Leo's small voice trembled.
"Mother Sia said… she was beside the river five and a half years ago too."
Eyan's expression darkened instantly.
"Why are you bringing her up now?"
He stepped forward and grabbed Leo's hand tightly… almost desperately.
"Listen to me carefully. I was wrong when I told you she was your mother. No… she was not. She lied to us. She deceived me and entered this palace… then she stole your mother's dress. That is why I sent her away. She broke the rule I clearly told her not to."
Leo lowered his head. "I knew…"
Eyan froze. "You… knew?"
Luca and Aranel also turned sharply toward the child.
Leo nodded slowly.
"I knew from the beginning that she was the thief. I met her in the market… and I knew she was a woman."
Silence spread like smoke.
Eyan's grip loosened slightly.
"You knew… and you said nothing?"
Leo's eyes filled again.
"I am sorry for hiding it… That day in the market… when you were chasing her… I was the one who helped her escape."
Shock flashed across Eyan's face.
"You… helped her?"
"Yes," Leo whispered.
"Because she once helped me. When the knights mistook me for a thief and were chasing me… she saved me."
Eyan stared at him, unable to speak.
"So you helped her… because of that?...Leo she's a thief."
Leo nodded.
"But She didn't steal anything after i told her not to steal again. She was even starving for ten days because she didn't have money to buy food…"
His small voice cracked.
"When the Royal knights found her house… she had nowhere to go. That is why she came here… to become my mother."
Pain flickered in Eyan's eyes.
"But she stole your mother's dres—"
"She did not steal it!" Leo cried suddenly. "I was the one who gave her Mother's dress… She needed clothes to go outside the palace. She did not even know it belonged to Mother."
The words struck Eyan like blows.
"And the ring…" Leo continued weakly. "I gave her Mother's ring too… so she could use the disguise spell."
Leo lowered his head in shame. "I also lied about her location… when you asked me."
Eyan's voice came out hoarse.
"Why… why did you lie? I told you never to lie."
Leo wiped his tears with his sleeve.
"Because i like her. And… I like hearing her heartbeat and I like the lullaby she sings for me...It helps me sleep."
Eyan stared at Leo for a long moment.
"Her heartbeat… and her lullaby helped you fall asleep?"
Leo nodded softly.
"Yes."
Something flickered in Eyan's eyes.
A memory.
A distant night.
A forgotten warmth.
-----------------------------------------------------
Flashback —(Five and a Half Years Ago)
Before Luca and Aranel's Wedding
(Lady Elira's Chamber)
Soft candlelight filled the room.
Eyan sat at the edge of the bed… watching quietly.
Leo (8 years old) was curled tightly against Eva's chest, clinging to her dress as if he would never let go.
"Leo," Eyan said gently, opening his arms. "Come here. I will make you fall asleep."
But the child only hugged Eva tighter.
"No… I like hearing Mother's heartbeat. It always makes me sleep…"
Eva laughed softly and wrapped her arms around him protectively.
"My baby…"
Leo lifted his sleepy eyes.
"Mother… sing me the lullaby. The one you always sing."
Eva blinked in confusion. "Lullaby? But I do not know any lullaby."
Leo pouted. "You know… you know only one. You always sing it to me…"
Eva hesitated.
Then slowly… almost unconsciously… she began to hum.
"Hmmm… hmm… hm… hmmm…
Hmmm… hmm… hm… hmmm…"
Leo's face lit up instantly.
"Yes… that one… That is the lullaby my mother always sings to me…"
Eyan smiled faintly. "That is the one?"
Leo nodded happily.
"Yes, Father."
Within minutes… his small body relaxed completely.
He fell asleep in her arms.
Eyan looked at his peaceful face in quiet amazement.
"He fell asleep…"
Eva smiled down at the child and kissed his hair.
"Sleep well…"
------------------------------------------
(Back to Present)
The memory shattered.
Eyan looked at Leo again… his heartbeat suddenly uneven.
"Leo… can you sing the lullaby she sings to you?"
Leo nodded.
