"You’re... an omega?"
The question hung in the air like a blade above an execution block.
Ren shook his head at once, forcing a grin. It was the first time Zayden had ever seen him smile—even if it didn’t reach his eyes, which were as empty as always.
"Really?" Zayden arched his brow, folding his arms. He was certain his servant was lying, but without proof, it was useless to press.
Even if Ren was in heat, that wasn’t the issue. The problem was the secrecy. Why hide it? If he were in desperate need of a job, it would be understandable. However, how did he know that Zayden only hired betas, and not omegas?
Ren’s behavior had always raised questions among the others but Zayden dismissed them every time. Perhaps there was something he failed to see, for the first time. Curiosity gnawed at his bones.
And what did she always say? Keep your enemies closer than your friends.
"Alright. It must have been James’ pheromones then," the general said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
It was safer to keep observing him for a while. His presence was so quiet that Zayden often failed to notice him among the crowd of people he met every day.
"Did you need something?"
The voice snapped him back to reality.
"I came to..." He hesitated.
In truth, he’d followed the scent—there was no other reason. However, saying so could put the young man on guard.
"See how you’re doing. I heard you’re unwell."
"I’ll take my leave, then. Do recover. James has served me for years..." He stopped, gaze lingering on Ren.
"Nothing," Zayden said at last. "Just remember—if you still want your salary, keep James close. And keep watching him."
With that, he left the room, shutting the door with deliberate calm.
Ren sighed, relieved. He could still feel his heart pounding as if it would jump out of his chest. He leaned back on the mattress, closing his eyes.
Did he truly not suspect anything?
Before he could dwell longer on Zayden’s words, the ache returned, barely allowing him to breathe. The fear of being exposed had dulled it for a while, but now it was back.
He turned onto his side, eyes drifting to the window.
Heavy grey clouds smothered the sky. It was noon, yet the sun kept itself hidden—just as he did.
"It’s going to rain," he frowned.
The thought of water pouring onto the soil unsettled him. Not the rain, actually. But the sound of the droplets crushing against the ground.
Sometimes, the urge to run back to the woods—to that field of roses—overwhelmed his entire being. Even he was surprised at how he managed to control himself on all of those rainy days during spring.
"Is it the second rainy soon already?"
Revhara had four seasons, but the year was broken by two heavy rainy seasons—one between spring and summer, and another between summer and fall.
"I need to search for a place where it doesn’t rain," he muttered, staring at the droplets of water that began to fall.
For the past few days, General Zayden had been behaving oddly. No, he wasn’t acting as if Ren didn’t exist as he did before, but completely the opposite.
He seemed to be everywhere at once—at meals, in the corridors, even in places Ren was certain he had no reason to be. Now, he often interrogated him. His questions were casual enough, yet each one felt like a thread pulled loose, trying to uncover a secret. And whenever their eyes met, Zayden’s gaze lingered for a little too long, as if waiting for Ren to slip, to make a mistake that couldn’t be undone.
Did he find out about my identity? But which one?
The question lingered in his mind constantly, every day.
"Papa! Dad!" Eiran dashed toward the two young men, his small frame now reaching their hips after only a few weeks.
"Hey," Zayden smiled gently. "Why are you here?" He glared at the elderly woman who stood behind the small boy.
The woman, Miss Celine, was hired as Eiran’s magic tutor. She cleared her throat, approaching the three men, who appeared no different than a happy family.
"I apologize for failing to notify you before bringing the young lord here. However, the weather was especially good to keep him from bringing him outside to practice his powers. As you might know, training him inside the mansion could lead to chaos..." Celine explained.
"So? What if something happened to him? Did you even bring any guards with you?" Zayden growled.
Ren subconsciously covered Eiran’s ears, as if it were the most natural thing to do.
Zayden and Celine looked at him, perplexed.
His voice trembled as he slowly removed his hands from the boy’s ears.
"Why would you do that?"
"I apologize," he repeated.
He didn’t have the words to explain—not even to himself. He couldn’t expect someone else to understand. It was on instinct. Whenever he felt as if Eiran would hear something that could be improper for his age, he subconsciously covered the child’s ears.
"Papa! Dad said nothing wrong," Eiran chuckled.
The general’s gaze drifted toward his son, then toward his servant.
Seems happened more than once...
He turned towards Celine.
"I will send some of my knights when you head back to the mansion. Train himself so that he never needs to depend on anyone for his safety," Zayden’s words were sharp, yet, his voice was soft.
Celine bowed before walking away, following Eiran who ran through the field of grass.
"Attendant," Zayden turned, facing Ren.
"Why don’t you train under me?"
The question came too suddenly, unexpected even.
"No," Ren responded instantly. He didn’t even need to think. The question was already asked by the general when he was drunk.
So he forgot what happened that night... not that he simply did not want to discuss Eiran’s mother...
"Why not?" Zayden frowned, astonished. Anyone residing in Revhara would dream of such an opportunity yet this man just refused him?
"I do not like sweating..." Ren responded, his voice monotone.
Zayden arched an eyebrow.
"Does this mean you find me filthy when I train, or worse, all of the knights here? From your physics, you seem a man who trained his body... a lot."
Ren bit his lips before exclaiming, "No!"
Right away, he gasped, quickly regaining his composure.
"I-I did not." He stammered, his lips tugging into a forced smile.
"I will inform one of the knights to accompany the young master to the mansion," he added before dashing off.