Eva's breath caught the moment her eyes met the boy's. "Leo… is that really you?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
The six-year-old's gaze softened as he stepped closer. "Mother, are you all right?"
Before she could answer, a rough voice broke through the silence. Marek sneered from behind. "Yeah, kid, what do you think you're doing here? And why are you calling her 'mother'?"
Leo frowned, his small hands curling into fists. "That's not the point here."
His tone turned fierce, sharper than his young age should allow. "How dare you try to touch my mother? You'll pay for that."
Marek laughed darkly. "What are you gonna do, brat? You think you can do anything to me?"
In a flash, Marek pulled a knife and pressed it against Eva's throat. "I'll kill her before you even move."
Leo stood still, his eyes cold and steady. "I know I'm just a kid. I can't do anything to you."
A faint, unsettling smile touched his lips. "But they can."
His gaze shifted toward Talon, Fen, Mara.
"get him."
The three wolves leapt forward, pinning Marek to the ground in an instant. He screamed, struggling uselessly beneath their weight.
"Don't kill him yet," Leo ordered, his tone calm but commanding.
He turned back to Eva, his expression softening again. "Mother, are you all right?"
"Yes," she whispered shakily.
"Mother, what are you doing here alone?"
"I came to look for you… I saw you on the streets that day." Her voice trembled. "It was you, right? That day?"
Leo nodded. "Yes, it was me."
"Why are you here, Leo? Didn't you say you wouldn't come to see me anymore?" she asked, confused.
He lowered his gaze. "I came because… I missed you, Mother."
Eva's eyes welled up. "Really?"
"Yes."
Without another word, she embraced him tightly. "I missed you too," she whispered.
Leo hugged her back, his small frame trembling.
"But how did you find me?" she asked.
"I was walking on the street when I saw the wolves," he explained. "So I followed them and came here. They're Father's wolves, right?"
"Yes they ar—"
Eva froze, Realization dawning. "Wait—Eyan's wolves. They came here looking for me. That means he found out I'm not with the knights."
Her eyes widened in panic. "No… this is bad."
"What's wrong, Mother?" Leo asked, concerned.
"Leo, your father will be furious if he finds out I lied about the tea party and came here. What am I going to tell him? I can't even tell him about you…" She clutched her head. "What do I do now?"
Leo stepped closer, holding her hand. "Mother, don't worry. Nothing's going to happen."
"You don't know him," Eva whispered fearfully. "He'll never let me step outside again if he finds out what just happened."
"Then don't tell him," Leo said simply.
Eva blinked. "What?"
"Yes, don't tell him about anything."
"Then how will I explain why I disappeared suddenly?"
"Don't worry about it," Leo said softly. "You can just tell him a fake story."
She stared at him for a long moment before nodding slowly. "You're right. Let me think…"
After a moment of silence, her eyes lit up. "Oh, I know what to tell him."
She turned to him. "Leo, you can change your appearance right?."
"I can," he said cautiously, "why?"
"Leo, come to the palace with me."
He stiffened. "What?"
"Please," she said gently. "You've never met your father, right? You can meet him too."
Leo shook his head. "Mother, no…"
"Why? Don't you want to meet your father?"
"I do… but—"
"Then come with me," she urged softly.
He hesitated, then sighed. "fine...but I can't stay for long."
"It's fine. Just stay as long as you want."
"Okay… then."
Eva smiled warmly.
Leo's form shimmered, his features changing—his hair darkened to black, and his eyes turned a deep blue.
"Now what, Mother?" he asked.
"Now," she said with a small, determined smile, "I'll tell you what to say when you see your father."
---
Eyan's horse galloped across the open road, his eyes scanning every shadow, every turn, desperate for a glimpse of Eva.
A rider appeared suddenly ahead, thundering toward him. A knight, urging his horse with equal speed, called out. "Your Majesty! Stop!"
Eyan pulled his reins sharply, bringing his horse to a halt. "What is it?" he demanded, his voice tense.
"Your Majesty… Her Grace has returned," the knight said, his words urgent.
Relief flickered across Eyan's face, but his worry remained. "Where is she?"
"She is in the palace, right now," the knight answered.
Without waiting for another word, Eyan spurred his horse forward. The world around him blurred as he raced back to the palace, every heartbeat pounding with the need to see her again.
---
Eyan stormed through the palace gates, his boots echoing against the marble floor.
Hans, rushed forward. "Your Majesty—"
"Where is Eva?" Eyan demanded.