"It was like…"
"Hmmm… hmm… hm… hmmm…
Hmmm… hmm… hm… hmmm…"
The moment the sound left the child's lips —
Eyan's eyes widened.
The world seemed to tilt.
Realisation struck him like lightning.
"It is her…" His voice broke. "Eva… is Sia."
Luca and Aranel stared at him in shock.
"Lady Sia… is Sister-in-law?" Luca whispered.
"Yes…"
Eyan's breathing turned heavy.
"But why… why did she not tell me anything? Why does she not recognise any of us?"
Leo answered quietly.
"She lost her memory."
Eyan froze.
"Lost… her memory?"
Leo nodded.
"She told me that five and a half years ago… she opened her eyes beside the river… near the small house where she lived. She could not remember anything. Not her name… not where she came from…"
Eyan's mind spun.
"But she had a name. Sia."
Leo shook his head.
"No… I gave her that name. I told her she would be Sia… until she remembers her real name."
The words hit harder than any sword.
Eyan staggered back and collapsed onto the ground.
Slowly… his gaze moved toward Eva's grave.
The stone that had held his grief for years.
The grave that now felt like a lie.
Leo clutched Eyan's sleeve tightly, eyes still wet.
"Father… she is not a bad person. She is just alone… Can you bring her back?"
Eyan covered his face with both hands.
Memories crashed into him mercilessly.
Her kneeling on the cold marble.
His voice raised in blind rage.
The sword pressed against her throat.
Her tears.
Her trembling plea — "please..let me see His Highness once…"
And him…
Refusing.
Throwing her out like she meant nothing.
His breathing grew uneven.
Aranel stepped forward urgently.
"Brother… why are you still sitting here? Go and bring her back!"
Eyan shook his head slowly.
"How can I face her now…? If Luca had not stopped me… I might have killed her."
Leo stiffened.
"You… could have killed her? What do you mean, Father?"
Eyan nodded miserably.
"I was angry. I placed my sword on her neck… And when she asked to see you… I said no."
Leo's lips trembled.
"You didn't let Mother see me…"
"Yes… I didn't kno—"
Suddenly Luca grabbed Aranel's hand.
"Aranel. Run."
She blinked.
"What? Why?"
"JUST RUN."
He immediately started running toward the palace.
"KNIGHTS! HIDE! EVERYONE HIDE!" he shouted.
The guards looked confused… but ran anyway.
Eyan frowned.
"Luca… why are you running—?"
Luca looked back while still running.
"Because I know what is coming, idiot!"
"What—"
Then Eyan felt it.
A sudden vibration in the air.
The night itself seemed to tremble.
His gaze snapped toward Leo.
The boy's body was shaking — not from fear…From rage.
Leo slowly lifted his head.
His eyes glowed red.
"Father… How dare you… not let my mother see me."
Eyan swallowed.
"Leo… son… Father apologises—"
"You put a sword on her neck."
"Listen—"
A glowing sphere of magic formed in Leo's small palm.
Power pulsed violently inside it.
Then—
BOOOOOOM—!!
The blast hit him square in the chest.
He flew backward dramatically.
CRAAASH—!!
He landed near Eva's grave with a very undignified sound.
"AAAH— MY BACK!"
Pain shot through his spine.
He groaned, grabbing his back.
"He truly inherited his mother's anger…"
Leo stomped into the garden like a war general.
Eyan lay there staring at the sky.
Then he suddenly laughed.
"Your power got stronger… since when did you learn to throw people like sacks?"
Dust rose nearby.
Luca appeared… coughing… but clapping proudly.
"Well done! Finally you controlled your magic properly! This time you hit the target!"
Eyan still lay half-against the grave.
Aranel arrived and spoke very sweetly.
"Leo… when you were sick, your uncle also shouted at your mother, and did not let her see you."
Luca froze.
He stared at her in betrayal.
"Why did you tell him?"
Leo turned toward Luca.
"Uncle you too…?"
Aranel suddenly smiled sweetly.
