The next day, Ren and Zayden returned to the training ground first.
Zayden entered the building while Ren waited outside, sitting on a bench.
Under the rising sun, on the burning paved road, he watched the knights run with bags tied to their feet.
"Inside must be something tough to pull," he thought to himself.
"Can I sit here?" Cael asked. But without waiting for an answer, he sat beside Ren.
Ren looked up at him, but didn’t speak. It didn’t matter. Cael already did what he wanted, and Ren’s opinion didn’t matter.
"Why aren’t you speaking?"
"What do you want me to say?"
"Hmm... Tell me how your first day of work went."
Ren stood from the bench.
"I do not know anything about the person you mentioned yesterday. If I happen to come across any news about him, I will let you know," he firmly stated, heading under the shade of a tree.
Cael burst into laughter.
Inside the building, Zayden inspected every room, making sure there was nothing harmful to any of the new recruits.
"Nobles love finding ways to complain," Helain’s voice laced with complaints.
"I know. But what can we do?" Zayden sighed, closing the last room’s door.
"Who’s talking?" Helain raised her eyebrows teasingly.
Zayden narrowed his eyes.
"Fine, fine. Everyone’s waiting for us in the meeting room, so let’s go."
After a few turns, Helain opened the door. Inside, a large round table stood in the middle of the room, and everyone was seated. Papers and pens scattered across the table.
Once they noticed the general, they rose from their chair, bowing to him.
"Good morning, General."
"Sit down," he ordered.
Helain pulled the chair in the middle of the table, and Zayden sat down.
She, then, rushed to her seat as well.
"Why didn’t you bring your attendant today?" An elderly man asked.
"He is new. I believe it is not wise to discuss important matters in front of people I do not trust," Zayden smiled politely.
The man’s expression stiffened.
"Let’s begin the meeting," Aarson said, interrupting the old man.
"I gathered everyone today urgently because the matter is quite serious. A horse from Hianshu was found on my territory," Zayden began.
Everyone’s expression darkened upon hearing the word Hianshu. For centuries, a Cold War had been going on between Revhara and Hianshu.
"Keep calm!" Helain glared at the man who cursed in the presence of the general.
"I have investigated the matter closely. There is no trace of its arrival. Almost as if it appeared by magic—"
"A wizard?!" Someone exclaimed.
"Could it be a witch?..."
"Yes," Zayden’s voice grew louder, attracting everyone’s attention. "So we need to focus on our magic barriers. The wall is there, shielding us physically. But if this keeps happening, and they manage to invade our territory, it will be chaos for us."
Everyone exchanged a glance, nodding in agreement.
"We will work on it immediately, Sir!" They said in unison.
Before heading for the mansion, Zayden brought another horse from the stables.
Ren looked at him, confused.
Zayden sighed, shaking his head.
"I don’t torture my servants," he said, extending the reins.
Ren hesitantly took them.
Zayden didn’t finish his sentence as he watched Ren mounting on the horse with ease.
"You must have lived all your life in the woods," he muttered to himself.
That explains his unusual build despite being a beta, and a human at that...
Zayden mounted his horse, yanking the reins, heading toward the mansion.
Ren followed closely without any difficulty.
After riding for a few hours, they reached the gate. The sun had already set, night slowly taking over the day. The large building was lit with numerous lights and candles.
It is so bright... Why use candles and light? One would have been enough for each room.
The guards promptly pulled the iron gate, letting the general in, bowing to him.
A row of servants, awaiting their master, bowed.
"Welcome home, My Lord."
Zayden didn’t glance at them. He stepped inside the mansion.
Ren however, felt overwhelmed by the unwanted attention. Every gaze was on him—curiosity, envy.
Zayden’s voice came from inside the building. With quick steps, he rushed inside.
Zayden stood in the common area, turning toward him.
"What took you so long? I will be taking a shower so prepare my bath," he ordered. "Wait, instead prepare my clothes. Tell another servant to prepare my bath."
Ren nodded, disappearing into the corridors of the large building.
Zayden headed to his room. Once inside, he looked at the egg. He carefully examined it. No cracks yet. He sighed.
