Rayla is a light sleeper and has always been the first to wake up back when she was traveling with the boys to Xadia. So it wasn't a surprise for her to see them sprawling and cuddling at each other like magnets.

Nostalgia hit her as she watched them snoring lightly, their breathing patterns were almost attuned to each other, with sleep crusties on their eyes and dried drools marring on their respective cheeks. The elf felt humbled to witness how relaxed they were in her presence, but at the same time, it bothered her how vulnerable they were in their sleep. She remembered telling them numerous times not to lower their guard even if she was around, but the boys' lax attitudes were giving her nothing but a headache.

Shaking her head with bemusement, she got up to fix her cot and beddings before she walked around Ezran's bed to reach her sleeping boyfriend.

"Hey, Callum. Callum, wake up," she nudged his shoulder incessantly until she heard a disgruntled moan. "Rise and shine, your Majesty."

His bleary green eyes met her lilac ones, then yawned. "What time is it?"

"It's time for you to beat some old bald guys with bureaucracy." she chirped much to his annoyance.

"It's too early to mock me, Rayla." he groaned, stretching his limbs languidly for a delicious pop.

His movement made him realize that his brother's arms were snaking around his torso, his head burrowed on his chest. It should've been an impossible feat since Ezran's cast leg was strapped remotely to the ceiling, but the mage prince somehow invaded half of his brother's space in the middle of the night which ended them both snuggling at each other to sleep.

Callum couldn't help but smile sweetly as he brushed his brother's unruly hair with his callous hands, his action didn't rouse the young king a bit.

"I'm trapped," his hoarse voice was laced with endearment.

The elf shook her head then planted a kiss on his cheek, just a shy away from his upturned mouth. "See you in the dining hall."

"Hmmhm."

Callum took a deep sigh as his girlfriend exited the room, then glanced at his brother's side where she slept last night. Her cot has been stowed away neatly, as well as her pillows and blankets.

Which prompted him to do the same thing.

Ezran stirred when he felt someone prying his arms away from a very comfy pillow. "Callum?"

"Good morning, Ez," his brother greeted drowsily.

"You're leaving?" he asked, then squirmed when Callum removed his sleep crusties with his damp thumb. "We - Where's Rayla?"

"She left a few minutes ago." was his answer. "Did you sleep well?"

The boy nodded with a stifled yawn. "Best sleep I've ever had since yesterday."

"That's good," the mage prince got up and began to fix his beddings. "I hope you remembered Doctor Levi's advice to be a good patient today so he can clear you and Bait to return to your room before the end of the day."

"I've been a good patient since the beginning."

Callum hummed as he fluffed a pillow he stole from Ezran last night. "Are you sure? Because he told us otherwise."

He chuckled at his younger brother's disgruntled rumblings, who eventually averted the topic by asking "Did Corvus bring it already?"

"Bring what?"

"You know, the wheelchair?"

"Ah. That. Nope, not yet. Depends on how long it will take them to assemble it. Don't get too excited or Opeli might force you to bed rest until your leg is fully healed."

"I won't," the boy promised as he chewed his lower lip. "Erm, Callum?"

"Hmm?"

"Will you be okay?"

Callum paused at his chore to stare at his brother's sky-blue orbs with a raised brow. "What do you mean, Ez?"

"Well, I mean..." Ezran twiddled his thumbs with downcast eyes. "You're going to take over my place - "

"Temporarily," his brother tutted.

"Temporarily, of course. But..." he trailed off as he clenched the edge of his sheet with both hands. "But both of us know that you don't like it."

Ezran didn't flinch when he felt a dip on the mattress beside him. "Just because I don't like it doesn't mean I don't have to do it. If being your Regent can ensure not only your safety but also the public's confidence towards our kingdom, then so be it. Besides, it is my obligation as your crowned prince to deal with your unfinished business while you're out of commission."

"But it feels like I forced you to take my place," he mumbled guiltily.

The brothers were taken aback at Opeli's suggestion before they adjourned their meeting.

"The Council was in chaos when I broke out the news about what happened, and will get worse once they learn about the culprit's identity," the cleric told them last night. "And if one of them is the mastermind, then it's safer if you stepped away from your kingly duties while on medical leave. Plus, the longer you rest, the faster you will recover, and the sooner you can return to your throne in top shape."

"So you're telling me that I should choose a regent?"

"If you must, your Majesty," she implored. "We need a regent who shares the same level as your confidence, intelligence, and compassion, and preferably someone who can outwit your enemies with calculated risks."

Callum remembered how everyone's eyes were bored towards his direction with a mixture of plea and pity.

"You know that I love you, right?" the mage prince chuckled, ruffling the boy's bedhead more much to his displeasure. "And as your older brother, I have a duty to protect you. Besides, I promised Dad that I'm going to be your partner, your defender, and your closest adviser...even though I suck at those."

Ezran shook his head with a smile, "I prefer the way we are right now, Callum."

.

.

.

"You're not wearing a crown," Rayla commented when Callum joined her for breakfast.

"It's not necessary unless it's a formal occasion."

"So, during the festival then?"

Her boyfriend winced as he pulled a chair beside her. "Uh, let's hope that we capture our culprit before the festival highlights."

"Why? You looked so dashing and intimidating when you wear yours."

"Flatterer." he rolled his eyes at her snorts.

Even though there were only two people in the dining room, the long table was filled with food fit for twenty. There were bread toasts, pancakes, omelettes, sausages, and a variety of fresh Xadian fruits - one of the commodities that Katolians benefited after opening a trade with the Earthblood regions.

