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

Chapter 303 — Wasn’t Scolding You

The dining hall was empty. There were only two people seated side by side around the long table where countless dishes were served.

Liam sat at the dining table, carefully feeding soup to Yusha.

Yusha had kept insisting that he didn’t want to remain locked in that room, his voice growing weaker with every plea. In the end, Liam had relented—extending the length of the chain just enough for him to reach the dining hall.

It helped that Yusha’s room was on the first floor; otherwise, even that small mercy would have been impossible.

The omega still couldn’t understand why he was being put through all this. He had already agreed to stay—so why wouldn’t Liam trust his words?

Every time he asked, the only reply he received was a dry, "You tried to leave me once. I can’t risk that again."

"My Lord, some knights from the General’s mansion have come to see you," the butler announced, inclining his head.

Liam raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting toward Yusha instead of the man who had delivered the message—as though Yusha were the one who had summoned them.

"Did you contact them?" he demanded, his voice sharp.

Yusha shook his head immediately. Too quickly. Fear gripped him, his body trembling.

Liam could do anything to him. At any time.

Lowering his head, he rose from the chair.

"I-I will go back to my room."

"Wait."

Liam raised a hand, his lips twisting into a bright grin.

The omega blinked, looking up at the alpha, completely clueless about what his master was thinking.

"Stay right here," Liam said lightly, as if he were asking him to pass the salt rather than deciding his fate.

Yusha’s fingers curled at his sides. He didn’t move.

"If they are here," Liam continued, rising from his seat, "then it would be rude not to let them see me." His grin widened. "After all, they came a long way."

The chain gave a soft clink as Yusha shifted unconsciously, the sound echoing far too loudly in the quiet hall. His throat tightened.

"My Lord... I didn’t call them," he whispered again, as though saying it twice might make it true enough to save him.

"I know," Liam replied calmly. Then, almost thoughtfully, "That’s what makes this interesting."

He turned toward the butler.

"Bring them in and make them wait at the audience hall."

Yusha’s breath caught in his throat.

Whatever game Liam was playing, he knew one thing for certain—he was about to be caught in the middle of it.

The butler bowed and turned on his heels, exiting the dining hall and leaving the two men alone once again.

"Sit," Liam said, tapping the chair Yusha had been seated on earlier.

The omega hesitated before lowering himself beside the Count.

No matter what Liam had in mind, it couldn’t possibly be anything good—for him or for his child.

Liam hummed, circling the spoon in the soup, twirling it idly.

"So, I thought I told you to send them a letter so they wouldn’t come looking for you."

"I-I apologize. It slipped my mind..." Yusha’s eyes began to burn, tears slowly spilling down his cheeks.

The alpha clicked his tongue, gently wiping the tears away with the handkerchief resting on the table.

"Come on, sweetheart. I was just telling you something. I wasn’t scolding you, right? I didn’t even raise my voice," Liam sighed, as though Yusha were at fault for crying—despite it being Liam’s unsettling behaviour that kept pressing down on him.

"Now, wipe your tears and finish your soup. I’ll see them off. When you’re done, make sure to write the letter."

Liam rose from his seat, smiling brightly. He tapped the omega’s head, ruffling his long hair slightly, before walking out of the dining room.

Yusha exhaled sharply in relief. Once again, he was safe—and so was his baby.

He stared down at the soup, his stomach twisting at the thought of being fed by the very man who had once tried to kill him. He couldn’t understand why he was the one who always had to suffer.

Curling his fingers, he clenched his hands into tight fists. His nails dug into his skin, but he neither noticed nor cared, his thoughts were focused on one thing alone—what Liam planned to do about Zayden’s knights.

If Liam chose to lie, the knights would leave empty-handed. However, if he chose violence, there would be bloodshed between the two sides.

The question Yusha couldn’t find an answer to was this—Would Liam really risk getting into trouble with Zayden for him?

He recalled Liam speaking of how much he admired the Imperial General, how he wished to be just like him one day.

After absentmindedly tracing circles in the soup with his spoon for a moment, Yusha suddenly sprang to his feet. He couldn’t sit still—not when Ren and the General had sent people to rescue him.

Just as he was about to step out of the dining hall, his feet came to an abrupt halt. His gaze fell to the chains binding him to the threshold.

His heart sank.

"W-Why?" he mumbled. "Was loving him such a sin that I am being punished for it?"

He curled into a ball at the entrance, tears streaming down his cheeks and falling onto his knees, soaking his pants.

But he didn’t care.

He never imagined he would feel like a slave again in this lifetime—not after Liam had freed him. And the cruel irony of it all gnawed at him: the very person who had once set him free was now the one holding him captive.

Suddenly, the sound of boots echoed through the hallway. Yusha looked up and saw an unfamiliar man standing before him in armour.

It didn’t take long for him to realize—this was one of Zayden’s men.

The knight’s gaze was firm and steady, showing no hint of sympathy or pity. Yusha felt a flicker of relief; at least he could retain some dignity.

"I’ve got this for you," the knight said, extending a set of armour toward him.

"But—" Yusha began, but before he could finish, the man slashed the chains with a swift swing of his sword.

Yusha froze, jaw dropping in shock.

"Hurry and put these on before Count Liam notices anything," the knight urged.

Nodding quickly, Yusha slipped into the armour. The steel covered almost his entire body, complete with a helmet that concealed his face perfectly—ideal for an escape.

"Let’s go," the man said, glancing left and right before leaping out the window.

Yusha gasped. He hadn’t expected they’d have to jump.

"Come on! Hurry up!" the man urged.

Without thinking, Yusha followed, landing awkwardly on his knees. He wasn’t trained for this, so even a jump from the first floor felt rough and clumsy.

"This way," the man instructed, guiding him toward the carriage the guards had brought.

When the other guards noticed them, they called out, warning them not to wander.

"We won’t," the knight answered calmly.

At least the mission assigned by the General had succeeded—even if it meant deceiving one of their superiors, Count Liam. After all, Imperial General Zayden ranked higher.

Yusha’s legs trembled, whether from fear or relief, he couldn’t tell. He had finally escaped Liam’s clutches—once again.

Though a sharp ache lingered in his chest, for somewhere deep inside, the love he still carried for the man refused to fade.

Still, he clung to a single hope: that this time, he would never have to see Liam again.