to himself.
"The bull of judgment, you say?" Ceremus scoffed. "From what I recall, the bull has been dead for centuries. I've heard enough of your nonsense; if you do not wish to be truthful and would rather die, then you should just say so," He said as he got up.
Meliše looked up at him in confusion. "Excuse me? Why on earth would I lie about this?!" she exclaimed.
"It's clear that the person who is planning on destroying me is someone you cannot reveal, and I'm sure he wouldn't want you divulging his 'grand' plans, either. So you have every reason to omit the truth, even something as ridiculous as the bull of judgment." He said.
"But I'm being honest! Dica—" She started to yell but quickly stopped herself. Shit, I almost said his name.
The sorceress looked up at the sky cautiously before bowing her head. Hael saw this and couldn't help finding this act strange. He too looked up, but was only met with wood. Her already pale skin turned white and her eyes shifted as if she had seen a ghost.
What in the world?
Just when he was about to ask her what was wrong, Ceremus cut him off. "I won't be taking your life just yet, but I will still be keeping your staff." He then turned to look at the guard. "Let's go."
Hael had no choice but to follow suit. He couldn't help looking back at the table one last time and saw the blank look on her face, which was deeply unsettling. Just what was she about to say?
Meanwhile, far beyond the mortal realm, the ground trembled as the Bull of Judgment took its first breath in centuries.
Dicaeus watched with a sinister smile as it came to life.