Leon was ready to pull his hair out minutes into brunch with his mother. His brother didn't look any better. He loved his mother, but she could be suffocating at times.

The tea cup clinked as she put it down, and everyone around the table held their breath, wondering what her next critique on the agenda would be.

They were on a balcony in their mother's wing. A round table had been set up with cakes, pastries, fruits and tea. Serene, Victor, Ari, Leon and his mother; Aurora the dowager queen, sat around the table.

Ari wolfed down his food. His cheekbones and nose were tinged red. Leon should check with his teachers about being out in the sun for too long.

Aurora was a tall woman, her build bird-boned and delicate. She looked younger than her five decades of age, but her blue eyes reflected the wear of the years. Her brown hair was shot through with silver and twisted into an elegant style that Leon was familiar with. He couldn't remember seeing his mother in any other hairstyle. She was always proper. Always prepared. Always knew what to do and when to do it, what to say and how to say it. A quintessential queen.

"The queen of Westeria had just birthed her second child. Another healthy young boy. She's younger than you, isn't she, Queen Serene?"

Serene slowly cut a piece of her cake and brought it to her lips, delaying her answer. She had always been too composed to be irritated by Aurora's nagging.

The queen mother sighed. "Isn't it about time you graced us with an heir? You aren't growing any younger. I'm talking to you as well, your majesty."

Victor smiled. "We already have an heir. We have two, in fact. Ari and Leon are right here."

"You know full well what I mean, Victor. Is there's something wrong-"

"Mother." Victor's smile dropped.

"Perhaps Victor should look for a mistress, since I am unable to give him a child yet," Serene told her mother-in-law. "What do you think, your majesty? Do you have anyone in mind?"

Victor rubbed his temple.

Aurora opened her mouth. But before she could say anything, Victor intervened, "we'll take care of things, Mother. You don't have to concern yourself with such matters."

Aurora pursed her lips. There was a brief reprieve, in which Leon filled his stomach. He was next on the list, he knew, and he wanted to eat as much as he could before his mother laid into him as well. He had a busy day ahead.

"Slow down, my love," Aurora patted Ari's back. The boy put his fork down. Aurora sighed and looked at Leon. "Still no words yet?"

Leon glanced at Ari, who was trying to chew slower. He'd rather not discuss this right in front of his son. He shook his head.

"I heard you're taking someone to the opening ball this year," Aurora said, fixing Leon with her blue eyes.

"Yes. A friend."

"Who?"

"You don't know her."

Aurora's eyes narrowed. "I see. Is she the same person you've been keeping in the castle?"

"Yes."

"I would've preferred you took someone else. General Bordrick's wife has made it clear she was disappointed you weren't taking her daughter."

Leon raised one eyebrow. "I haven't made any promises, so I don't see why she would be disappointed."

Aurora pursed her lips. "At any rate, you should settle down soon. With someone other than your friend. Ari needs a mother."

Leon's fork stilled. "He has a mother."

"He had one. The boy hasn't said a word since the incident. It's been too long. Maybe a woman-"

"Mother-"

Ari suddenly stood up and sprinted inside. His valet immediately went after him. Leon dropped his fork and knife and looked at his mother.

"Mother. This is enough. If you have to discuss this, would you please not do it in front of Ari?"

She put her hand on her chest, looking hurt. "I am simply worried for you and the boy. He's my grandchild."

Leon felt bad. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the walls close around him even though he wasn't indoors.

He excused himself and left, waving off Logan when he followed him. He wanted to follow Ari, but he had a feeling the boy would appreciate some space at the moment, so he just wandered aimlessly through the castle hallways, letting his mind roam free.

When he heard a familiar voice, he realized where his feet had taken him. He was in his guards' wings, and Summer was walking down the hallway with Ida.

She saw him and waved, then did a curtsy so low he knew no other woman would have the muscles to do it. "Your highness, you've missed all the fun this morning."

Leon frowned, noticing her dirty clothes, the nick on Ida's cheek and her torn jacket. Dark stains sprayed Summer's tunic. "What happened?"

Ida snorted. "What didn't happen?"

She looked around, then pulled a door to a sitting room open and ushered them inside. Once the door was properly closed, Ida briefed him on the attack.

Leon's heart drummed. He asked the two women, "you're not hurt?"

"No. They were set on kidnapping me so they didn't attack to kill. At least, not me," Summer said.

Ida shook her head. "Still. They focused a third of their forces on kidnapping Summer. It's a miracle she managed to escape them. How many were you up against? Six? Seven men?"

"Seven. And it's not a miracle..." Summer said, holding her hand out to Ida. Ida reached inside her pocket and gave her something.

The artifact.

Leon blinked hard. It was indeed the artifact. "Where in the world did you get that?"

