Vengeance of The Broken Lycan Prince [BL]
Chapter 338: Like An Eyelid Defends The Eye

Chapter 338: Like An Eyelid Defends The Eye

[KAWAI]

Tamiko looked at his father, his heart in his hands as he tried to let what the king had just said sink in.

For the first time in so long, he felt like there was a link between him and his father, and not just because they were related, or because he was the song that Diana had wanted so badly, or even that he was the fruit of love that had ended in shambles.

This time, he felt like his father saw him, for who he was. A broken boy who had been striving off of his rage and anger. A kid who had suffered at the hands of so many people and who had struggled to brace himself for the worst, even in situations when love and light was all that was preached to him.

And that confused the young Lycan. He had been out of Grealor for two years already, and he had interacted with his father most of the time but today, the kid felt like this was a connection.

He felt like he could talk to Zaffuto as a son and his father, without having to force himself to laugh through the horrors of the past that had roped them and turned them into shells of what they had once been.

"Tamiko... you’re okay," King Zaffuto said to his son, willingly addressing him as ’Tamiko’ instead of ’Kaito;’ and that did a number on the young prince. He looked up at his father, even as his eyes filled with tears that blurred his vision.

He didn’t know why he was getting emotional over a name that wasn’t even truly his to begin with. Then again, that name had been his identity his entire life, with all the horrors that it came with.

He had trained himself over the two years to embrace himself for the Kaito Hinata name, but it never really fit well on his tongue.

Maybe that was why most of the time Tamiko had to think, he thought of himself as Tamiko the outcast of Grealor, instead of Kaito the prince of Kawai.

"What?" Tamiko voiced, his shaky breathing something the king had long seen coming.

But this time, Zaffuto didn’t push. He didn’t try to talk to his son as the prince or look at him like the entire kingdom was his for the taking and the armies were his to command.

No.

This time, he was a father.

He was the man that Liana had fallen in love with.

And he was the man who had watched his wife go into the birthing hall in the morning, only for him to be summoned three hours later, not for his son’s birth, but for the worst nightmare that had ever graced Kawai.

It was a harsh reality they lived in, but it was the only choice for the father and son at this point.

"You’re a child of so many beauties, my little angel. I figured instead of trying to force the name Kaito on you when it is not what you are used to, I wanted to make sure the name you were given wasn’t filled with horrible memories.

"I just want you to be happy, and if Grealor made you a sad Tamiko, I intend to make you the happiest of all Tamikos out there, son," King Zaffuto said earnestly, making his son stare at him like the word was coming to a stop.

There was just no way that the man he had known was trying to lean towards the life that he had had. There was just no fucking way his father was sacrificing to make Tamiko comfortable.

It was strange, really, and it shocked Tamiko all through to hell and back. He had never thought that such a day would come for him. He never ever anticipated it, and yet his father was here, surprising him just the same.

The mad king seemed to have thought a lot about this because, over the past few days, the king hadn’t insisted as much on the name. He always preferred to call him son, which was not so bad. But damn was Tamiko not expecting the sudden change.

It was crazy comforting and yet it made Tamiko wonder if his father was trying to lure him into a false sense of comfort. That was worse than even having to deal with the Grealors, because at least with the wolves of Grealor, Tamiko knew where he stood.

He understood what they meant to him, and what he meant to them.

And honestly, he was okay with being the outcast because that meant that he could do whatever the fuck he wanted and they all could collectively assume he was being a rebellious outcast.

It just wasn’t that hard with Grealor.

"You’re overthinking, again," King Zaffuto said as he looked into his son’s dark eyes. He loved his son. He would do whatever it took to see his son happy and comfortable. He would let him be whatever the fuck he wanted and King Zaffuto wouldn’t prod.

That was then he had sworn to herself because at the end of the day, he was a father first and a king second. He would protect his son. He would do whatever it took to see him smile as often and honestly, that was more than what Tamiko would have asked for from his father.

"I... I don’t know what to say. I just didn’t expect that you would be okay with it. I’m sorry if I pushed you to this. We can just go back to calling me Kaito, and I promise, I will adapt, papa," Tamiko said sincerely.

His father held him gently, helping him rise from the seat he had sat on, before hugging the young Lycan like their lives depended on it. It was the most beautiful sight for anyone watching and it would have won hearts.

Zaffuto was not as hesitant to initiate contact with his son as before and that was something Tamiko had long noticed too. Oh, but the king was trying. He was really trying to be an understanding father and a better man for his son.

He knew that life would always shape them differently and he understood that at the end of the day, no matter what life threw at them, they would always have to fight the long war. But together, they would win.

And if his son got tired along the way, then the king would keep fighting until the very end. And he would win, if not for himself or for his kingdom, then he would win, for the son he loved more than life could ever comprehend.

"You don’t have to say anything, son. You are trying to adapt to Kawai and the lifestyle I thrust you into. The least I could do was be an understanding father and let you live your life as you will it.

"My duty as your father is to make sure you are happy and if there is anything you need to be eliminated, I don’t mind eliminating it, son. For you, I would do anything," Zaffuto said so earnestly that Tamiko felt the waterworks coming.

He wasn’t sure his father would appreciate that, but when she felt his father rubbing his back gently, soothingly, he knew that he was truly safe. He felt safe, and so he let himself be free. He let himself feel and he let himself cry.

"Papa," the young Lycan sniffled and Zaffuto didn’t let go.

He would never let go.