Love!!! Zayden walked toward him, and Caspian's smile grew wide at Zayden's reaction. He stood when Zayden reached him. Zayden was just looking into his eyes with the same expression. He cupped his face and asked:

"Love, what happened to your eyes?"

Zayden stared at those beautiful eyes he cherished more than his life. He tried hard not to ruin his mood, so he asked calmly.

"I don't know. When I woke up, they were like that." Caspian caressed his hands slowly as he answered.

"But they are beautiful, right?" He smiled widely at him as he asked excitedly.

"Hmm, they are so beautiful." Zayden refined his emotions because he didn't want to make him sad by burdening Caspian with his worries.

"Come. The maids made breakfast already. Let's eat before it gets cold." He took Zayden's hand and moved the chair so he could sit properly. Zayden looked at him in astonishment. He was really looking happy today. Zayden sat down and they ate in silence for a while. Zayden filled his plate from time to time so he could eat healthy.

"Zay!" Caspian suddenly called him hesitantly.

"Hmm?" Zayden continued eating.

"Who is Amanda?" His spoon stopped midair as he lifted his gaze toward him. He smiled awkwardly at Caspian.

"Why are you asking?"

Caspian also stopped. He lifted his eyes and they stared at each other for a while, communicating without words. Then finally Caspian spoke:

"As your husband, I have the right to know about the people in your life, can't I?"

Zayden looked into his eyes and for the first time realized that he couldn't always lie to him.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. It's just... she's my friend's sister." Zayden lowered the spoon to the plate as he explained.

"Your friend!!" Caspian suddenly got really excited.

"You have friends!" Caspian leaned slightly toward him. Zayden smiled at his childish excitement.

"Of course I have. I'm handling more than fifty territories single-handedly. You think I don't have friends?" He brushed the hair from Caspian's forehead and tucked it behind his ear, then kissed his forehead.

"Don't underestimate your husband."

Caspian just lowered his eyes slightly and blushed.

"Here, eat this so you can get stronger and go to college in good shape." Caspian's head snapped up at the mention of college.

"Really? When will I go?" He asked excitedly.

"First finish this. I'll tell you when the day comes. It's a surprise." Zayden tickled his nose.

Caspian giggled and started eating breakfast while Zayden also continued eating and smiling. Suddenly someone's voice echoed through the palace:

"Well, well, well... look who is busy eating with his husband while ruining my mood for one full night and half a day." They both turned toward him. Caspian watched him curiously while Zayden stood and walked toward him.

"Noah!" He shook hands with him and hugged him lightly. Caspian saw them meeting so casually, so he followed Zayden and stood beside him quietly.

"Huh... so finally you remember that you have a friend here in Xing City, huh." He hugged him back.

"You know how busy I've been these days." Zayden replied smoothly.

"Well, I can see how busy you are." He side-glanced at him. "So don't you introduced me to my brother-in-law?" He scanned the room in search of the person he just talked about.

Zayden turned slightly and took his hand, leading him beside him.

"Here, love, say hello to him. He's my friend Noah." Zayden introduced them to each other.

"Hello! I'm Caspian. It's nice to meet you." Caspian said timidly while holding Zayden's hand.

"Hello! Nice to meet you too, brother-in-law." He bowed slightly in respect.

"Come, let's go to the guest room." Zayden led him to the guest room. Caspian was about to leave, but Zayden held him back. He didn't let go of his hand, so Caspian just followed.

They got inside the guest room. Zayden led him to sit beside him. Zayden and Noah were talking pretty normally about their busy lives. Caspian got bored with them. He didn't realize Noah's gaze was inspecting him.

"Brother-in-law." Suddenly Noah called him. He quickly straightened, having been lost in thought.

"Huh?" He answered quickly without thinking.

"What's your favorite color?" Noah asked like it was the most important question right now.

"My favorite color..." Caspian looked hesitantly at Zayden's hair. Zayden didn't notice; he just caressed Caspian's hands slowly.

Noah followed his gaze and a smile suddenly appeared in his eyes.

"So your favorite color is black!" Caspian suddenly flushed and averted his gaze, murmuring, "Yeah..."

"That's good. My favorite color is also black." Noah tried to make him comfortable and talk, but he didn't know how straightforward Caspian was.

"Zay, can I go to my room? It's boring here." Zayden nodded and let go of his hand. Caspian walked away without looking back, quickly crossing the stairs and disappearing into the palace.

Zayden's smile vanished from his face as he looked at Noah.

"How is his condition?" He asked worriedly.

Noah looked at the way Caspian left, then murmured, "He's trapped in his own cage?"

"What do you mean?" Zayden leaned forward slightly, lines appearing on his forehead.

Noah didn't answer. He stood up and walked to the window, watching the city as he whispered:

"Zayden, I want to give you some advice."

Zayden stood in place, brows furrowed in curiosity.

"What?"

"Never mistake his smile for happiness. As much as I've observed him, his body is trying to recover little by little. I don't know what trauma he's carrying, but just so you know... I think it's not what we're thinking."

Zayden swallowed hard. "What do you mean?"

"You know," Noah continued, "40% of my omega patients were rape victims. Some were gang-raped. Some were forced by cousins, and even some fathers raped their omega children. Thirty percent of my patients were traumatized by family violence. I've spent years in this field but I never saw someone as sad as him." He turned around and locked gazes with Zayden. "And I wanted to tell you that..."

Zayden shook his head. "You must be mistaken. He is happy with me. He was too good. I... I spent days with him. I married him. I want to start a family with him. I can't let this happen, not with him, not when I'm here."

Noah walked toward him and patted his shoulder.

"Let me finish first."

Zayden nodded as he swallowed hard, his jaw tightening in endurance.

"I think if this continues, you may lose him..." Zayden's lips trembled slightly. He closed his mouth tightly to stop them from trembling. His fist clenched.

"Or he would turn into a monster history will never forget."

Zayden fell back onto the couch at his words, feeling the same crushing, helpless feeling he'd felt before. It was the cruelest feeling he'd ever had. Zayden's gaze drifted to where Caspian had left. They didn't know the feeling of killing someone beloved just because they turned into a monster, but Zayden did, because he had killed one and he never wanted to do it again.

---

Unaware of their worries, upstairs Caspian suddenly sneezed.

"Oh, someone must be talking badly about me."

The sneezing didn't stop. It came again. He walked to the table, drank some water, and the sneezing disappeared like it had never been there. Caspian just shook his head and continued watching Xing City outside, happily thinking about his college days.

Zayden said it was a surprise, so his admission must already have been done. He smiled lightly while dreaming about his college days.

Far away, someone watched the same window where Caspian was standing.

He watched him through a scope and whispered:

"Caught you."

---