"That's not what I want, father" Hua Ren protested. "I do not want to get married or bear children. I want to remain by the Emperor's side, protecting our Kingdom. Besides, everyone already thinks I'm an Alpha. What do you think will happen if they come to know that I'm not? Have you even thought of what the Emperor will do? To find that his General is actually an omega? He might destroy the entire Hua family for deceiving him."
Hua Li sighed. "Honey, our son is right. We have to be careful about this."
"I know." Hua Chen groaned. "But you know I speak the truth. A'Ren is not getting any younger and he hasn't found his mate yet. I'm afraid he may never be able to because he can't even perceive pheromones. Isn't it better to get him married to a good man?"
"But Father, have you thought about Ye Li himself?" Hua Ren asked. "If he marries me, what about his true mate? If he meets her in the future, do you think he'll want to take her as his concubine?"
"He'll have to." Hua Chen replied. "Many people do that. Look at the Emperor. He is married to so many omegas."
"Yet, no one fills the seat of the Empress to this day which means that ĺthe Emperor is waiting for his mate." Hua Ren said. "That's how important a mate is father. Isn't mother here your mate? All my older brothers are with their mates too. If you make me marry Ye Li, you'll be depriving his true mate of her rightful place."
Knowing his son was right, Hua Chen went silent. He just wanted his son to settle down. Was that so hard?
Hua Ren knew his father was just concerned about him but he really didn't want to get married. All he could think about day and night was the mighty Emperor sitting on his majestic throne. Those amber eyes. His husky voice. Even on the battlefield, he would play the Emperor's words of praise in his head on repeat. They gave him strength. They fuelled him.
He could not be with anyone else.
Already tired of the conversation, he stood up and bowed respectfully to his parents. "Father, Mother, I understand that both of you are worried about me and you just want what's best for me but please, this is my life. Let me live it as I see fit."
With that, he put his veil back on and walked out of the meal hall.
Hua Chen covered his face with his palms, letting out a deep sigh. "He's such a stubborn child."
Hua Li moved closer, putting an arm around his husband in a comforting manner. "It's okay honey. Let's just hope A'Ren finds his mate and becomes a normal omega. It must be frustrating to live as he is. Not knowing how to truly be himself."
"That's why I want him to get married, Li'er." Hua Chen said, pulling his wife closer. "Maybe he'll be able to function like a true omega."
"Let's not rush him." Hua Li replied. "I believe he'll find his mate and be a true omega. It's just a matter of time."
Hua Chen grunted. "Well, then I hope his mate is a very strong Alpha who can keep him in check because that boy is going to give him a terrible headache."
Eternal Grain Valley...
The atmosphere was shrouded in gloom as the sky above hung heavy with dense, slate-grey clouds, casting a somber tone over the landscape. The wind, carrying a whisper of foreboding, swept through the valley.
General Hua Ren, renowned as The Ivory Warlord, rode stoically at the side of his counterpart, General Hei Long, The Berserker. Their figures cut through the desaturated scenery as they advanced through the winding path toward the village of Eternal Grain.
Behind them, Hua Ren's trusted captains, Alpha Liara Fang and Alpha Mei Lin, followed in unison, together with fifty soldiers strong — forging a path through the valley with a sense of purpose that echoed in the muted beats of hooves against the earth.
Hua Ren glanced at the soldiers then at Hei Long, wondering what they needed so many soldiers for. He had been thinking about it since the soldiers joined them halfway but he couldn't think of a good reason.
"Are we not supposed to investigate the village? Why are we going with so many soldiers?" He asked in a calm tone, loud enough for Hei Long to hear but not the others.
"His Majesty gave me different orders." Hei Long said, smiling smugly. "It is highly classified, Ivory Warlord. I'm afraid I cannot tell you."
Hua Ren felt a pang of pain in his chest. There it was again. That burning jealousy. What could the Emperor tell Hei Long that he couldn't tell him? He was the best General. The most suitable person for covert operations. Why The Berserker and not him? He thought he was the closest to the Emperor amongst the four Generals of the Celestial Kingdom. Turned out he was wrong.
General Hei Long noticed Hua Ren's knotted brows and laughed boisterously. "What is it, General? Feeling left out?"
Hua Ren's brows knotted further, his fists tightening around the reigns of his white horse. He gritted his teeth, trying to control himself. He couldn't get angry over such a thing.
"What do you mean, General?" He asked, willing his voice to remain steady. "The Emperor gives me such missions too. There are operations I have carried out which you do not know about. It is normal."
He was happy his tone came out nonchalant, like he wanted.
General Hei Long frowned, spitting by the side of the road. Due to some information he had gotten from General Yin Mei, The Whispering Blade, he had hoped to provoke Hua Ren a bit but he realised he couldn't. The Alpha was as cold as ice, always dressed in his snow white robes like some clean holy man. Always wearing that veil that hindered them from seeing his face. Rumour had it that Hua Ren, although an Alpha was even more beautiful than an omega but no one had actually seen his face. Always carrying himself higher than them. Never drinking, never engaging in illicit acts, never cursing, has never been caught doing a single bad thing.
Hua Ren's record was as clean and as pure as a newborn baby and it pissed him the hell off.
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