Work Text:
Cavalry Commander's Chamber
“Father.”
“come in.” as the door swung open, the young boy stepped inside. though his small frame clearly showed his youth, his posture was impeccably refined -bearing the unmistakable grace of royalty. yet, underneath that elegance lay a distinct strength, reflecting the strict training of a true knight.
his crip, clean clothes and the lingering scent of freshness showed that the boy had just washed. “is your training finished?”
“it is finished.”
Keith settling himself into the chair right beside his father’s bed. as his small hand reached for the orange on the nightstand to enjoy, his eyes caught the medicine sitting right next to it. “have you take your medicine? Uncle Enon sent a new one, didn’t he?”
Kishiar smiled as he gazed at his son before answering, “this illness will not get better with just medicine, Keith.”
it indeed, wouldn’t. because this illness did not reside in his physical body. through the careful observations he and his husband had conducted, Kishiar had learned that the bond between alpha and omega was not limited to the physical body. a profound alpha-omega bond could interwine their souls, enabling them to share emotions through pheromones. yet, this bond bore a heavy price; should one pass away, it would inevitably take a toll on the other.
and that was precisely Kishiar’s fate. for the past three years, his essence had steadily withered after the departure of his husband. his physical appearance remained unchanged, and even his powers were as formidable as ever. yet, according to what Enon said, his soul was wasting away.
“I know. even so, you must still take it.” Keith ate his orange, using it as an excuse to avoid his Father’s gaze. “he will nag you, once he finds out you haven’t take your medicine.”
Kishiar chuckled. “he always nags.” it was a well-known fact. the Cavalry’s pharmacist, regardless of whether he was treating a common member or noble-born, always dealt with his patient with a heavy dose of scolding. in his eyes, these Cavalry members were all the same -utterly careless with their own lives. and that what stressed him out.
“he is.”
Kishiar, previously reclining against the pillows supporting his back, slowly adjusted his posture to sit upright. “tell Nathan to bring your Dad’s favorite pie, Keith.”
Keith gave his Father a deadpan look. “take your medicine first. I will tell Sir Zuckerman only after you have taken it.” his Father was always like this, constantly finding ways to avoid his medicine. it was useless, indeed. even so, when you love someone, you never stop grasping at every desperate straw.
"my," Kishiar let out a louder laugh now. "now you’re gonna nag me like your uncle?”
“Father.” Keith’s deadpan look completely unchanged.
“fine, then.” Kishiar said once his laughter subsided. he cast a dramatic gaze toward his son, “how cold. it seems my own son doesn’t love me anymore.”
“Father.” Keith remained utterly unfazed by his Father’s dramatic display.
“I’m taking it.” Kishiar finally condceded, giving in. look at that child. his son truly just like his husband. the boy knew every single one of Kishiar’s dramatic tricks, and exacly how to handle them.
once he witnessed his Father actually take the medicine, Keith rose and stepped outside to approach the guard stationed nearby.moments later, he returned, followed by Nathan who carried a tray in his hands. atop it was pie topped with glazed fruits and herbal tea.
carefully, Nathan placed a small bed-tray before Kishiar. it was reminiscent of the day when Kishiar’s ‘vessel’ had cracked, forcing him into complete bedrest and manage his every task from his bed. back then, Nathan would always prepare this very table for his meals.
after ensuring it was secure, Nathan placed the pie and the drink before Kishiar, while setting the rest on the nightstand for Keith.
“thank you, Sir Zuckerman.”
“thank you, Nathan.” Kishiar brought a forkful of pie to his mouth, savoring the familiar sweetness -a taste he always sought every time the longing for his husband grew too heavy to bear. “how’s Peletta?”
hearing those words, Keith’s deadpan look instantly back onto his father. “just eat your pie, Father.” Keith then turned his gaze to Nathan, “please ignore him, Sir Zuckerman. you are dismissed.”
upon hearing the young master’s order, Nathan bowed in low salute and stepped out of the chamber, leaving the father and son entirely to themselves.
“oh.” Kishiar grasped, looking at his son with a look of feigned hurt. “he is your Father’s only friend, Keith. how heartless.”
Keith chose to focus on savoring his tea. yet, he paid no heed to his Father’s drama, his gaze never truly left him.
