Chapter 122: 122 — Don’t Let Him Abandon Him

Ren walked behind Zayden, heading back toward the main palace. The walk felt longer than when they had first come, and somewhere along the way, he had made up his mind to tell him the truth—to reveal a few pieces of his past.

Perhaps it was because he had begun to trust the General—enough to believe that nothing would happen to Eiran, even if he knew. That this man, of all people, would protect his son no matter what.

Paul and Maria had often told him how lucky he was that Zayden had forgiven him for hiding his second gender, how the General was understanding toward those he cared for—always trying to let things slip by without judgment.

It was reckless.

Audacious, even, for someone from Hianshu to feel safe under the protection of Imperial General Zayden.

And yet... somehow, it still felt right.

He glanced up, hoping to catch the General’s reaction, but all he saw was a rigid profile and a hand brushing against the edge of his cloak. His usual confident, commanding presence was gone—replaced by a stunned stillness that made Ren’s stomach twist.

Had he... made a mistake?

The silence stretched unbearably. Ren’s mind raced.

Maybe he’s angry... maybe he hates me for keeping it from him... maybe—maybe he’ll do something reckless now.

But there was nothing.

No anger.

No words of reassurance.

Only Zayden, walking steadily ahead, as though the revelation hadn’t shaken him at all.

Ren’s throat went dry. He kept his hands clenched at his sides, wishing he could read the thoughts behind that unreadable expression.

Please... don’t let him hate Eiran because of me. Don’t let him abandon him.

Clutching his chest, his hands trembling, he prayed silently. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Then, Zayden stopped mid-step when he saw the small figure running toward them.

"Dad! Papa!" Eiran’s voice rang out, full of excitement.

For a moment, Zayden froze. Why had he overlooked it for so long—those moments when everyone called Eiran Ren’s son? He wasn’t stupid.

His gaze fell on the child’s silver hair, gleaming under the pale sunlight, strands swaying like threads of light in the faint winter breeze. The boy was wrapped in a dark brown jacket, shielding him from the cold.

Ah.

He took in a quiet breath. He hadn’t failed to see it—he had simply refused to acknowledge the possibility. But now that the truth stood before him, he could no longer look away.

"Love always turns you into a fool, Zayden," a high-pitched voice from long ago echoed in his mind.

Ren blinked, following Zayden’s gaze—only to see his son running toward them from afar. The boy’s voice was faint at that distance, but his joy was unmistakable.

Zayden stepped forward, blocking the child’s path toward Ren, and the servant’s heart began to race.

Eiran blinked, looking up at Zayden. Though he already reached the man’s chest, the General knelt to meet his eyes.

The boy tilted his head, confused. His gaze darted toward his Papa, silently asking what was wrong, but Ren was just as lost.

Without a word, Zayden wrapped his arms around Eiran and pulled him close.

Eiran stiffened in surprise before hesitantly returning the embrace. It was strange—Zayden never hugged. He always said such things weren’t for him, especially when he saw Ren holding Eiran close or showering him with affection.

Ren watched them, frozen in place. The sight was almost surreal—Zayden, who used to complain about the books that stated how important physical affection was for children, was now holding Eiran so tightly it looked as if he feared the boy might vanish if he let go.

And selfishly, he felt relieved. Relieved that Zayden didn’t hate Eiran, didn’t push him away or get angry at him.

And now, the General held the child as though the warmth in his arms was the only thing keeping him grounded.

"Is something wrong?" Eiran’s small voice broke the silence. He patted his dad’s back gently. "Did Papa say something to you?" he asked, hesitant.

Ren barely spoke enough to offend anyone—but if he had... and if Zayden decided to fire his real father, then—

Zayden shook his head before that thought could spiral further in his son’s small head. Pulling back from the embrace, he gave a faint smile and ruffled the boy’s hair, scattering the neatly combed strands.

Eiran groaned, his hands flying up to cover his head.

"Dad!" he complained, narrowing his eyes before sighing in defeat. "Fine. You can mess up my hair if it makes you feel better."

A low chuckle escaped the General—quiet yet genuine.

"How generous..." he murmured, voice softening. "My son."

The words left his lips unbidden, yet they felt strangely right. Even if Eiran was Ren’s and... that alpha’s.

Why didn’t it feel wrong?

Perhaps he had grown too attached. Too used to the laughter, the small hands tugging at his sleeve, the sound of "Dad" echoing through the halls of his mansion.

When he brought him from the dragon’s lair, he had sworn to himself that he would never leave this child. And when a demon made a vow, their emotions aligned with it, making it impossible for them to break it.

And the thought of losing him—of Ren taking Eiran away—tightened something painfully in his chest.

Ren parted his mouth slightly, but the words caught in his throat.

My son.

The words hit deeper than he expected. For a moment, guilt and relief twisted together in his chest until he couldn’t tell them apart. He had wanted Zayden to care for Eiran—but not like this. Not so deeply that it would hurt him.

And yet, even now, as Zayden held Eiran close, Ren could see it—the quiet fear behind his eyes. That same fear Ren carried every day. The fear of losing the only person who made life bearable.

Something twisted in his chest. He should have felt at peace, but instead, a strange heaviness settled over him, as if the air itself had grown too quiet.

Maybe telling the truth wasn’t an act of trust. Maybe it was the first crack in the fragile world he had built—the moment everything began to unravel. But he still hoped nothing had changed between the three of them. That everything remained as it was.

"Dad, Papa, did you know that they keep the garden warm so that the plants don’t die?" Eiran blinked, eyes glimmering as he told them about everything he had seen.

Ren smiled at him, without answering. He simply listened, walking beside Eiran while the boy held both of his father’s hands.

I hope everything remains like this...

Ren prayed. He couldn’t stand another storm, destroying everything he had worked hard on.