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

Chapter 182 — Hunting Festival (7)

"I doubt you lie more than I do... Not that I am any better," Ren said with a faint, bitter smile. "I have no right to judge you."

"Ren," Zayden said softly, tilting his head, his eyes searching Ren’s. "You had your reasons. I understand." He reached for the silver-haired man’s hand but quickly pulled away.

Noticing the sudden hesitation, Ren blinked, his gaze lifting.

Did he just... try to hold my hand?

"Thank you," Ren murmured, a faint smile curving his lips as he handed over a bowl of fried rice. "I truly appreciate it. You should try this—it’s really delicious... Zayden."

Zayden couldn’t breathe for a few seconds upon hearing his name from Ren’s mouth. Again.

He took the bowl and began eating far too quickly, as if he hadn’t eaten in days. It was the only way he could think to calm his racing heart. Maybe if he focused on eating, it would finally settle.

"Please eat slowly—"

Cough.

Cough. Cough.

Ren set his bowl aside and hurried to Zayden’s side.

The General was coughing uncontrollably—he must have swallowed the wrong way.

"I told you to be careful," Ren sighed, patting his back with enough force to make Zayden wince between coughs. He handed him a bottle of water, which the man drank in desperate gulps.

Once the coughing fit subsided, Ren quietly returned to his seat.

"Are you mad?" Zayden asked hesitantly after a long silence.

"No," Ren replied, frowning faintly. "I just don’t understand."

"Understand what?"

"How could they send only one servant with each participant? Just now, something bad could’ve happened. Nobles usually bring five to ten attendants, but for this festival..." He sighed. "It’s so strange."

Zayden swallowed hard, averting his gaze as he scratched the back of his neck. He stayed quiet.

After all, he couldn’t tell Ren that he was the one who used his authority to create that rule this year.

"Why are you not saying anything?" Ren raised an eyebrow, studying him. For some reason, the General has been silent these days.

"About what?" Zayden replied with an easy smile, springing to his feet before Ren could press further. "We should get going. The sun will set soon."

And time for that, too...

***

"Your Imperial Highness!" Rihaan called, nearly stumbling as he tried to match Soren’s long strides.

Soren halted, his expression unreadable as he turned his head slightly. "What is it now?" he asked, his tone calm—too calm. Only the faint tightening of his jaw betrayed his irritation.

"Let me ride the horse."

Without waiting for Soren’s response, Rihaan strode ahead and mounted the animal with an ease that was anything but graceful.

Soren said nothing.

Unlike the other nobles, both of them—crown princes of their respective kingdoms—were allowed to bring one servant each. And since their engagement was soon to be announced, the Emperor himself had insisted they enter the forest together.

Soren could already see through his father’s intentions. He probably wanted him to act like a "proper" omega—delicate, shy, the type who might cling to his future fiancé at the slightest inconvenience.

But the one doing the clinging was not him.

It was Crown Prince Rihaan—jumping, not into anyone’s arms, but onto a horse simply because he couldn’t bear to walk through the snow.

How on earth was he supposed to live here—in a land where winter ruled for almost half of the year?

"Why are you walking so fast?" Rihaan called over his shoulder, adjusting the reins lazily. "You’re not even trying to enjoy this hunt. I swear, you make everything feel like a punishment."

"It’s only a punishment because you talk too much," Soren replied flatly, stepping through the snow without looking at him.

Rihaan chuckled under his breath. "You really don’t like me, do you?"

Soren didn’t bother answering.

A moment of silence followed before Rihaan spoke again—his tone lighter, but his words sharp enough to cut through the cold air.

"I’m telling you, we should just call it off."

Soren stopped mid-step, his eyes narrowing. There was only one thing Rihaan ever wanted to call off.

"The engagement?"

Rihaan nodded, straightening his posture. When it came to serious matters, he could at least pretend to be sincere.

"You clearly don’t want this. And honestly... I don’t either."

"You’ve said that before," Soren replied quietly, his breath drifting into the cold air like pale smoke. "But things won’t go your way, Crown Prince Rihaan."

"That’s because your father and mine are obsessed with appearances," Rihaan muttered. "But I’m not. I’m not afraid to walk away if I have to. I have someone I love, dammit!"

Soren’s lips curved faintly, though there was no warmth in his smile.

"Then walk away."

Rihaan blinked, caught off guard.

"You don’t mean that."

"I do," Soren said simply, brushing past him. "But you won’t."

And just like that, Rihaan fell silent. For all his talk of freedom, he never acted on it. He wanted to—but he couldn’t. Not when it involved the Empire of Revhara, the most powerful land on the continent, controlling nearly all of its trade and transport routes.

"You said you have a lover, right?" The red-haired man finally broke the silence.

Rihaan’s hazel eyes glimmered with a flicker of excitement. Was he finally going to cancel it? After all, no one would want to share their partner with another—especially not when love was already involved.

"Are you finally going to cancel—"

"You can bring them with you," Soren cut him off before he could finish.

Rihaan blinked, his expression twisting in disbelief.

"What?"

"I said you can bring that person with you when you come to the Empire—as my wife." Soren’s grin was sharp, his words colder than the air around them.

"You don’t know what love is, do you?" Rihaan snapped, his voice rising. He glanced at the servants who immediately froze. They were not meant to hear this.

"W-We will step away for a moment." Soren’s maid said before bowing.

Rihaan’s servant inclined his head slightly before walking away, following Soren’s maid.

"Alright. I don’t," Soren said flatly once his servants had reached far enough to not hear their conversation. "So what?" He folded his arms. "Love is just a useless emotion. If you want it so badly, you can have it. Just don’t cause trouble and go through with the marriage."

Rihaan tightened his jaw, hands tightened around the reins until his fingertips turned red.

"So what?!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the silent woods. "You think everything is just that simple? You think people are toys you can keep beside you to look good in front of your father?"

Soren didn’t flinch. His expression remained calm. He had expected no less from this man. Immature.

"If that’s what you think, then maybe you shouldn’t have accepted the engagement in the first place."

"You—!" Rihaan’s voice cracked, rage and helplessness blending. "I didn’t accept it because I wanted to! You think anyone dares say no to an emperor?!"

He pulled the reins, the horse rearing slightly before moving forward. Snow scattered as Rihaan rode off, his figure slowly disappearing in the mist of the woods.

Soren stood there, watching him leave. The faintest sigh escaped his lips.

"Always running away," he murmured.