"Leo, Aunt could not see properly when you hit your father. Can you show me again?"
Leo nodded seriously.
"Of course."
Luca panicked.
"Aranel… do you want our kids to grow up fatherless?"
Another sphere of magic formed in Leo's hand.
Luca immediately cast a protection spell on Aranel.
"STAY BEHIND ME!"
BAAAAM—!!
The magic hit him straight in the chest.
He flew backward and smashed into the palace wall.
THUD—!!
He slid down like a painting falling off a hook.
Eyan watched the entire thing while still lying on the ground.
Then he burst into loud laughter.
"Serves you right! You trained him — now enjoy the results!"
Luca groaned from the floor.
"I regret nothing… I am proud of you… my boy…"
Aranel clapped happily.
"Well done."
Leo stood there… breathing heavily… proud… furious…
Eyan slowly pushed himself up from the ground, wincing slightly as he dusted the grass and soil from his clothes.
The night wind moved through the Empress's Garden… carrying the faint scent of white lilies.
He walked toward Leo and lowered himself to sit at the boy's height.
Gently, he placed both hands on Leo's shoulders.
"Enough anger now. Don't use your power again… you will fall sick."
Leo immediately smacked his hands away.
Hard.
Eyan blinked.
He looked at his empty hands… then back at his furious son.
"You want your mother back…?"
Leo's red eyes were still glowing faintly.
"Yes."
Eyan smiled softly. "Then I will bring her back."
Leo froze.
"Really… Father?"
"Yes."
He patted Leo's head and stood up. Then he walked out of the garden.
"Knights."
The bushes rustled. Statues moved. Pillars coughed.
Knights who had been hiding everywhere suddenly appeared and bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty."
"Bring my armour."
They all exchanged confused looks.
Luca frowned.
"Why do you need armour? You are going to bring back your wife… not fight a war."
Eyan did not even turn.
"You do not understand. She hits me every time we meet."
Leo nodded seriously.
"Yes. I remember in the market. Mother slapped you… bit your hand… and kicked you in the chest."
Eyan sighed.
"Yes....and she hit me yesterday too."
Leo gasped.
"Father the injury on your face yesterday… that was Mother doing?"
"Yes."
Leo crossed his arms.
"Then I should not have healed you. You deserved it."
Luca and Aranel both covered their mouths… trying not to laugh.
Eyan turned slowly.
"Who taught you to speak to your father like this?"
Leo answered proudly.
"Mother did."
Eyan nodded thoughtfully.
"Good. She is doing excellent work as a parent."
Just then a knight returned carrying the Emperor's armour.
Eyan took it and began wearing it piece by piece. Everyone watched in respectful… terrified silence.
Then his hand went to the heavy head protection.
Luca burst out laughing.
"You need head protection too? You are doing too much."
Eyan calmly wore it.
"I am not risking another bump on my forehead."
At that exact moment —
Tiny running footsteps echoed.
Nayra and Nolan came rushing out of the palace, followed by panicked servants.
"Uncle Eyan! Mother! Father! Brother Leo! Why are you all outside?" Nayra cried.
"We were searching for you!" Nolan added.
Luca picked both of them up.
"You two woke up?"
"Yes… but Father… where is Uncle going?"
Luca grinned wickedly.
"Your uncle is going to bring your aunty back."
"Bring aunty back? But why did she leave?" Nayra asked.
"Because some idiot sent her away."
Nayra's eyes burned with rage.
"WHO WAS THAT IDIOT? Tell me! Father, I will hit them!"
Luca pointed calmly.
"That idiot is your uncle."
Nayra's anger instantly melted into awkward silence.
She slowly turned toward Eyan.
"Uncle… it was you?"
Eyan walked closer and smiled warmly.
"Yes. It was me."
Nayra hesitated.
"Oh…"
Luca raised an eyebrow.
"Sweetheart, what happened to all that rage? You shout at your father every day but now you are quiet?"
Nayra looked at Eyan. "Uncle… come closer."
Eyan's eyes softened.
He removed his head protection and bent down, presenting his cheek for a loving kiss.
