"...That means you are an elf," Ren said slowly. "And not just any elf. Fire-elemental."

Yusha nodded, fingers tightening against the sheets.

"Yes."

Silence settled between them, heavy but not uncomfortable. Then Ren exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing.

"For now, don’t think about anything else," he said gently. "Rest. Your body needs it."

Yusha looked up at him, hesitant. "Ren—"

"I’ll get you something to eat," Ren interrupted softly, already rising from his chair. "You’ve been through enough."

He offered a faint, reassuring smile before turning toward the door. As it closed behind him, the room fell quiet once more, leaving Yusha alone with the steady rhythm of his breathing—and the fragile warmth of safety, at least for now.

***

Elsewhere, Zayden went upstairs and gently laid Eiran—still deep asleep from the ride—onto the bed.

He carefully draped a blanket over the child, making sure not to wake him, before quietly exiting the room.

As he headed off in search of Ren, a maid hurried toward him, her head lowered as she extended a letter.

"A letter has arrived for you, My Lord," she said.

Zayden took it without much thought. Only the address and the name of the recipient were written on the envelope—Zayden. There was no sender’s name. Frowning slightly, he opened it, only to find a name he had almost forgotten.

[Dear General,

I write to you after hearing of Duke Danman’s banishment. I cannot express how delighted I was when the news reached me.

At last, that man has been punished for his wrongdoings.

Oh—silly me. I forgot to ask. How have you been? And Ren? And your son? He must have grown so much since the last time I saw him.

I live in the south now, cultivating the land alongside my husband. We have an adorable little girl who just turned one this year.

There were times when I thought of writing to you, but I never dared. With me come bad memories, don’t they?

However, now it is over.

The culprit has been caught.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Pss: Please tell Ren to write to me if you don’t wish to waste time with a lowly servant such as myself.

Sincerely,

James.]

A soft laugh escaped Zayden’s lips.

"A lowly servant, he says."

From the letter, James hardly seemed lowly at all. Anyone reading it might have mistaken it for the words of a nobleman.

"Seems he’s worked on his language quite a bit," Zayden added, smiling softly.

He tucked the letter carefully under his arm and made his way to his study.

Then, he closed the door behind him, shutting out the rest of the world for a moment, and approached the large desk on which countless documents were scattered.

He had strictly instructed the maids to not clean up because he had to finish his work as soon as possible. Having to check one document at once was too time consuming. He preferred looking at three to four at the same time.

Drawing a fresh sheet of paper, he dipped his pen in ink, his mind already forming the words. The corners of his lips curved into a faint smile as he began to write, carefully matching James’s refined tone.

Once he finished, he rang a bell and a maid rushed inside.

"You have called?" She inclined her head immediately before asking.

"Send this to the address where it came from."

The maid nodded, taking the envelope before exiting the study hall.

Zayden stepped out, glancing left and right. He needed to check on Ren, whose friend had fainted unexpectedly. Had it not been for Eiran still sleeping, he would have followed Ren immediately.

"Then again, why did he need to carry him? He could have asked me," he muttered, narrowing his eyes.

Once he stood before Ren’s bedroom, he knocked, receiving no response.

Another knock. Still, only silence answered him.

"Ren? Are you inside?" he asked, slowly pushing the door open.

As expected, the room was empty. Only the furniture greeted him in quiet stillness.

Just then, a servant passed by. Zayden called out to him.

"Where is Ren, exactly?"

The servant bowed slightly.

"If I remember correctly, he should be in the first room after entering the mansion, My Lord."

Zayden frowned.

He’s still there?

Zayden descended the stairs quickly, his boots echoing faintly against the polished floor. He reached the first-floor room and knocked firmly on the door.

"Ren? Are you here?" he called, voice calm but carrying an underlying edge.

When there was no reply, he slowly pushed the door open. The room was dimly lit by the sun filtering through the curtains, and there, seated on the bed, was Yusha.

"Where is Ren?" Zayden demanded, eyes scanning the room, trying to find a trace of his lover.

"H-He went outside," Yusha stammered, avoiding the General’s intense gaze, not daring to give more details.

Zayden’s jaw tightened. There was a weight underneath his stare—a mix of concern, irritation, and something unspoken. For reasons Yusha couldn’t understand, the General seemed... angry.

The alpha’s red eyes narrowed slightly as he entered the room, the sharp lines of his jaw tightening. He didn’t speak at first, merely taking in the sight of Yusha sitting upright in the bed, pale and trembling.

The fact that Ren had picked him up in his arms—carrying him as if he were fragile—gnawed at something deep inside the General.

However, he would not show it.

Never.

"Are you alright?" Zayden asked, voice calm, almost too calm, belying the subtle edge beneath it. "What happened?" His gaze flicked briefly to the blanket tangled around Yusha’s legs, then back to his eyes, as if analyzing every word.

Yusha swallowed, hesitating.

"I-I am... fine," he murmured, though the quiver in his voice betrayed him.

Zayden stepped closer, folding his arms. "Liam took you with him," he said slowly, each word deliberate. "But you are back here... alone?"

Yusha’s eyes widened, panic rising in him. He shook his head, voice trembling.

"P-Please... don’t... don’t tell Lord Liam. Please..."

Zayden took a deep breath. He would not threaten Yusha—he was Ren’s friend who was far too protective—but the fury burning quietly in him was unmistakable.

He pressed a hand against the back of a chair, leaning slightly, forcing the young man to meet his gaze.

"I won’t," he said, though the edge in his tone made it clear he would not tolerate any lies. "But you will tell me everything that happened, right? Start from the moment he brought you with him."

Yusha shook his head, clutching the blanket tighter.

"I-I can’t... It’s... I apologize. The only thing I can tell you is that... H-He tried to kill my child."

Zayden’s expression darkened.

"I thought so too. But I didn’t expect him to be this heartless. Worry not. You are safe now. That’s what matters. Speak, and I’ll listen."

The omega hesitated, swallowing hard, but the commanding yet careful tone of the General made him feel a fragile sense of safety.

Liam would never dare to challenge the Imperial General.

Not for him.