Kishiar gazed at his son with tender smile. he was stuck by how much time had already passed, yet it felt as the time they had been given was never truly enough. it was a bittersweet realization -that his son had blossomed into the very person he and his husband envisioned. “it’s good to see you in such good health, Keith.”
“you mean my ‘vessel’?” Keith asked.
belonging the imperial bloodline, Keith was intimately aware of the royal secret regarding their ‘vessel’. both his Father and his uncle had faced the exact same issue before their awakening. they had personally recounted to Keith the harrowing experience of when they had their vessel cracked.
“that’s right. as you know, your uncle and I once struggling with our ‘vessel’. it was passed through our blood.” he remembering the time when Yuder tell him he calm his energy, and when they help the Emperor awaken. “your Dad…”
“… broke the curse?” Keith interjected, completing the thought.
Kishiar nodded. “exacly. curse might be the perfect word.” a tender smile played on Kishiar’s lips as he reminisced about his husband. “he fixed our vessels.”
Kishiar’s thoughts drifted back to the past -to his own trials, the time his brother had suffered, and the shared fate of the imperial line.
“when we had you, I was terrified that you might inherit this problem.”
at that time, while the news of Yuder carrying their child brought profound happiness, an undeniable anxiety always shadowed them. and that underlying fear never truly left them until the moment their baby was born.
“but I didn’t.” Keith countered. unlike the fragile state his Father and uncle had endured before their awakening, Keith’s vessel had been perfectly stable from beginning, without ever having to undergo the awakening process.
“you didn’t.” Kishiar nodded. “I can still recall the moment Enon saying your vessel was perfectly stable. I thank the Sun God each time that memory crosses my mind.”
Kishiar remembered it vividly. in that moment, once the newborn babe had been cleaned, Enon carefully passed the infant he had been examining. “his vessel is stable. perfectly stable.” he remarked then, placing the baby into Kishiar’s arms.
Keith gazed deeply at his father. “it was over ten years, Father.”
“still.” Kishiar extended his hand, clasping his son’s small hand in his. though a long time had passed, his son’s birth never ceased to fill Kishiar with gratitude. “you are a miracle to this family, Keith.”
because Keith was truly a miracle, a blessing bestowed not just upon their little family, but the imperial family as whole. Keith’s birth was the ultimate proof that what once deemed impossible could manifest in absolute perfection. the royal bloodline, which Kishiar had had once presumed would cease with him and his brother, had defied that very fate.
“I always think that this is far better than dying from a shattered vessel. at least my form remains whole.”
Kishiar was well aware, the recorded deaths of predecessors who suffered damaged vessels were monstrously brutal. even the pain -he had once experience before his awakening- had been so agonizing that it physically ravaged him. yet, in his current condition, his physical state was entirely unaltered. even his abilities remained as formidable as ever. it was only his soul that was fading. based on the research he had gathered, death brought by severing of a perfect alpha-omega bond was entirely tranquil -like someone simply falling into a deep sleep.
Keith’s gaze remained locked onto his father. the emotions Kishiar had tried best to conceal -profound gratitude, peace, and a deep, aching yearning for his husband- were no longer hidden.
Keith couldn’t even begin to comprehend the storm of feeling swirling inside him. was it gratitude for the flawless bond his fathers shared -a bond far purer than mere love? was it relief that his Father would, at last, be unshackled from the agonizing trap of longing and return to the arms of his beloved? or was it sorrow, knowing that he would be the one left behind? what this feeling truly was, Keith did not know, nor did he care to understand.
“you miss him terribly, don’t you?” he whispered.
“always.”
regadless of fact that Yuder was, a hero of the Empire who bravely stood at the absolute forefront against the enemy; a supreme awakener who could overturn entire landscapes with his bare hands without breaking a single sweat; an assistant who moved entirely at his master’s command; a duke’s consort who, as part of the Imperial family, was revered as their equal -above all else, his Yuder was his love. the one whom Kishiar would gladly place the entire world into his lover’s hands, at a mere single word.
“don’t you, Keith?”
how could he not? their time together had felt like nothing more than a fleeting blink of an eye. seven years was far too brief a time for a child to spend in the embrace of the person who had brought him into this world. yet, with Keith’s flawless memory, every single moment of their short-lived time together was vividly recorded. he remembered the warmth of being held in his arms before they drifted off to sleep; the feeling of being carried as his Dad monitored the Cavalry’s training; the firm, steady grip of his hand when helping him practice with his very first weapon.
