So the father and son live on a small farm, dad is ex elite guard/military to the kingdom.
across the way is an elf farm, a dad from the same unit and twin sisters that are deeply in love with the boy.
both mothers died at the same time, same cause.
The world is a mish mash of our worlds mythology in terms of cultures and monsters, but the gods are different etc.
My hope, is that the son, who trusts dad 100% will feel betrayed by the lie. but the death was not just a normal got sick, or bandits. I want something that would strike fear into the heart of a child, something that would potentially make them feel unsafe at home at any time, so far my thoughts are going to a demon of some kind. I was also thinking that dad being the ex military type literally destroyed the demon in a way that might make his son see him differently.
This would give dad a reason for protecting his son from the idea of the demons till he is older, but also his image with his son.