There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)-Chapter 728: Side Story 4. Endless Journey - 11

The first thing Bassena saw after teleporting back to the beach was a skating rink at the side of the ocean. Asa wasn’t really skating as much as becoming a plane in his Uncle Zhan’s hands, but Kar was seriously learning to move on ice with Auntie Rina and Uncle Cohen.

"What are they doing?" Bassena asked after kissing his husband’s cheek, who was watching the kids from a comfortable beach hut.

"Kar wanted to go to the sea, and Rina made the ice field so he could go to the sea without getting wet," Zein replied briefly.

"Huh...I thought it would be Asa."

"Asa liked the sand more, but he wanted the ice after seeing Kar," Zein shrugged, observing the esper’s complexion. "Are you fine now?"

"Yeah," Bassena circled his arms around the guide’s waist, carefully stroking the flat stomach. "Thinking that you experienced all of this--and more--helped."

Zein cracked a smile while unwrapping a sour tamarind candy. "Is that so? Here, eat this."

Bassena opened his mouth obediently, letting the round candy roll around his tongue. He was no longer feeling nauseous, but who would refuse to be handfed by their husband? Also, he developed a new appreciation for this sour stuff after getting assaulted by nausea regularly.

But he couldn’t whine; he shouldn’t whine.

"It must have been harder for you, right? There were two, after all," Bassena laid his head on the guide’s shoulder. "I used to think it would be better for me to take the pain during your pregnancy. This wasn’t exactly that, but..."

"It’s nice not having to wake up feeling nauseous," Zein patted the esper’s cheek. "Good job, Baba."

Bassena frowned and pursed his lips. "When will they stop calling me that?"

Zein smirked. "Once they stop, you’ll miss being called that."

"...really?"

"Just enjoy it for now," the guide chuckled and patted the hands over his stomach. The little addition would probably use that phrase too, right? It’s easier than ’father’.

"This is because you keep calling me ’baby’ in front of them," Bassena grumbled.

After hearing people calling their father Bassena and Zein with the ’baby’, the twins naturally registered the word ’Ba’ in their mind when it came to their esper father.

He pursed his lips even more when Zein laughed fondly. "Isn’t it cute?"

"Ugh..."

And talking about cute, a cute high-pitched voice could be heard coming toward them.

"Nayi wan chuu! Nayi waaaan!"

They turned to see Nari squirming in Han Joon’s arms, legs kicking the air as her clear black eyes looked at the ice rink with want. Unfortunately for the little princess, his uncle was not too fond of the idea.

"You’re too small for an ice rink, fairy.’

The little girl shook her head strongly, making her twin tails bounce. "Nayi is incess!"

"Yes, fairy princess," Han Joon smiled while patting the girl’s head.

"...okay!" the girl agreed after thinking about it for a few seconds. "But Nayi wanna play ayce chuu!"

Bassena and Zein chuckled as the uncle and niece duo arrived in front of their hut. "Why is she with you?"

"Byul was fussing and throwing up, so their parents were busy with him," Han Joon shrugged. "I thought I should take her around so she wouldn’t feel neglected."

Zein raised his brow. For all he knew, they came with nannies--just like them--so...this lover uncle chose to play with a baby instead of staying with his darling husband in this beautiful place. Right before their anniversary day.

"...you’re avoiding the party’s preparation, aren’t you?" Bassena narrowed his eyes.

"I’m avoiding it, so please trap me here," Han Joon replied without hesitation.

Zein laughed and glanced at the pouting little princess. "Did she have her nap?"

"Should be," Han Joon tilted his head and the princess followed suit. "She woke up from Byul throwing up."

The smart little princess gasped while nodding. "Nayi cyip al’edy! Nayi gud guwl!"

"Then, just let her play," Bassena chuckled while ruffling the girl’s hair. "She’s full of energy now, so she’ll keep fussing until it is spent."

"Or else she won’t go to bed early tonight," Zein smiled. And if the girl didn’t sleep well tonight, she would be fussy the next day. Worst case, she’d get a fever. Kids had such a vicious cycle. "We get two defenders there anyway; she’ll be fine."

Han Joon raised his brow after looking at the impromptu ice rink closely. "The two defenders you’re trying to set up?"

"I’m just copying Radia," the guide shrugged. "Didn’t he send Eleanor to the Deathzone because Jock was there?"

Han Joon chuckled. "It’s good to think about your staff’s well-being--ugh."

The little princess, who felt ignored by the adults talking even after she pleaded her case, smacked her uncle’s shoulder. "Nayi! Ayce!"

"Alright, alright," Han Joon pinched the fairy’s puffing cheek before jogging toward the ice rink.

Asa, who finally decided he wanted to slide around the ice instead of flying over it, welcomed Nari enthusiastically. Kar had become more proficient in skating, so he could go around only with Cohen--meaning Rina could teach Asa and Nari.