“hmm…”
Kishiar smiled as he watched his son, slowly break the walls guarding his emotions. he gently shifted his body, lightly patted the empty space he had cleared beside him. “come here, Keith. I will tell you everything about your Dad.”
Keith shook his head. “no. you are ill. Father. and I’ve gained weight. I’m growing, after all.” even though he understood perfectly well that his father’s illness did not lie within his physical body, to Keith, his Father was still fragile.
“nonsense. ten years old is still a baby.” Kishiar chuckled. stubborn, he continued to motion for his son to get onto the bed. “come here. I will tell you stories about your Dad until you fall asleep.”
“ten years is not a baby, Father.”
“yes, you are. hurry now.”
knowing he could never win against his Father’s stubbornness, Keith surrendered. he carefully moved the bed-tray away from his Father, then settled himself right by his side. Kishiar pulled his son into a warm embrace, letting Keith rest his head against his stomach, and gently stroked his hair before beginning to talk.
“you know your Dad was a regressor, right?” it was true. although that very crucial reality was what had ultimately helped save the world, those who actually knew the truth about the regression could be counted on one hand -namely, Kishiar, Enon, Keith, Kanna and Gakane.
“back then, when I first formed the Cavalry, he was such a mysterious young man; he possessed an utterly magnificent power, and his control over his ability was monsterous. Kishiar’s memories drifted back to the early day when he first crossed paths with his beloved.
this story, though far from the first time he had heard it, never failed to fascinate him. Keith always loved hearing stories about his Dad from his Father’s perspective. especially during moments like this, nestled in his Father’s embrace before sleep.
there was one thing Kishiar noticed, his son inherited the exact same habit as Yuder -loved to rest their head close against Kishiar’s chest, just enough to listen to his heartbeat.
“getting close to your Dad was no easy feat, Keith. I had to tear down his walls, one by one. gaining his trust was harder.” as Kishiar recalled, when he first came to know Yuder, earning his turst had been an absolute struggle. even though, as Yuder had put it, Kishiar was the very first person he needed to save in order to save the world, he never truly trusted him.he simply executed Kishiar’s orders, nothing more. “the Kishiar from first timeline was no help at all -he made it even harder for me.”
“he never told me about first timeline Kishiar.” Keith murmured. “he only told me that he can’t grants his trust, and that Dad had to execute him under Katchian’s decree.”
Kishiar smiled. typical Yuder. he would never place Kishiar in a bad light in their child’s eyes, even if was merely his past-timeline self. “you need not to know about him. he did terrible things to your Dad.”
unlike Yuder, who simply wished to avoid placing Kishiar in a bad light, Kishiar’s reason was entirely different -their son did not need to know the things committed against Yuder in the first timeline were too painful to bear.
“your dad, Keith, always rejected any position I offered him. but at some point, he never failed to demonstrate just how powerful he was, and how beautifully he could control his strengths and handle his weakness.”
his Dad had indeed told him before, about how his Father would relentlessly offer him the deputy position. even though it had repeatedly rejected to avoid repeating the past, Kishiar with all his stubbornness simply created an entirely new position and put Yuder had no choice but to accept. and that was exacly how the position of assistant commander had made -established solely to keep Yuder right by his side.
“Nathan once suspected him of being a spy sent by another ducal family. but we couldn’t gather a single shred of information from his past.”
“Sir Zuckerman told me he was so cautious back then.” Keith murmured.
as expected of a loyal adjutant, Nathan Zuckerman must have found the terrifying prowess of a twenty-year-old young man with absolutely no background deeply unsettling. his master was a young duke whose every step was dogged by relentless assassination attempts. naturally, his suspicion had been entirely justified.
“indeed. he kept a watchful eye on your Dad, for almost a year. that is remarkably long time for someone like Nathan.”
someone like Nathan Zuckerman would easily detect any discrepancy and execute the threat without hesitation. yet, in Yuder’s case, he could not uncover even the faintest shred of suspicion.
