Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Eldest son
In other world
As Carlton stood before the hedge maze, he felt a sense of frustration building within him. He longed to explore it and see what secrets lay hidden within its walls, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so.
The reason? Seven mini koalas were clinging to his legs, preventing him from moving freely. Ever since he had awoken from his stupor, the seven children that Alaric claimed were theirs had been incredibly clingy towards him. They refused to let go of him and looked at him with worried expressions on their faces.
Carlton wasn’t fond of children; in fact, he found them weak and helpless like delicate cotton balls. He feared that any sudden movements on his part would harm them in some way. The thought of hurting one made his heart ache with guilt. But despite this realization, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was something important about these kids...something that demanded his attention.
Of course they’re important, they’re likely my kids and Alaric’s too. But I’m sure he was just joking about me giving birth to them. Even if I thrown into the future, such a thing should be impossible! Men can’t give birth, no matter what time period we’re in.
He tried to convince himself that the children must have been born from their marriages with women. He also reasoned that perhaps each of their kids called both him and Alaric ’father’ because they were close friends. However, deep down inside, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that something wasn’t right.
As Carlton thought deeply with a furrowed brow, his seven children stood by his feet looking worried.
Suddenly, one of the kids interrupted his thoughts by calling him "Daddy". When Carlton looked down at the child, he saw that it was a child with the same hair as him and golden eyes like Alaric - a perfect combination of both their faces. This only added to Carlton’s uncertainty.
"This kid looks so much like me but also has features from Alaric," Carlton murmured in confusion.
He turned his attention to mini Alaric, who was supposed to be the eldest child.
"What’s your name?" he asked.
"My name is Malcolm, Daddy," the boy replied with a worried expression. "Are you sick, Daddy? That’s why you don’t remember us?"
"Malcolm..."
Carlton murmured under his breath, a strange sensation washing over him. The name held a profound significance - it was the very moniker he had always dreamed of bestowing upon his firstborn son, in honor of his late grandfather whom he deeply admired and respected. Yet here this child stood before him now, bearing that cherished name...and a face that bore an uncanny likeness to Alaric rather than himself.
Carlton leaned in closer, scrutinizing every detail of Malcolm’s features as if trying to unravel some great mystery etched into the very fabric of the boy’s being. His eyes narrowed slightly as he drank in every nuance - from the shape of his nose to the curve of his lips, from the color of his eyes to the texture of his hair.
After a moment’s contemplation, Carlton chose his words carefully, nodding slowly.
"Yes, Malcolm... it seems my mind has been affected by the events of last night. That’s why Dadd- I mean Father - has trouble remembering some things now."
It pained Carlton to say "Daddy" aloud after so many years of being taught to maintain formality at all times. The strict lessons from his parents still echoed in his mind, along with the stinging memory of his father slapping him for calling him "Daddy" when he was just five years old.
Malcolm whispered something to the girl beside him before turning back to Carlton, worry etched on his young face. "I see... It makes sense that Daddy doesn’t seem to know any of us or show affection towards Father Emperor anymore," Malcolm said solemnly. "Daddy used to cling to Father like a koala bear."
Malcolm’s innocent words struck too close to home, forcing Carlton to confront the unsettling reality of this situation once more. Ignoring Malcolm’s comments for now, Carlton decided to ask another question that had been troubling him.
"Malcolm...who exactly is your mother?"
Malcolm smiled softly at Carlton’s query before responding with simple honesty.
"If by ’mother’, you mean the person who gave birth to me - that would be you, Daddy. You gave birth to me and my siblings."
Carlton felt a surge of frustration building inside him, threatening to boil over into full-blown anger at such an absurd claim. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, fighting to maintain some semblance of control even as he shouted.
"What do you mean?! Men CANNOT give BIRTH!"
The young boy tilted his head in confusion at Carlton’s outburst, clearly puzzled by the statement.
"Of course men can give birth, Daddy. Otherwise how could we have been born? Even Kilian was born from two men."
Carlton felt a wave of dizziness wash over him as he tried to comprehend what Malcolm had just revealed. But the mention of this new name caught his attention and he pressed for more information:
"Kilian? Who is that?" He asked with growing unease.
Upon hearing Carlton’s question, the other children began teasing their eldest brother.
"That’s the boy that big brother likes!"
"Kilian is cute! That’s why brother Malcolm always sticks close to him!"
Malcolm’s face immediately flushed bright red. The 10-year-old boy frantically denied it. "I just think of him as a little brother..."
He then shyly looked at Carlton and added, "So... Kilian is Uncle Rowan and Uncle Kastiel’s eldest son."
At the mention of those two very familiar names, Carlton was momentarily stunned. Even his usually stoic face rarely showed shock; this time though his eyes widened in disbelief.
I’d rather believe I could get pregnant than believe those two are a couple!! They always seem so eager to tear each other down whenever they cross paths!
The duke felt overwhelmed by the myriad of mysteries currently surrounding him, but rather than dwelling on his confidant’s romantic entanglements, he deemed it more prudent to focus his attention on the tiny humans clinging desperately to his legs in that very moment...
