I not only trained myself to the utmost limit and achieved some of my goals, but I also learned how to work with humans. But that was all in vain. Or should I say it was useless from the start?
What was worth cultivating by traveling through every city, wasteland, and forest on the planet? Zelaide hadn’t understood what really mattered. It wasn’t strength.
Everything had ended for him the moment he cowered from asking her to wait for him. This was the punishment for running off and not devoting himself to his mate as soon as he found her.
He wasn’t qualified to call himself a Beast Blood male.
I haven’t become stronger. My heart’s still just as weak. What was I tryin’ to obtain comin’ back this late in the game? Did I honestly believe gettin’ on my knees and begging her to take me back would bring back our dreamlike time together?
I knew this would happen, didn’t I? Today just ground it in.
The smiling mother and daughter entered the grassy field, leaving the man stricken with grief behind. Raising her voice in glee, the little girl dashed out onto the green carpet and the young mother threw her a red cloth ball from her bag.
In the warm park filled with sunlight and a gentle breeze, an icy storm raged within the Beast Blood.
Hiding in the bushes decorated with light-crimson flowers, Zelaide could only watch as Euphemia played toss with her daughter. Despite her young age, the little girl had amazing reflexes. She easily caught the ball Euphemia threw high into the air. She had peach-colored cheeks and lips, which made her look like a marshmallow when paired with her pink dress.
I’m glad she looks like her mother… Zelaide felt wretched for only being able to think of petty things. Still, he couldn’t pry his eyes away from them for even a second.
Just then, the ball her little hands threw with surprising strength slipped past her mother’s reach. It rolled into his feet where he hid in the bushes. He had become so absorbed in his depressing thoughts he didn’t notice until it was too late.
“…!” Zelaide gasped. He raised his eyes to a sparkling little face.
Their eyes locked in the shadows of the flowering bushes.
The girl only came up to his knees when he was crouched and bent over. She curiously stared at the unfamiliar man.
“……”
An infinite amount of time seemed flow by, but it was only a second. She picked up the ball and stared at his face some more. Then she reached out with her small hand.
“…!”
She grabbed his sunglasses before he could react. She had exposed the side of him he didn’t want seen. A large man and a little girl were crouched in the flowering bushes, staring at each other.
“Shiny eyes,” she lisped.
Zelaide was speechless. The girl’s teal eyes seemed to glow for a moment in the shallow shadows.
“Zephy? Zephyr? What are you doing? Did you find the ball?”
The bushes rustled and in stepped his precious mate.
“…!”
“Ah…ah!”
Euphemia froze, her adorable mouth hanging open as she pointed at him. Those emerald green eyes were brighter than the grass at his feet and didn’t lose in impact to the glowing eyes of her daughter at his feet. He reached out—
Idiot! You can’t! Zelaide sprung up, scattering branches and flowers with his head.
Euphemia stood there in shock. Dogs could be heard playfully barking as they chased after a Frisbee.
Bathed in morning light, the park was the epitome of peaceful.
The cool spring breeze blew.
“…Agh!”
He was overwhelmed by the lovely tenderness that jumped into his chest. The crimson petals danced around them, but a sweeter scent than the flowers washed over him. His nostrils were filled with his mate’s scent. He unconsciously hugged her back. His subconscious desires chased away his pensive thoughts.
“Zel! Zel! Zel!” Euphemia cried as she clung to his neck. She continued to say his name until her voice gave way to sobs.
“Yu—”
“Zel…Zel…Why…?”
“Yumi…”
“…D-Don’t just disappear on me…” she hiccuped. “…You jerk! You said I was your mate!”
“Ugh,” he groaned.
“Don’t ugh me! Idiot! Jerk!” She pounded her fists against his chest.
“I’m sorry…I’m so sorry… Yumi.”
What else could he do but apologize? Zelaide kept apologizing as he grew intoxicated on the smell coming from his love’s hair.
“I-I’ve been waiting for you all this time! You made me sick of waiting!”
“Yeah, I know…”
So she got sick of waiting and… Zelaide looked at the ground. A cute little girl crawled out of the bushes.
“…Mama?” The little girl didn’t seem surprised by her mother’s sudden breakdown. She looked up at her with the same big, round eyes. Her irises were no longer glowing, but the sunlight seemed to make her entire face sparkle.
“…Yumi! We can’t do this…she’s watching…” Heartrending emotion warred on Zelaide’s face. He pushed Euphemia away and covered his face with both arms. “Don’t make me see…”
This girl was the child of the man who had come into Euphemia’s life after she had grown sick of waiting around for Zelaide.
He had accidentally stared at the girl earlier, but her mere existence was a stake to his heart. If he had known this was what was waiting for him, he would’ve never come back. His moment of self-denial shattered.
That proved it: he had grown weaker, not stronger. He needed to go back and start over from step one again. Or maybe he would be better off gouging out his own heart and dying…
Zelaide trudged through the bushes to get away, but cast one last remorseful glance toward the mate he had lost forever.
“I’m sorry, Yumi. Showin’ up now will only bring ya trouble… I’ll leave for good. Stay happy—”
Euphemia ran the distance he made between them and slapped him. “You big fool! Don’t be frightened off by your own child!”
His one and only mate glowered at him.
“How can I be happy?! Both me and my girl have been waiting years for you! This is YOUR DAUGHTER!” Euphemia put her hands on her daughter’s shoulders and pushed her toward Zelaide.
The Beast Blood only saw her for a second before the world rushed up and for the first time in his life Zelaide fainted.