"When do you plan to come out?"
But Zayden couldn’t rejoice for long.
"Come in," he said, placing the egg back in its place.
The door creaked open and Ren stepped inside.
"I apologize for disturbing you but..." he paused.
"Speak. I won’t eat you," Zayden sneered.
"Well... everyone is busy because of the upcoming yearly banquet. Hannah told me to prepare the bath for you..."
"Then do it. Who’s stopping you?"
Ren didn’t say much. He nodded, heading toward the washroom.
A large room. Larger than his room at the servants’ quarters.
"Mix the water properly. I cannot stand cold water!" Zayden’s voice came from the room.
Ren slowly poured the warm water into the cold, mixing it. He put a finger inside, making sure the temperature fit Zayden’s demand. Once confirmed, he stepped outside.
"The bath is ready," he bowed. "Should I call your bath attendants?"
Zayden locked gaze with him as if he had said the most ridiculous thing.
"I don’t use attendants during my bath," he stated, entering the bathroom.
Ren, on the other hand, focused on picking a good set of clothes. He couldn’t imagine the general’s body, or face in any of the outfits.
"To choose something without knowing if it fits the person..." he mumbled, his gaze fell on two different suits that hung side by side.
"Black, and white... of course," he nodded in agreement, pulling them out. He then placed them carefully on the bed.
By the time he exited the dressing room, Zayden already stood in the room.
"What took you so long? It’s just clothes," he sneered. "I look good in anything."
Ren didn’t respond to his ridiculous statement.
People who call them handsome tend to be the ugliest...
In the past, he met similar men. They called themselves the best, the most attractive alphas. Yet, their behaviors were no better than an animal’s.
Ren blinked, finding Zayden’s figure standing before him.
Zayden examined his servant closely, his arms. He hadn’t seen a beta this well built, so similar to an alpha.
"We haven’t finished the discussion about your salary, have we?"
"I understand I have asked for too much. I apologize for my rude behavior," Ren spoke robotically.
He had practiced this answer from the moment he woke this morning. He anticipated the conversation to take place earlier but the general was occupied with work earlier in the day.
"Are you, truly?" His voice filled with distrust. How could the man who asked for such a thousand shirings be satisfied with five hundred?
"Ah! Were you worried you would be paid below a hundred and fifty?" Zayden concluded. "I am not as evil as they say. In fact, I am not evil at all."
Ren did not respond to his statement which felt more like a confirmation to Zayden himself than him trying to persuade Ren to believe so.
"Should I bring your dinner, or will you dine in the dining hall?" He asked, hoping to change the subject. The matter was resolved now. And his mistake, once again, was covered.
"Bring it to my room."
Ren bowed, exiting the room.
He walked through the hallways, looking at the paintings, once again. Another set of people he didn’t recognize.
Why do people hang portraits on their walls?
Maybe great men were remembered, and great warriors’ faces were hung on the wall.
But Ren knew certainly, his portrait would never be hung on any wall.
When he arrived at the kitchen, he looked around. The kitchen was a mess. Cookers cut, fried, and boiled in a rush.
He stepped closer, reaching towards a few servants but he was ignored. He couldn’t understand if they did it on purpose, or if they truly did not hear him.
"The general’s food..." He mumbled. He looked at the countless dishes on the dining table. Could they be the ones? What if he mistakenly took someone else’s food?
"That would be stealing. And stealing is a sin," he mumbled to himself.
"My!" An elderly lady dressed in a black dress, a white apron wrapped around her waist walked towards him. "You’re the new attendant, aren’t you?"
"Where can I find the general’s dinner?"
Lilia laughed as if Ren had told a joke.
"But everything here is meant for the general, dear," she pointed towards the dining table.
Just as he was about to head toward the table, Lilia stopped him.
"Wait, boy! Tell me your name before leaving. I am not the headmaid who would know your name just by looking at your face."
"Nice to meet you. I am Lilia, one of the main cooks. Come find me if you ever need help. I know the servants can be a little..." she leaned closer and whispered, "evil," she winked.