80 The 'Talk'

Sending Rebus out, Rukle stood in front of his son silently. "Sit down. It's time we had a talk," he said, gesturing to the sofa in the corner.

Gulping Eru sat down nervously. 'Is he going to ask about Rebus and I? But we didn't even do anything? We just slept without a shirt!!!' he gently bit his lips and peered at his father.

Rukle sighed and sat opposite to him. "From when is this happening?"

"This... oh, me and Rebus,"

"Rebus? Who is that?" Rukle frowned.

Eru's eyes went wide. 'Bad slip up!!' coughing slightly, he whispered, "I call Zhong as Rebus.. it's kind of like a pet name,"

Rukle's frown deepened. "It sounds like a dog's name,"

Eru softly chuckled, "it does, doesn't it? But it suite him well. He is similar to a dog."

Watching him smile so happily, Rukle gently sighed. "Eru, I—I won't oppose of your relationship but..... You must refrain from getting 'cough' intimate, before marriage at least."

"We—we are not like that at all. What you witnessed this morning was a deceptive sight. Actually, he came last night and....one thing led to another and I kind of missed him so we laid down. But he was cold, so he removed my shirt..."

"Stop!! I do not want to know those details," Rukle held his aching head and peered at his troublesome son. "I'm just telling you the be careful being intimate that's all,"

"We are both men dad, it's not like I will get pregnant," Eru awkwardly laughed it off, but his father seriously looked at him. 'Eh don't tell me this world has male pregnancy?! No way!! Will I get pregnant if I have se*x with Rebus then. Shit, I can't handle this....' he bit his lips anxiously.

His father suddenly tapped his head. "What's going on in your mind of yours? There is no such thing as male pregnancy,"

"But you were planning on marrying me to Deric? Why is that? If so, I won't have the future prince or princess right?" Eru confusedly tilted his head.

"It's because I thought after us he would take good care of you. Eru, even if you marry a man you can always adopt a child as the prince or princess." Rukle stood up and sat next to him. He gently pulled him into his embrace and sighed, "You have grown so much yet you still remain like a child. I was so scared that if something happened to me and your mum, there would be no one to take care of you. That's why I chose Deric. But it looks like you have Zhong in mind. He is a good lass."

Eru tightly hugged his father. "Don't talk about your death. You are still so young, how can you talk about something so ominous."

Rukle sighed loudly. "Eru, little Eru, I have hidden our actual situation to you. Last month, someone sent out a letter to all our neighborhood kingdoms that you posses magical eyes. Most of them including Lafta is prepared to go to war against us."

Eru's heart stopped for a second. "W—what do you mean? But there is nothing special about my eyes. Dad, it's just normal green eyes. I don't shed jewels, so why?..."

"We know that, but they don't. Sometimes when a rumour is spread like wildfire, it eventually becomes the truth in outsides view. That was the same in your case,"

"War....over me?" Eru suddenly thought back to his first birth in this world. How his father stood back and fought against those bat like demons and died protecting him. His body started trembling unconsciously. He tight gripped onto his sleeve. "Dad, don't go to war. Promise me that you won't personally go to war,"

Rukle smirked and patted his head. "You don't have to worry about that, kid. Nothing will happen to me. I'm strong after all,"

"No, promise me! Promise me that you won't go to war. Dad, please...." drops of tears dripped down his flushed cheeks. "You can't go. You might get hurt. I don't want that. Not because of me.... I don't want you to die because of me again," he sobbed softly, burying his face in his father's embrace.

"Looks like we have a lot to talk about Eru," Rukle gently patted his trembling back and hugged him close.

After a long while of sobbing, Eru slowly came to. Gentle finger helped him wipe his tears stained cheeks. "Your eyes are swollen. Eru my boy, why do you have to sob like that? It hurts your fathers to see you like this,"

Eru pouted. "You still have not promised me,"

"I—I can't Eru. I am destined to lead our kingdom, and that duty includes going to war. It was also one of the reason I wanted you to marry Deric,"

"So that he can go to war in my stead,"

Rukle nodded.

"I don't want war. What..... What about the peace treaty? Why don't we try to enforce it?"

Rukle smirked. "Smart kid. That's why your mother has gone on a long expedition to other kingdoms,"

"To get allies!!!" Eru exclaimed.