Chapter 60: Interstellar / 7.9 : Is it worth it?
"Xuan?"
Haoxuan woke up and looked at his father, only then did he notice that someone had been standing in front of the thrones and talking to him. After saying hello and doing small talks he looked at the doors again.
Xiaoming shook his head at his son, he never thought he would fall in love with someone let alone this deeply. He can’t wait for Eden to come too, he wants to see the person who managed to turn his son who told him he doesn’t mind marrying anyone he chooses into one who says he’ll only marry Eden. He’s not angry at his son for ending the engagement between him and the son of the prime minister what angered him is that he waited until an hour before the royal ball to tell him.
He understands Xuan better than anyone and knows he was worried about his reaction but he didn’t have to be. He knows that he’s strict with him and put a lot of pressure on his shoulders but that’s only because he believes in him. Like all parents, he always wanted his son to meet someone and fall in love but when Xuan was seven he told him that all he wants is to become the supreme commander and that he knows he’ll never fall in love.
They agreed to wait a couple of years after he becomes supreme commander for him to marry anyone he chooses. Still, he wanted him to be in a loving relationship, for him to have what he never did. His marriage was to merge two kingdoms as one and that’s when The Royeax Kingdom & Principalities was born. Even after his mate died he knew he wouldn’t find someone who would make his heart beat that’s why in many ways he didn’t try to dissuade Xuan because they are similar in every way.
He likes how similar they are but he wished he would be more open when it comes to love because he didn’t want him to spend the next 500 years alone. So seeing that Xuan has found someone he loves he’s beyond happy. He already called the prime minister to end the engagement. Now he just needs to make sure that Eden is right for him. He looked at the entry when he heard a commotion. He looked as Xuan went to join the three Omegas who had entered.
Haoxuan looked at Eden with a smile.
"Hello, thank you for coming."
Eden smiled coldly.
"Thank you for having us."
Haoxuan could feel a little coldness from Eden but thought that he was probably nervous.
"Haoxuan this is my mother Shian."
Haoxuan smiled welcomingly.
"It’s very nice to meet you."
Shian smiled.
"It’s nice to meet you too Haoxuan."
Shian could tell that he was a little nervous which was a good sign. He’s the crown prince and the supreme commander and usually, they tend to be arrogant and look down on everyone so it was good to see that Haoxuan isn’t that type of royal. He and Eden have a close relationship and he won’t let anyone hurt him or break his heart.
Haoxuan looked at Dawei.
"How are you Dawei?"
"I’m okay thank you, supreme commander."
"You can call me Haoxuan."
Dawei nodded with a smile and haoxuan smiled back. Dawei means a lot to Eden and Qiping who are two of the people he cares most about so of course he wants to be friends with him. He can tell that he is a good person and that’s all he cares about.
Haoxuan said:
"Come on I’ll introduce you to my father."
Eden simply nodded and followed him. Once they were in front of the king Haoxuan introduced:
"Father this is Ning Shian."
Shian bowed and said:
"Your majesty."
When Shian looked up Xiaoming was enthralled by his beauty, he had heard that the last supreme commander’s wife was beautiful but it seems like it was an understatement. He felt his heart skip a beat and became stunned.
Shian looked at the king’s eyes. He looked like Haoxuan would in 20 years. He seemed like he was in his thirties and had a chiseled jawline with almond-shaped gold eyes. He had a well straight nose with full red lips. The only difference with Haoxuan was his gold eyes which Shian found somewhat captivating. He was surprised by it, he’s never felt any kind of attraction to anyone since his husband passed ten years ago. Xiaoming said:
"Shian."
Shian nodded then looked down, Eden looked at his mother in silence.
Haoxuan introduced:
"Father this is Dawei he’s a student at The Military Society and a friend."
Dawei nervously bowed then said:
"Your majesty."
Xiaoming smiled reassuringly and nodded.
"Dawei."
Dawei smiled.
Haoxuan finally introduced:
"Father this is Eden he’s also a student at The Military Society and a friend."
Eden respectfully bowed.
"Your majesty."
"Eden it’s nice to meet you"
Eden smiled.
"It’s nice to meet you as well your majesty."
He was surprised to see that Eden wasn’t nervous or uncomfortable. Despite his smile, he felt apathy from him.
Xiaoming went straight to the point:
"I heard that you are engaged, how does it feel?"
Xiaoming just wants to know how he feels about being engaged to someone who isn’t his son. Haoxuan looked at his father discontent, he said that he’ll talk to Eden so why is he putting him on the spot like that?
