Chapter 573: Chosen Family

The moment Nero disappeared toward the kitchens with Theodore, Sebastian, and a still mildly offended Amaru, the arrival hall became noticeably quieter.

Matthias watched them go.

More specifically, he watched Nero go.

Only after the Sahan crown prince disappeared around the far archway did the former elder visibly relax and move closer to Hunter again.

Dean noticed.

Arion noticed too.

Neither commented.

Matthias had never become comfortable around Nero after recognizing what he was. Three years had done remarkably little to change that. He could work beside him when necessary, remain perfectly polite during family events, and even trust Nero with Theodore, but given the option between standing beside the Titan and inspecting an empty corridor, Matthias usually discovered something fascinating about the corridor.

Dean considered that a problem for another day.

Amelie watched the disappearing group with amusement.

"Does this always happen?"

"What?"

"Your son being stolen."

Dean sighed.

"Constantly."

Arion adjusted the cuff of his shirt.

"We usually recover him before bedtime."

"Usually?"

"Nero once tried to negotiate an overnight stay."

Amelie laughed and gestured toward the broad staircase leading deeper into the palace.

"Come. Before Amaru returns and decides the tour should involve three hours of explaining renovations nobody asked about."

They followed her from the reception wing.

Draxil’s royal palace had changed almost as much as the airfield.

Some of the older dark stone remained, particularly in the structural arches and central columns, but the oppressive decoration Dean remembered had been stripped away. Heavy crimson fabrics were gone. The old dynasty’s crests had disappeared from the walls, replaced with silver detailing, deep blue textiles, pale wood, and enough natural light to make the corridors feel wider.

Open windows overlooked internal courtyards filled with late-season flowers and clipped trees.

"It feels different," Dean said.

Amelie glanced toward him.

"That was intentional."

She walked between Dean and Arion, one hand occasionally brushing the silver railing as they climbed.

"Amaru wanted almost everything associated with his father removed. I convinced him not to destroy historical pieces simply because he hated the people who owned them."

"That sounds reasonable."

"He wanted to burn a dining table."

Arion looked at her.

"Why?"

"His father liked it."

Dean laughed.

"I understand the impulse."

Amelie smiled.

"He eventually agreed that furniture had committed no crimes."

Their guest rooms occupied part of the eastern royal wing, overlooking a private garden separated from the ceremonial courtyards by tall hedges and an old stone wall.

Amelie opened the doors herself.

Dean stepped inside and stopped.

The suite had clearly been prepared for Theodore.

A smaller bedroom connected directly to theirs, with a low bed, several toys, children’s books in three languages, and a narrow table covered with drawing materials. Someone had even added a wooden dragon near the window.

Black.

Dean stared at it.

Arion saw it too.

"No."

Amelie looked between them.

"What?"

Dean pointed.

"Who chose that?"

"The dragon?"

"Yes."

Amelie frowned.

"I think one of the staff. Is something wrong with it?"

Arion crossed the room, picked up the toy, and examined it as though expecting ancient corrupted pheromones to emerge from the carved wings.

Nothing happened.

"It is just a toy," he said.

Dean narrowed his eyes.

"That is what we said last time."

Amelie looked increasingly confused.

"I feel as though I missed several important developments."

"You did."

Dean took the dragon from Arion and put it on the highest shelf.

"Those developments can remain in Alamina."

Amelie wisely accepted that.

She showed them the rest of the suite, including the private sitting room, adjoining security rooms for Hunter and Matthias, and a smaller office Arion could use if work became unavoidable during the visit.

Dean looked at the desk.

"No."

Arion glanced at him.

"I said nothing."

"You were thinking."

Amelie smiled as she opened the terrace doors.

"I like this."

Dean joined her outside.

"What?"

"All of you."

The answer came without hesitation.

Below them, the private gardens curved around a shallow reflecting pool, while beyond the outer wall the roofs of Draxil’s capital spread toward the horizon beneath pale afternoon light.

Amelie rested her hands on the stone railing.

"I didn’t have this growing up."

Dean’s amusement faded.

He knew enough about Claudia’s palace and the people caught inside it not to ask for details she had never volunteered.

Amelie continued anyway.

"My family was something you survived. Everyone wanted something from everyone else, and affection usually arrived with conditions attached."

Arion came to stand beside Dean.

Amelie looked back through the open doors toward the empty suite.

"Then I woke up in a medical facility after years I barely remembered, discovered almost everyone connected to the life I knew had either disappeared or become part of something monstrous, and somehow ended up with Amaru."

Dean smiled faintly.

"That sounds like questionable judgment."

"Extremely."

Amelie laughed.

"But he wanted something different too."

She looked toward the corridor where Amaru had disappeared with the others.

"So we planned it."

"Planned what?" Arion asked.

"Our family."

Her smile softened.

"Who we wanted around us. Which people were allowed close. What kind of home this palace would become. Eryx and Marianne. Sylvia and Thomas. People we trust. People who can walk into a room without everyone wondering what they want in return."

Dean understood.

Chosen deliberately instead of inherited blindly.

"Theo helps," Amelie added.

Dean laughed.

"Because he has no respect for political boundaries?"

"Because everyone forgets to behave like royalty around him."

"That is unfortunately true."

Amelie glanced toward the door.

"Amaru has been nervous about tomorrow for weeks. Theodore called him half king and cured most of it in ten seconds."

Arion smiled.

"That does sound like Theo."

"And Nero stealing him probably restored the rest."

"Nothing restores anyone after Nero."

A knock came from the sitting room before Amelie could answer.

One of the palace secretaries entered after receiving permission, dressed in the dark blue formal uniform of the new household.

"Your Highness."

Amelie turned.

"The Rohan delegation has arrived."

Her face brightened immediately.

"Already?"

"Ten minutes ago. Her Majesty Marianne and Consort Eryx are being escorted from the western entrance. Lord Thomas and Lady Sylvia are with them."

Dean straightened.

"Sylvia came."

Amelie looked delighted.

"She said she would."

"And Thomas apparently failed to lock her in the house."

"That must have been difficult for him."

Dean smiled.

The secretary continued, "His Majesty Amaru has been informed."

Amelie glanced toward the corridor.

"Then we should go before he abandons Theo in Nero’s arms and runs downstairs."

Arion offered Dean his hand.

Dean took it.