Chapter 586

Chapter 586
Two days later—

Jaden’s chambers were a mess in the most lived-in way possible.
Cushions scattered across the carpet. A small wooden toy overturned near the window. Seraphim sat in the middle of it all like she owned the room, one tiny hand gripping Ezra’s sleeve while the other pointed decisively at absolutely nothing.
“Again,” she demanded.
Ezra groaned.
“I already did it three times.”
“Again.”
“That’s not how games work.”
“Again.”
Ezra looked up at the ceiling like it might help him.
“…I’m being bullied.”
Across the room, Jaden didn’t even look up.
“You are,” he agreed calmly, smoothing the front of his tunic with practiced hands. “And you’re losing.”
“I am not losing—”
Seraphim tugged his sleeve harder.
“Again.”
Ezra sighed dramatically.
“…Fine.”
He picked up the toy again, resetting whatever nonsense game they had invented, already defeated before it began.
Behind them—
The door opened.
Jaden glanced up this time.
Alaric stepped in, composed as always, servants following behind him in quiet efficiency. They moved without hesitation, already heading toward the wardrobe, toward the travel chests, toward the things that meant departure.
“My love,” Alaric said, voice calm but final. “It’s time.”
Jaden watched as one of the servants lifted a bag.
Another closed a case.
“…Yeah,” he said, exhaling once. “Yeah, I know.”
On the carpet, Ezra froze mid-movement.
“…Time?”
Jaden pushed himself off the chair and crossed the room.
“To leave,” he said simply.
Seraphim looked up immediately.
“Go?”
Jaden crouched and picked her up, settling her easily against his hip.
“Yes, trouble. We’re going.”
Ezra sat back on his heels, frowning.
“How long?”
Jaden adjusted the small tote bag resting near the chair, checking its contents quickly before slinging it over his shoulder.
“I don’t know,” he said honestly. “A week. Maybe."
Ezra blinked.
“…That’s it?”
Jaden shrugged.
“If we’re lucky.”
Ezra’s frown deepened.
“…And I’m supposed to do what?”
Jaden gave him a look.
“Try surviving.”
“I am serious.”
“So am I.”
Ezra crossed his arms.
“…With who?”
Jaden didn’t miss a beat.
“With your boyfriend.”
Ezra recoiled immediately.
“Yuck—what boyfriend?!”
Jaden started toward the door, completely unbothered.
“Lysa.”
Ezra’s mouth snapped shut so fast it was almost audible.
Jaden smirked slightly.
“Exactly.”
“I am not dating him.”
“You hold hands.”
“That doesn’t mean anything.”
“It means something.”
Ezra stood quickly, following them now.
“It does not!”
Seraphim leaned against Jaden’s shoulder, watching the exchange with full interest.
“Boyfriend,” she repeated, very pleased with the word.
Ezra looked betrayed.
“Not you too.”
Jaden laughed under his breath.
“Behave,” he said, shifting Seraphim slightly higher on his arm. “We’ll be back before you manage to destroy anything important.”
Ezra muttered something under his breath.
“Too late.”
Jaden glanced at him.
“I heard that.”
“…Good.”
They reached the doorway.
Alaric was already there, waiting.
Composed.
Ready.
Jaden slowed just slightly.
“Call me if anything happens,” he added, quieter now, not joking this time.
Ezra nodded.
“I will.”
A beat.
“…Don’t take too long.”
Jaden’s expression softened—just a little.
“We won’t.”
Seraphim leaned forward suddenly, reaching toward Ezra.
“Come.”
Ezra blinked.
“…I am coming.”
And he did.
Following them out.
Not because he had to—
But because he wanted to see them go.
The three of them walked down the corridor together.
Jaden carrying Seraphim.
Alaric ahead.
Ezra trailing just behind, unusually quiet for once.
By the time they reached the main doors—
They were already open.
Light flooded in.
And outside—
Authority waited.
The courtyard had been fully prepared.
Rows of knights lined both sides, mounted and still, armor catching the morning light. Two carriages stood ready at the center, identical in presence if not in purpose.
This wasn’t a simple departure.
It was movement of power.
Ronan stood near one of the carriages, speaking quietly with Dimitri. Serafina stood before them, posture straight, gaze sharp—already displeased.
All three turned as Jaden and Alaric stepped outside.
Seraphim immediately leaned forward in Jaden’s arms.
“Horses.”
Ezra muttered under his breath, “Of course.”
Alaric approached first.
Jaden followed.
Ezra lingered just behind them, eyes moving across the knights like he was counting how many things could go wrong.
Serafina’s gaze landed directly on Alaric.
“My grandson.”
Alaric inclined his head slightly.
“Grandmother.”
Her eyes shifted—slow, deliberate—to the rest of them.
To Dimitri.
To Ronan.
To the carriages.
To the absence that would follow.
“All of you are leaving.”
Not a question.
A statement.
Cold.
Measured.
“And if something happens?”
Dimitri answered without hesitation.
“Nothing will happen.”
Ronan’s expression remained calm, but there was something firmer beneath it now.
“The castle is not undefended.”
Alaric added, just as steady,
“It will stand.”
Serafina looked at each of them in turn.
Not convinced.
Not reassured.
Just… evaluating how much risk they were choosing to ignore.
Then her gaze dropped briefly—
To Seraphim.
The child watching everything.
Absorbing everything.
“Behave,” Serafina said.
Seraphim blinked.
Then nodded once.
“Behave.”
Jaden smiled faintly.
“We’ll survive.”
A quiet pause settled.
Then Dimitri stepped forward slightly.
“We leave together,” he said.
Not suggestion.
Decision.
Servants moved.
Doors opened.
The first carriage prepared.
Then the second.
Knights adjusted formation.
Everything aligning around that single fact—
All rulers were departing.
Ezra shifted behind Jaden, suddenly less certain.
“…That’s a lot of people leaving at once.”
Jaden glanced back at him.
“You’ll live.”
Ezra frowned.
“…That’s not reassuring.”
Seraphim leaned toward him again.
“Come.”
Ezra huffed.
“I am coming.”
Serafina stepped back at last.
“Have a safe journey.”
Formal.
Controlled.
But not entirely free of concern.
Dimitri moved toward one carriage.
Ronan beside him.
Alaric toward the other.
Jaden followed, Seraphim resting against his shoulder like she had no idea she was part of something important.
Ezra stopped just before the steps, watching as everything moved too quickly around him—servants, knights, doors opening, people already leaving.
“…Don’t take too long,” he muttered.
Jaden looked at him briefly.
“We won’t.”
Ezra hesitated.
Then, like the thought slipped out before he could stop it—
“If you die, I’m taking your room.”
There was a pause.
Jaden stared at him.
Ezra immediately stiffened.
“…I mean—not die,” he added quickly. “Just—don’t die.”
Jaden let out a quiet breath through his nose, something between amusement and disbelief.
“That’s a very specific condition.”
Ezra crossed his arms, defensive again.
“It’s a reasonable one.”
Jaden shook his head slightly.
“Behave.”
“…I am behaving.”
“You’re negotiating inheritance before I’ve even left.”
“That’s called planning.”
Jaden snorted softly.
Seraphim leaned toward Ezra from Jaden’s arms, watching him closely.
“Die,” she repeated.
Ezra froze.
“…No. No dying.”
Jaden huffed a quiet laugh.
“Good correction.”
Ezra pointed at her.
“Don’t teach her that word.”
“She learns what she wants.”
“Yeah, I can see that.”
Then—
Movement.
Doors closing.
Orders given.
Horses shifting.
And just like that—
Noctis Dominia began to empty.