[BL] Alpha, You've Got the Wrong Mate!

Chapter 371 — I am not your servant

With his small feet, Eiran took a few cautious steps forward. Wrapped in a dark cloak, he was certain no one would pay him any attention. In addition, he wore a servant’s uniform and had used magic to alter the colour of his eyes and hair. As long as nobody looked too closely, they wouldn’t recognize him.

"Hey, you! What are you doing here?!"

A guard suddenly shouted, grabbing Eiran by the collar and lifting him up.

The force caused the hood to slip from his head, revealing dark hair beneath it.

The guard narrowed his eyes. The child looked somewhat familiar. Yet at the same time, completely unfamiliar.

"Answer!" he spat, glaring down at him.

"I-I was asked to bring food to the new criminal," Eiran stammered, barely able to breathe.

His heart pounded violently inside his chest. He hadn’t expected to get caught the moment he reached the dungeon entrance.

The guard released him without warning.

Eiran stumbled backward before falling heavily onto the ground.

A soft groan escaped him.

Still, he glared up at the man.

He had been raised with love and care. Such rough treatment was foreign to him.

"Get out of here," the guard ordered. "This isn’t a place for children to play."

Before Eiran could react, the man snatched the steel plate from his hands.

"I’ll deliver the food myself."

The child immediately parted his lips, ready to protest. However, the words never left his mouth. He quickly shut his mouth again.

If he argued any further, the guard would undoubtedly become suspicious.

Reluctantly, Eiran nodded. Then he slowly pushed himself back to his feet, brushing the dust from his clothes.

"Understood," he muttered quietly.

The guard merely waved him away.

Eiran lowered his gaze and began walking back toward his bedchambers. At least, that was what he pretended to do.

The moment he turned a corner and disappeared from the guard’s sight, the child’s expression changed completely.

His shoulders straightened. His eyes sharpened. And instead of heading toward his room, he slipped behind a nearby pillar and waited.

There was no way he was giving up that easily.

His Papa was down there.

And Eiran intended to find him.

No matter what happened.

Every time he asked Zayden about his father, the alpha would avert his gaze as though he were the one being interrogated. Sometimes he would say Ren was helping the servants. Other times, he claimed Ren had gone somewhere outside the mansion. On another occasion, he insisted the omega would return soon.

None of it made sense.

If Zayden was going to lie, he should at least have stuck to a single story instead of changing his excuse every time.

Eiran frowned deeply, crossing his arms over his chest.

Adults truly believed children were stupid.

Behind him, a small figure suddenly appeared.

Dark wings fluttered softly as Kuro landed on the pillar beside him.

Although he had regained his powers, he still maintained his smaller form most of the time. According to him, it was less troublesome that way.

"What do you plan to do?" Kuro asked, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

Eiran glanced toward the dungeon entrance before looking back at him.

"I already told you, no? I am going to find Papa."

Kuro blinked.

"You just tried that."

"And I failed." The child spoke so matter-of-factly that Kuro nearly laughed.

"Usually people stop after failing."

"Then those people are idiots."

The small dragon shrugged.

"I see your confidence remains untouched."

Eiran puffed out his cheeks.

"This isn’t about confidence. Something bad happened." His expression slowly grew serious.

"Dad keeps lying to me. The servants stop talking whenever I enter a room. Everyone looks nervous when I mention Papa."

The more he spoke, the more convinced he became.

"And whenever I ask where he is, nobody gives me a proper answer."

Kuro’s wings twitched.

He had noticed it as well. The atmosphere throughout the palace had changed. Even the servants seemed frightened.

"Maybe your father is trying to protect you," Kuro suggested.

"From what?"

The question left the familiar silent.

Eiran immediately pointed a finger at him.

"See? You don’t know either."

"That’s because I wasn’t spying on the adults."

"You should have."

Kuro stared at him.

"I am a powerful magical beast."

"And?"

"I am not your servant," Kuro turned his face the other way, clearly upset.

"I never said that you were. Also, that’s not what you said first. We are friends and friends help each other. Don’t you know such a basic thing?"

The dragon nearly choked.

For a moment, he wondered whether spending so much time with Ren had permanently damaged the child’s ability to fear anything. After all, that man rarely showed any emotion in his eyes. Not even fear.

Eiran peeked around the pillar once more.

The guard who had taken the food was still standing near the entrance.

"Why isn’t he taking the food inside?..." Eiran muttered, narrowing his gaze.

A thoughtful look appeared on the child’s face. Then, slowly, a smile spread across his lips.

Kuro immediately became concerned. That smile never led to anything good.

"What are you thinking?"

Eiran turned toward him.

"We are going to create a distraction."

Kuro stared.

"We? Who is we?"

The smile on Eiran’s face only widened.

"Yes. We, as in us two."

"Oh no!.."

"Oh yes." A genuine excitement sparkled in the child’s eyes.

If the adults refused to tell him where Ren was, then he would simply find out himself.

"I said no," Kuro frowned, his tone hardening.

Eiran puffed his cheeks once more.

"Are you going to betray me? I helped you with finding a place to sleep when you were just a baby, and everything. And this is how you repay me?" He shook his head, wiping off an imaginary tear.

The dragon’s eyebrows twitched in disbelief.

"Where did you learn to be so dramatic? I don’t remember your fathers being like this..." Kuro sighed. "Fine. Tell me. What’s the plan?"