The day finally arrived when Zayden announced his departure from the capital. The Emperor and Empress didn’t ask him to extend his stay—not when he stayed a little longer, although he was supposed to leave the very next day Hianshu’s delegation departed.

Soren stood by the exit while Zayden, Ren, Eiran, and Enzo entered the carriages. Enzo and Eiran shared one while Zayden and Ren shared another. For some odd reason, Enzo refused to sit in the same carriage as Zayden, leaving the two brothers confused. However, none of them pressed him to answer their questions.

"Did you take everything?" Soren asked, stepping near the carriage window.

Zayden nodded, smiling softly.

"I apologize for not staying longer. But I can’t leave the mansion unattended for so long and burden Hannah."

"No, I understand," Soren forcefully curled his lips into a faint grin. "Go back to your territory."

The General didn’t say anything. He just nodded once more, gesturing to the horseman to begin the journey.

The wheels rolled down the snow-draped streets. The palace became smaller as the distance grew.

The two men sat quietly, watching the world blur past as the carriage rolled forward while the other carriage followed them closely. Some knights rose their horses, surrounding the two vehicles to make sure there was not another attack like the time when Zayden came to the capital.

Neither spoke, as if their voices had been left behind in the main city—forgotten like a large tower built in the middle of a desert. Snowflakes tapped softly against the window, like hesitant farewells.

Ren kept his gaze fixed on the palace until it was no longer stone and gold, but only a memory dissolving into pale mist.

Zayden didn’t look away either.

Only when the sky swallowed the last trace of the capital did the General finally exhale—a slow, weary breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. It felt like a long journey had just come to an end, and now another was about to begin.

Beside him, Ren’s fingers pressed lightly against the cold glass, his reflection faint, ghost-like in the dim interior light.

"...It feels strange," Ren whispered. "Leaving a place where so much happened."

Zayden turned his head, quiet and attentive.

Ren didn’t elaborate—he didn’t need to. Some memories hurt too deeply to name.

There was Ilyan, carved into the deepest part of him, yet he had chosen to live beside another alpha now—to give Zayden the place Ilyan once held.

There was Enzo, a friend born of peculiar circumstances.

There was Charles—now dead.

And the moment Ren reunited with the people he once called home.

And there was also Yusha—his friend—now in the hands of a man Ren did not trust.

The carriage swayed gently. Snow stretched endlessly before them like a road without answers.

But for the first time in years, Ren felt something in that uncertainty.

Not fear at least.

Hope... perhaps.

Zayden wrapped an arm around Ren, pulling him closer until the omega’s head rested against his chest.

Ren didn’t react at first, lost somewhere in the depths of his thoughts. Only when fingers slid through his silver hair—slow, gentle, almost soothing—did he look up, confused.

"Why are you looking at me like I’m a stranger?" Zayden chuckled, a grin spreading across his face.

"I have a question."

The alpha raised a brow, inhaling deeply before nodding—giving the man in his embrace permission to speak.

"Don’t you feel sad, leaving the palace?"

"Now? Not anymore," his voice was low, almost a whisper. "I never stay long—only a few days at most. This was the first time I remained there so long."

Ren’s gaze flickered back toward the window, watching the world pass without truly seeing it. He closed his eyes, letting Zayden’s warmth seep into his skin—steady, grounding, alive.

They had already removed their jackets, hats, gloves, and mufflers, now hanging neatly on the carriage hooks. The space was built for winter travel, heaters humming beneath the seats, making the interior too warm for heavy clothing despite the biting cold beyond the glass.

"And you?"

"Hmm?" Ren shifted slightly, slipping out of the embrace so he could sit upright beside Zayden.

"Did you feel sad, leaving the place where you used to live?"

The omega let out a sudden laugh—light, sharp, almost disbelieving.

Zayden blinked, taken aback. For a moment he wondered if he had said something foolish.

"Why are you laughing...?" he asked carefully.

Ren pressed a hand to his mouth, shoulders shaking as he struggled to quiet himself.

Zayden waited without interrupting, watching the omega fight for his own breath.

