"I dread losing you," Zayden whispered.
"I am not going anywhere," Ren said, wrapping his free arm around Zayden’s shoulder, trying to reassure him.
The alpha shook his head.
"Say, Ren. What did you bring when you came to my mansion?"
Ren’s muscles stiffened. Why was Zayden suddenly asking that? It was a memory he wished to erase from the alpha’s mind, if he could because it could lead him to wonder whether Ren had truly come from the forest.
Still, he forced himself to keep his composure.
"...I came empty-handed. Unless Ilyan is counted."
Zayden pulled away quickly, letting go of Ren’s hand. He gripped the omega’s arms, locking his gaze with Ren. There was an intensity in his eyes, but Ren couldn’t tell what emotion they carried.
"H-Huh? Y-You came with him?"
His state was that of a man whose every wish had been granted, yet who remained in disbelief. Because who would ever have all their wishes fulfilled? It was too dreamlike—too good to be true. And so, in denial, one would forget to enjoy what they had, fearing it would disappear at any moment.
Ren parted his lips, then closed them again. He didn’t want to say body. Not about Ilyan.
"Ren," Zayden shook him gently, trying to make him speak.
"His soulless body..." Ren mumbled, lowering his gaze. He hadn’t forgotten Ilyan—not for a moment. He had simply tried to hold on to the good memories instead.
The alpha gasped, quickly letting go of the omega.
"I-I’m sorry..." He bit the inside of his cheek, lowering his head. He must have lost his mind.
No—he had definitely lost his mind.
"I-It’s alright... Do tell me, what do you fear? You have everything. Unlike me," Ren let out a soft, quiet, mocking laugh.
One directed at himself—the one who had nothing.
"A man who has nothing is the luckiest," Zayden said softly. "After all, there is nothing worse he can fall into. He still has hope—for things to get better, to gain something, to achieve something, little by little."
He paused, his voice lowering.
"But a man who has everything?" Zayden continued, his voice trembling. "He must live in dread all his life. What if everything he owns is snatched away? How horrifying," his voice cracked.
He took a shaky breath before continuing.
"So much so that the thought alone makes it hard for me to breathe, Ren. You... You are like the Polaris in my life. Without you, I’d be lost. I finally have someone I truly love. And I can’t afford to lose you."
Hearing no answer from the other man, Zayden slowly leaned in for a kiss.
The omega didn’t pull away. Instead, he closed his eyes, letting Zayden do as he pleased—not because he couldn’t fight, but because he didn’t want to. He, too, longed for this man’s warmth.
The alpha cupped Ren’s face in his palms, kissing him passionately.
Ren returned the kiss, wrapping his arms around Zayden and pulling him closer, deepening it.
"I love you," Zayden breathed, pulling away slowly. "Do you?"
Without answering, Ren pulled the alpha into another deep kiss—one that felt desperate, as though he were trying to express his unspoken feelings through it.
Zayden let it slide this time as well. It was enough. At least he wasn’t being pushed away. Ren never claimed to love; he simply gave Zayden a chance to prove himself as a good partner.
He just needed to keep doing well until...
He didn’t know until when.
However, a lifetime didn’t feel too long.
***
Striding down the hallways, Enzo’s gaze fell on the room where Ren had brought the man who had collapsed the moment they returned to the mansion.
The sound of his cane echoed against the marble floor as he approached the door, hesitating over whether he should enter or not.
Assuming the young man was still asleep, Enzo opened the door.
Inside, Yusha was seated on the bed, tears sliding down his cheeks in silence.
It was a truly unexpected sight.
"Um..." Enzo swallowed, turning his face away as though he had intruded on something he shouldn’t have seen. "I apologize. I should have knocked. Very... mannerless of me," he said, lowering his gaze.
Yusha didn’t answer right away. He wiped at his face with the back of his hand, movements slow, deliberate. He was aware of how he must look. He simply chose not to comment on it.
"Yes," he said quietly. "Mannerless."
Enzo raised an eyebrow. A servant speaking back—calmly, at that—to a noble?
A soft chuckle slipped past his lips.
"You aren’t much of a smooth talker."
Yusha lifted his eyes at last. There was no challenge in them, only something dull and guarded.
"Should I be?"
This wasn’t like him. He knew that.
But exhaustion had worn his politeness thin, and bitterness—carefully restrained—settled beneath his words. Not sharp enough to cut, just enough to be felt.
Maybe it was instinct.
Not to attack—but to stop yielding.
"Actually," he exhaled, "I apologize. I didn’t mean to be rude. I just—"
"No, I get it," Enzo said, shrugging lightly as he shifted his cane in one hand. "I wouldn’t welcome someone who entered my room without permission either. But... I think I’ve seen you at the palace."
"That wouldn’t be impossible," Yusha replied. "I served the young master."
"You mean Young Master Eiran?" Enzo asked, stepping a little closer with the help of his cane.
Yusha nodded quietly.
Silence stretched between them. Neither looked at the other, as if meeting eyes were some unspoken transgression.
"And you?" the violet-haired man finally asked.
"I thought you’d never ask," Enzo scoffed. "I’m Zayden—General Zayden’s childhood friend. Enzo." A faint smile touched his lips, though it never quite reached his eyes.
Yusha nodded again. There was no need to ask further—after the divorce trial, Enzo’s name had been on every servant’s lips.
"I..." Yusha hesitated, the words catching in his throat.
"What is it?" Enzo asked, curiosity softening his tone.
"Well... I heard about your divorce..."
"Ah." Enzo’s reaction was too practiced to be genuine. "I’m rather popular," he added, a thread of mockery lacing his voice.
"I-I should go," Yusha said suddenly, springing to his feet. He had been speaking of things that didn’t concern him. Again.
"Go where?" Enzo asked.
"W-Well..." Yusha faltered, freezing in place. Where could he go? He couldn’t possibly return to the hell he had just escaped.