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Lilia used to have a few concerns about how his earliest ward would feel about his son.
It seems he worries far too much.
Back when Lilia had assumed that the impossible was...well impossible, he also had the assumption that the young prince wouldn't take much of a liking towards his son.
Initially, such was true. Malleus wasn't the most fond of Silver and had quite a few 'nicknames' that prevented Lilia from giving the young man the baby's true one. Not that Lilia had been under the assumption of which Malleus would hurt his son, of course not. He knew the boy better than that. He didn't tell the younger fae Silver's full name yet to prevent petty tricks.
Malleus was about that age where it felt more fun the trick than to curse, and with how fragile the young human boy was, (it was truly surprising to the ex general, he genuinely didn't think that humans were so weak...) Lilia figured that it'd be good to stray from fae shenanigans that he didn't initiate for now.
But that was a while back. About five years or so. Now, Malleus seemed to see Silver as his own, as concerning, yet endearing as it may be.
It was endearing because Malleus resembled his mother. Seeing him hum and quietly sing lullabies to the six year old human was adorable. Seeing his son(s) be so affectionate towards each other was enough to soften the former generals cold heart.
It was concerning because Malleus seemed to see Silver as HIS son. Not Lilia's.
The first incident was when Lilia returned from one of his travels to notice that there hadn't been anyone in the home. 'Odd,' were his initial thoughts. It got even odder when he called Dahlia, Baul's daughter. Apparently, she hadn't seen Silver since yesterday because someone had picked him up under the pretense of Lilia coming home. Someone: staff from the palace whom were undercover and taking his son for Malleus.
Obviously, finding this out, Lilia had to do the logical thing, pick up Silver. But of course, neither child could be logical at the moment.
Silver was asleep. Malleus was holding the smaller boy against his chest like he was a treasure that he had no intentions of giving away.
"He's fine," the dragon stated, completely ignoring the dumbfounded, almost blank stare on the old bat's face. "He is fed, bathed, and clothed, see? Fine." Malleus made a defiant expression as he enunciated his words with purpose.
"Malleus..." Lilia trailed off. What could he possibly say to that? Just outright refute his prince/son? Absolutely not! The queen would have his head. "...he may be alright, but.. I'd like to see my son." Lilia sighed, running a hand over his face. "... Malleus, may I please have my son...?"
The act of asking for his own child felt foolish and weak minded, but what other option did he truly have? It wasn't like the young prince would simply give up the boy he's grown oddly attached to. Hell, he could see Silver right now, that boy was dressed in Malleus' old robes. Lilia could tell because he used to help him put them on.
Malleus eyes narrowed with thought, fake contemplation settling on his face. "...No." The young dragon proceeded to turn away from Lilia and go back to bouncing the child on his hip, feeling the young one stir a bit.
Lilia deadpanned for a moment. "...What?" He said it like he couldn't believe himself. What the hell did he mean 'no'?! Silver was Lilia's son!! Lilia looked over his shoulder, hearing distant chuckles. Maleficia. The actual queen was getting a decent amusement watching Lilia have to negotiate the custody of his youngest son with his oldest.
"Well, Vanrouge, surely you can afford to go without your human for a short while. Malleus likes the little thing." The older woman snickered out. It furthered Lilia's confusion, his expression shifting to shock. Was she truly letting him keep his son?? Truly??
"I—Your majesty?! Surely you're joking?" False. She wasn't. He knew it. Lilia felt crazy. Was he going crazy? Surely this couldn't be real. Surely the queen wouldn't actually allow the prince, who wasn't even an adult himself, to just keep a child! A human one at that! In a castle with fully fae staff, some of which don't support the peace between the two races, where the small child would be the only one of his (disliked) kind!
The queen just sighed, finally leaving the throes of amusement that wouldn't work in Lilia's favor in the very least. She cleared her throat, straightening and moving to take the little boy away.
"As amusing as that was, grandson, you must give the child back to his father at once. He doesn't belong here, he has a home already." Maleficia stated, gently detaching Silver from a pouting Malleus and petting the young boy as she returned him to his father. "His presence shall be welcomed, though. He won't know a lack of hospitality within these walls, that I can promise to you, Malleus."
She made a shooing motion with her hand so that Lilia could hurry up and take his mini-human and get out before the light drizzle outside became a hurricane.
Unfortunately, there was not a route quick enough besides teleportation... He was willing to risk waking his son, especially if it meant he got to keep him.
As Lilia set his son on their couch, watching the little one curl up and snore a little louder as he took his shoes and coat off. He was tired already. The day was much too eventful already, and he'd just got home!
The man stretched a bit, laying down next to his son, and before he knew it, he was drifting off as well.
For his own mental sake, he was going to assume that he would wake up with his son still present...