CHAPTER 48: 48 — SING ME A SONG

— Some melodies can heal souls, while others can tear them apart —

"Ren, let me help you with this!" A maid suddenly grabbed Ren’s hand, catching him off guard.

After discovering that the rumors spread by Jian were nothing but lies, she couldn’t stay idle any longer. Having silently watched him get into trouble before, she now tried, in one way or another, to help. Jian and the men who sided with him were dismissed by the head maid as soon as the matter reached Lillia, who favored Ren greatly.

We should’ve done this the moment they started using him as an excuse to vent their anger...

She thought, a faint frown on her face.

Ren frowned, stepping back instantly. The woman didn’t pay attention to his sharp gaze and simply began cleaning the dish.

It was not the first time.

Such incidents kept occurring, and it only twisted Ren’s stomach. He still couldn’t understand what happened to them.

When he told James about it, the young man simply replied nonchalantly, "Maybe just like me, they realized you’re a good person?"

However, Ren couldn’t settle with such a simple answer. Something must have happened—his bone chilled at the thought.

Did word spread to the capital—and the temple knows I’m here? Are they spies?—

Driving himself crazy with such thoughts, he spent the whole week. Before he realized it, preparations for the banquet had begun. And the time for his leave approached with big steps.

He studied the mansion’s map carefully, keeping an eye on every single exit and entrance. The exit towards the basement’s entrance, where the dungeon was created, was the most guarded while the exit used by the general was the least guarded.

Shouldn’t it be equally guarded? His safety—

Ren paused at such thoughts. It didn’t concern him in any way. What was important was his successful escape. No one would care if a servant went missing.

They would simply assume they were eaten by wild animals in the forest.

He heard rumors that some servants died in the forest while trying to bring back dry wood for the fireplace.

However, what they wouldn’t know was that Ren knew how to fight these beats. Perhaps even better than the general’s soldiers.

He managed to get a small yet big enough bag to fit his belongings from one of the servants.

Since they are being ’kind’, I should just use it to my advantage.

He told himself.

After placing a few pairs of shirts, pants, and socks, he zipped the dark bag. He looked around, making sure no one was around before placing it under the bed.

Servants weren’t allowed to close their rooms’ doors unless it was night. It was a rule that had to be followed by everyone. Ren would have arranged his bag at night, however, he was still required by Eiran’s side. The side had grown even more clingy after his fever. It pained Ren at the thought that he had to leave such a precious little boy behind but he quickly shook his head.

"I need to find my own child. Not care for other people’s children," he mumbled to himself.

***

Striding down the hallway, Ren noticed Eiran’s wing was strangely quiet. There were still servants doing their duties, although it was past evening. However, they didn’t utter a word to each other as if something had happened. He wanted to ask, but refrained from doing so.

It would only drag attention...

When Ren pushed open the door to Eiran’s chamber, he halted.

Zayden was already inside, sitting near the boy’s bed, dressed in a white robe loosely belted at the waist. The fabric parted slightly across his chest, skin still faintly damp from his bath.

Ren, however, only saw his scarlet gaze drifting his way once the door opened wider.

Zayden studied the servant’s expression closely. His lips pressed into a thin line, wondering. Am I not attractive enough for him to even blush?

"Dad! Papa is here!" Eiran lit up, delighted, as if the world had given him both treasures at once. "We will sleep together like the other families!" He clapped his hands.

Zayden frowned.

"What do you mean by other families? Who told you this, now?" He sighed, pressing his hand on his forehead.

Last time, he harmed himself after hearing a maid talking nonsense. Now, who had put this idea in his mind?

"It’s a secret!" The boy giggled, pressing a finger on his lips before tugging at Ren’s sleeve.

"Lay beside me, Papa."

Ren almost swatted the hand away before his gaze fell on the boy’s bandaged hand. He recently recovered from a fever and was already injured. Unable to find the words to refuse, the servant hesitantly sat beside Eiran. This time, he didn’t look for Zayden’s approval.

He didn’t need it.

Not after the drastic change in his demeanor. The general no longer frowned, glared at Ren whenever he was around Eiran. Ren tried to ask but held back each time.

"Nooo! Lay downnn," the boy lay on the mattress, pulling Ren beside him.

Losing his balance at the unexpected pull, Ren fell close to Zayden’s chest, barely balancing his weight on his left hand.

"Careful," Zayden softly said, reaching for Ren’s shoulders to help him straighten his posture.

However, the servant quickly avoided his touch as if he were infected with a contagious disease.

The general frowned, clenching his hands into tight fists.

Why would he dodge me like that? I was just trying to help...

He retracted his hand, lying beside Eiran.

The boy turned toward Ren, who now lay beside him.

"Sing me a song. Please," he said, with pleading eyes, looking up at the young man.

"A song?" Ren blinked, surprised.

To sing in front of the general...

He glanced at the dark-blue-haired man not too far away, who stared at the ceiling nonchalantly.

"Yes." Eiran snuggled into his pillow, his green eyes bright with anticipation. "It’s been a while since I heard you sing me to sleep. Please?" He pleaded.

With a faint sigh, Ren coughed to clear his throat. He bit his lips, fidgeting with his hands. Knowing that the general would listen to him made him more nervous than he wanted to admit.

His voice rose softly, carrying a tune in Dragwari—the ancient language he was taught. The melody was deep and haunting, filling the chamber with a silence that stilled even Zayden’s restless thoughts.

By the end of the song, Eiran’s lashes had already shut close. His breathing evened out, slipping into a deep slumber.

"He’s asleep," Ren whispered, rising carefully. When he sat on the mattress, Zayden’s voice cut through the stillness of the hall.

"Wait."

Ren froze, slowly turning to his left.

"...Yes?"

"Where did you learn that language?"

Ren locked his gaze with the general’s.

"It’s just... something I picked up."

"Picked up?" Zayden’s tone sharpened. "From where?"