Chapter 255: The Vassals’ Mandate

So much for giving relationship advice.

So much for telling Kael all that shit about dating and how they’d need to get to know each other first before they officialize anything.

Worse, so much for not talking to strangers!

ARGGHHHH!

Riley was going crazy.

Could he really be one of those people who risked it all for a man?!

Did he have the survival instincts of a doughnut?!

Shocks.

Not only did he “talk” to a stranger who clearly trespassed, but he also pestered said stranger into bringing him home.

If he were to really pass away, only to see his biological relatives who went through all the trouble to keep him alive, Riley wondered if they would kill him twice in frustration.

Also, should he not be worried that his best-selling point at that time was his persistence and a shineable shell?!

Oh god.

The revelations partially mortified Riley because he could still remember how the golden dragon once talked about his frustrations when dealing with him as an egg.

He slumped against the table, refusing to look at anyone because he was still in the middle of judging himself.

But apparently, Kael could take over because he had questions of his own. In fact, he had several of them.

He never thought there would be a day when he would willingly talk about his experience, but maybe it was because his twig was right there with him that he could revisit everything with a different outlook.

Because now the dragon lord felt the need to get to the bottom of this.

He had to know what he needed to do to protect Riley.

He wanted to find out who to protect him from.

And most of all, he wanted to prepare himself for any other surprises that could once again result in separation.

He almost didn’t make it out of that hellhole of a headspace. And to think that back then, he didn’t even know the egg’s name.

But they couldn’t have a repeat of that.

Not when he was certain that this time around, he wouldn’t be able to survive losing him again.

So the determined dragon decided to ask, “What do you mean by first call? And how did Riley end up in the hands of the Caldens?”

In truth, he also wanted to ask why they didn’t return Riley. He wanted to ask how they had managed to evade his search all those years.

He wanted to complain about how he almost lost his mind trying to look for him, but considering how he and his family failed to protect Riley back then, even he had to hold his tongue.

What right did he have to complain when Riley only existed because they had managed to keep him alive all those years?

Renee could see the turmoil in those golden eyes and considered how Kael must have so many grievances against the family that kept Riley away, and yet instead of lashing out like a dragon normally would, he was just keeping it all together.

But it wasn’t like the Caldens wanted to keep Riley away like that; it was more because they didn’t really have much of a choice.

For when the seal fully kicked in, even their clan’s roles shifted.

“Have you ever wondered how odd that was? Finding a lone black dragon egg in such a place, yet suddenly learning that he had caretakers all along?”

Renee watched the two dragons’ expressions change as she mentioned such an oddity.

“As beings of great power and influence, most dragons, especially those born surrounded by their respective clan members, would’ve grown up surrounded by a considerable number of staff. And Riley, as the heir to the Iltheran Clan, would’ve had the same upbringing had he been born in a different time.”

“But as you know, it didn’t turn out that way. Instead, when you found him, he’d been tucked away somewhere one likely wouldn’t find a dragon of his caliber.”

“!!!”

Kael’s shoulders straightened because now that he thought about it, that was rather unusual.

“Apparently, that was intentional. And was actually part of the steps the clan had taken to protect Riley. But did you know that their plans even included dismissing all their vassals long before the culmination of the Great War?”

They became known as a reclusive clan after doing something that extreme. But the black dragons didn’t care. Their only priority was ensuring their most loyal servants stayed safe and distant enough to carry out their most important duty—watching over their treasured descendant.

It sounded overkill. And even her ancestors thought that way. Imagine getting rid of everyone on paper for just one descendant.

By the way they moved, one would have thought that either the egg was some sort of second coming or that they were certain there would be no other descendants.

But how could that be when they were the famed Iltheran clan?

And yet it happened.

One day, the first set of restrictions took root in all of them.

Then, as if their worst fears had come true, none of the black dragons who set out for the final battle returned.

It was probably a chilling moment, but it was at that point that everyone realized the significance of their masters’ orders.

However, they ran into the most crucial issue: Where was the descendant they were supposed to guard?

Well, apparently, none of the vassals knew.

Then again, they should’ve realized that the masters were serious when they said they were only meant to act as contingencies.

“Contingencies?”

“Yes. If there had been no need for our interference, then the vassal clans would’ve just continued the order to live well while waiting for the day you reclaimed your birthright.”

And for so long that had been the case.

With the restrictions in place, they couldn’t exactly march up to the other dragon clans to look for the last black dragon egg that had been purposely kept a secret.

That would have been dangerous, counterproductive, and definitely stupid.

So they simply waited.

But the vassals weren’t immortals.

Soon, the urgency and panic felt by the most loyal servants faded as the original clan heads passed.

Moreover, a lot of time had gone by, and the people’s way of life changed as the war came to an end.

If not for the hereditary restrictions, some would’ve forgotten their original mandates and origins.

Until the first call came, and they were greeted with another layer of the seal.

In particular, with the seal’s sudden triggering, Renee’s ancestors were alerted about the descendant’s presence.

First, they were surprised to learn where the descendant had been hidden all this time.

Second, they couldn’t believe how the egg had been taken from a place so thoroughly warded that even mature dragons wouldn’t have been able to find it.

But more importantly, they were stumped because there really had been no protocol for what to do if the descendant came across their fated mate before becoming a hatchling.

“So imagine everyone’s surprise when they covertly tracked you back to the golden dragon’s estate, only to find the long-lost heir being carried around by a golden dragonling.”

“!!!”

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