Fallen General's Omega (BL)
Chapter 113: Honeymoon phase

Chapter 113: Honeymoon phase

I watch Ben step into the sparring ring, determination etched across his face. It’s been a month since his recovery, and though I told him he didn’t need to push himself, he insisted. Said he wanted to make himself useful. Apparently, fighting was the way to go, and damn, he’s good.

My eyes follow his movements as he faces off against Raul. The large bald man is a powerhouse, no doubt, years of experience and brute strength on his side. Ben, though, isn’t getting steamrolled like I expected. He’s holding his own—impressive, considering he’s up against a guy I once saw hoist a tree like it was a sack of flour. I always had a feeling Ben wasn’t just muscle and grit. He’s got to have some sort of ability to back it up.

I suppress a yawn. Last night was... well, let’s just say I may have overdone it with Noelle. Flashes of heated moments flicker in my mind, a grin tugging at my lips. I stifle it, not wanting to give anything away.

"I see you’re still in the honeymoon phase," a voice drawls from beside me. Victor. Of course. I don’t bother looking at him, my focus still on the sparring match.

"You wouldn’t understand," I retort with a shrug. "Or maybe you would, with Oliver and all."

Victor snorts, and I can hear the smirk in his voice. "Unlike you, we don’t have that burning love and passion, but we’re getting along well ....enough."

I don’t reply to that. He’s right. There’s no denying the difference between what Noelle and I have and the arrangement he shares with Oliver.

"Well," I say, shooting him a glance, "you’d better suck it up, Mr. Soon-to-be-Dad."

Victor groans, and I can’t help but snicker. The idea of him becoming a father still cracks me up. Who knew? Oliver’s pregnant—of all things. I mean, it’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? Victor, the stoic, battle-hardened soldier, suddenly dealing with baby milk and sleepless nights.

"Honestly, it’s more terrifying than the battlefield," Victor admits, sounding genuinely rattled. His confession catches me off guard, and I laugh out loud at the thought of him running scared from a screaming infant.

I shift my gaze back to the sparring ring just in time to see Raul claim victory, as expected. Ben’s not far behind, though. He’s a quick learner.

With a grunt, I push myself up, using my cane for support. I turn to leave the training grounds, the weight of paperwork waiting for me pressing on my mind. I let out a low groan, the burden of responsibility tugging at my shoulders.

But then again, the sooner I get through it all, the sooner I get to see Noelle again. And that, well, that’s something to look forward to.

*

I stretch my limbs, feeling the stiffness in my joints as I push away from the desk. The crown prince has been unusually quiet lately, and it’s setting off all kinds of alarms in my head. That man doesn’t stay idle without reason. Something’s brewing, and I need to be ahead of it. But in the meantime, Roman and I have been quietly transferring my assets, moving businesses and funds to foreign countries, stashing them away in banks far beyond the reach of the capital. I don’t plan on sticking around much longer, and the more I think about it, the more I long to leave this kingdom behind.

The question is, where to?

South is Narcio, the kingdom we’ve been at war with for over a decade. The fighting only stopped because of the massive losses I inflicted on their army, forcing them to the negotiation table. We’ve got a truce now, but it’s fragile at best. I doubt Narcio will stay quiet forever, and I have no intention of waiting around for them to sharpen their swords again.

To the west lies a vast desert, not much use to anyone unless you enjoy the scorching heat and endless dunes. Not my style.

Eastward is Bodin, a small but hostile nation. Their army is too weak to start a fight, but they’re sitting on a treasure trove of mines, making them rich and well-protected. They’re dangerous in a different way, not the kind of neighbors I want to cozy up to.

And then there’s the north. The ocean stretches for miles, but if you follow the shore long enough, you can find your way to the northwestern part of the continent, where Vitra stands. Now that’s where I see potential—a kingdom both safe and wealthy. It’s massive, with more than enough room to disappear in a small village if we need to. The journey could take months overland, especially with the dense forests and rolling hills to the north, but by sea, we’d cut that time down to a couple of weeks, tops.

Vitra seems like the best option. Safe, far away from the prying eyes of this kingdom, and full of opportunities for a fresh start. The idea brings a rare smile to my face.

Still, there’s a lot to prepare before we can leave. Roman and I are close to finalizing everything, and I bet we’ll be done in a week. But I need to talk to Noelle about this. I’m sure he’ll agree.

And then there’s Ben and his sister. I’m not about to leave them behind, either.

I glance over at Roman, still buried in paperwork. The man’s a machine, but I know he’s as eager to leave as I am. I push myself to my feet, the chair scraping against the floor as I stand.

I walk toward the greenhouse, and as I approach, I spot Mona with Grape. The bird is wrapped up in a ridiculously large pink bow, its usual smug expression replaced with one of utter misery. I swear it looks at me pleadingly, begging for salvation from this embarrassment. But I look away, suppressing a smirk. This is payback for all the times that feathered devil decided to interrupt my private moments with Noelle. It’s about time someone else gave him a taste of his own medicine.

"Mr. Husband," Mona calls out, beaming up at me with her toothy grin. She’s missing one of her front teeth now, and it makes her smile all the more adorable. I can’t help but chuckle a little.

"Hey, is he inside?" I ask, motioning toward the greenhouse.

"Yeah," she says with a slight frown, "but Noelle hasn’t been in the best mood lately."

I nod, feeling a small pang in my chest. I’ve noticed it too. Noelle’s been distant, his usual warmth dimmed, and whenever I try to ask him what’s wrong, he just brushes it off with a soft smile and says it’s nothing. But hearing Mona mention it confirms my worries—something is definitely bothering him.

"It’s okay, I’ll talk to him," I say, giving Mona’s head a gentle ruffle before walking into the greenhouse.

Inside, the air is thick with the scent of fresh soil and blooming flowers. The soft light filtering through the glass panes bathes the space in a warm, golden glow. And there he is, Noelle, looking every bit the ethereal being he always does. His silk light orange shirt clings to his lithe frame, and the soft fabric drapes gracefully as he sits among the plants. He looks like he belongs here—like some delicate fairy or spirit of nature, blending into the green surroundings as though he were a part of them. But today, there’s a weight to him that doesn’t belong. He’s sitting listlessly near a batch of flowers, his shoulders slumped in a way that I rarely ever see.

I approach quietly, not wanting to startle him. "Hey," I murmur softly, hoping my voice can bring him some comfort.

He looks up at me, and without a word, steps into my embrace. The way he clings to me—it’s different from his usual hugs. This isn’t his playful or affectionate touch. This is a hug for comfort, one that says he’s carrying something heavy and doesn’t know how to set it down. My arms instinctively tighten around him, pulling him closer. I can feel the tension in his body, the subtle tremor in his breath. He needs this, more than he’s letting on.

We stay like that for a few minutes, just holding each other. The greenhouse is quiet except for the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant chirp of a bird outside. I can’t help but feel the growing weight in my chest, knowing something is wrong but not knowing what.

Eventually, I pull back just enough to look at him, my hands still resting on his shoulders. "So, are we going to talk about it?" I ask gently, trying to catch his gaze.

"Talk about what?" he responds, avoiding my eyes and stepping back. The way he shuts down so quickly is unlike him, and it only makes me more concerned.

"My star..." I try again, softer this time, but he immediately looks away, his jaw tightening.

"I need to use the bathroom," he says abruptly, not even giving me a chance to press further before he walks out of the greenhouse.