Chapter 78: 78 — Return to Us
The sound of music still floated from the hall, masking the scuffle. No one noticed him slip away, not even the sturdy guards leaning against the wall, half-asleep.
He climbed the iron wall with careful steps, his eyes scanning even the shadows of the trees. Jumping down the other side, he landed perfectly on his feet. He glanced back at the building before turning forward. There was no time to hesitate. Yet, for a moment, Eiran’s bright smile flashed before his eyes. His steps faltered. He turned, as if hearing the child call for him.
However, the thought of the state his own child must be in now stopped him before he could run back inside the mansion. He turned on his heels, rushing into the forest.
Once he reached the field of roses, he pulled out the bottles of perfume and suppressants he used. He prepared a few more. Soon, his heat would become regular. He clenched his jaw, swallowing hard. His heart raced faster with each passing second.
With trembling hands, he dug at the spot he had chosen before. The hole where he hid his belongings, thinking he would escape, without anyone noticing. He pulled out the bag with his clothes, money, and the map—the one that marked where his son was. After covering the hole again, patting the soil until it looked untouched, he stood.
He looked at the field of roses, expression grim.
"I will be back soon," he mumbled more to himself than to anyone else. Yet it felt as if he were speaking to someone unseen, someone not present in the forest.
Ren pulled the map from the bag, fingers tracing the inked lines in the dim light. His eyes stopped at the mark he had drawn almost a year ago—the village not too far from here, near the border, hidden between the mountains.
That was where his child was.
"I’m coming," he whispered, clutching the edge of the parchment until it crumpled.
The night air carried the faint hum of the banquet, far behind him now. Eiran’s smile flickered once more in his mind, tugging at him, but the thought of his own child—alone, in an unknown state—kept his feet moving forward.
He walked for hours, but the forest offered no guidance, countless narrow paths leading to places he didn’t know. Every rustle of leaves made him flinch, as if a haunter awaited him, a prey.
He had walked here once before, with Zayden, and remembered the terrain... mostly. Yet the map, drawn long ago, proved far more complicated than he had expected.
"Why did you make such a complicated map?" he muttered under his breath, as if someone unseen might answer.
No one did.
His stomach growled, catching him off guard. He looked around, imagining a lurking monster before scoffing at his own nerves.
"I should have eaten properly before coming..." he sighed, glancing at the surroundings.
Trees stood tall, their dark silhouettes blending together. A faint rustle in the air made him freeze, heart pounding. Not all creatures were asleep, and some were predators of their own desires.
***
The next morning, when he opened his eyes, he rotated, hoping the first person he saw beside him would be Ren.
However, Eiran’s heart sank at the empty space beside him.
There was no one next to him. Not even the warmth of the blanket eased his tightening chest.
He sat on the bed, gaze wandering, still hopeful. Then, he spotted Zayden, seated on the couch, staring at a piece of paper, his arms resting on his knees. For once, his posture was flawed, not straight but curved.
Under normal circumstances, Eiran would laugh, say how sometimes even the General made mistakes. But today, his attention was focused on the pieces of paper his Dad looked at attentively.
Footing on the floor, with quiet steps, Eiran approached Zayden.
"Dad, what is this?" He asked without beating around the bush. For some reason, Zayden’s state unsettled him.
His Dad turned his way, the corner of his eyes slightly red.
Did he not sleep all night?
Eiran wondered but didn’t ask.
"Where is Papa?" He asked, hoping that everything that had happened last night was a mere nightmare. His Papa wouldn’t leave him.
"Last night, your Papa left—"
"Where is Papa?" he interrupted. "I don’t want to play hide-and-seek," his voice cracked.
"He left," Zayden said.
His voice was calm, yet it hit Eiran like a heavy rock.
"No," Eiran shook his head. "He can’t leave me behind like this."
His eyes burned, tears threatening to fall. He didn’t force himself to hold back. They flew down his cheeks, looking up at Zayden.
Zayden’s heart sank at the sight of the boy’s tears. He knew he would cry again, however, this time, he didn’t make a sound as he shed tears. He never wept silently. Now, he only gasped for air, his breath ragged.
"Eiran," his voice came out louder than he intended.
"No, no. What are you going to tell me? To not cry? I know men don’t cry! But," his breath hitched. "I will go find him. He mustn’t have gotten too far!" The boy nodded in agreement with himself.
Zayden held the child’s shoulders, leaning closer, gaze locked.
"Eiran, listen to me. I will find him. I told you so last night, right?"
The boy looked at him, eyes doubtful. Last night, he wept enough to pass out. He hadn’t found the strength to run to Ren, beg him not to leave. He couldn’t. Not when his Papa’s eyes reflected determination Eiran never saw.
Whenever he looked at him, sometimes, there was a glimpse of kindness in his eyes, however, it disappeared in the blink of an eye.
And sometimes, guilt.
For reasons Eiran didn’t know, and didn’t dare ask.
"I am the General, am I not? We only need to find a servant," the words appeared more directed toward himself than to comfort Eiran. "I will find him. My knights will look everywhere."
"But... he said he had something to do..." the boy sobbed, wiping his tears, finally having calmed down.
"That is true... What about I send my men and they help him finish whatever he needs to do faster so he can return to us—you?" He quickly corrected.
Us?
He scoffed inwardly.
Eiran nodded twice.
"Yes. Do that."
Zayden smiled softly, patting the boy’s head.
"Now, go and freshen up."
Having said so, Zayden left the room, heading back to his room. He still needed to attend the banquet. As a child, Eiran had to sleep early. That was why he brought him to his room. But as an adult, he couldn’t escape from the gathering.
"Attendant... This is no way to leave," he mumbled under his breath.