“but, as anyone would say, his loyalty defied all logic. he would go as far as to harm himself just to protect me, to protect the Cavalry…”
“and to protect the Empire.” Keith added softly.
Kishiar nodded. “and to protect the Empire.” he repeated.
“even the regression itself wasn’t by his own will. yet, he accepted the ‘price’ without a single regret.” Keith said.
“you are right.”
Yuder had been thrown back into the past without ever making a pact to regress. even when he came to realize there was a heavy price he would have to pay, he endured and walked through it all without a single shred of remorse.
just like what happened to the First Emperor, the price Yuder paid for his regression to save the world was an early death, at the exact same age as his previous life. thanks to his success in saving the world in a much shorter span than the time he had been given, Yuder was finally able to live out his remaining days without a single regret, accepting his passing with absolute serenity.
Keith could still vividly remember how peaceful his Dad had looked, resting in his Father’s lap while holding Keith in a tight embrace. if not for the complete absence of a hearbeat, one could easily have mistaken him for being fast asleep.
“he even took it upon himself to save the world, to stop the world from destruction. he saved the very people who had once cheered for his execution.” even as the atmosphere in the room grew increasingly heavy, Kishiar did not stop his storytelling, deeply immersed in remembering just how magnificent his beloved truly was.
“isn’t he a truly magnificent person, Keith? an incredibly kind and mindful person. a remarkably talented and capable assistant with his keen sight.”
“you sound like a man completely blinded by love, Father.”
“because I am.” Kishiar chuckled. “others might not know it, but as a husband, your Dad was an incredibly beautiful and sweet lover.”
“that’s very you of you, Father. Uncle Keilusa said you flirted with Dad way too much, even to the point of being ‘indecent’.”
“haha. your Uncle is just overly protective of me. I am his only brother, after all.”
the Emperor might have looked completely fed up with his younger brother, who constantly flirted with his assistant regardless of the time or place. yet, deep down, he was profoundly grateful that his younger brother had finally found someone to be the ultimate anchor of his life.
“being with your Dad, Keith, keeping me alive.” Kishiar said softly. “I used to always think I would die from the cracked of my vessel. even awakening didn’t stabilize it perfectly.”
Kishiar remembered it vividly; even after his awakening, the currents of energy within his body twisted and tangled violently, constantly threatening to shatter his vessel once again.
“there was absolutely no hope for me to have any romantic relationship, let alone have a child.” to make matters worse, Kishiar had been consumed by the terrifying fear of passing down the royal family ‘curse’ to his offspring.
“but being with your Dad, every single on of those impossible hopes -the one I had buried deep, the one I had entirely given up on. he brought me a new light, a new hope, and above all, a new purpose.”
“you, are one of my hopes, Keith. a very big one.” Kishiar whispered, tightening his embrace around his son.
“when Enon told us Yuder was pregnant, it brought anxiety to all of us. to me, Enon, the Emperor, the Empress, even Nathan was anxious.”
Kishiar’s mind replayed the memory of when the news of Yuder’s pregnancy had slowly spread. even back then, every single member of the Cavalry had been consumed by worry. they took turns keeping a close eye on Yuder, constantly ensuring that he was truly doing well.
“back then, cases of the successful birth for a male omega were virtually nonexistent. and even in the rare instance where they succeeded, the newborns were incredibly weak and sickly.”
at that time, Kishiar deployed nearly half of Peletta knights across the entire Empire, and even beyond its borders, to search for and research records regarding any and all births from male omegas. every single circumstance, no matter how minor, was to be documented and reported back to be considered for potential possibilities.
“it was all thanks to Enon, who conducted the research and observations.”
throughout Yuder’s pregnancy, Enon had exhaustively and overtly research and meticulously observed Yuder and Kishiar’s souls and their bond. from the very beginning of the pregnancy until the time drew near for the birth, the two of them had to meet Enon every single day to have their souls examined.
“the only key lay in a sufficient pheromone shower and a stable bond. that was the only thing that saved both of you, you and your Dad.”
“is that why the Apeto duchy failed, despite making countless attempts?”
“exactly. they did not possess a bonded alpha-omega.” Kishiar answered.
