REBORN: BETRAYAL AND LOVE (Enigma X Alpha)
3
Dusk falls as they arrive at a sprawling manor surrounded by misty mountains. Guards bow as LU XIAO passes through the gates with LAN YAN and LAN YURI following close behind.
The manor is grand but quiet, its black-tiled rooftops and lantern-lit halls exuding both elegance and danger. LAN YURI clutches his brother’s hand tighter, wide-eyed.
Lan Yuri [MC Brother4|Omega]
*Whispers*
Yan-ge… Is this place safe?
Lan Yan [Alpha] MC
I don’t know yet. Stay close to me.
Inside the outer hall, LU XIAO stops and turns, hands behind his back. A figure steps forward — tall, imposing, sharp-eyed. This is GU XING, dressed in dark martial robes with a sword strapped to his back.
Lu Xiao [Enigma] ML
Gu Xing. This is Lan Yan. He and his brother will be staying under our roof for the time being.
Gu Xing [ML Right-hand|Dominant Alpha]
*Bowing slightly to Lu Xiao, then looking at Lan Yan with a cool, assessing gaze*
Gu Xing [ML Right-hand|Dominant Alpha]
Understood...
Lu Xiao [Enigma] ML
*To Lan Yan*
This estate is not a charity hall. You want a roof, food, and safety? Then earn it.
Lan Yan [Alpha] MC
Fair enough.
Lu Xiao [Enigma] ML
*Eyeing him*
Do you know how to fight?
Lan Yan hesitates. Then, as memories stir in his mind — sword drills in a courtyard, strikes flowing like water, his father’s voice shouting corrections — he nods slightly.
Lan Yan [Alpha] MC
...I know a little.
GU XING scoffs lightly under his breath, folding his arms.
Gu Xing [ML Right-hand|Dominant Alpha]
Hn. Every stray says that until they’re knocked flat.
Lu Xiao [Enigma] ML
Then see if he’s one of them. He’s yours for now — test him, train him. If he’s useless, send him to the stables. If he’s decent... polish him.
Gu Xing [ML Right-hand|Dominant Alpha]
*Nodding once*
As you command.
LAN YAN straightens his back, gaze sharp despite his injuries.
Lan Yan [Alpha] MC
Just tell me when.
Lu Xiao [Enigma] ML
*Amused*
Tomorrow. Dawn.
Lu Xiao [Enigma] ML
*To a maid*
Prepare a room for the child. And one next to the training yard for his brother.
He looks back at LAN YAN one last time — unreadable expression.
Lu Xiao [Enigma] ML
💭You may have been royalty once, Lan Yan. But in the west, even dragons bow if their wings are broken. Let’s see if yours still fly.
Night has settled over the estate. A soft lantern glows in the corner, casting golden light across the room. LAN YURI is nestled under a clean blanket on a warm bed, eyes half-lidded, while LAN YAN sits beside him, still in his borrowed robe, bruises faintly showing.
Lan Yuri [MC Brother4|Omega]
Yan-ge... does your head still hurt?
Lan Yan [Alpha] MC
*Smiles faintly*
Not really. Why?
Lan Yuri [MC Brother4|Omega]
*Frowning*
Because that bad man threw a rock at you earlier. I saw it hit you. It made a scary sound...
LAN YAN reaches out, brushing Yuri’s messy hair back, voice quiet and fond.
Lan Yan [Alpha] MC
I’ve had worse, Yuri. I’m still alive, aren’t I?
Lan Yuri [MC Brother4|Omega]
*Murmuring*
But I don’t want you to get hurt anymore... You're all I have left.
LAN YAN’s hand stills. His gaze dims — memory flooding in like cold water.
FLASHBACK – Blood on the palace floor. Screams. Steel clashing. Their male mother, GAO SHILI, shielding them with his body, shouting for them to run. Their father, CROWN PRINCE LAN XUAN, lying in a pool of red, his sword shattered.
Their eldest brothers — Lan Huan and Lan Ji — already dead by the time they reached the hidden corridor. Guards loyal to Consort Chen searching for them, flames rising.
LAN YAN held LAN YURI tightly as they fled the capital under the moonless night. Just the two of them.
Back in the present — LAN YAN grips the edge of the bed tightly.
Lan Yan [Alpha] MC
...We were lucky. Out of all four of us… only you and I made it out.
Lan Yuri [MC Brother4|Omega]
Yan-ge... do you think Baba and Daddy are watching us now?
Lan Yan [Alpha] MC
...They are. And we’ll live for them. We’ll survive — and one day, when you're old enough, I'll tell you the truth about why they died.
Lan Yuri [MC Brother4|Omega]
*Nodding sleepily*
Was it... because of that scary Consort?
Lan Yuri [MC Brother4|Omega]
The one Daddy never let near us?
Lan Yan [Alpha] MC
*Bitterly*
...Consort Chen. The Emperor’s favorite snake.
He pulls the blanket up to Yuri’s chin, voice gentler now.
Lan Yan [Alpha] MC
Sleep, Yuri. Tomorrow, we start again.
Lan Yuri [MC Brother4|Omega]
Will we go back... to the palace... someday...?
Lan Yan [Alpha] MC
Yes. One day... we’ll go back. But not as prey.
He looks out the window toward the distant mountains — cold stars hanging in the sky.
Lan Yan [Alpha] MC
💭We'll go back strong enough to take everything they stole from us.
♡♡Ms.Lazy♡♡
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![Lan Yuri [MC Brother4|Omega]](https://up-pic.mangatoon.mobi/contribute/fiction/11052837/avatar/43144037/1749968147830.jpeg-s200webp?sign=33c334f169e23871cbe77f6e11641892&t=6865c800)
![Lan Yan [Alpha] MC](https://up-pic.mangatoon.mobi/contribute/fiction/11052837/avatar/43144037/1749968055269.jpeg-s200webp?sign=f83db48435851a89b8678925a89f0e31&t=6865c800)
![Lu Xiao [Enigma] ML](https://up-pic.mangatoon.mobi/contribute/fiction/11052837/avatar/43144037/1750156066745.jpeg-s200webp?sign=1f58a2c01c71d10556a590e09c655cba&t=6865c800)
![Gu Xing [ML Right-hand|Dominant Alpha]](https://up-pic.mangatoon.mobi/contribute/fiction/11052837/avatar/43144037/1750156050415.jpeg-s200webp?sign=076c4869d2d3ad832a58b61d782c64b4&t=6865c800)
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