Tension lingered across the field like a storm that had not fully passed.
Ezra's gaze shifted to Helios.
There it was.
Disappointment.
Not loud. Not explosive. Just a quiet weight behind his eyes.
Helios did not look at Ezra directly. His gaze moved past him, over the men who had nearly drawn blood over pride. Golden light still glowed faintly in his palm as he spoke.
"As much as we appreciate your loyalty," Helios said, voice firm and stripped of warmth, "I am certain I can speak for my brothers as the eldest."
The field stilled.
"But right now, we have far greater matters to think about than the throne. If we fail today, there may not be a throne left to fight over. This is not a political dispute. It is a nationwide threat."
His words did not need force.
They carried it naturally.
Kaelis stepped forward, golden light still resting against his hand.
"Above our roles as potential heirs," he said evenly, "we are princes who serve this kingdom."