“your successful birth was also the reason this Empire legalized the law for second-gender awakener marriages. your successful birth served as the living proof that a male omega could give birth to a perfectly healthy baby. that is why you are regarded as a miracle baby.” Kishiar said.
even after the second-gender became widely recognized by the public, marriages for the second-gender were not immediately legalized. the reason was simple: the complete lack of successful births among omegas. this heavily impacted the nation’s medical stance, making it impossible to pass the law, despite Kishiar’s previous attempts to propose it at the time.
however, with the perfect birth of Keith -without endangering Yuder’s life- it became the ultimate key to enacting the law regarding marriages for second-gender awakeners. Kishiar and Yuder became the very first to legalize their marriage under the brand-new law.
“I’m not a baby, I’m ten.” Keith protested.
“you will always be our precious baby.” Kishiar replied softly.
because Keith’s birth proved that the royal family’s curse was no longer passed down. Keith’s birth served as proof that an omega -regardless of their primary gender- could give birth to a perfect child. Keith’s existence brought justice to all second-gender awakeners. and above all, Keith’s very existence was the living testament of his fathers’ eternal bond.
“I am so deeply sorry, Keith.”
“for what?”
“that your Dad and I cannot stay by your side. to watch you grow, to see you become a man, to teach you even the smallest of things, and to guide you until you can walk firmly upon your own path.”
Kishiar’s hand moved down, gently stroking his son’s small back. “but I hope that every little piece of memory you have of your Dad and me -all of them- are good memories.” he whispered.
the atmosphere felt profoundly painful now. in fact, even though he didn’t stop speaking, Kishiar lacked the courage to look his son in the eye. “I am so sorry you have to grow up much faster than other children your age. merely because your parents are sick.”
“I have absolutely no regrets, even if I have to leave right now. the Empire is in the right hands, the Cavalry stands stable even without me…”
everything that Kishiar and his brother had strived for – the political stability of the nation they had fought for since they were young- had all been beautifully achieved.
“… and you, Keith, our little angel. even though you are still a child, you have already proven that you can walk upon your own path.”
those were the very hopes his husband used to chant in the past while embracing their fast-asleep son -who had been entirely unaware of what his Dad was saying. back then Kishiar could only listen from his side as his husband whispered those hopes. now, it was he who chanted them.
“you are a good kid, who will grow up to be a good man. you will always be our precious baby, Keith. both of us -your Dad and I- love you so deeply.”
Kishiar felt his chest grow damp. he had no idea when his son had started crying; perhaps even the wind, hesitant to interrupt them, had failed to notice the flood of tears streaming down his son’s cheeks.
“are you finished crying, Keith?”
nod.
Kishiar gently stroke his head, gesturing for his son to look up at him. “could you help me lie down? I am feeling sleepy.”
Keith gave another nod, before slowly taking the stack of pillows from behind his father, arranging them until they comfortable to rest on, and then helping his father lie down.
“sleep here, Keith. your Father is feeling a little lonely.” Kishiar pleaded with his son.
Keith pulled the blanket up, ensuring the wind would not disturb his father. he then positioned himself right beside him, exactly as before -resting his head close to his father’s chest.
“once I meet your Dad, I will tell him that the baby he loved so much and carried everywhere has grown up so well. the baby he used to take care of, can now take care of his Father.” Kishiar said, pulling his son even closer.
“just tell him, the baby loves him.”
hearing that, Kishiar chuckled softly. “of course. my husband must know that he’s loved by so many. especially by me. your love letter will reach him, Keith. but it won’t be as often as he receives mine.”
“yes, Father.” Keith replied, having no desire to argue with his father. “now, please rest. I will rest as well.”
“good night, Keith. we love you.”
“good night, Father.”
the night wind that blew softly no longer felt cold. even the silence of the night no longer felt painful.
“Sir Zuckerman.” Keith called out softly.
despite the considerable distance between him and the knight guarding the door, Nathan Zuckerman heard the call -thanks to his skills as a swordmaster. the door slowly opened halfway, just enough for the knight to receive his orders with courtesy. “Your Grace.”
“could you please inform the Emperor, Father… is with Dad now.” Keith’s voice began to tremble.
“understood, Your Grace.” as the door shut, it left behind a silence that embraced Keith like an old friend.
a moment later, a knock echoed from the door. “Your Grace.”
“yes?”
“should I began the funeral preparation right away?”
“yes, please.”