The Dragon Lord's Aide Wants to Quit [BL] Chapter 443: Proof

Seeing the little golden dragonling looking as though his hackles were about to rise, Riley quickly stepped in before the situation could spiral even further.

"Have you known for a while?"

Orien’s expression tightened.

"Yes... We overheard it."

The admission came quietly, but before anyone could say anything, the little dragonling hurriedly continued as though trying to defend both himself and Liam at the same time.

"But we shouldn’t get punished!" he blurted out. "It wasn’t on purpose. We weren’t trying to hear anything. W-we were just there... and then everyone started talking, and Liam even dragged me away because he thought we’d get caught!"

The more he explained, the more he rambled.

"And besides..." he mumbled, "...I would’ve figured it out eventually anyway."

Riley, somewhat surprised, tilted his head before deciding to keep talking while the little one was still open to a conversation.

"What made you think that?"

Orien hesitated before reluctantly answering.

"Because it’s the same."

"The same?"

"Yes..."

The little dragonling slowly lowered his hands before mumbling, "The same way your parents look at you and the little sprite when they think you aren’t looking."

His gaze immediately dropped to the floor.

He couldn’t bring himself to look toward the doorway where Orryn still stood frozen, his entire body trembling.

Realizing he’d just said far more than he’d intended, Orien immediately spun around and bolted. This was just too embarrassing for a great dragon like him!

Unfortunately for the panicked child...

Riley was much faster.

The black dragon effortlessly scooped him into his arms before the little dragonling managed to get more than a few steps away.

"No!"

Orien immediately began squirming.

He twisted, wriggled, and rotated with surprising determination, looking like an indignant cat who’d decided that cooperating was beneath his dignity. The more he struggled, the more securely Riley held him, until the little dragonling eventually gave up and settled for huffing dramatically instead.

Only then did everyone finally have the chance to properly talk.

Well, that was what the youngling wanted everyone to believe.

But in reality, the only reason Orien eventually stopped resisting was because Riley quietly murmured something to him as though it were a secret meant for his ears alone, lacing his words with just enough mana for only the little dragonling to hear.

"This isn’t my decision to make," Riley said softly. "But if I had even one chance to speak to my departed family again... I’d probably take it, if only so I wouldn’t spend the rest of my life wondering

"And whatever decision you decide to make, know that we’ll always have your back as your family."

The words struck far deeper than the ex-mortal probably realized. Unbeknownst to Riley, it had only been after meeting the Hales that Orien had truly come to understand what a truly involved family looked like.

To most dragons, family had always been little more than bloodlines and lineage. It wasn’t that the Dravaryns had mistreated him, because they hadn’t. They’d simply been dragons, raised in the same way most dragons were.

But now, things were different. For the first time in his life, Orien had a family that felt warm, lively, and constantly present, and he treasured that more than anything. Perhaps because of that, he couldn’t help carrying a lingering fear that this one new person might change everything. He didn’t want the people he already had slipping away from him.

But for all his antics, Orien wasn’t an unreasonable child.

His Auntie had already proven time and again that he was someone who followed through on his promises, and Orien knew exactly what had happened to the black dragon clan and why they could no longer be there. Some people really were torn away by circumstances beyond their control rather than by choice.

Similar to the black dragons, he’d also seen Orryn’s condition with his own eyes and witnessed just how long and painful his recovery had been. It didn’t seem like the red dragon had disappeared because he wanted nothing to do with him...

With such in mind, the little dragonling slowly stopped struggling.

He figured he could at least do this much.

But that didn’t mean he’d make it easy.

Not even close.

If someone wanted to be acknowledged as his father, then they had to earn that place properly.

Because Orien had no intention of accepting someone he could lose just as easily all over again.

So when it looked like Orryn was finally about to explain himself, the little golden dragonling unexpectedly raised a hand to stop him.

It was important to make sure that he appeared capable enough in this negotiation and for that he needed to go first! What if that man cried and convinced the little sprite to talk to him instead? That would be really bad however he looked at it!

"You can explain," Orien said with surprising composure, puffing out his chest as though he were presiding over the meeting himself. "And I wouldn’t mind talking about... acknowledging relationships."

