Chapter 345: 345 — Letter From Zayden [18+]

Content Warning: Explicit Sexual Content [18+]

On his knees, Ren held Zayden’s cock with both hands, his mouth moving steadily along the length, slow and deliberate.

The alpha groaned, pleasure tearing from his chest as his fingers slid into the omega’s sweat-damp hair, tightening instinctively, then loosening again as if afraid of holding too much.

"R-Ren... I—I’m close..." Zayden gasped, his hips jerking forward before he could stop himself. He thrust deep, spilling inside the omega’s mouth.

"I—I’m sorry—" The words came out broken as he pulled back quickly, breath shaking.

Ren looked up at him, wide-eyed. A thin line of white slipped from the corner of his lips. Without hesitation, he licked it away, swallowing.

Zayden froze.

For a moment, he could only stare—jaw slack, mind blank. Even workers at the beauty house had often turned away from that, reluctant despite their profession. And yet Ren had done it so naturally, so easily.

A question stirred at the back of his mind, sharp and dangerous, but he swallowed it down. This was not the moment to ruin what they had.

Instead, he leaned forward again, lowering himself to Ren’s level. His mouth closed around the omega in return, tongue rolling slowly, reverently, along Ren’s hard, warm length.

A broken moan escaped Ren’s lips. Heat surged through him, overwhelming and unfamiliar, until his body trembled. Tears gathered at the corners of his eyes, spilling before he could stop them.

When the droplets fell against his skin, Zayden felt it immediately. He looked up—and pulled away at once.

"Did I do something wrong?" he asked, voice tight with worry. "Why... why are you crying?"

Ren shook his head quickly, lifting a hand to wipe his eyes.

Zayden caught his wrist midway, leaning in to lick the tears away himself, slow and careful.

"Then?" he murmured.

"I-It just... felt too good," Ren admitted, barely audible, his cheeks burning red.

Zayden sucked in a sharp breath. For a second, he truly didn’t know whether to laugh—or lose himself completely to this man.

And, inevitably, a knock struck the door—loud, insistent, perfectly timed to ruin everything.

"I apologize for the interruption—"

"You’re not forgiven," Zayden snapped, irritation dripping from every word, his brows knotting together.

"May I enter?"

"No. You may not," he said flatly. "Speak. From there."

There was a pause. Then, hesitant, "H-His Imperial Royal Highness... requests your presence."

Zayden clicked his tongue, head falling back in pure annoyance.

"Of course he does."

His body reacted instantly—desire evaporating, his cock going embarrassingly limp.

"Tch. Unbelievable."

The servant on the other side of the door left immediately. He didn’t want to lose his head.

"You should get going," Ren said softly.

"But you—"

"I will stay here and wait for your return," the omega added with a gentle smile.

Zayden raised an eyebrow.

"But your room is elsewhere."

Ren tilted his head, eyes glinting with quiet amusement.

"Will you not allow me to share your bedroom?"

The alpha opened his mouth—then closed it again. Words failed him entirely.

"Hm?" Ren hummed, patient, clearly enjoying this.

"I—of course," Zayden finally said, clearing his throat. "I will have your belongings moved here."

"Already done," Ren grinned. He had known Zayden wouldn’t refuse.

A low chuckle escaped the alpha as he leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to his lover’s forehead.

"I will be back soon."

***

In the vast, empty yard, Enzo stood with his cane resting in one hand, calmly directing two servants as they dug into the earth to plant young trees.

The soil was dark and freshly turned. It had not been long since the snow had melted, and it was hard to say if plants would even survive this ground.

Yusha had shown little interest when Enzo first suggested the idea. So, as he often did, Enzo had taken it upon himself to see everything through by himself.

It was still noon. The sun hung high above the estate, casting shadows across the yard and warming the stone beneath their feet.

Enzo’s curly green hair was blown by the mild breeze, getting into his eyes. With a swift movement, he tucked the stand behind his ear.

"Have you put her to sleep?" He asked suddenly, without turning, as the sound of approaching footsteps reached him.

Yusha halted.

"How did you know it was me?" he asked, blinking in genuine surprise.

Enzo let out a laugh—unrestrained and bright, as though Yusha had said something irresistibly amusing. It rang through the quiet yard, startling enough that Yusha stiffened. He glanced at the man, a bright grin plastered on his face.

