The Knight Commander's son

Chapter 20

The little family spent more and more time together and they soon became the center of gossip in town. Everyone talked of the fact that the Commander of Death who had hated people talking to him and touching him had found a little lover. Everyone saw the way he had escorted Alden and the way he had lost his composure the second someone had gone into an argument with Alden. The gossip did diverge starting there. Some people believed Alden had forced Tyon to love him somehow. Be it using magic or threatening him. What was sure was that everyone was curious to see who was the chosen lover of Tyon.

The little family spending more and more time together outside and Amauri loving to talk about his mommy and to call Alden mommy, other gossip spread. People talked about the fact that Tyon had impregnated Alden by some kind of magic who came back with their child recently. Again there were a lot of different versions. Some said Tyon had been looking for Alden for years and that was the reason why he was so cold to everyone while others said Amauri was the reason why Alden could force Tyon to do what he wanted. However most of the people didn’t believe that Alden was the mom of Amauri and were sure people had started a groundless rumor.

Hearing all of this, Alden went to Tyon’s office. Seeing him come in, Tyon raised his eyebrows. It had been a while since he last came in.

“What can I do for you?

-Did you hear what people are saying?

-Yes. Does it bother you?

-Well, they are talking about Amauri and I don’t like that. He is just a child. He shouldn’t be in gossips.

-Then I’ll silence them.

-Thank you. What do you want to do?

-We could answer to gossip or give them something else to talk about.”

Alden thought about it. Gossip was something hard to deal with. He was used to ignoring it and had no idea how to stop it.

“What would we answer?

-We could tell them the truth.

-No. Amauri still doesn’t accept the fact that I am not his biological mom. He shouldn’t be hearing about it from strangers.”

Tyon slowly nodded, taking note.

“Then a lie?

-Like what? That Amauri is really our child?

-Why not?

-They would still talk about Amauri asking where he was until now and they would investigate until they have the whole truth.

-Truth can be forged.

-So we tell them that he is our child and why didn’t we live together before? We had a fight?”

Tyon smiled.

"Believable.

-We could say that I wanted to raise Amauri alone but changed my mind 8 months ago.”

Amauri started living in town only a few months before he met Alden so no one knew him either making the whole thing believable.

“We could announce it during Amauri’s birthday ball.

-Will you be okay? asked Tyon.

-What do you mean?

-You would be known as Amauri’s mom after this.”

Alden thought about it for a second.

“I love that child. I really do. I have been his mom for almost a year and I really do think of him as my child. I know I am not but if he lets me I would love to be. So no, I don’t care.”

Tyon felt his heart jump. Hearing Alden talk about how long he had known Amauri reminded him that the contract was almost over but it seemed there was hope that Alden would stay and this made him ecstatic. He would love Alden to be Amauri’s mom. In fact he himself was thinking of Alden as Amauri’s mom and he knew Amauri would be glad to call him mom forever. After all, Amauri was the one who chose Alden.

“Before everything, I will ask Amauri’s opinion.

-I’ll come with you.”

Alden nodded and they immediately went to see Amauri. As usual Amauri was really happy to see his parents and ran to hug his mommy. Alden put Amauri down on the bed and started kneeling in front of him. Seeing him do so, Amauri frowned:

“Mommy, don’t hurt your knees. Get on the bed you will get hurt.”

But Alden didn’t budge.

“I have something to ask you, Amauri.

-I would do anything for mommy.

-Listen to me first. You will be 5 years old soon. You are such a big boy.

-Yes! Soon I’ll be big enough to protect you without dada!

-Yes, soon. Do you remember the first day we met?

-Yes.

-Where was it?

-I was lost and mommy saved me before buying me chocolate.

-You are so smart. So, we met then right?

-Yes.

-We didn’t know each other before.

-No.

-And you started calling me mommy right away.

-Because you are my mommy.

-I am. I really love you, Amauri and I really want to be your mommy but I need you to tell me what you want first.

-You are my mommy.

-Do you want me to be your mommy no matter what?

-You are my only mommy.

-So you don’t mind if we tell everyone that I am your mommy?

-Why wouldn’t we tell everyone? Do you not want to be my mommy?

-I would love to be! I just don’t want you to be forced.

-I am not. I understood what you said. I love you and you are my mommy and I want everyone to know that you are my mommy.”

Alden was so touched that he hugged Amauri before kissing him thousands of times. Amauri started laughing, really happy to be loved by his mommy. Seeing them so happy, Tyon got closer, not daring to touch Alden. Feeling him so close, Alden extended his arms signaling Tyon to come too. He didn’t waste time and hugged his small family with all his strength never wanting to let go ever again.

As they were hugging, Tyon remembered Alden was kneeling on the ground and suddenly lifted his small family while still hugging them before carrying them to the bed and sitting down comfortably. Suddenly lifted, Alden screamed while Amauri started laughing. Alden needed a minute to understand what had just happened. One second they were just having a cute family moment but suddenly they were cuddling on the bed and Alden started realizing that he was way too tactile with Tyon lately.

Feeling him all frozen against his chest, Tyon leaned even closer to Alden and put his head on his shoulder to see his face:

“Are you okay?”

Alden nodded.

“Yes. Everything is fine.”

In fact he didn’t have time to think about it more because being so happy, Amauri decided to push his luck:

“Can we stay like this tonight?”

Alden didn’t immediately understand what Amauri meant:

“When mommy was sick we slept together on the bed. Could we do it again?”

Alden signed:

“I wasn’t sick. Both of you had overreacted back then.

-Can we?

-Darling… Your daddy had his own room, you know.”

But Tyon was quick to shake his head:

“I don’t mind.”

Alden couldn’t see Tyon but still turned his head as much as he could:

“Are you sure?

-Yes.

-Fine.”

Excited, Amauri went to change, leaving his parents alone. Alden immediately escaped Tyon’s arms and turned towards him. Seeing him all lost in thought, Tyon smiled:

“What’s wrong?

-Aren’t you too tactile?

-Compared to what?

-Everyone knows you hate people touching you but you hugged us multiples times already.

-Yes.

-Yes what?

-It is true.

-Are you okay with Amauri and I touching you?

-Yes.

-But not other people?

-Not other people.

-I could understand why you would be comfortable around Amauri, he is a child and your nephew at that.”

Tyon didn’t like Amauri being called his nephew. He felt rejected from the small family and he had to admit that he wasn’t as loved by Amauri or Alden as the both of them loved each other. It would come but it wasn’t yet the case. Of course, Tyon didn’t know how to express all of this.

“But why me?

-You are the only one.

-Only one to what?

-Who can touch me.

-Why?”

Because he loved him. Because he wanted him to be his family. Because he wanted to wake up every morning seeing him smile and because he wanted to sleep every night with him in his arms.

“Because you are Amauri’s mommy.”