Standing beside Enzo, Ren watched quietly as the physician examined the omega’s vitals.

"Even if you are in perfect health, breaking a bond—especially one between fated mates—can be life-threatening," the elderly man sighed, shaking his head. "Are you certain you wish to proceed?" Worry clouded his already wrinkled face, his voice heavy under the weight of his concern.

Enzo sat upright on the mattress, his back resting against a pillow propped against the wooden headboard for support. His gaze flickered briefly toward Ren, then returned to the physician. He gave a small, resolute nod. The uncertainty lingered—whether the price of his life was worth paying to sever the bond—but one thing was clear: he no longer wanted to carry it.

"Very well..." the physician murmured under his breath, almost to himself. "I never imagined a bond between fated mates would end so tragically."

Enzo’s lips twitched into a faint, bitter smile. He hadn’t expected roses and champagne once the divorce papers bore the Emperor’s seal—but he couldn’t ignore the way the maids looked at him now. Some gazes were filled with pity while others with quiet disapproval.

However, their opinions mattered little to Enzo. This was his life—his choice. For once, he wished to hold it firmly in his own hands and refused to let anyone else dictate his fate.

Ren’s eyes tracked the physician’s every movement, curiosity flickering beneath his calm demeanour.

He had never seen a bond-breaking before—such a thing was unthinkable in Hianshu. There, an omega daring to request a divorce would be condemned, perhaps even killed, all in the name of preserving honour and dignity. A single separation would tarnish the empire’s precious reputation, shattering their near-perfect record of marriages that never failed—at least on paper.

And perhaps that was why Enzo had waited until he reached Revhara to set his divorce in motion—because only here could he finally reclaim his freedom without fearing death for it. Humans killing a demon was not unheard of, especially not in Hianshu—the sworn enemy of all non-humans. After all, they possessed the Linyong.

Hearing a low groan, Ren flinched, snapping back to reality. He hadn’t realized how long he’d been lost in thought.

The physician had drawn a sharp knife and was now making a careful cut at the back of Enzo’s neck. Blood trickled down his skin. Thin, crimson lines were carved on his body as he trembled. He wasn’t used to the sting of a blade—only the dull ache of fists and kicks.

"What do you think you are doing?" Ren frowned, reaching instinctively for the knife.

The physician blinked in surprise but didn’t resist. He simply pulled his wrist out of Ren’s grip, studying him with calm eyes—unbothered, yet quietly impressed by the young man’s strength.

For a man who worked as a servant, he was far too strong as if he had trained for years. Having a knight son, the physician could recognize such details at first glance.

"Do you not know how a bond is forcibly broken?" he asked.

Ren shook his head and withdrew his hand, ears tinged red. He looked away, embarrassed by his impulsiveness. He had made a fool of himself.

Enzo lifted his gaze toward him, a faint, tired smile tugging at his lips.

"Were you worried he wasn’t doing it right?"

Ren didn’t answer. He didn’t need to—the silence spoke for itself.

"Don’t worry," Enzo murmured. "This is normal. Why don’t you sit down? I will explain how it works."

Ren hesitated only for a moment, then did as told, lowering himself into the chair beside the bed. For reasons he couldn’t name, curiosity began to outweigh his awkwardness around this stranger.

Perhaps it was because his own bond with Ilyan hadn’t been torn apart like this—it had only faded, slowly and painfully, five years after his beloved fated mate’s death.

"Should I wait?" the physician asked, arms crossed, his tone edged with irritation. It was clear he didn’t appreciate being interrupted mid-procedure.

Ren shook his head quickly. "I apologize..."

"You don’t have to," Enzo said softly, attempting to ease the tension though uncertainty lingered in his voice. Then he turned to the physician with a faint smile. "You may continue."

The older man exhaled through his nose, his expression softening slightly. "No. It’s better if you explain it to him first," he said. "You might not be able to speak clearly once the procedure begins." He paused, biting his lips before continuing. "Though I still can’t fathom why you would risk your life for this..."

Enzo didn’t answer. He turned to face Ren and began, his voice quiet but steady.

"You know that fated mates—more than ordinary mates—are bound through their very souls?"

Ren nodded. How could he not? He had been taught this long ago, though the memory of exactly when had long faded. He had no idea how old he was then, and it was not clearer now either.

"And when marked by the alpha, they become bound to each other for life," Enzo’s voice caught, his throat suddenly dry.

The words for life burned at the tip of his tongue like boiling lava, feeling more like a sentence than a promise—as if he were condemned to rot in a dungeon.

And, in that moment, he thought that maybe, he would have preferred the darkness of a shabby, decaying cell to the years he had spent trapped in Charles’s grasp.

"To break that bond," Enzo continued, his voice wavering slightly, "you have to cut several veins connected to the gland where the alpha’s mark resides. Even if only the omega undergoes the procedure... the pain is said to be shared by both."

A dry, brittle laugh escaped him, though it didn’t reach his eyes. His chest tightened painfully.

Maybe I should’ve asked Zayden to stay by my side after all.

His teeth sank into his lips, drawing blood from them.

If he were to die here—right now—it would mean never seeing that face again.

How cruel.

Tears gathered in his eyes, but he blinked them away before they could fall.