“Too good.” My father looked at me. “What do you want to do with them? The decision is yours. As the injured party. As the crown prince. What happens to Marcel and Élodie is your choice.”
The weight of it settled on shoulders that were already carrying too much.
“I need to see them first,” I said. “Need to hear what they have to say. Then I'll decide.”
“And I need to tell you something.” The words came before I could stop them. “Before we do this. Before anything else happens. There's something you should know.”
My father's eyes sharpened. “Élodie already told me. About you and Viktor. About your relationship.”
My stomach dropped. “She told you.”
“She did. Tried to use it as leverage. As blackmail.” He smiled. Sad. Real. “Except I already knew.”
“You knew?” I stared at him. “How?—”
“Sebastian. I'm your father. I've watched you your entire life. I've seen the way you look at him. The way he looks at you. The way you move around each other like gravity.” He laughed. Soft. “Did you really think I wouldn't notice?”
Viktor's hand found mine. Not hiding. Just there.
“You're not angry,” I said.
“Angry?” My father shook his head. “I'm relieved. After everything. After losing your mother. After nearly losing you. You found someone who loves you enough to tear through hell to find you.” His voice cracked. “Why would I be angry about that?”
Tears burned. I didn't let them fall. “Because it's complicated. Because he's my bodyguard. Because people will talk?—”
“Let them talk.” My father stood. Crossed to us. Put a hand on each of our shoulders. “I have buried one love. I watched her die because I couldn't protect her. Because I was too weak or too slow or too blind to see the danger coming.” He looked at Viktor. “You kept my son alive. You loved him enough to be what he needed. You gave him a reason to fight. To come home.”
He turned to me. Tears streaming now. Not trying to hide them.
“You are my son. My heir. The only family I have left. I don't care who you love as long as they love you back. As long as they're good to you. As long as they make you happy.” He smiled through the tears. “And Viktor makes you happy. I've seen it. Even through all the fear and danger. You're happy with him.”
“I am,” I whispered.
“Then that's all that matters.” He pulled us both into an embrace. Awkward. Tearful. Real. “I love you both. And I approve. For whatever that's worth.”
We stayed like that. The three of us. Crying and laughing and holding onto each other like we could keep the world from taking anything else if we just held on tight enough.
“Thank you,” Viktor said finally. Voice rough. “For trusting me with him.”
“Thank you for proving yourself worthy of that trust.” My father pulled back. Wiped his eyes. “Now. Let's go see what you want to do with the people who tried to take you from us.”
The cells were deep.Cold. The kind of place where light struggled to reach and hope died in corners.
Detective Akintola was waiting at the entrance, coat damp from the rain outside. He nodded when he saw us. Professional. But something warmer flickered in his eyes when they landed on me.
“Your Highness.” He stepped forward. “Mr. Volkov.”
“Detective.” I kept my voice steady. Formal enough for the setting.
Akintola's gaze shifted to me. Studied the bandages visible at my collar, the way I was holding myself too carefully. “How are you, Sebastian?”
The use of my name without title felt deliberate. Personal. Like he was asking the person, not the prince.
“Alive,” I said. “Better than I should be.”
“That's something.” He glanced at Viktor. “Your bodyguard has a habit of keeping you that way.”
Viktor said nothing. Just stood at my shoulder like a wall.
