SIDE STORY (3)

The castle was supposed to be impenetrable.

Guards stationed at every entrance. Patrols circling the halls day and night. The king himself was known for his ruthless attention to detail-if a single candle was out of place, he would notice.

And yet-

"Your Majesty... we found this."

Sebastian blinked at the guard standing before him.

More specifically-at the tiny child clinging to the man's leg.

The boy-no older than five-had messy brown hair, a dust-covered tunic that was far too big for him, and wide, unbelievably bright golden eyes.

Sebastian narrowed his gaze. "And where exactly did you 'find' him?"

"Wandering the eastern corridor," the guard answered stiffly. "He managed to get inside the castle."

Sebastian's eyes twitched.

The boy beamed up at him. "Hi!"

Sebastian scowled. "Who are you?"

"I'm Leo!" The child grinned, bouncing on his heels. "This place is huge!"

Sebastian exhaled sharply.

The guard stiffened. "Your Majesty, shall we remove him?"

Sebastian opened his mouth-to say yes, obviously. This was a fortified palace, not some wandering-child daycare-

"Wait," Alex interrupted.

Sebastian turned as Alex approached, arms crossed.

Alex crouched, meeting the boy's gaze. "Leo, was it? Where are your parents?"

Leo rocked on his heels, looking slightly less cheerful. "I dunno."

Sebastian sighed. "Fantastic. A lost child with no explanation. Again, why shouldn't we send him back to the city-"

"Because he got inside the castle."

Sebastian paused.

Alex met his gaze knowingly. "Through all our guards. All our security. He made it into the eastern corridor, of all places."

Sebastian turned back to the child, who was now distracted by the gold embroidery on the royal carpets.

Leo.

A child with no home, no fear of walking through a castle ruled by a ruthless king-

And yet, he looked up at Sebastian with not even an ounce of fear.

Sebastian exhaled. "Fine. We'll keep him here... for now."

Leo cheered.

Sebastian scowled.

Alex smirked.

________________________________________

It started small.

Leo was given a guest room-a temporary arrangement, Sebastian insisted-but the boy never actually stayed in it.

Somehow, he always ended up elsewhere.

Curled up in a chair in Sebastian's office.

Falling asleep on the couch in Alex's study.

Sneaking into the kitchen at odd hours, attempting (and failing) to steal pastries.

No one ever caught him until he wanted to be caught.

The maids adored him. The knights begrudgingly found him endearing. The head steward nearly quit after the fourth time Leo managed to sneak into a council meeting, asking if kings had snack breaks.

Sebastian should have been furious.

Instead-

"Sebastian."

Sebastian blinked as Alex stepped into his study.

Alex folded his arms. "Leo wants to be a knight."

Sebastian frowned. "What."

"He's currently in the courtyard, swinging a wooden sword at Leon, declaring himself the 'protector of the castle.'"

Sebastian groaned, running a hand down his face. "Why is that my problem?"

"Because he said he wants to protect you."

Sebastian froze.

Alex smirked.

________________________________________

One evening, long after the castle had quieted, Sebastian found himself in the garden, arms crossed.

Beside him, Alex stood silent, watching the stars.

Between them-curled up in Alex's cloak, fast asleep-was Leo.

Sebastian exhaled. "We've been avoiding this."

Alex hummed. "Yes."

"We need an heir."

"Yes."

"He's... irritatingly stubborn."

Alex chuckled. "Yes."

Sebastian looked down at the boy.

The child who had somehow, against all logic, slipped past every one of his defenses.

Who had claimed the castle as his own.

Who had already won.

Sebastian sighed, rubbing his temple.

"We're keeping him, aren't we?"

Alex smiled. "Yes."

Sebastian huffed.

Leo stirred, shifting in his sleep, mumbling something incoherent. His tiny fingers curled into Alex's sleeve, clinging instinctively.

Sebastian... felt something in his chest tighten.

A warmth he hadn't expected.

He exhaled.

"Fine."

Alex smirked. "You're really soft for him, you know."

Sebastian scowled. "I am not."

Leo yawned in his sleep.

And nestled closer to Sebastian.

Sebastian immediately looked away, ears burning.

Alex snickered.

Sebastian glared. "Not. A. Word."

Alex just smiled.

Because no matter how much Sebastian denied it-

They both knew.

The kingdom had just gained its prince.