When Zayden opened his eyes, he found Ren standing before him, ready to serve him.
Yesterday’s event seemed foreign, as if it never occurred in the first place.
He pondered on it until he fell asleep last night—where did his servant, who hated training, learn to swing a sword so effortlessly? Surely, his strength was slightly lacking. But the speed, the posture—they were perfect.
"Do you have something to tell me?" he asked after he sent Yuang to the dungeon and returned to his room, where Ren and Eiran waited for him.
The answer was distant and cold, like always, but this time, Zayden sensed a slight, still faint but stronger pheromone trailing off from his nape.
Just then, the thought crossed his mind—whenever omegas sweat, their scent leaked more than it would normally. What surprised him was that none of his servants found anything weird about him.
Maybe because they are betas.
Suddenly, his absurd answer, "I hate sweating," made much more sense.
Zayden didn’t ask anything afterward. He simply enjoyed the remaining time of the day with his son while Ren occasionally answered Eiran’s questions.
James had expressed his gratitude, sobbing like a child to the point that even Eiran tried to comfort him. It was as if that incident had brought him closer to Ren.
It was supposed to be a good thing. It would have kept James from betraying Zayden since he owed Ren his life—but the general didn’t feel at ease knowing they had grown closer.
Ren and Zayden didn’t exchange a word with each other until the end of the night.
"I have prepared your tea with a cube of sugar just as you instructed," Ren said, breaking the silence.
Zayden didn’t say a word, pulling off the blanket on his body. He looked at the other servants, preparing his clothes, bath.
"Prepare my armor," he glanced at Ren.
The servant’s mouth opened for a moment, stunned. Then, he quickly bowed.
Zayden stepped out of the bed, his feet landing on the cold floor.
Although during summer the days were burning hot, the nights were especially much cooler. Yet, he didn’t like having carpets on the ground of his bedroom. It reminded him of memories he believed he had forgotten.
He slipped his feet into his slippers when a maid approached him.
"My Lord, Miss Helain requests an audience with you," she had been standing there for a while, finally mustering the courage to speak. Nothing was harder than weighing the general’s mood.
"Why did you not tell me so earlier?"
"Tell her to wait in the study room for now. I will visit her in a little while," Zayden interrupted, standing from his mattress.
His gaze trailed off toward Ren, preparing his armor. When he held Zayden’s sword in his hand, Zayden’s breath caught in his throat. The way Ren stared at the blade was as if he were looking at someone precious, not an object.
Before he could ponder further, a servant stepped out of the bathroom.
"The bath is ready, My Lord," he lowered his gaze and head.
After half an hour, Zayden stepped out of the tub, his body drenched, water dripping down his frame. He wiped himself dry as the servants moved in to dress him.
Some of them had flushed cheeks, their gazes fixed on the general’s perfect body—muscles forged by harsh battles, skin glistening from the care it had been given.
Zayden paid no attention to their reactions. What intrigued him was how Ren hadn’t flinched even once. He had been releasing his pheromones faintly from the moment he stepped out.
Looking at my body and smelling my pheromones, any omega would have jumped—
He paused, shaking his head.
I’m just trying to find the truth about this attendant of mine.
"Attendant," Zayden called.
Ren looked around, making sure it was him being referred to. Sometimes the General would say attendant and mean someone else.
But that was a while ago. Now, he only ever called him that—as if he had sworn never to use his name.
Would it kill him to say my name?
Ren wondered, stepping closer.
The order came too suddenly.
Ren froze. He hadn’t been asked to do that for months.
"What are you waiting for?"
"A-Alright." Ren hesitantly took over the task, the other servants slowly stepping back.
Ren’s fingers trembled as he reached for the dark blue garment, the fabric brushing against Zayden’s damp hands. He hesitated before touching the general’s bare skin, the heat radiating from his body far stronger than he expected.
Zayden watched him silently, his sharp gaze following every movement.
Why is he asking me when the others were already assisting him?
Ren’s thoughts tangled as he tried to keep his breathing steady.
The pheromones trailing off the general’s body were strangely strong this morning, to the point, he sensed it for the first time today. His hands brushed over the hard muscles of Zayden’s shoulders as he helped him into the robe, careful not to use his powers to let the demonic strings disappear like last time.
He had grown control over his powers after not using them for a while.
Every time he touched the general, he pulled away. Then, Zayden seemed to lean closer, as though testing the limits of his composure. However, the servant stood still, as sturdy as an iron wall, not wavering.
"Still as good as ever," Zayden muttered, low enough that only Ren could hear.
Ren bit the inside of his cheek.
Why are you always trying to find fault in me when you know I do everything perfectly?
Finally, he tied the sash around the general’s waist, avoiding his eyes, though he could feel them glued on him.
"Let’s go meet Helain. Seems like I will have to drink something other than tea," Zayden grabbed his sword from Paul who extended it his way. Maria and the other attendants helped with the armor.
The general and his servants exited the room, heading towards the study. None spoke a word, allowing Ren to look at the hallways closely. He barely had the time to notice the elegant decor of the mansion due to his busy schedule.
The walls were painted a faint beige, decorated with portraits and a few large swords mounted in between. Against them stood small pieces of furniture, each adorned with golden vases filled with fresh flowers that the servants placed early in the morning. He knew this because he often saw them rising at dawn, heading to the garden to pluck the most beautiful blooms to decorate the mansion.
Before Ren realized it, they arrived in front of the study hall. The guards standing at the entrance opened the door instantly.
"Stay here," Zayden ordered his servants, turning their way before entering the hall.
The door closed before Ren, leaving him wondering what they could be discussing.
For him to not let us enter the room....
He turned, leaning his back against the wall.