Whenever Callum and Rayla visited Katolis, Ezran would always join them for breakfast, dragging Corvus or Soren with him much to their amusement. Sometimes Opeli would drop by for a cup of hot brown morning potion, and if there were no major or confidential discussions on the table, the King would allow some of the guards to eat with them and dubbed it as their "second breakfast".

But seeing the empty chairs and the lack of raucous noises in the room reminded the pair of the threats looming within the castle walls.

"So, what's your agenda for today?"

The elf popped a slice of Xadian orange in her mouth as she mulled over. "Well...I'm planning to visit the armory first to meet up with Soren or Marcos, and maybe have a sparring session if I'm lucky enough. If not then I'll just head out to the Plaza and visit Sarabi's shop."

"Sarabi? Is she that Sunfire elf who interned with Barius last year?"

"Yup. The one and only."

Callum began to stack his pancakes with berries and smothered it with light syrup. "Her sunbutter cookies are the best."

"There's a word circulating here that her moonberry jelly tarts are on par with Barius' persimmons."

His brow jerked upward at her sly grin. "Now that's something I look forward to trying tonight."

"Barius might not like knowing that his prince regent is choosing his apprentice's goods over his."

"Well, I'll just tell him that his Ladyship bribed him with something he can't refuse."

The couple was about to finish their meals when Opeli entered the dining hall with two guards following behind her.

"Prince Callum, Lady Rayla," the Council's cleric greeted them hastily with a bow. "I'm sorry to interrupt your breakfast, Prince Callum, but it seems that there are some pressing matters that require your assistance immediately."

The mage prince looked at his companion who just shrugged at him casually.

"It's about the Council, isn't it?" he asked, then let out an exasperated sigh when he saw the woman's sour expression. "Do they know about my regency?"

"Not yet, Your Highness."

"I guess it's time for me to make my exit," the Moonshadow elf pressed a chaste kiss lightly on her boyfriend's temple then whispered. "Go get them, banther."

"See you tonight?"

"Depends on how long the queue."

He snorted indignantly when she teased him with a wink.

As soon as Rayla left the premises, his expression went sober as he focused his attention on Opeli, "Can you fill me in some details while we walk?"

The cleric complied meekly as she ushered the prince to the throne room. "The councilors led by Waylon and Everleigh demand to speak to King Ezran about some changes in the leadership, especially with the upcoming Harvest Festival."

"Ugh, Waylon. I hate that man."

The woman pursed her grin as she continued. "They were planning to storm the infirmary first, but Doctor Levi intercepted them for illegal trespassing and disrespect for authority."

"I can't believe a doctor's threats can fold them like a cheap suitcase."

"Let's just say Doctor Levi and Councilor Waylon have a history - but that's not my story to tell."

Callum mentally reminded himself to ask the physician personally about it.

Two Crownguards who were manning the door clicked their boots as they unfolded their spear and opened the room. Inside were five people wearing a similar garb as Opeli but with Katolian blue and wine red colors. Callum immediately recognized Waylon, Everleigh, and Teophel who all shared the same shocked expressions as he entered the room. The other two were Ezran's recent appointees - Naomi, a middle-aged brunette woman with fair skin and amber eyes, and Lupin, Commander Gren's brother.

"We weren't informed of your arrival, Prince Callum," Waylon said.

"Our itinerary has changed due to unforeseen circumstances," Callum replied stoically. "I was so preoccupied with worry and fear for my brother's condition that it slipped my mind to inform the Council of my arrival yesterday."

"And I'm sure you brought your elf with you."

The prince's jaw clenched as he mustered all of his strength not to zap the councilor with Fulminis. "Lady Rayla accompanied me under Queen Zubeia's orders. In fact, the Queen sent one of her dragons to fly us all the way here."

"A d-dragon?!" The councilor's face paled much to Callum's satisfaction. "Y-you allowed a dragon to enter Katolis?!"

"Yup! The said dragon even stayed in the courtyard - "

Everyone except him and Opeli rushed towards the windows to check the courtyard before he added, " -and left Katolis last night."

He was unfazed when Waylon snapped his head towards his direction with a seething glare, "Do you think this is a joke, Prince Callum?!"

"No, I don't." was the prince's reply. He wasn't a type that would make fun of someone's phobia, but the way Waylon reacted wasn't fear.

It was bloodlust.

"If you're concerned that a mere dragon would invoke fear among citizens here, then I'm afraid that your assumption is wrong." he went on. "Besides, how can we convince the public that the dragons are civil if we don't show them their true nature?"

"Only the King can make that decision, not you."

"But the King has granted me the power to create a decision, Councilor Everleigh," Callum stared at the blond man coolly "As his Regent."

There was a loud gasp in the room, followed by Teophel's booming voice, "That's preposterous!"

"No, it's not," Opeli interjected as she faced him squarely. "King Ezran is on medical leave and currently facing a death threat. By the laws of this land, the King has to choose a regent until the threat is gone. And who do you think is the best person to be appointed other than the next in line, Crown Prince Callum?"

"Opeli is right," Councilwoman Naomi said with a nod. "Prince Callum is the only person who can fit the bill."

"Who happened to have a biased view regarding Xadia."

"Let me remind you that King Ezran has an empath bond with the Dragon Prince, Azymondias," Callum answered with a neutral tone. "So his view is as biased as mine."

When the room became silent, the prince regent walked towards the chair where Ezran and their late father Harrow sat. He ran his hands on the armrest deftly and felt the roughness of aged wood against his calloused fingers.

Never in Callum's dreams did he ever wish to occupy the throne, albeit temporarily, but it seems that his fate has its plans.

He turned around and looked at his audience resolutely. "If you have any other questions, feel free to ask it now. Otherwise, I will end this discussion and proceed with my other priorities instead."