(BL) Reborn as Lycan's Emperor's abandoned Beta concubine?!

THE NEXT MORNING

XAVIER

The next morning, I was back at the same table with Madam Qiao. Another book, another lesson, another mystery about a life I apparently used to live.

“Today, we will discuss the early years of the Red Moon Flower imperial family.”Madam Qiao opened a thick volume.

“?”Of course we are.”I stared at the pages.

She gave me a questioning look.

“Something wrong?”She asked.

“No. Just… deja vu.”I sighed.

She began explaining ancient traditions, succession laws, and royal customs. I listened, mostly because somewhere between the explanation of imperial households and family traditions, another memory surfaced. Not a clear memory, a feeling. Loneliness. The original Wei sitting alone beside a window, watching families walking through the palace gardens, watching parents holding their children’s hands, watching brothers laughing together and wanting something painfully simple. A family. Someone waiting for him, someone calling his name because they wanted him there. My chest tightened.

“So he really was lonely…”I lowered my eyes.

“What did you say?”Madam Qiao paused.

“Nothing.”I said.

Another fragment appeared. Young Wei sat alone with the wooden flute, his little fingers wrapped around it. He wasn’t crying, and that somehow made it worse. He simply looked tired.

“Ding. Memory interpretation updated.”A system said.

I sighed.

“He wanted a family.”I said.

“Correct.”The system flickered.

I stared at the notification. Then another message appeared.

“Host should be proud.”A system said.

“Proud of what?”I frowned.

“You gave original Wei the happy life he wanted.”A system explained cheerfully.

“What?”I went completely still.

“You became Chef Wei.” The system continued calmly.

“You made friends. You found family, you became loved.”

I stared at the words. Something about hearing that from the system felt strangely uncomfortable.

“I didn’t do that for him.”I said.

“Incorrect.”A system said.

“I didn’t even know him.”I swallowed.

“Yet you continued his life, you on Earth were not happy, but now you happy here, Xavier.”A system said. “Part of why you were chosen as a host.”

I looked down at my hands. Ana, Hin, Mei Lin, Huan, Zhao Rui, Lin Rui, even Lang Li. Somehow, my life had become crowded with people. People who worried when I disappeared, people who teased me, people who waited for me at meals, people who wanted me to stay.

“So you’re saying… I gave him what he wanted?”I quietly whispered.

“Ding. Yes.”A system said.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or feel sad. Because somewhere inside me, the original Wei’s loneliness still felt real and somehow I didn’t want that lonely boy to feel forgotten anymore.

“I hope he’s happy.”I closed the book.

“Who?”Madam Qiao looked at me strangely.

“Someone I used to be.”I gave her a small smile.

“Memory synchronization increasing.”The system flickered once.

“Please don’t make that sound ominous.”I sighed.

It didn’t answer, and Madam Qiao quietly watched me, realizing that whatever was happening inside my memories was becoming much bigger than a simple lesson about history.

“Now we move to royal marriage traditions.”Madam Qiao turned another page.

I immediately regretted asking what today’s lesson was about. She pointed toward an old diagram showing several imperial families connected by lines.

“Alpha princes and princesses traditionally marry into other influential royal families. Such marriages strengthen alliances, secure succession, and maintain political relationships.”She explained.

“Basically, diplomacy with wedding clothes.”I nodded slowly.

“That is an unusually accurate simplification.”Madam Qiao gave me a look.

I continued reading and then something clicked.

“Wait.”I glanced toward the royal crest on the page.

“What?”She asked.

“If Alpha princes and princesses usually marry other royals…”I began.

“That is common.”Madam Qiao nodded.

I looked down, then toward the window.

“Then Lang Li probably wouldn’t have been interested in me.”I said.

“Why?”She frowned.

“Because before all this…” I gestured vaguely at myself. “I was just Wei. A Beta concubine. Then a chef.” I swallowed. “If I hadn’t turned out to be a prince, why would an Emperor even notice me?”

For some reason, that thought bothered me more than I expected.

“Ding.”The system appeared. “Emperor Lang Li affection: 43%.”

I stared as the number didn’t help.

“That doesn’t answer my question.”A system said.

“Ding. Correction. Host Wei was originally a war gift concubine.”A system reminded.

“Yes.”I said.

“Then became a palace chef.”A system said.

“Yes.”I nodded.

“Then became a missing imperial prince.”A system continued.

“I know.”I sighed.

“Lang Li’s affection increased during the period when Host was unaware of his royal identity.”The system flickered.