"It was in the woods when I was fighting those men," Summer said, looking at the medallion. She took a deep breath. "It made me disappear."

Leon and Ida froze.

"What do you mean, it made you disappear?" Ida asked slowly.

"Literally." Summer squeezed the artifact. She made a face. "I just touched it by accident and I vanished. I didn't realize it at first. But those men couldn't see me. I was right in front of them, and they couldn't see me. That's how I managed to knock them down."

Leon frowned. This was both interesting and terrifying. If it were anyone else, he would've thought they were lying. But Summer wouldn't lie about this.

"Maybe it wasn't by accident," Leon mumbled.

"What do you mean?" Summer asked.

"You said the bandits didn't recognize the artifact."

"Yes. And I don't think they're lying, to be honest," Ida said.

"So maybe the artifact found its way to you," Leon told Summer. "Just as it had the first time."

"But it doesn't make any sense. Why now? Why then and not any other time?"

"Maybe because you were in danger," Ida said slowly. "You wouldn't have made it out without its help. Maybe it felt your desperation."

Summer held up her hands. "Okay. Let's slow down, you two. You're talking about this thing as if it's alive or something. We don't even know the extent of its abilities, do we?"

"No," Leon lifted the artifact to eye level. The gem looked less dull. It had been an opaque, dull white gemstone. Now the white seemed to have gained a subtle gleam.

But Summer was right. They didn't have enough information about this thing. Not nearly enough about its effects and the Blessed blood theory. They needed more information.

"Let's keep this a secret for now," Leon said. "I don't want anyone to know you might have a link to the artifact. It'll only draw more unnecessary attention to you."

Summer crossed her arms and nodded. Leon could tell she was unsettled. He wasn't the one affected and he was unsettled as well.

He tightened his hand around the artifact. The cold metal dug into his palm. He needed more information about this. Before now, Summer's link to the artifact was simple conjecture. But today changed things.

"How's your friend?" Leon asked Summer in an attempt to lift the heavy look on her face. But the expression she gave him was a pale imitation of her usual smile. He opened the door and they went out to the empty hallway.

"Great now that she doesn't have to worry about being taken prisoner for a crime she didn't commit," Summer said dryly.

"Hmm. Who is the scumbag who'd do such a thing?" Leon asked and was rewarded by Summer's infectious laughter.

"Your highness!"

Leon turned. Logan and Ari's valet rushed down the hallway towards him. Leon's heart dropped.

"We can't find prince Ari," Ari's valet said.

"What do you mean, you can't find him?" Leon asked, his mind going through all the possibly horrible things that could happen to his son. Again.

"I've trailed him when he left earlier, but he managed to escape. I've looked everywhere. His wing, his classrooms, his usual playgrounds, but I can't find him..."

"Who else is looking?" Leon said. "Send word to the staff and the Royal guards, I want everyone in the castle searching for him."

Ida, Logan and Ari's valet rushed off. Leon turned. Summer was good at going unnoticed. She might help. But when he glanced around, he couldn't see her. Summer was gone.

*** **** ***

Summer slipped past the guards. The castle was already in an uproar, everyone was searching. It would have been difficult to slip past all those people if they hadn't been focused on finding a child.

She made her way to the lake, her breathing labored, and scanned the place. The water lay calm, unperturbed, unaware of the chaos reigning close by. Ari was nowhere to be seen. Summer had been sure he would be here, but maybe she was wrong.

She was about to go back and look for him elsewhere, but her guts twisted, so she looked one more time and she was glad she did.

She found the boy perched on a branch high up on a large tree. She could barely see him from below, he was that far up. Summer breathed out in relief, the tense knot in her stomach easing up. He was safe.

"Hey, kid," Summer called. "I can see you."

The leaves rustled, and blue eyes peeked at her. Summer scurried up the tree until she reached him. The thick branches almost took her eye once or twice. No wonder she hadn't seen him the first time around, though she could've sworn she'd looked meticulously.

Straddling the thick branch, she scooted closer to him. He was hugging the trunk.

"Your father is looking for you," Summer said.

Ari's eyes bugged out. He frowned. Summer grinned. "I just figured out who you are today. You're pretty sneaky when you want to be."

He pursed his lips and looked down.

"So are you going to come down or are you throwing a tantrum?"

He glared at her. Summer's grin widened. She swung her legs back and forth. "We can just stay here if you want. I don't mind a little rest from those guards. Your dad can be very suffocating sometimes, saddling me with those guards and Ida. I mean, I like Ida, but I'm not a fan of being watched all day, every day."

His frown turned speculative. He slowly nodded.

Summer sighed and hopped on a higher branch. She leaned against the trunk and closed her eyes.

"Let me know when you want to get down. If they find your dead body under a tree I'm climbing, I'm going right back into prison."

