"Then... what should we do to make sure omegas are safe, and alphas too?" Zayden’s voice was soft, yet his gaze was sharp.
"I am unsure," Soren admitted, lowering his eyes. "Every law has consequences, and we must live with them. If we nullify those protecting the omegas, the empire could collapse in a day. Some alphas would take advantage..." He hesitated. "As an omega myself, I doubt I could bear to witness such a dreadful sight."
Zayden bit his lips. His chest tightened, a heavy weight pressing against it as Soren’s words sank in.
He remembered the day Soren had manifested as an omega—amber eyes brimming with tears, voice breaking as he wailed, "I never asked to be an omega."
That day, Zayden had wished he had not been born an alpha either. After that, they had not spoken to each other. For years.
"Why do you look ?" Soren forced a laugh, noticing Zayden’s expression shift.
"Like you are about to cry," Soren laughed.
Zayden narrowed his eyes, shaking his head.
"Forget these serious matters for now. I came here for a short vacation. Let me enjoy at least today."
"Where is your carriage? I haven’t seen it."
Soren looked away, scratching his cheek.
"Don’t tell me you rode the horse."
He nodded, smiling brightly.
"Carriages are boring. Who likes sitting for hours? Do you know the distance from your mansion to the royal palace?"
Zayden shrugged, a grin on his face. He rode the horse faster than anyone in the Empire, allowing him to cross long distances with ease.
"Hah... Lucky bastard," Soren muttered under his breath.
"Did I hear that right?—Did you just—"
"Keep quiet, Zayden." Soren rose from his seat. "I will pay a visit to my nephew."
"You saw him earlier," Zayden chuckled. "Did you grow attached to him this fast?"
"Talk about yourself. You? Loving and cherishing a child? It was a sight that our parents will be delighted to see. But..." Soren paused before adding.
"I can understand. Who wouldn’t want to spoil a child as adorable as Eiran? And strangely enough, he resembles your attendant—Ren."
Zayden stood from his chair abruptly upon hearing that. He knew it was true however, it only made him remember that he was not Eiran’s true father and the crime he committed. Even when he drowned himself in alcohol, he couldn’t forget the memory of the dying dragon right before his eyes.
The question snapped him out of his thoughts. Zayden shook his head, forcing a smile.
"I suddenly want to see him too."
Despite sensing his strange demeanor, Soren nodded, heading toward Eiran’s study room. He visited the whole mansion yesterday, guided by Hannah who told him things he hadn’t heard.
For example, Ren, the servant possibly being a slave.
He turned, finding Zayden looking through the windows, his tall reflection on the pane.
When he followed his brother’s gaze, he found Ren standing underneath a parasol tree, accompanied by Eiran.
However, no matter how many times he shifted his gaze between Zayden’s and down, he couldn’t tell on whom his brother’s gaze was focused—Ren or Eiran—or both. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs Novᴇ(l)Fɪre .ɴᴇt
"We should join them," Soren suggested, a bright smile on his face.
Zayden tried to turn, leave as if something pushed him away even before he could think. But Soren’s hand was already wrapped around his wrist, dragging him along.
Despite possessing enough strength to push away his brother, Zayden dreaded hurting him. Not because he was the crown prince, or even his brother. But because he was the person who risked his life to save him.
A person as kind as his brother did not deserve pain. And he would never let anyone else hurt him either.
Soon, he stood under the same parasol tree he had been staring at from the second floor.
Eiran clung to Ren’s white tunic, asking to be picked up. Although reluctant, he lifted the boy, spinning him around, the servant’s hair flying as the cold breeze slowly swept through them.
For a brief moment, Zayden saw something—near his neck. Dark red.
He frowned. As if possessed, he stepped closer. Ren felt the tall figure behind him and instantly turned.
"What is it, My Lord?"
"Dad!" Eiran pouted. "Let Papa spin me around."
Zayden didn’t reply. He simply picked Eiran up and set him on the grass. He grabbed Ren by the hand, pulling him away from there.
His steps weren’t quick, nor steady. He might have tripped had Ren not forced him to stop.
He turned. Ren frowned at him, anger flickering in his crimson eyes.
Instantly, he let go of his hand. He couldn’t understand what possessed him to simply grab him and drag him away after seeing that scar on his neck.
"Is there something you need? You can simply tell me without doing this." Ren rubbed his wrist—not from pain, but as if disgusted.
Zayden swallowed hard. Why did the thought of Ren being disgusted by him tighten his chest?
"I was going to ask you to read the documents, but forget it," he said quickly before turning on his heels and walking away, his heart pounding as if it would explode any moment.
After a lively dinner, Ren was summoned to Eiran’s room. It had only been a few days since he hadn’t slept beside the child, yet it felt like a century.
When the door slowly swung open, the General stood before him, red eyes fixed on him.
Ren still couldn’t understand why he had pulled him like that earlier. He couldn’t bring himself to ask, either. His wrist still ached, though he was certain he was used to pain. Perhaps the strength of the Imperial General was simply beyond his expectations.
"Are you going to stand there?" Zayden leaned against the doorframe, hair damp from the shower, a white robe loosely tied around his waist.
"Come inside, Papa!" Eiran exclaimed as soon as he heard Ren’s voice, a book clutched in his hands.
Zayden grinned and headed toward the bed.
Ren sighed. He just needed to get this over with tonight. The General wouldn’t possibly sleep in Eiran’s room every night. Besides, he had missions that would take him away sooner or later.
He tried to reassure himself, though unease lingered. Zayden wasn’t an easy man to read. For him to suddenly stay in Eiran’s room along with him—it was too peculiar.
He must be up to something.
Ren nodded faintly to himself.
"How long are you going to stand there?"