CHAPTER 96: BIRTHDAY REVELATIONS

What was the essence of a birthday party?

Well, frankly, the answer would vary depending on who you asked.

To some, it could mean walking through fiery carpets or getting the rare privilege of going out one more time during the year. To others, it meant gifts, an excuse to eat more, or endless rounds of singing.

Yeah. A whole lot of singing.

And now, after sixty-six years of existence, on the occasion of his sixty-seventh birthday, Orien Vathros finally experienced an essence of celebration he never expected.

"Uhm... hey, wait! Isn’t this already too much?!"

The baby dragon wanted nothing more than to hide. He tried the table first, then behind people, and even attempted to vanish entirely with magic. Unfortunately, every effort ended the same way: thwarted. His uncle kept undoing his spells with casual precision, showing no mercy even on his birthday.

A choked whimper slipped past Orien’s lips.

How could he be like this?

Then again, he hadn’t expected this level of enthusiasm from a child either. Especially one he had only met today.

Even less expected was the next round of singing and clapping, this time involving Riley the traitor, their mother, who sang with avid gusto, and their father, clapping along with suspicious serenity.

"!!!"

None of this made sense to the baby dragon.

Of course, it made a different kind of sense to Kael and Riley, who had both taken a step back to think about what to do next.

Hiding Orien a little longer was possible. All they needed was for Liam to keep everything a secret. But then what?

The problem was bigger than a surprise party. If Orien’s issue was really his inability to handle being alone, then sooner or later, especially during trips to the Dragon Clan, they would have to leave him behind at the Den. And how exactly was he supposed to manage basic needs? More importantly, if they had to leave him elsewhere, how would he stand solitude?

Finally, Kael broke the silence with the same expressionless face he’d always sported. "What are you planning?"

Riley hesitated. He didn’t want his family pulled any deeper into dragon matters. His father was not in the best of health, and their involvement would only complicate things. But with Liam already neck-deep in the situation, pretending otherwise might actually be more dangerous. If no one else was on guard, something worse could happen.

And besides, there was no chance his father wouldn’t notice. They might not say a word, but the man was far too sharp to miss odd details. He might not pry, but he would still know.

So if they were going to be suspicious anyway, why not control the story from the start? At least then, they would have a chance to shape the narrative and keep the situation from spiraling further. Not to mention how they were even about to ask his father even more suspicious questions. At least like this, he would be able to understand why they were asking.

Riley voiced his concerns at last, expecting pushback.

But Kael only said, "Fine. Do it that way."

Which was how they found themselves in the impossible position of explaining the presence of another dragon in the house.

Riley hadn’t expected his parents to react like that.

Back in his parents’ room, away from the children, he thought he understood why the very mention of another dragon made them stiffen with fear.

But when he explained that it was, in fact, a dragonling they were hiding away, his mother’s face had gone pale, terror flashing across it for a moment in a way that unsettled him deeply. Maybe the fact that she even tried to mask it was what he found more unsettling.

Granted, his father reacting that way was... expected. The man had always been in the thick of dragon-related anything.

But his mother? That was harder to understand.

Although, maybe it wasn’t the dragonling itself that terrified her. Maybe it was the fact that said dragonling was currently locked in the drawing room with a human child. Her child.

Yeah. Well, if he hadn’t seen how those two were, he probably would have had the same concerns.

Riley raised his hands in defense. "It was an accident, Mom. I just happened to come across a dragon being dragged off by merfolk."

His mother gasped, hand flying to her mouth. "Merfolk? You?!"

"Yeah," Riley admitted, grimacing. "And it was too close to home, too. Practically in my neighborhood. Which makes me think their hideout is nearby."

Her hand dropped, eyes wide with worry.

"We’re keeping him safe, though," Riley continued quickly, trying to soothe her. "Because it looks like someone’s after him. Apparently, they’re searching."

His mother reached forward and clutched his hand tightly. "Are you alright?" Her voice wavered, full of maternal panic.

He squeezed her hand back, offering a small smile. "I’m fine, Mom. Really."

On the side, Kael sat with his usual straight-backed posture, silent and watchful. His golden eyes fixed not on Riley but on Lawrence Hale, who was visibly trembling, fists clenched weakly against the table.

Kael’s thoughts turned. The elder Hale had been deteriorating ever since his retirement. Even Kael’s father had tried to investigate, but the cause remained a mystery. Lawrence Hale had simply awakened one day without memory of what had happened, and his strength had never fully returned.

For now, Kael had persuaded him—well, practically ordered him—to take potions. Lawrence resisted at first, but when Kael explained it was necessary to remain responsive during this difficult time, the man reluctantly agreed.

They were expensive, far beyond the reach of most citizens, but they were the only thing keeping him moving. And it wasn’t as if Kael couldn’t make them himself when needed.

The Dragon Lord’s musings shifted when Riley’s mother spoke again, her voice gentler now. "And the dragonling? How is Lord Orien doing after such an experience?"

"Mom, he’s generally fine," Riley replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "But we just found out he has trouble being alone in unfamiliar places. That’s actually how he ended up befriending Liam."

"Oh my!" She pressed a hand to her chest. "Then, about the little lord, is there anything we could do to help?"

Riley hesitated. Then his lips quirked. "Well, about that, Mom... how about helping me out a bit—"

Her eyes narrowed, suddenly worried. "You? Do you also have the same problem? Is that why you’re inseparable with the dragon lord now?!"

"OH GOD! Mom! No!" Riley yelped, nearly tripping over his chair in his rush to wave her off. "It’s Orien’s birthday! Birthday! I know I’m already unhinged, but not that unhinged!"

Her face softened immediately. "Oh, I see! Then do you need help preparing for a celebration? Even if he’s hiding, a private gathering with just us would be fine, right?"

Relief washed over him. "Yeah. I was thinking the same thing, Mom."

"Good! Then, when is his birthday so I can help you prepare?"

Riley’s grin faltered. "...Well, about that. It’s actually today."

"WHAT?!"

For the next minute, the Dragon Lord’s estate rang with chaos as one adult son was chased down the hall by his raging mother.

"COME BACK HERE! YOU—!"