[BL] Alpha, You've Got the Wrong Mate!

Chapter 118 — Made Duty Look Beautiful

The lights of the palace illuminated the hallways. Servants lingered in the shadows, carrying out their duties with quiet diligence. Whenever their gazes fell on the Imperial General, they bowed immediately in greeting. But the man in question did not return their glances. He strode forward, pacing down the corridor as if possessed.

"Zayden?" a voice called out.

His steps faltered. The sound pierced through his ears, forcing him to stop. Slowly, he turned.

A young man stood a few paces away. The golden lights spilled over him, catching in his dark, curly green hair, which framed the sharp cut of his jawline. His thin frame was draped in a white shirt embroidered with threads of gold that shimmered faintly in the glow.

Zayden’s breath caught. For a moment, he wondered if his mind had finally betrayed him.

Was this... a hallucination? Because there was no way Enzo Fenzis would have been here—in Revhara, and much less in the imperial palace.

"It is you!" Enzo exclaimed, a bright grin spreading across his lips as he stepped closer.

Zayden blinked, his vision blurring for an instant. The world seemed to tilt, and he had to remind himself to blink to clear his vision.

The man closed the distance, locking eyes with him.

Zayden’s lips parted, the words catching in his throat before he forced them out in a hoarse whisper.

"Enzo...?"

The name felt foreign on his tongue after so long. He shook his head slightly, as if trying to inspect the sudden apparition before him.

"How are you—" He paused as his breath caught in his throat. "What are you doing here?"

"Are you not happy to see me?" Enzo asked, both of his hands reaching for Zayden’s.

However, Zayden turned around too quickly, causing him to miss.

Curling his fingers into a fist, Enzo forced a smile, walking behind the tall man.

"Of course I am happy," Zayden said. "You are one of my closest childhood friends. Why would I not be happy to see you?"

Enzo walked at his side, matching his pace as if they had never been apart, his grin unwavering. The sweet scent of pheromones made his heart race faster than he could recall.

"I can feel you staring holes into me. Before you ask, Zayden, I am still married... to that old man."

Zayden’s steps slowed. He moved his hand dismissing the remaining servants in the hallway.

They all bowed before rushing back to their rooms. Who wouldn’t like a good night’s sleep for once?

"That High Priest came with you?" The General asked, raising an eyebrow. "Of course." Enzo tilted his head, green curls swaying as he shot him a sly smile. "Where he goes, I go. You didn’t think I’d sneak all the way into the royal palace alone, did you?"

Zayden’s gaze hardened. "You’re here as part of Hianshu’s delegation."

"Mm-hmm." Enzo clasped his hands behind his back, rocking on his heels like a boy caught in mischief. "And you’re looking at me like I’ve betrayed you personally. It’s politics, Zayden. Nothing more."

"You married him."

Enzo chuckled at the bluntness. "I did. And before you start getting any more suspicious, let me remind you: you don’t get to choose to marry someone when you’re born in a certain family. You of all people should know that." He jabbed a playful finger toward Zayden’s chest. "Your entire life has been duty first, hasn’t it? At least I made duty look ’beautiful’." He air quoted, raising his hands.

Zayden’s lips pressed into a thin line, though he said nothing.

The silence stretched until Enzo sighed and softly said.

"Don’t look at me like that, my dear friend. I haven’t changed sides. I’m still me. The same Enzo you used to drag out to skip classes and made me swear not to tell your father." His grin flashed again, mischievous but tinged with something vulnerable.

"Only now I come with prettier clothes and a husband who would have a heart attack if he knew I was wandering off to find you."

Zayden finally looked at him.

"Then why are you here?"

Enzo blinked innocently. "Because I missed you, of course. I was wondering if I would cross paths with you. And guess what? I did! Is missing you not a good enough reason?"

Zayden didn’t answer right away, his eyes narrowing slightly, as though searching for deception in his old friend’s face.

Enzo stepped closer, lowering his voice. "I’m not here now, in front of you, as his shadow, Zayden. I came here in the hope of seeing you. It’s been too long. Far too long." His voice trembled as if holding back words that threatened to slip from his mouth.

Zayden nodded, smiling softly.

"Alright, alright," he raised his hands in the air, chuckling. "I had to make sure they hadn’t forcefully made you swear allegiance to them."

Enzo’s giggle echoed in the corridors.

"You haven’t changed, have you?"

The General curled his lips. He didn’t know if he had changed or not. But something in his life surely had.

"Have you eaten?"

Zayden shook his head.

"Then come have dinner with me!" the young man exclaimed, stepping closer to Zayden.

Zayden stepped back slightly.

Why does he keep getting close like this?..

He could only wonder. Perhaps he didn’t mean it. Perhaps the people of Hianshu behaved this way? After all, they had some strange practices if he recalled correctly—mostly for omegas.

Glancing at his friend, the thought crossed his mind: Did Enzo also go through those things? He hadn’t visited the empire for over a decade. He was wedded to that man although he was a demon. That High Priest was his supposedly fated mate. No one could have refused such an alliance, much less when it happened right after they had ended the war.

"Zayden? What are you thinking about?" Enzo tapped his shoulder, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Are you alright?" Zayden asked without hesitation.

The smile on Enzo’s face dropped briefly before he forced another one, nodding.

"Do I look hurt to you?" He raised his eyebrows, questioning him.

Zayden shook his head. If anything, he appeared happier than when he used to live with his family.

Inhaling deeply, he began, "I should visit my son."

Enzo’s eyes widened, his steps halting immediately while Zayden kept walking ahead.

Once he realized Enzo hadn’t followed, Zayden turned, arching an eyebrow.

"What’s wrong?"

"I-I heard you had a son but," he swallowed hard. "I didn’t believe that. I mean... don’t you stay away from omegas?" His chest ached like it would be crushed under the heavy weight of thick iron.

Zayden chuckled.

"People change, Enzo. If you haven’t noticed, you have changed as well."

Enzo didn’t say anything. A frown formed on his face—who could have been the one who made Zayden change this much? Enough for him to have a son with them—to embrace an omega and their scent!

"You should head back before your husband spots you with the enemy," Zayden chuckled to lighten the mood. He could see the frown on Enzo’s face but didn’t question it. Perhaps he simply remembered something bad.

"You are right..." Enzo smiled, lowering his gaze. "Have a good night."

"You too."

Having said so, Zayden turned, walking away. However, Enzo remained there, staring at the man’s tall figure fading into the darkness. His chest stung at the thought of seeing him with someone else.

Should he be feeling like this for another man when he had a fated mate?