Chapter 79: 79 — Dad’s Partner?
Ren trembled under the cold air brushing against his skin, seated beneath a large tree. He had covered himself with the clothes he had brought, yet they weren’t enough to shield him from the chill.
The sun shone brightly, but it did little to warm the forest. The greens swayed to the wind’s tune, while orange and red leaves drifted to the ground. They circled him, tickling his hands resting on the grass, as if telling him to wake up.
Summer had ended; it was already fall.
He opened his eyes, vision blurry. Blinking rapidly, he waited until every shape sharpened. Picking up his bag, Ren rose to his feet.
His neck was stiff from resting against the tree trunk through the night. He tilted it side to side until he could move it comfortably, then bent down, shoving the clothes into the black sack with rushed, quick movements.
He pulled the map from his bag, searching for the road that led to the marked point on the parchment.
The rustling of leaves caught his attention. He looked around for whatever might have caused it, but nothing met his eyes. Yet he sensed it—something, someone watching him. An intense gaze.
Feeling a shadow looming behind him, he turned, only to frown. No one was there.
He closed his eyes, exhaling deeply.
Calm down.
He repeated so to himself until his shaky breath steadied.
Then, he strode deeper into the forest. The further he went, the less sense the path toward the village made. The roads were narrow, broken by trees that seemed to grow out of nowhere, or large broken branches blocking the way. He could easily lift them however, that would only consume his time and energy.
His steps faltered when he noticed a fog of smoke ahead. As enchanting as it seemed, his body screamed at him to run. Yet he still stepped forward.
This must be the way.
Grip tightening around the parchment, he glanced around. He couldn’t spot anything—only white fog clouding his vision.
A small shriek pierced the silence, eerily like a child’s cry. Ren froze.
He turned.
Left.
Right.
No one.
He followed the sound. The closer he drew, the stranger it seemed.
A child’s cry? In the forest?
The thought that it might be his stopped him from breathing. He carefully scanned the ground, covered with fallen dead leaves. Then, his gaze fell on a small bird. Its feathers, once vibrant in shades of blue and grey, were dulled, matted by dirt. A faint blush still lingered on its chest, but one wing hung limply, dragging against the earth. It trembled with every shallow breath, closer to death.
Ren sighed. It wasn’t his baby, a human. He knelt, eyes fixed on the fragile creature. For a moment, its gaze met his—bright yet pained.
"It seems you are injured," he mumbled softly, gently lifting the small creature into his palm. The warmth of his skin made the bird’s cries cease.
A blue light flickered around his hand. Eyes closed, Ren whispered a spell. Slowly, the bird’s wing stirred—it could move again. Without wasting another second, it flew high, singing joyfully as if to thank him.
Ren smiled softly, waving it goodbye.
Then, he continued on his journey. He didn’t know how long it would take to reach the village, but he needed to hurry. For his child.
***
Eiran lay on the couch, a book resting on his face.
"What are you doing, Young Master?" Eden leaned closer, whispering gently in case the child had fallen asleep.
"Nothing..." The boy sighed, removing the book from his face. He looked up, finding Leon standing in front of him. He quickly straightened his posture.
"Uhm... Your Highness?" He narrowed his eyes, unsure if he had used the correct term.
Leon chuckled.
"Your Royal Highness. But don’t worry about it," he said with a smile, taking a seat across from the couch where Eiran sat.
The boy glanced at Mrs. Eden, frowning, his expression clearly saying: Why didn’t you tell me?
"Do not scold your poor nanny. She was heading to your study when she crossed paths with me. I asked her to bring me along. And of course, who can refuse a consort?"
Eden poured a cup of tea from the pot already on the table in front of them. The General had been expected to visit, but he was caught up with his uncle, the Archduke, to discuss some matters. A servant had notified Eiran of his absence only a few minutes earlier.
"How many sugar cubes?" Eden asked.
"No sugar," Leon smiled, lifting the cup of tea himself.
The maid who tried to give it to the Consort was stunned, her hands still in the air. A member of the royal family doing something on their own could spread the wildest gossip in high society. Did he not care?
Eiran fell silent, lost in thought, until he finally parted his lips.
"Does it mean that if I become a consort, no one will refuse anything I say?"
Leon choked on the liquid, coughing uncontrollably.
"Your Royal Highness!" Eden gasped, her fingers trembling. "Are you alright?!"
Eiran looked at the blond-haired young man before rising from his seat. He patted Leon’s back a few times until the coughing subsided.
The room fell silent. The servants glanced at each other nervously.
Would they be fired, even though it wasn’t their fault?
Nobles never hesitated to punish innocent commoners for mistakes they hadn’t made. In that, Revhara was no different from any other kingdom.
"Young man, why on earth would you want such powers?" Leon asked, eyes narrowing.
In high society, being the Emperor’s consort was the least desired position.
"Well..." Eiran’s gaze dropped to the floor. "Papa left. Even when I told him not to. He didn’t listen to me..."
"By Papa... do you mean Zayden’s partner?"
Eiran tilted his head.
"Dad’s partner? No. He is my Papa."
Leon covered his mouth, stifling his laughter. He shouldn’t break this poor child’s heart.
"What did he say?"
"He said he had something urgent to do."
Leon pulled Eiran closer, settling the boy beside him.
"That means he will come back, right?"
Eiran looked at him, eyes confused.
"But... He didn’t say that."
"Well, he will surely return to you. You are his son, are you not?" Leon grinned.
But the child’s expression darkened.
"He says I am not his son..."
The door creaked open, drawing every gaze. At the threshold stood Zayden and Yohan, eyes wide.
"W-What is going on?" Yohan whispered, feeling out of place.