The sounds reached him before he arrived—low growls, excited yips, the thudding of paws against earth. And then the scent. Musk and fur and earth. Home.
He stepped through the gate, and for a heartbeat, everything stilled.
Then—
Mael barked first. Varnak lunged forward, tongue out, tail wagging, and the others followed in a rush of fur and warmth and joy.
Aurean let out a low chuckle as he was immediately surrounded. The new hounds—those trained after his departure—were just as eager, pressing their weight against him, whining for affection.
He knelt among them, hands sinking into soft fur, heart heavy and light at once. This was the only place where he was never questioned. Never rejected.
And that was the moment the soft crunch of footsteps reached him.
Aurean looked up to find Princess Astrid, standing with Thalan, the quiet and gentle spouse of Prince Maleus.
Astrid's mouth had parted in visible surprise, her golden hair catching the morning sun. Thalan stood beside her, serene as ever, though even his eyes widened faintly.
"You're… not scared of them?" Astrid asked quietly, as though afraid to disturb the moment. "How are they all… surrounding you like that?"
Aurean rose slowly to his feet, brushing fur from his trousers. Then, with elegant grace, he offered a courtly bow to both.
"Your Highness. My lord."
They inclined their heads in return, still staring at the scene before them.
"They were the only ones who befriended me," Aurean said softly, turning his gaze to the hounds. "When the world wanted me gone."
There was a pause.
The words were simple.
But they hit like a blade.
Astrid's breath caught. Thalan froze beside her.
Guilt. Cold and sudden.
No one had ever said it out loud before. But Aurean had. With a smile so faint, so fragile, it hurt more than a scream.
A heavy silence fell… until Thalan suddenly cleared his throat.
"Would you… join us for tea?"
Astrid's head snapped toward him in shock. "Thalan—"
Aurean looked just as surprised. But after a moment, he inclined his head.
"Gladly."
Now Astrid stared at Aurean.
And then at Thalan.
Then back again.
As they began walking, she stayed half a step behind, still unsure how the world had suddenly shifted.
"Astrid has a small obsession," Thalan said lightly as they moved toward the southern garden. "With flowers. You'll see soon enough. She has all kinds—from imperial roses to mountain daisies, even night-blooming lilies from the eastern marshes. The gardeners have given up trying to keep her out."
Aurean glanced back at Astrid, who rolled her eyes but said nothing, her cheeks faintly flushed.
"It's not an obsession," she muttered.
"It's an infestation," Thalan countered with a fond smile.
And Aurean found himself… smiling, just a little.
Just enough.
The southern garden behind the Ardan palace was a riot of color—lush and winding and fragrant with early summer bloom. The paths were lined with polished stones, and the air hummed gently with the soft buzzing of bees, the rustle of petals in the wind.
Aurean's steps slowed as they entered.
He had seen gardens before. Many.
But not like this.
His breath caught softly in his throat as his gaze swept across tiers of blossoms in shades of violet, crimson, and snow-white. There were glowing bell-flowers that shimmered faintly with magic, velvety ghost-roses from the mountain coasts, and even a thornless moonbloom tucked near a pond—its petals shifting in hue depending on the sun's angle.
"That's a skyroot daffodil," Astrid offered, noting where his gaze had caught. "They only bloom three days a year. I bribed the head gardener to build a warming bed to force their cycle."
Aurean turned toward her with a sudden brightness in his face. "You forced a daffodil to defy nature?"
Astrid gave a crooked smile. "Repeatedly."
He blinked at her, and then gave a soft laugh—a true one, warm and amused. "That's a little impressive. Dangerous. But impressive."
They walked further in, Aurean's curiosity slowly pulling him from petal to petal. "What's that one?" he asked, pointing to a vibrant stalk with spiral-shaped petals.
"That's a harrow twist," she replied. "Technically an Ardanese weed—but I love its resilience. It climbs anything."
"And that?" he asked, already walking closer. "The one that smells like honey and pine?"
"Starvine. My favorite. It grows in Virelia too, but it smells sweeter here."
Their banter carried them into a shaded pavilion surrounded by vines and fragrant blooms. A table had been set with silver trays of tea, thin lemon biscuits, and preserved cherries in a crystal bowl.
They sat—Aurean across from Astrid and Thalan—and as he sipped the delicate spiced tea, Thalan tilted his head.
"If you don't mind us asking…" he said gently. "What was Virelia like?"
Aurean placed his cup down slowly, thoughtful. The breeze rustled his hair.
"There are flowers in Virelia," he began, his voice soft with nostalgia, "that do not grow anywhere else. They bloom along obsidian cliffs or beneath the cold rivers of the north—hardier, more hidden. But when they bloom, they're… luminous. Like fire dancing in fog."
Astrid's expression shifted—subtle wonder.
"Virelia is… strong," Aurean continued. "The people, the land, the way magic breathes through everything. They are a people shaped by storms, but find beauty in surviving them. There's music everywhere. Laughter too—even when it's bitter."
Thalan smiled. "It sounds like you miss it."
Aurean looked down at his cup, turning it once before nodding. "Sometimes."
The conversation shifted between quiet laughs and stories—Aurean telling of Virelian festivals where lanterns floated over mountains, of spiced wine brewed under moonlight. Astrid leaned forward, entirely engaged, while Thalan refilled their cups.
It was warm.
Peaceful.
Unusual.
And so, when footsteps echoed just beyond the hedgerows and two tall figures stepped into the clearing, the moment froze.
Prince Maleus, broad-shouldered and dark-eyed, and Prince Kael, lean and hawk-gazed, paused mid-stride.
They had clearly not expected to see Aurean.
Much less Aurean laughing softly under flowering vines with Astrid and Thalan, sipping tea and talking about flowerbeds and cliff blooms.
Aurean caught sight of them at once. He stood immediately, setting down his cup with graceful composure.
"Your Highnesses," he said with a formal bow.
Maleus gave a stiff nod.
Kael, expression unreadable, inclined his head in silent acknowledgment. Their gazes locked—just a moment.
Aurean held his posture with poise, but something flickered in his eyes before he turned back to Astrid and Thalan.
"Thank you," he said. "I've truly enjoyed your company."
Astrid blinked, surprised by the sincerity in his tone.
Thalan smiled warmly. "You're welcome anytime."
Aurean bowed again, elegant and precise. Then, with a final glance—just a moment longer—at Kael, he turned and left, disappearing down the flower-lined path he had come through, the scent of starvine lingering faintly behind him.