He looked directly at the red dragon.

"But only after you prove you’re strong enough. I can’t possibly acknowledge someone unfit, could I?"

The room fell strangely quiet.

Orien remained adorably haughty throughout the entire exchange, but there was a stubborn determination in his eyes that made even the adults hesitate.

"Orien..." Orryn called softly.

Before the red dragon could continue, Liam quietly tugged on Orien’s sleeve. As always, the little golden dragonling had a soft spot for his partner in crime and immediately turned toward him.

"If he wants to talk, he can earn it," Orien explained, sounding as though the matter had already been decided. "And I’m not even being unreasonable. What’s the point of listening to an explanation if all he’d leave me with were words?"

He folded his arms again and waited.

Riley quietly looked toward Orryn.

Truthfully, hearing that much was already more than enough for the red dragon. It might’ve sounded dramatic, even exaggerated, but the moment Orien looked at him, it genuinely felt as though the skies had parted and light had finally broken through.

The contrast was almost unbelievable considering that only moments earlier, he’d been convinced his heart was about to give out after realizing Orien had known all along. So just hearing that there was still a path forward, no matter how difficult it might be, was already enough for him to cling to.

It was far more grace than he ever felt he deserved.

"I’ll do it," Orryn answered immediately, his voice noticeably rougher than before. "Please tell me what I have to do. I’ll earn the privilege of talking to you."

"Hmm..." Orien pretended to think about it before finally nodding. "Fine. Then I need proof."

"...Anything specific?"

"Enough wyvern carcasses."

The adults blinked.

"There’s a very, high chance that the little sprite and I won’t be allowed to join even if we beg and look cute," Orien reasoned with complete seriousness before gesturing toward himself and the clinging Liam. "So there has to be compensation for that."

He pointed at Orryn.

"If I’m going to acknowledge you properly, then you have to earn it. You’ll be fighting for two."

He stopped midway through the sentence before immediately correcting himself.

"No."

The little dragonling turned toward Liam.

"For three."

"We’re always together."

Liam, who hadn’t fully followed the conversation but definitely understood those particular words and even liked them, nodded with complete conviction.

"See? So it has to count as three."

Orien looked back at the red dragon who was apparently his father and had to make certain things particularly clear so the guy wouldn’t embarrass himself.

"Even the great me has to work as an instructor in this house, so how could a freeloader just be accepted willy-nilly?"

To him, the reasoning was flawless.

Judging by the expressions around the room, however, everyone else seemed to think otherwise.

Just then, Liam leaned over and whispered something into Orien’s ear.

The golden dragonling’s eyes immediately brightened.

"Oh, right!"

He raised an open hand as though he’d just remembered the most important condition of all.

"And bring bread too!"

Just as predicted, his partner had done his job well, reminding him about the café they went to at the sacred temple and how this red dragon seemed to have quite a lot to do with the place.

If his Auntie could bring back those cake pops, then surely he could bring something too, right?

Still, he couldn’t make it too easy. Dragons were beings of power, after all.

So he lifted his chin proudly and announced,

"At least five kinds."

The adults could only gawk even harder, mouths practically hanging open now.

Orryn, meanwhile, looked like someone who’d narrowly escaped execution. His eyes had already reddened, and when he finally found his voice, it came out thick with emotion.

"I’ll do it."

He nodded firmly.

"I’ll bring five kinds."

Then he shook his head.

"No."

"Probably more than ten, even."

A trembling smile spread across his face as he looked at the two boys.

"And once the war is over, I-I’ll make sure you have access to as many bakeries and cafés as you’d like."

He drew a slow breath before quietly adding, "As for the wyverns, I’ll make sure there are enough for all three..."

The red dragon paused before smiling a little wider.

"No."

"For all four of us."

His heart honestly felt as though it were ready to leap out of his chest.

Never, not even in his most selfish dreams, had Orryn imagined that one day he’d be able to utter the word "us" before his own child with complete honesty. He’d even resigned himself to remaining nothing more than an uncle if it meant being allowed to stay as close as possible.

And yet...

He was actually being given a chance.

Had she been, then he honestly didn’t think there would’ve been a single thing left for him to wish for in this life.