Eden smiled, he should kill father and son. They both dare mention his engagement when Haoxuan is as well. An hour before the ball he received a weird text from him and he felt like something had happened. He checked Versem and saw him speaking to his father about him. Not only is he angry that he kept secret the fact that he is supposed to marry the prime minister’s son in a couple of months but that he only talked about him to his father an hour before the ball. Is he that meaningless to him? He’s so angry he could kill him, it took a lot of self-control not to jump him when he entered.
Eden raised an eyebrow.
"You’re son is engaged as well how about you ask him what it feels like?"
The king looked at his son and saw the panic in his eyes. He smiled at Eden understanding why he was being so cold. It seems like his son has been messy and has not told Eden that he was engaged to marry in a couple of months. He looked at him apologetically despite it being his son’s mess. Eden gave a genuine smile at the king, he was glad that he at least sees how terribly his son has acted.
Xiaoming smiled but he turned his head when he felt furious eyes on him. He met mesmerizing green eyes but they were also shining with anger. Shian looked ready to kill him for his son keeping this a secret. He has done nothing why is he putting all of this on him?
Haoxuan looked at Eden his heartbeat out of control. He didn’t mean to keep it a secret he just didn’t say anything because it meant nothing. Even if he was to marry in a few months he and the minister’s son never had any contact, it was clear that it was just an arrangement. He can count on one hand how many times they’ve met, plus now it’s over. Haoxaun held his wrist.
"Eden..."
Eden pulled his wrist and said:
"I’m gonna get something to drink."
Eden looked at his mother and Dawei and they left.
They stopped when Eden abruptly did. Eden looked at his wrist than at Haoxuan and threatened:
"Let go of my wrist unless you want to die."
Everyone was shocked to hear Eden threaten the crown prince in front of the king. They all looked at the king waiting for him to call the guards on Eden but he was looking at him with an appreciative smile. Shian looked at the king then Eden.
Haoxuan felt heartbroken seeing the resentment in Eden’s eyes. He should be just as angry at him, his engagement is over but not Eden’s. Furthermore, he didn’t see him more than three times while Eden is enrolled at the academy with his fiance. Haoxuan tightened his hold and took a step forward. His eyes darken as he said:
"You dare be angry when I have to see your fiance every day?"
Eden yelled furiously:
"I never kept it a secret from you, I’ve always been honest!"
"I never told you because it was an arrangement I made with my father a long time ago and it meant nothing. We only met during royal functions two or three times."
Eden took a breath to calm down.
"I don’t give a damn if you’ve actually never seen him it’s the fact that you kept it from me."
Haoxuan took another step and said:
"I know I should’ve told you but I wanted to end it first."
Eden looked at him in silence. What angers him the most is that in the original timeline he married him and they had two children. He didn’t check on Gege’s experience in the previous timeline because he wants to get to know him naturally. Gege doesn’t know anything about him so it’s only fair that he doesn’t either.
He learned to give Gege time to open up and not force him to spill everything whether he is ready or not and it wasn’t easy. Every time someone would keep something from him he would end up suffering that’s why it was so hard on him when the only person he loves would. A lot of fears he had he doesn’t anymore because he made him feel more confident but Haoxuan not mentioning something so big is too much. Eden pulled his wrist but he wouldn’t let go.
"Haoxuan I won’t repeat myself."
Haoxuan narrowed his eyes.
"Shouldn’t you react the same way I did?"
Eden burst out laughing.
"Is this a joke? You’re acting as if you’ve never reacted to my engagement."
This is hilarious to him, he’s acting like even though he wanted Eden when he was engaged he’s been patient when he had to promise him that he would keep his distance. He lost it more than twice, he agrees that he is just as possessive as Gege but he is more impulsive. Can you imagine how fiery their relationship would be if he was just as impulsive as him? If he was Haoxuan would’ve been killed the second he set foot in the ballroom.
Haoxuan said with dark eyes:
"You’re right because you’re mine, mine alone. If anyone tries to take you away from me or put a finger on you they’ll wish for death."
Eden looked into his intense eyes, most would’ve felt scared by the obsession and passion in Haoxuan’s eyes but he didn’t. He only feels familiarity and love. He loves this person so much but it’s hard to start over again over and over again. Now that he knows he’s waking up he does feel confident but it’s not easy. Having to go through as much as they do before they’re together when the entire universe is altered so he would suffer and then die makes it that much harder. Being with Gege is just hard and the question is is it worth it?