“What?”I froze.

“His affection developed while Host was a concubine and chef.”A system said.

“So…”I slowly looked down at the book. I swallowed. “He liked me before knowing I was a prince?”

“Correct.”A system said.

Something warm spread through my chest.

“Current Emperor Lang Li affection: 43%.”The system continued.

“So his feelings weren’t because of my title.”I stared at the notification.

“Correct.”A system said.

I leaned back in my chair. For once, I didn’t have a sarcastic response. Madam Qiao noticed my expression.

“Something happened?”She asked.

“No.”I shook my head as I smiled faintly. “Just realizing something important.”

“What?”She raised an eyebrow.

“Maybe Lang Li didn’t fall for a prince.”I looked toward the palace courtyard. I quietly smiled. “Maybe he fell for the annoying chef who kept making everyone food.”

“That sounds considerably more likely.”Madam Qiao’s lips twitched.

I laughed.

“Additional note: Host’s current relationship development is independent of royal status.”Then the system flickered one final time.

“System.”I stared.

“Ding?”A system asked.

“That was actually reassuring.”I said.

And for once, the system didn’t ruin the moment. I thought the lesson was finally becoming less terrifying, then I made the mistake of asking another question.

“Madam Qiao?”I asked.

“Yes, Prince Wei?”She said.

“What other royal families are connected to the Red Moon Flower Empire?”I asked.

“There are several. The Moonlit Kingdom, the Lycan empire, the Silver River Empire, the Frost Crown Dominion, and the Blood Moon Empire.”She closed the history book and considered me.

“Blood Moon?”I asked.

“Yes.” She turned to another page. “The Blood Moon Empire is ruled by an Alpha imperial family. Their territory lies beyond the western mountains and is known for its powerful military, crimson gemstone mines, and strict royal traditions.”

“The current imperial heir is Prince Song Hue.”I listened quietly.

My fingers suddenly went cold. Black hair, dark red eyes. A quiet expression. The moment Madam Qiao said his name, the world around me blurred. A flash, a much younger me. A garden beneath a red moon, someone with black hair standing in front of me. Those dark red eyes looking down at me. A hand reaching toward mine.

“Don’t forget me.”A voice of a child begging me not to forget him.

I gasped and grabbed the edge of the table.

“Prince Wei?”Madam Qiao immediately stood.

The memory vanished as I breathed heavily.

“I have seen him.”I gasped.

She suddenly gasped and hurried toward the window. Outside, the palace courtyard was already filled with activity. Guards were rushing toward the main entrance. Servants whispered among themselves. Then the palace bells rang.

“Another imperial delegation has arrived!”A messenger shouted from the corridor.

I slowly stood. Madam Qiao looked at me. I swallowed.

“He came early.”She said.

“Ding. Memory resonance detected.” I stared at the system.

“Why does his arrival keep triggering memories?”I asked.

No answer came. Instead, another flash appeared. The same black haired boy, the same red eyes and young Wei smiling at him. Then the memory disappeared. I felt my heartbeat pounding. Madam Qiao quietly closed the book.

“I think.” She said. “Your connection to Prince Song Hue may be older than either of us realized.”

I looked toward the doors. Somewhere outside, Song Hue had just arrived and for reasons I couldn’t explain I already felt like I had met him before. I barely noticed Lang Li enter the room. My attention was still fixed on the courtyard, where Song Hue’s delegation was being escorted through the palace. My fingers tightened around the edge of the table, that strange feeling returned. Familiarity, recognition, something I couldn’t explain.

“Prince Wei.” I turned.

Lang Li stood in the doorway. His golden eyes moved toward me immediately.

“You look troubled.”He said.

“I’m fine.”I said.

His gaze shifted toward the courtyard then back to me.

“You’re looking at Prince Song Hue.”He said.

“I have seen him before.”I hesitated.

Lang Li stepped closer.

“What happened?”He asked.

“Nothing.”I said.

He studied my face.

“You reacted when Madam Qiao mentioned his name.”He said.

Lang Li glanced toward the courtyard again. Song Hue had stopped near the entrance, his dark red eyes were searching the palace until they found me. Lang Li noticed, his jaw tightened. Song Hue continued staring. I couldn’t move because there was something about those eyes. Something painfully familiar.

“He looks at you as though he already knows you.”Lang Li said.

“I noticed.”I swallowed.

“And I intend to find out why.”Lang Li’s expression became even more guarded.

I was sure he will. I can tell Lang Li likes me, and it might not end well for the visiting prince.