It was fortunate that they were in a resort that had been rented for the whole three days by its owner. Otherwise, there would be a lot of children rushing toward the ice field, and it would be chaotic. Most of the guests would arrive on the day of the events, so those in the inner circle of the owner/party host could enjoy the resort fully.

And that also meant more chances for Rina and Cohen to interact while babysitting.

"Do you think it’ll work?" Bassena nudged the guide’s shoulder.

"It’s no longer my business after they meet," Zein said. "It’s up to them now."

"Right," Bassena nodded. "But they do look good together."

The matchmaker shrugged. "If it works, it works."

* * *

Despite their status as the Old House of Althrea--which was known as an entertainment hub--House Mallarc rarely threw a party. Their social functions revolved around exclusive club soirees or charity events as part of their image management.

And so, when they did throw a party, people from all layers of society got very interested in it--especially after they knew it was for the wedding anniversary of Radia Mallarc and his elusive husband. Public figures were especially anxious about receiving an invitation because it would show whether or not Radia Mallarc--whose popularity had increased since last winter--acknowledged their existence.

Naturally, the media was eager to cover this event. Even if they couldn’t enter the resort, just taking photographs of people arriving was already a scoop. However, some publishers and broadcasting stations were permitted to enter the venue, and there was already talk about the reporters fighting for a place in this party.

As expected of House Mallarc, even before the event started, enough entertainment was provided for the guests who had come early. The invitation included a night stay in the resort and full access to its facilities, from the beach club and golf field to short cruises.

Naturally, the party itself was worthy of House Mallarc’s reputation. There were several lounges with full refreshments, so the guests didn’t have to crowd in the same spot. From the pool to the ballroom, it was as if the whole resort had become the party venue.

The reporters couldn’t even decide where they wanted to go--there were celebrities, sentinels, the ’nobles,’ and Radia Mallarc’s inner circle. Too many things to be reported while the party’s delicacies tempted them to indulge.

No matter how much the guests enjoyed themselves, however, they all moved to the ballroom when the hosts appeared. On a balcony-like stage, they could see Radia Mallarc and his mysterious husband--who wasn’t so mysterious anymore this year; the former Mobius Captain Han Joon.

When Radia Mallarc opened his mouth, no one opened theirs. With a simple mic, his voice could be heard clearly throughout the ballroom.

"Five years ago, I registered my marriage in the registry office without any announcement or reception," Radia started with a simple fact. "People thought I was doing it secretly, but that wasn’t the case. Anyone know why?"

"Because we’re going to stage a coup if you have fun while we’re working hard in a dark place!" Han Shin and Zhan shouted from below, followed by a series of ’aye’ from the Trinity’s espers and guides.

"Do you hear that? I didn’t want my staff to stage a coup," Radia shrugged, prompting the guests to laugh lightheartedly. "At any rate, things happened, and I got lazy. Who cares if I get married, right? Or so I thought."

Besides Radia, Han Joon chuckled slightly as he could feel countless gazes fall on him. He had no intention to speak, but his darling never prevented him from reacting.

"That being said, I’m not holding this event to satisfy your curiosity," Radia smiled cheekily as he turned to look at his darling husband. "But we just got through a very difficult time, and I thought we deserved a wedding party after all."

Han Shin, Zhan, Dheera, and all the noisy members of Trinity were whistling and clapping--enough to fill the ballroom with merriment.

"And so, enjoy--and, ah..." Radia paused as he swept his gaze through the room. "You are free to speculate about our story."

With a smile and a wink, Radia closed his remark and climbed down to the venue with loud applause from all the guests. He spent about half an hour greeting people with Han Joon, but no matter who asked about their story, they never answered.

Perhaps that was why, people started to look at the inner circle for information. The thing was, except for four people, no one truly knew what happened. Han Shin and Reina were on a mission to troll people with all kinds of fake stories, while only a few had enough courage to ask the Ishtera couple.

And so, despite finally holding a ’wedding reception,’ people still had no idea how those two could get married and look so in love with each other. In fact, thanks to Han Shin and Reina, more false stories were spreading.

"Why did you do that?" Zein asked Radia later, knowing that Shin and Reina did it with the brother-in-law’s permission.

"Because it’s fun," Radia shrugged. "A topic without conclusion tends to keep circulating, which means people will keep talking about us and, as an extension, the company and the guild."

Zein arched his brow. "In the end, it’s for profit?"

Radia smiled deeply. "Everything is for profit," he said. "Including making someone in the Western Republic drown in jealousy."

"You vicious, vicious man."

"Don’t blame me," Radia smirked. "It’s Joon’s idea."

Zein scoffed. "You vicious, vicious couple."

Han Joon raised his glass. "I’ll take that as a compliment."

Oh, too bad Zein couldn’t drink.