Fallen General's Omega (BL)
Chapter 111: Reunion

Chapter 111: Reunion

As the carriage trundles closer to Seraphina’s heart, the temple fading in the distance, I notice something out of place in the bustling street. A large, familiar figure standing beside a small girl. My heart skips a beat. It can’t be.

Noelle, ever perceptive, catches the shift in my expression. "What are you looking at?" he asks, curiosity piqued, his eyes following mine out the window. When they land on the figures, his eyes sparkle with recognition.

Without thinking, I rap on the carriage roof, signaling the driver to stop. The carriage grinds to a halt in front of them. My hand is already on the door, and I’m out before the wheels have even fully stopped turning.

Standing before me is Big Ben, his massive frame a wall of protection as he instinctively places Mona behind him. His dark eyes meet mine with a flicker of recognition, and for a moment, we just stare. Then, from behind him, a little head peeks out. Mona.

"Mr. Husband?!" she calls out, her voice trembling with tears.

The sound of her voice, so small and full of emotion, nearly undoes me. I’ve missed this little runt more than I thought possible. My arms open wide without a second thought, and she bolts from behind Big Ben straight into them.

I catch her effortlessly, her tiny body colliding with mine as if she belongs there. Her small hands clasp around my neck, and she buries her face against me, sobbing softly.

"It’s a little mean, Mona. What about me?" I hear Noelle’s voice from inside the carriage, light and teasing. Meanwhile, the little furball in my arms, wriggling as if determined to escape, leaps out of my grasp and bounds toward Noelle. With a soft laugh, I place her gently in the carriage, watching as she effortlessly jumps into Noelle’s waiting arms, immediately nestling into his embrace like she belongs there.

I turn back just in time to see Ben sway on his feet, his face pale, before collapsing to the ground. My heart skips a beat, worry overtaking me as I stride toward him, calling his name, but there’s no response. His unconscious form lies there, lifeless, and my mind races.

"Ben!" I drop to my knees beside him, reaching out to check for any sign of life, panic gripping me for a moment before I feel the faint rise and fall of his chest. Relief floods through me, but the worry remains. What could’ve caused this? What’s going on?

**

The doctor finally leaves the room, and I’m left standing there, staring at Ben’s unconscious form, a deep frown settling on my face. The wound—a stab wound, the doctor said—had been festering, untreated for days.

I feel a swirl of mixed emotions rising in me as I take in his pale complexion, the steady rise and fall of his chest the only sign of life. Seeing him like this, it’s hard to reconcile. Anger. Worry. Frustration. I can’t pin down which is stronger.

According to Mona, he is like this because they were being hunted down by a local lord and his guards. It happened because, they asked Mona to be a maid in his house, it really wasn’t a question or request more like an order, reluctantly Mona went there. But unfortunately it seems like the lord’s son, took fancy to her. He is 16, she’s 11, a child. A child. The thought makes me angry.

Apparently he decided to have his way with Mona but Mona fought back and ended up blinding him, before escaping through the window to Ben. And that’s how they got on the run to the capital.

I quietly shut the door behind me and step into the hallway, feeling the weight of the day settle into my bones. My steps are slow as I make my way to the room across, pushing open the door to find Noelle sitting on the edge of the bed. His soft, thoughtful gaze rests on Mona, who’s now drifting off to sleep.

Noelle looks up when he notices me, his expression tender. I walk over to him, bending slightly to press a kiss to his forehead. His skin is warm beneath my lips, and the simple act grounds me in a way I can’t describe.

I reach out, my hand brushing through Mona’s hair gently. Her eyes flutter open for a second, and she glares at me with that familiar defiance, but she’s too tired to protest. I chuckle softly at her stubbornness before straightening up.

With one last glance at the two of them—Noelle’s quiet presence and Mona’s sleepy form—I turn and leave the room, shutting the door softly behind me.

Rage churned through me like a storm, boiling under my skin, making my every breath feel too shallow, too hot. My fists clenched tightly at my sides as I stormed through the hallways, not even noticing the startled glances of the servants. Roman and Victor were already behind me, keeping their usual pace. Their silence only fueled the inferno in my chest.

We head to the barn, and without wasting a second, I swing myself onto the horse’s back, the familiar feel of the leather reins in my hands grounding me. I kick into motion, feeling the powerful muscles beneath me ripple as the horse takes off at a steady gallop. Two days by carriage is standard, but with a bit of luck and sheer determination, we can shave that down to a day and some hours if we push the horses hard enough. There’s no time for rest, no room for hesitation. The urgency gnaws at me, every hoofbeat echoing the pulse of anticipation and fury in my chest.

The wind lashes at my face, but I welcome it, leaning forward in the saddle as the landscape blurs past.

I glance over at my men, all riding with the same urgency. We’ve done this before, pushing through exhaustion, riding straight into the night. We have done this before, it shouldn’t be a problem.