SLAP—!!
His head snapped sideways.
Before he could recover, Nayra began hitting him repeatedly with her tiny fists.
"Uncle is bad! Uncle is very bad!"
Nolan joined enthusiastically.
"Yes! Uncle is bad!"
Eyan staggered backward.
"Nayra… Nolan… wait…"
Aranel rushed forward and grabbed their hands.
"Children! Stop hitting your uncle!"
Luca protested.
"Why are you stopping them? Let them hit him. This is justice."
Both kids puffed their cheeks angrily.
Eyan raised his hands in surrender.
"Uncle apologises. I made a mistake. But look… I am going to bring her back."
"Don't talk to us!" they both declared and turned their faces away dramatically.
Luca chuckled.
"They are exactly like their mother."
Aranel's smile froze.
Her fist tightened.
Then she drove it straight into Luca's spine from behind.
THUD—!!
"AAAH— MY BACK!" Luca screamed.
Aranel pulled the twins away from Luca's arms in sudden anger.
"Give them to me. They are mine. You are not allowed to touch them."
Her words had barely settled in the air when the sky changed.
Dark clouds rolled in like a living shadow, swallowing the moon.
Lightning split the heavens.
A freezing wind swept across the palace garden, bending trees and sending dry leaves spiralling.
Eyan slowly lifted his eyes toward the sky.
Something inside him… shifted.
Luca's heart sank instantly.
"No… no… Eyan…"
He turned urgently toward Aranel.
"Take the children inside. Now. Lock the doors."
Aranel did not question him.
With the twins already in her arms, she turned and hurried toward the palace.
"Take His Highness!" she ordered urgently.
A servant immediately rushed forward, lifting Leo into their arms.
Leo looked back over the servant's shoulder, worry filling his eyes as Aranel ran ahead through the rising wind and rain.
Within moments, they all disappeared inside the palace.
Behind them—
Rain began to fall.
At first slowly.
Then all at once.
Eyan's body started trembling uncontrollably.
A sharp ringing exploded inside his head.
He clutched it with both hands.
"Ahh—!"
Luca rushed forward and caught his shoulders.
"Eyan… look at me… Eyan!"
But he could not hear him.
His knees hit the wet ground.
Another broken scream escaped him.
"AHHH—!"
Memories began crashing down on him like thunder.
That night.
That storm.
That river roaring like a beast.
Her body drifting away from him in the darkness…
Her hand slipping from his grasp.
"Eva…"
The rain poured harder, as if the sky itself remembered.
"EVAAA—!!"
His body jerked violently as he collapsed.
Luca grabbed his wrists and pinned them to the ground, his own hands shaking.
"Eyan! Listen to me! She is alive! Open your eyes!"
But Eyan was drowning in memories.
Five and a half years of guilt.
Five and a half years of loneliness.
Five and a half years of loving a ghost.
His voice broke like shattered glass.
"I couldn't bring you home..."
Luca shouted desperately over the storm.
"EYAAAN!"
There was no response.
Only broken breathing.
Only pain.
Only a man drowning in the past.
Luca lifted his face helplessly toward the dark sky.
"What am I supposed to do now…"
Then—
Footsteps.
Fast.
Desperate.
Splashing through the rain.
Luca turned.
A figure was running toward them through the downpour.
Relief flashed across his face.
He immediately stepped aside.
Eyan was half-sitting on the ground, still clutching his head.
"Eva… don't go… please…"
The figure reached him.
Without hesitation she dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around him.
Tightly.
Desperately.
As if she had been searching for him just as long.
Warmth spread through his freezing body.
A heartbeat.
Soft.
Steady.
So achingly familiar that his soul recognised it before his mind could.
His trembling hands slowly loosened from his head… and came to rest against her back.
He froze.
His breathing stopped.
The storm, the thunder, the world — everything faded.
Only that warmth remained.
Only that heartbeat.
Then a soft voice reached his ears.
Gentle.
Shaking.
Filled with emotion.
"Honey.....I'm home."