"King, you have been lied to."
"What do you mean?" frowns
"Your mate was never killed by lycans, nor burned."
"What are you talking about?"
"I was there."
"The moment she died, I never burned her. I put her in a magical crystal coffin so she would never wither."
"You can still see her. I can show her to you."
Drop. Drop. Tears began falling from the king's eyes.
"How… how did she die?" Dereus asked in a trembling voice.
"She was attacked by hundreds of hunters. She could've won, but she had something to protect—something more precious than her life."
Dereus listened carefully.
"I still remember it. Her eyes begged me to protect what she couldn't anymore. After she took her last breath, they were about to kill what she died protecting. So I killed them—all of them—and took what she asked me to protect with me. It has been with me for the last fifteen years, and they all have her eyes…"
At her last sentence, Dereus's eyes widened, and he jumped to his feet.
"Are you saying—"
"Yes. Congratulations. You are the father of three beautiful and troublesome kids."
Dereus was overwhelmed with emotion.
"Are you saying they are still alive?"
"Yes, they are."
"The reason your mate died was my reason to live."
"But why are you telling me this only now?"
"I am very overprotective of them. I didn't know who you were or what kind of father you would be. I didn't even know you were still alive. So when I got the chance to come to the dragon palace, I decided to use it to find their family. I brought the necklace with me. After seeing the paintings, I knew their father was royal, and after seeing you had the same necklace, I knew it was you."
Celea rose to her feet afterward.
"You and I have the same purpose in this war—the kids. I joined this war so they wouldn't be involved in it."
"You talk as if you know what kind of place war is…"
"There is no one who knows that place better than I do. I've lived it many times."
"But the last war was six hundred years ago. Did you live that one?"
"No. I'm cursed to be reborn every time I die, always in different worlds."
"How many times have you died?"
"About fifty."
Dereus was taken aback.
"And I experienced war in all of them."
"You know, you look a lot like someone I know…"
"Who?"
"My father."
Dereus was surprised.
"He died in my fifteenth life protecting me…"
They were sitting on the bench again by now.
"For you to still remember and miss him, you must have loved him deeply."
Little smile.
"I still do. Even after hundreds of years, I miss him every day. Maybe you looking like him is why I opened up to you…"
"Celea, do you have a father in this life?"
"No. He was killed when I was three."
"I may not be as good as your father was, but I would like to be your father in this life."
Celea let out a small laugh.
"Looks like I made the right decision trusting you with my troublemakers."
"Can you do me a favor?"
"What is it?"
"Don't interact with the kids for now—not until the war ends."
"As much as I want to see them, you're right."
"But I can give you the address where your mate is."
Dereus smiled warmly and hugged her like a proud parent.
"You are a strong woman. I'm proud of you, Celea."
She hugged him back.
"Thank you."
"No, I should thank you."
"I won't call you father yet, but may I call you uncle?"
"Of course."
"It's late. Let me escort you back."
"Okay."
They chatted quietly on the way.
"So what are their names?"
"Draco, Azar, and Kai."
"Beautiful names."
"Oh please, it only took the whole night."
They laughed.
"Looks like we've arrived."
Sigh.
"Yes, it seems so."
"Good night, Celea."
"Good night."
——-