𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐈 𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐄// 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐨 𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐔

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟒𝟖// 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐛𝐲𝐞

“I like Will,” Hazel said. “I wish I talked to him a bit more.” 

“Maybe you can exchange letters,” Nico suggested. 

Hazel shrugged, before giving a joking smile. “Maybe we’ll invite him over to dinner one day.” 

Nico returned her smile. “I’d love that.” 

Will caught Nico’s eyes from across the room and gave him a faint smile. Hazel noticed, and not so subtly nudged Nico towards him. He gave her a playful glare, before making his way to the card table. Magnus had the deck in his hands, shuffling and showing cards to Will. 

“Is this your card?” 

“No.” 

“This one?” 

Will was trying not to laugh. “No.” 

“Damn it.” Magnus glared at the deck. “Hearth just taught me this trick.” He saw Nico and perked up. “Hey there.” 

“Having fun?” Nico pulled up a chair and sat next to Will. He reached out and put his arm around Nico, making his heart pick up a bit. 

“It’s been going great.” Magnus laughed. “This is a lot better than working in Healer’s Tower trying to remember things.” 

Nico tilted his head. “I was wondering about that. Did everyone get time off?” 

Piper pointed at Will. “You can thank him. He pulled the prince card and claimed it was important.” She shrugged, smiling. “Work has been going pretty slow, anyway, so I would be surprised if the healers or soldiers actually needed us.” 

“You all need breaks,” Will protested. “You work too hard and get barely any compensation for it. If the Council won’t listen to me, then I’ll do my own thing.” 

“That damn Council,” Magnus grumbled. “I’m glad I’m not on it anymore.” 

Nico blinked in surprise. “You were on the Council?” 

“For a few weeks. I got kicked off.” 

Nico tried not to smile. “What happened?” 

“I nearly started a fight with Hakkam and–” Magnus tapped the deck to his chin, frowning. “The other guy. Punkerting?” 

“Pinkerton,” Will corrected. 

Nico gawked. “You started a fight?” 

Magnus’s eyes flared. “Maybe next time they shouldn’t try to get the healers to stop giving free consultations.” He threw up his free palm. “And it wasn’t like I threw a punch at Hakkam. I just insulted him. Is that a crime?” 

“You called him a greedy bastard,” Will recalled. “You also implied his children will never talk to him again when they grow up.”  

Magnus raised an eyebrow. “Well, was I wrong?” 

Piper laughed. Nico grinned, shaking his head. 

“I will admit that my behavior at the following party wasn’t the best,” Magnus admitted, shuffling the cards as he talked. “I should’ve kept my head on straight.” 

Nico leaned forward, eager for the details. “Well, you can’t just say that and not tell us.” 

“Hakkam ‘accidentally’ poured wine all over me,” Magnus explained, rolling his eyes. “I nearly started a whole fight before I decided it wasn’t worth it.” His mouth twitched. “I had to hold back Alex before she swung at him.” 

“I would’ve started the fight,” Piper said, making Will chuckle. 

“You got kicked off the Council, but not him, even though he was a lot worse than you?” Nico shook his head. “Unfair.” 

Magnus shrugged. “He has money, influence, and people on the Council that like him. I was only on the Council because Fletcher vouched for me.” A bitter smile. “The way of the world.” 

Will smiled. “When I’m King, you can be back on the Council.” 

Magnus nearly dropped the cards. “You’re serious?” 

“Why not? I like your attitude. And Pinkerton and Hakkam will probably be dead by then.” Piper laughed. 

Magnus gave a joking smile. “Can I fight people?” 

“Just not in the Council room, please.” 

“Deal.” Magnus frowned at the deck. “Hold on–” He plucked a card and showed it to Will with an embarrassed smile. “Is this your card?” 

Will laughed. “It’s not, but it’s close.” 

Magnus heaved a sigh. “Before Hearth leaves, he’s teaching me that trick again.” 

☀️☀️☀️☀️ 

The sun climbed high in the sky, and noon was at last upon them. The horses were already there when Nico came out with his belongings. He tied his bags to one of the horses, turning back to see his friends rushing out the door. He smiled and called, “You really thought I would leave without saying goodbye?” 

“Of course not,” Jason said, hitting him on the back. There were hugs and laughter and a bit of crying. Nico desperately tried to hold his tears back; he would not cry. 

“Write us letters, you idiot,” Percy said, crushing Nico in a hug. “Annie wants to stay in contact with you. Mags, too.” 

“Okay, okay,” Nico laughed. “I promise.” 

“You better keep it.” 

Nico pulled away from the hug, and saw the last two people he expected to see: the Aureole King and Queen, standing next to their son with faint smiles. He approached awkwardly, trying his best for a smile. “Hello.” 

Apollo took a deep breath. “I just wanted to say…thank you.” Nico tried to hide his surprise as Apollo went on. “You were one of my best soldiers. You protected my son with your life. You were always there for him, and for the rest of the Kingdom while Jalgan was still alive. Without you, we wouldn’t have been able to defeat the Black Hand.” He extended his hand. “I haven’t treated you fairly in the past, and the last thing I expect is your forgiveness. But I want to make things right.” 

Nico looked up at the king’s face, before at his hand. He took it in his own, his smile genuine this time. “I don’t know what to say except thank you, Your Majesty. It was an honor to serve you.” 

Apollo smiled, taking a step back. Naomi was there in an instant, wrapping Nico in a hug, making him freeze in shock. “You have a good heart,” she said. “Don’t forget that.” 

“Thank you,” Nico managed. Over the queen’s shoulder, Will grinned. 

Naomi let go, and Nico stepped toward Will, the last person to say goodbye to. A thousand emotions warred within him, and he couldn’t hide his tears as they streaked down his face. Will reached out and wiped them away, and Nico gave a smile. 

“You’re going to be amazing,” Will whispered. 

Nico threw himself into Will’s arms and kissed him, uncaring of who saw. Let the whole damn kingdom know that he loved this man. 

“I love you,” Nico managed through his trembling mouth. 

“I love you, too.” Will kissed his cheek, hands tight on his shoulders. “Go. Break the cycle.” 

Nico gave a final smile, before letting go of Will and turning back to the horses, where Hazel, Reyna, Hearthstone, and several soldiers were waiting. 

☀️☀️☀️☀️ 

Nico looked over his shoulder as the group left. Will and his friends waved to him, shouting his name. Nico didn’t stop looking until they vanished, their voices fading. 

Nico turned to look ahead as the cobblestone beneath his horse’s hooves turned to sand, as the Aureole Kingdom grew farther and farther. He kept his gaze forward at the horizon, at the Kingdom far away. 

His destiny was calling.