029

029
Sarang held his engagement ring above his head, his gaze distant, thoughts bleak. The silver band glint coldly in the dim light, Slowly, he curled his fingers around it and tucked it beneath his pillow when the door creaked open… quietly.

He closed his eyes and relaxed his shoulders, pretending to sleep.

Soft footsteps approached and a gentle warmth spread as a blanket was drawn over his body. The mattress dipped beside him.

“I love you.” Came Nathan’s hushed voice before he kissed his head. Then the warmth withdrew, and his footsteps faded. With a soft puff of air, he blew out the candles, cloaking the room in darkness and left.

Sarang opened his eyes. For a moment, he stared into the ceiling, then lifted a hand to his forehead where Nathan had kissed him. Her scent clung faintly to his skin—a soft waft of vanilla.

His throat tightened.

Later that night, Lucian returned from his private affairs. His scarf and coat were damp with mist as a soft chill clung to his exposed skin. Sebastian received him at the door, wordlessly relieving him of the outerwear and handed it to a maid.

“Has everyone returned?” Lucian asked as they moved down the silent corridor towards his study.

“Yes. Nathaniel returned a few hours ago, and Sarang returned at dusk. Howbeit, the child appeared… moody when he returned. He retired to bed early–before dinner.” Sebastian reported curtly.

Lucian halted. His brows furrowed.

“Sarang and moody is a rare statement but a skipped meal?” Lucian resumed walked. “Something is wrong. Did he mention anything?”

“No, Master Lucian.”

Lucian unlocked the door, “His escort, summon him to my study.”

Sebastian bowed, “As you wish, sir.”

Not long after, Sebastian returned with the assigned guard. The man entered with a formal bow. Lucian gave a slight wave of dismissal, and Sebastian silently withdrew, leaving them alone beneath the flickering light of the gas sconces.

“Report everywhere he went.” Lucian commanded, fingers steepled beneath his chin.

The guard stiffened. “His first stop was the post office. He sent three letters, two inland and one overseas. Then he went to a stationery shop where he purchased a pen for the young master, awaiting pickup. Afterwards, we stopped at a perfume shop, but he demanded I wait outside. When he returned, he had a single bottle...”

Perfume? Lucian pondered. I never knew he liked perfumes.

“We had lunch and returned to the estate, sir.”

“Did anything or anyone upset him? Think carefully.”

The guard lifted his head and recalled the moment the considerate omega’s mood soured.

“There was no direct contact, sir, but he witnessed the young master having lunch at a restaurant with the princess of Eldoria. They seemed very… familiar with one another.”

“Anything else?”

“Nothing, sir.”

“Keep this conversation private.” Lucian intertwined his fingers.

“Yes, sir.” The guard bowed and hurried out of the study.

Nathaniel and Lysandra. Alone. In Linfield.

Lucian leaned back in his chair.

He knew Nathaniel treated the princess with the same aloof detachment he extended to most omegas. For Lysandra to tilt the nature of their relationship so quickly—publicly—was unexpected... and impressive. Especially given the rumours.

He grinned.

The atmosphere between Sarang and Nathaniel was cold. Long glares, curt answers, awkward pauses, and a notable lack of skinship. Nathaniel sighed. No matter how he replayed their recent moments, he couldn’t recall doing anything to offend his lover. There was only one thing left to do—apologize.

In his hands, he held a small pot containing a prickly green plant imported from the drylands of the southern continent. It wasn’t pretty, but it was rare, with a strange and fascinating structure. He imagined Sarang accepting the plant with an angry glare and embarrassed flush, and the image brought a satisfied smile to his lips.

He placed the pot on Sarang’s doorstep with a note and wandered off.

At the bottom of the stairs, Lucian stood in the hallway, his mood seemingly pleasant despite the absence of a smile. Nathaniel furrowed his brows, suspicious and wary as he approached.

“You almost smile. The heavens must be near.” Nathaniel said dryly.

Lucian touched his beard, unbothered. “It is nothing serious. Trades with Warsis have been completed, so we’ll see much of each other for what’s left of the year.”

“Seeing you often bothers me.”

“Knowing you and Sarang are engaged bothers me more.” Lucian patted his shoulder. “Let us be civil for his sake. Or at least pretend to be.”

Howbeit tempting to surface accounts with his father, Nathaniel resisted.

“Have a nice afternoon.” He said and marched out the front door.

Lucian turned and headed for his study, ready to commence lessons with Sarang.

Sarang tapped his finger impatiently on the history test, his weakest subject and frankly, least entertaining. If the dates were taken out of consideration, he might have been impressed by the great feat of politics, war, and human civilisation–he was not. If his master had been anything but kind, he would have cursed every glorified Eldorian heroes.

He admitted defeat. There was no point delaying for answers he did not know. And truthfully, the knowledge wasn’t useful to him at all.

He submitted his notes.

“Sebastian mentioned you skipped dinner last night.”

“I ate so much during the day, I was not hungry.” Sarang casually patted his stomach.

“Nathaniel is now a member of the Court of Chancery, which is a great feat for his age. The court often works closely with the royal family, so he’ll be in their company more than me.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

Lucian rose from his seat and leaned forward until he was at eye level with him.

“You know the king wants Nathaniel to marry his sister because it’s beneficial to both families. What do you think will happen when they find out about you? How much are you willing to risk because you want to marry him? If your pride is on the line, so is hers.” Lucian voice softened then the hard glint in his eyes melted. “You’ll get hurt.”

Sarang’s hand instinctively moved to the ring hidden beneath his shirt. There was so much to think about, he thought his head would explode. He gazed into Lucian’s eyes… they were sincere. No lies. No malice. Just a truth he knew too well.

His eyes stung.

Lucian reached out to stroke his cheek, to offer comfort—but Sarang deflected his hand. The touch didn’t hurt; it merely tingled.

He frowned at Lucian, voice low.

“I know you have a lot of love for me and Nathan, and it must be difficult quarrelling with your son. If it were anyone else objecting, I could understand because they don’t know me, and they don’t know my character… but you do. I want to believe you have good intentions, good reasons, but you’re making it harder and harder for me to keep making excuses for you.” His voice wavered. “If Nathan had brought anyone else—slave, pauper, noble—I think you would have supported them wholeheartedly. I am so disappointed in you.”

He whispered those last words, then left.

Sarang’s last words struck Lucian like a blade. The alpha sank into his chair in silence, eyes laden with fear and a silver of regret in his chest. He clenched a nearby cup in his hand and shattered it.

The sting of the glass cutting into his skin gave him some relief, sharp enough to stop the heartwrenching pain in his chest from swallowing him whole.

Blood dripped down his knuckles. He clenched his fist tighter.