"Her Grace is in her chamber," Hans replied quickly.
Without another word, Eyan turned and sprinted down the corridor.
---
Inside her chamber, Eva paced restlessly, wringing her hands. "Eyan will be here at any moment," she murmured. "Why do I feel so nervous?"
The door burst open. Eva startled, spinning around.
Eyan stood in the doorway, his chest heaving, eyes dark with worry.
"Your Majesty, you're back—" she began, but before she could finish, Eyan closed the distance and pulled her into a desperate embrace.
"Eyan—" she whispered, startled by the force of his arms.
His voice trembled against her hair. "Where have you been? I looked everywhere for you."
"I was—"
He pulled back, cupping her face gently. "You're not hurt, are you?"
"No, I'm—"
"Let me see," he said firmly, scanning her for any sign of injury.
"Eyan, I'm not hur—"
But his gaze caught on the faint red line across her neck.
His expression darkened. "Where did you get that cut?"
"Oh, that—"
"Who did this to you? Tell me."
"Well, I—"
"I'll kill whoever did this," he growled, anger rising in his voice.
Eva. "I—"
"I will make that person pay."
A calm, almost cheeky voice interrupted. "Mister, how can she tell you if you don't even let her speak?"
Eyan froze and turned sharply. Leo stood there, arms crossed and expression serious.
"I know you're worried for her," leo continued, "but at least let her talk."
Eyan blinked. "Eva… who is this kid? And why is he here?"
"Oh… Eyan, I brought him here," she said quickly.
"You did?"
"Yes," Eva said, forcing a small smile. She turned toward Leo. "Come here, dear. Say hello to His Majesty."
Leo stepped forward reluctantly. "Hello."
"Don't be like that," Eva urged gently. "Greet him properly."
Leo sighed. "Do I have to, Mother?"
Eyan froze. "Wait. Did he just call you—Mother?"
Eva laughed nervously. "Oh—Eyan, you heard that wrong! He just said it by mistake! He must have confused me with his mother."
She turned to Leo quickly. "Right, kid?"
Leo sighed, expression flat. "Yes…"
"See?" Eva said, smiling awkwardly.
Eyan's brow arched.
"Forget that," he said finally, voice firm. "Tell me—where have you been? Where did you disappear to?"
Eva's nervous smile faltered. "Eyan, the thing is…"
She took a deep breath. "When I was returning from rest room, I heard a child screaming for help. So I went to look."
Eyan's brows furrowed, but he said nothing.
"I saw a man kidnapping this boy," she continued, glancing toward Leo, "and dragging him away."
"So I followed them. He took the child so far away—into an abandoned house. I saw him tie the boy up… he was crying for help, calling out for his mother. I couldn't just stand there and watch, so I tried to save him."
Eyan's eyes darkened.
"But I got captured instead," Eva admitted quietly. "Just then, your wolves appeared and saved us both. After that, we came back to the palace."
She smiled, hoping it sounded believable. "So… that's what happened."
Eyan stared at her for a moment. "So you went after a kidnapper… alone?"
Eva smiled weakly. "Yes."
Eyan's expression hardened. "Eva, are you out of your mind? Why would you follow him alone?"
"I was just scared something might happen to the child," she said softly.
"You could have told the knights!" he snapped. "They would have handled it. But no—you went after him yourself and ended up getting captured!"
"I know, but—"
"But what?" Eyan stepped closer, his voice firm. "Eva, can you please think twice before doing something so dangerous?"
Eva lowered her gaze. "I'm sorry…"
Eyan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Eva—"
"Mister,"
Leo interrupted, stepping forward with a glare, "will you stop getting angry at her?"
Eyan blinked. "What?"
"I said stop shouting at her!" Leo snapped.
"Dear!" Eva gasped. "Don't talk to His Majesty like that!"
"Why not?" Leo asked stubbornly. "I don't like how he keeps shouting at you."
Eva quickly moved to cover Leo's mouth with her hand. "Don't talk," she whispered sharply.
She turned to Eyan, her eyes wide and apologetic. "Your Majesty, please forgive him. He's just a child."
Then, bending down to Leo, she said softly, "Dear, can you go back to your room? I'll come to you later."
Leo pouted but nodded. "Fine." He started to turn away.
"Hey, kid! Wait!" Eyan called, stopping him.
Leo spun around, eyebrows raised. "What do you want?"
Eyan narrowed his eyes at the boy, crossing his arms. "What's your name, boy?"
----