"I…"
Ezra looked up at Helios, words hovering at the edge of his tongue. He was ready to lie. Ready to brush it off. It wouldn't make sense for him to fall apart over a child. Not in front of a prince.
But then he saw Helios's eyes.
Gold.
It was shining with genuine worry.
And something in Ezra loosened.
He let himself crumble.
Just a little.
"…can't believe this happened."
Helios's hand stayed warm on his shoulder.
"It was an accident, Ezra. And it wasn't your fault." His thumb moved in a slow, grounding motion. "I didn't even know what a sugar crash was until today. The doctor said it isn't common, especially in a kingdom where children grow up eating sweets."
Helios was right.
Ezra knew that.
But the guilt didn't ease.
"This is only the second time he's ever gotten sick," Ezra admitted quietly. "And the first time, I told myself it would never happen again."
"Second time?"
"Yes."
"Really?" Helios blinked. "Not even a common cold?"
