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

Chapter 191 — Good Child

It didn’t take long for the assassin to give up. The punches and kicks had been far beyond his ability to endure.

Then, he confessed that someone dressed in a white robe had visited him a few days ago.

"The man said he had heard of me being a contract assassin from someone, but he couldn’t reveal the details."

The only thing the assassin could show was the piece of coins he was given for the task—and unsurprisingly, Zayden spotted something interesting: Duke Danman’s seal at the corner of the bag of coins.

Did he not pay attention at all, or was he confident that this man would get away so he didn’t bother taking a bag that wouldn’t lead Zayden to him?

"How dare he?.." the Emperor growled, his blood rising. "As if messing with me was not enough, he is after your life?"

"That’s all you care about?" Zayden looked up at his father, glaring at him.

Pressing one knee on the assassin’s back, not letting him stand while Zayden punched him a few more times, he began, "He hurt my wife, damn it."

"Wife?!" Soren and Zaphyr blinked, shocked.

"What? Did I hear you correctly?.." Soren mumbled, not sure he had heard correctly at all.

"Well, soon-to-be," he faked a dry cough, correctly himself. "Same thing anyway."

"Alright, alright. That’s enough. I will handle the rest," Zaphyr sighed, massaging his temples and shaking his head.

He wanted to get rid of Duke Danman soon. He had already begun supporting someone capable of taking over his responsibilities, and now seemed like the perfect moment to strip him of his titles and banish him. Danman had caused Zaphyr far too many headaches with his constant demands, as if he had the right to bargain with the Emperor himself.

"Alright," Zayden stood, finally exiting the cell. His clothes and hands were stained with blood, but he didn’t care. "I’ll return to my room. If you need anything, don’t call for me."

The Emperor scoffed.

"I don’t believe you. Even in a situation like this, you can still make jokes—"

A hand on his arm stopped him.

When he turned, he saw Soren shaking his head, silently telling him not to.

Zayden walked away.

"He is doing this to keep himself composed in front of us. Have you not seen how he looked when we entered the room earlier?"

Zaphyr exhaled deeply, lowering his gaze. It wasn’t that he didn’t know that. However, he was unsure what to do to comfort Zayden. Had it been a loss in war, perhaps he would have some advice, but for this matter...

"Your mother will handle it."

Soren simply stared at his father in disbelief. It wasn’t that his mother couldn’t handle this. Just sometimes... children needed their fathers to show them some emotion as well.

***

When Zayden returned to his room, Selena had already left. The physician explained that she had instructed him to do everything possible to ensure Ren’s recovery.

The general sank into his chair, burying his face in his hands. He drew in a shaky breath. His mother understood him well—he needed this moment alone, free from questions and interruptions.

However, if life were to go as one wished, wouldn’t it simply be heaven?

The door swung open, and the person he least wanted to see now stood in the entrance—Eiran. It wasn’t that he didn’t want him there, but he had no answer to the questions the child might ask.

"D-Did you come alone? Where is the Queen?" Zayden forced a smile, but his lips refused to cooperate. His voice came out shakier than he intended, giving away the impression that something was not right.

"He went to change. I thought I would come see you—" Eiran said, but he stopped when his eyes landed on Ren.

Eyes wide, the boy stepped into the room, taking in the sight of his father lying on the bed, his body limp, breathing shallow and barely audible. Similar to dying a man.

"What happened?" he asked, a frown crushing his face. "W-Why is Papa like this?" His voice cracked, his heart pounding loud enough to reach his ears.

Even without understanding the full severity of the situation, he could sense that something was terribly wrong.

The physician constantly wiped crimson blood from his father.

Was it refusing to stop?

He had read that... such bleeding could lead to death.

His heart shuddered at the thought. Their other father had long been gone, and now...

Tears welled in his eyes as he turned to face Zayden.

The man, however, kept his gaze averted—guilty. He had promised to protect them both, and yet he had failed.

"Dad," Eiran said, his voice low yet strangely firm for a child.

"Dad," he repeated, hearing no answer from Zayden.

"Yes?" Zayden finally murmured.

"He will be okay, right?"

Zayden nodded, though inside he longed for the same reassurance. That Ren would be alright. That he would wake soon and look at him—with fury, hatred, anything—but simply to see him. That alone would be sufficient.

"Have you eaten?" Zayden asked hesitantly.

Eiran shook his head.

"If your papa wakes up and sees you haven’t eaten yet, he will get mad. You know how he is, right?" Zayden forced a faint smile, hoping it would cheer the child.

The boy, however, stared at him, his expression unreadable. Then, unexpectedly, he asked,

"Will he wake up if I am a good child?"

Zayden’s heart sank, and his breath caught in his throat.

Even though Eiran wasn’t crying, the glimmer of tears in his eyes and the quiver of his lips made Zayden’s chest ache.

How could he reassure the child? He fell at a loss for words...

"Of course. Silly boy. You are a good child—the best there is," Zayden whispered softly, pulling him into a tight hug.

He pressed Eiran close, feeling the warmth of the boy against his chest, trying to keep his composure. If only he could promise the same for Ren—that everything would be alright. The thought of possibly losing him gnawed at him, tightening his chest further, but for now... for Eiran, he had to be strong.