Minutes ticked by. Wind whispered through the leaves. Sun and shadow played against her closed eyelids. The shouts and noise of the castle spread to the surrounding gardens. It was only a matter of time before they found them.

The kid didn't last that long. He tugged on her foot from where it hung next to his head.

"Ready?" Summer asked. The boy nodded. Summer made him climb her back, then she scurried down the tree. Once she put him down, he found a stick and a patch of dirt and wrote.

Are you going to be my new mother? Ari wrote, crouching down.

"Your mother? What in the world are you talking about?"

If you marry my father, you will become my mother.

Summer couldn't help her snort. She covered her mouth.

"Sorry. Your Dad is great and all, but I'm not going to marry him. And I'm not going to be your mother. I think I'm not qualified to be anyone's mother just yet."

He deflated, tucking his chin behind his knees.

I don't want a new mother.

"It's up to you," she told him. "Even if your father marries someone else, and even if other people refer to her as your mother, in the end, it's your decision whether you want her to be your mother or not. They can't tell you how to think."

The boy slowly nodded, his frown older than him. Poor kid. Summer sat on the ground next to him.

Did you meet your mom?

"I did. She turned out to be a terrible person after all," Summer said. "So I decided that I won't think of her as my mother. She's just the woman who gave birth to me. That's it."

She didn't know if the kid understood everything she said. But talking about it seemed to help, both him and her.

"Nice job, by the way, escaping your valet and all the guards," Summer said.

He shrugged. They think I'm just a kid, so they don't expect me to sneak out on them.

Oh, he definitely understood more than expected.

"You're pretty smart for a kid."

His glare returned. Summer flicked his forehead. "You're still a kid, so suck it up."

Aren't you afraid you'll offend me? I'm a prince.

Summer snorted. "I know. Your father is a prince, too, and I called him a bastard and asshole more than once. Yet here I am, alive and breathing."

He laughed, the sound barely there. His blue eyes twinkled. They rarely did. Summer's heart warmed.

"So, want to go back, or do you want to play?" Summer asked. "Although your father looked really scared when they told him you were missing."

Ari shrugged.

"Want to talk about it?"

He swirled the stick in the dirt for a few moments. Summer picked up a stick of her own and started drawing nonsense in the dirt as well. She glanced over when he began writing again.

Sometimes I wish I died with Mom. Then Dad wouldn't have to worry so much about me. And he could have another wife and a better son instead.

Summer's throat clogged. Blinking hard, she leaned her temple against her raised knees and smiled at him.

"You really think that?"

It would've been better that way.

Ari, from what she learned about him, hated being treated like a child, he hated being patronized, and he was so much more tough than people around him gave him credit for, maybe because they mistook his muteness for weakness.

"You don't know that," Summer said. "And it doesn't matter, what could've been. The thing is, you didn't die that day. You're still alive. Your dad is still alive. Do you think your mom would've wanted you to wish you were dead?"

He frowned and shook his head.

"No. She would've wanted you to become strong and dependable. That means no wishing you were dead. If you want to be treated like an adult, you have to act like one. Why did you run away anyway?" Summer asked.

Because Grandmother started talking about replacing my mother.

"I don't know your grandmother, but maybe you should've told her you don't want to talk about that, or that you don't want a new mother."

It wouldn't have worked. She's stubborn.

Summer shrugged. "Then it doesn't matter what she says. I told you, no one will be your mother unless you want them to."

Summer had no idea if what she told the kid was the right thing. She only followed her heart, hoping it would offer some comfort.

Summer sighed. "Look, I know it's not easy. I want to run away and hide too, sometimes. Just leave everything behind and go somewhere where I can be alone."

Ari nodded.

"But the thing is, people worry about you. Maybe you should take that into consideration when you want to run away. Maybe leave them a note? I don't know. I'm not a wise adult, so don't ask me."

Ari snorted and wrote on the dirt,

You're a very bad adult.

"Hey! Excuse you!" Summer poked him with her stick.

Ari broke into a fit of giggles. His smile grew brighter, braver. The sound of guards was growing closer. Summer looked at Ari.

"So? Want to go back? Or do you want to climb back up there?"

Ari sighed and stood up, dropping the stick. When they started walking, she noticed Ari favoring his right leg.

"You hurt your leg?" Summer asked.

He pursed his lips. Summer thumped him in the head. He put his hand on it and scowled at her.

"If you need help, ask for it," Summer said. Though she, herself, still had to work on that.

She crouched in front of him. He climbed on her back. And they went back to find Leon before he tore the castle apart.

--- ---- ---

Hey guys!

How do you like Aurora, Leon's mother? :p

The next chapter will be up on Patreon on Saturday!

See you guys next week!

Much love <3 <3 <3

M.B.