...so if we're saying that Lilia's dream is about when he met Silver, BUT what if its not the wholesome "I picked him up in a forest" but Silver had to watch his parents die in one way or another??
ANON IM SO NERVOUS ABOUT THIS!!! (ok dark theory below)
if it really is Lilia's memory of finding Silver (which, if that's the setting of his happy dream, i will simply Die— they will be the end of me), there seems to be some violence initially to it?? like all of these booms and catapult sounds and of course the fae are all in their armor so did they get dropped into lilia's dream of an active warfront taking place in the briar valley woods?
ASSUMING WE'RE GOING WITH THE SILVER ROYALTY THEORY; is this the middle of a battle between his kingdom and briar valley? are his parents attempting to flee with him, and lilia trying to seek out (seeker of cradles) the child with a UM that could directly interfere with the current heir of briar valley?? would that even be possible that he's aware of silver's UM? i don't recall him really expressing that he knew what the ring did, but he could be keeping that information to himself? (also it would kill me if silver's family/ancestors had something to do with the disappearance/death of malleus' parents, is this retribution?)
all that to say, perhaps his parents put up a fight, but they simply cannot hope to match the battle-honed and physically superior fae— his parents may not even have magical abilities. perhaps they are overwhelmed by lilia's forces, and by the time lilia himself arrives, all that remains is a helpless, innocent baby, who has no idea of the fate that awaits him.
perhaps when lilia removes his mask and stares down at the solemn-eyed child who blinks without fright at the feared phantom general, with eyes too bright and sweet to have known horror so early, perhaps then he makes a decision that will change everything.