When the laughter finally died down, Ren drew in a slow, shaky inhale and let it out through a sigh.

"Let’s see—did I feel sad when leaving that place?" he repeated softly, as though letting the words flow in his own ears. He shook his head immediately. Too fast. Without doubt. "No. I hated that place."

Hate wasn’t even the right word. It was weaker than what lived inside him. It could never hold everything—the pain, the loneliness, the scars he carried from the Temple.

"Why?"

Why?

Ren’s jaw tightened, his gaze cutting briefly toward Zayden like a reflex—like a touch to an old wound that still stung.

"There are things better left unsaid," he replied with a smile that wasn’t truly a smile.

He tried to sound reassuring, steady, normal... but his heartbeat betrayed him, racing rapidly as if it would burst out of his chest.

Perhaps the fear he believed he had left behind hadn’t disappeared at all.

Not even after he crossed borders. Not even now, wrapped in warmth, far from that land—that place—that prison.

Zayden noticed the uneven breaths, the rapid blinking—yet he said nothing.

He only smiled, quietly settling beside him. He just needed to be steady, reassuring. To stay by Ren’s side until the omega chose to open up on his own.

Ren’s hands rested on his lap, fingers lightly tapping against each other. He didn’t move closer, didn’t pull away—just stayed, suspended somewhere between thought and hesitation.

Zayden’s thumb brushed against the back of Ren’s hand, gentle, almost instinctive.

"...It’s strange," Ren murmured after a long pause, voice barely above a whisper.

"What is?"

"How safe walls can be."

Ren tried to sound as vague as he could. He didn’t want to give hints that he didn’t reside in a forest.

Zayden’s lips curved slightly, the faintest of smiles.

"Good," he said simply. "Then rest assured. You will always be safe. I will build all the walls you want. If you—" He paused, taking in a shaky breath. Fear gripped his chest at the thought but he still managed to continue. "—stay by my side."

Before Ren could say anything, Zayden pulled him into a soft, tender kiss.

The omega closed his eyes, eyelashes trembling, as if the contact alone might undo him.

Feeling Ren shiver under his touch, Zayden reluctantly pulled away.

"Is something wrong? Do you feel unwell? Do you want me to stop the carriage and find a physician?" he asked, locking eyes with him, concern clear in his gaze.

Ren grinned, leaving the alpha momentarily perplexed.

"You worry too much," he said with a soft chuckle.

Not mocking—just an observation. Zayden was far cuter than Ren had ever imagined.

"Is it bad to worry about my lover?"

Ren finally stopped laughing, his hand flying to cover his mouth. Heat rose to his neck, his cheeks flushing red.

Still, he shook his head, whispering softly, "It’s cute..."

Zayden blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in the omega’s reaction.

"You... think I am cute?" he asked, voice low, almost hesitant, as if he couldn’t quite believe it.

Ren nodded. Slowly, he leaned closer, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.

"I never thought I would see you of all people fuss over small things," he murmured, his fingers brushing lightly against Zayden’s hand. "The man who commands armies... is truly adorable when he worries."

Zayden’s lips twitched, a faint smirk forming despite himself.

"Adorable, huh?" he repeated, tilting his head. "I suppose I will take it as a compliment, then."

Ren chuckled softly, resting his head against Zayden’s shoulder once more.

"It’s good that you accepted it," he whispered, voice quiet and warm. "Just... don’t worry so much, alright? It’s exhausting watching you try to look unbothered when you are clearly not."

For a moment, Zayden said nothing. Then he wrapped an arm more firmly around Ren, holding him close.

"And who told you that?"

"I have eyes, you know. I am not blind. I have seen you countless times on missions when knights were injured. You try to act like you are not bothered, but you stay up late making sure they are treated by the physicians. So... try to show it. Some people misunderstand you."

"I will try," Zayden chuckled, voice low and steady. "But only if you stay right here with me."

"...I plan to," Ren murmured, closing his eyes, letting the alpha’s warmth anchor him as the carriage rolled forward into the endless winter landscape.