"W-Why are you laughing?" Yusha stammered.

"You are the only one living in this mansion with me," Enzo replied, still amused. He turned slightly, gesturing with his cane toward the man and woman kneeling in the dirt. "And the servants are right in front of me." His smile widened. "I rather doubt it would have been your daughter. She has yet to learn how to walk."

Yusha lowered his gaze, releasing a sharp breath through his nose. The words he wanted to say slipped from his grasp, leaving him standing there in silence, unsure how to respond.

"Why don’t you take a seat?" Enzo gestured with his cane toward the chairs arranged beneath the parasol.

They had been set there earlier, prepared by the servants on the off chance their masters wished to observe the work more closely or offer guidance during the gardening.

Yusha hesitated, his steps faltering for a brief moment, but Enzo did not wait for an answer. He turned and made his way toward the chairs, forcing Yusha to follow.

Once seated, the green-haired man folded his arms across his chest, his posture rigid despite the relaxed setting. He placed his cane against the chair, making sure it wouldn’t slip and fall.

"I received a letter from Zayden. His Imperial Highness is getting married. He invited us but I don’t want to go."

Yusha’s gaze, which had been fixed on the ground, snapped up instantly.

"I-Is he?"

Enzo nodded.

"With his fiancé—the one who rejected him in front of everyone," he added, rolling his eyes in clear displeasure.

He was among the many who harbored resentment toward Prince Rihaan. To humiliate the Imperial Prince before representatives of countless kingdoms was unforgivable in Enzo’s eyes.

No matter how much time passed, he could not understand why His Imperial Highness would still choose to bind himself to such a man.

Yusha merely hummed, his reaction barely noticeable.

Enzo raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"You are not shocked by this?"

Yusha shook his head slowly.

"Maybe the Crown Prince loves him." He shrugged.

"And so?" Enzo narrowed his gaze. He saw no logic in that answer.

"Love makes people do things beyond logic..." Yusha murmured, the words barely audible, as if spoken more to himself than to anyone else.

"And who told you that?"

"Does someone have to?" Yusha replied softly. "I told you, didn’t I? How I once loved someone who ruined me..." His eyes lowered, shoulders drawing inward. "Anyhow, I wish to stay here with my daughter."

Enzo bit his lip, the retort he might have offered dying before it could form. Silence settled between them.

When they had first arrived here, Yusha had barely spoken at all. He remained shut away in his room for days on end, indifferent even to his own child—the very child he had once fought so desperately to protect.

The physician Enzo summoned later explained it in careful terms: the omega had fallen into depression after giving birth.

To Enzo, it was unfamiliar territory. He had no idea how to help, no instinctive understanding of what was required.

"He needs rest. A great deal of it," the physician had said. "And time to bond with the baby. I will prescribe antidepressants. If they prove insufficient, I recommend counseling with someone more experienced."

The man was young, barely past his studies, and had admitted openly that such cases were beyond his expertise. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Still, Enzo followed every instruction to the letter. He ensured Yusha took his medicine on time. He made certain the omega held the baby at least twice a day, even when Yusha resisted, turning away with trembling hands.

And when night fell, it was Enzo who rose from his bed to tend to the child whenever the hired nanny failed to wake—anything to protect Yusha’s fragile sleep.

It took a long time.

But... one random morning, Yusha left his room.

He cooked for Enzo and the servants alike, insisting they were family. He fed his daughter with his own hands, without being urged or forced.

The change was so sudden, so unexpected, that Enzo cried that day.

Not out of sorrow.

But out of happiness.

Slowly, Yusha began to share his feelings—the pain he had kept hidden from everyone—locked inside his chest like precious gems.

Enzo listened without judging. He offered the man comfort, and a handkerchief every time he shed tears.

"I am so glad to have you by my side, My Lord," Yusha whispered, resting his head against the young man.

"Of course I had to be here. That is exactly what friends are for." Enzo grinned.

"Ren is the best friend one could ever ask for. But I didn’t want to pressure him," Yusha admitted, lowering his gaze.

"I doubt he cares about that. He cares for you. The rest matters less to him."

"... I know. Still I just can’t..."

"Well, it doesn’t matter. Just make sure you tell me everything from now on. I also told you about my biggest fear—alpha pheromones, no?"

Yusha smiled softly, nodding.