"My mother is waiting."

"I will find her."

"You promise?"

Augustus hesitated.

Then nodded.

"I promise."

Leo looked at him carefully.

"You look like her when you're afraid."

Augustus almost smiled.

"She told you that?"

"No."

Leo pointed toward his face.

"I can see it."

Cassian coughed to hide a laugh.

The Emperor gave him a look.

Then he turned back to Leo.

"Tell me about your mother."

Leo thought.

"She sings when she's worried."

"Anything else?"

"She knows how to disappear."

Augustus froze.

"Where?"

Leo shook his head.

"She didn't tell me."

The Emperor stood.

"Then we'll find her."

He left the room.

Cassian followed.

Once they were outside, the old general spoke.

"My Emperor."

"What?"

"If Elena survived, then she knows what happened that night."

Augustus stopped.

"You believe Lucius was innocent?"

Cassian looked at him.

"I have believed that for twelve years."

The Emperor stared at him.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I was afraid."

Augustus's expression darkened.

"Of whom?"

Cassian looked toward the palace.

"Everyone."

That night, someone entered Leo's room.

The intruder moved silently.

But before he could reach the bed, a shadow appeared behind him.

Aurelius.

The lion's growl filled the room.

The intruder froze.

Leo woke.

He sat up.

"Who are you?"

The man said nothing.

Aurelius stepped closer.

Leo reached out.

"Wait."

The lion stopped.

Leo looked at the stranger.

"You know my mother."

The man's face changed.

Leo continued.

"Don't you?"

The stranger slowly lowered his weapon.

Then whispered,

"She told me to find you."

Leo's eyes widened.

"Where is she?"

The man looked toward the door.

"Alive."

Then the palace alarm began ringing.

The stranger disappeared through the window.

Leo stood frozen.

For the first time, he understood.

His mother had not abandoned him.

She had been waiting.

And someone was desperately trying to keep them apart.

Elena had spent twelve years hiding.

She lived in a small village beyond the northern mountains under the name Mara.

Only three people knew who she really was.

One was dead.

One had betrayed her.

And the third was somewhere inside the Emperor's palace.

She had never expected Leo to be discovered so soon.

When she heard the news that the boy had been taken to the capital, she knew the past was no longer buried.

She packed before dawn.

Her plan was simple.

Reach the capital.

Find Leo.

Leave before Augustus discovered everything.

But the world had changed.

The roads were watched.

Royal soldiers were everywhere.

Elena disguised herself as a traveling healer and entered the city with a caravan.

She reached the palace at night.

But she did not enter.

Instead, she stood across the street and watched the windows.

One belonged to Leo.

A light was burning.

She pressed a hand to her mouth.

Her son was alive.

Safe.

For now.

Then someone stepped beside her.

"You shouldn't have come."

Elena turned.

Cassian.

She stared at him.

"You're alive."

"So are you."

"Where is my son?"

"Inside."

"Is Augustus protecting him?"

Cassian hesitated.

"He's trying."

"Trying isn't enough."

"I know."

Elena looked toward the palace.

"Who betrayed Lucius?"

Cassian's face became serious.

"We don't know."

"You know."

"I know pieces."

"Then tell me."

Cassian lowered his voice.

"Your husband's final order was not rebellion."

Elena's eyes filled with tears.

"I know."

"He was trying to stop a conspiracy."

"I know."

"And the person who framed him was someone close to the throne."

Elena looked toward the palace.

"Is he still there?"

Cassian nodded.

"Yes."

Before Elena could respond, a bell rang.

Someone had discovered her presence.

Cassian pushed her toward an alley.