Trapped in the Beastworld Breeder System (BL)-Chapter 33: King’s Party

Chapter 33: King’s Party
The nightlife of the Wolf Kingdom, to Aries, could easily be described as the most refreshing sight he had encountered since entering this world.
As he walked beneath the full moon, its pale light pouring down upon the stone paths below, he felt strangely renewed. The silvery glow bathed everything in calm brilliance, and Aries found himself breathing easier, as though the sky itself was washing away his unease.
Kenzie led the way toward the grand hall where the birthday celebration was to be held. The guards stationed at the entrance examined him first, then shifted their attention to Aries, who stood quietly at his side.
"He’s my guest," Kenzie said simply.
The guards nodded without hesitation and stepped aside.
Moments later, a loud ceremonial voice echoed through the hall.
"Entering is the Third Prince of the Wolf Everrie Kingdom, Prince Kenzie, accompanied by his guest."
As they stepped inside, Aries was immediately awed by the spectacle before him.
His gaze lifted instinctively toward the massive chandelier suspended at the center of the hall, crafted from crystal, silver, glowing light orbs, and what appeared to be finely cut diamonds.
The hall itself was lavishly decorated. Long tables and ornate chairs lined the sides, occupied by nobles and guests Aries couldn’t recognize. At the far end stood a towering throne, elevated above all else, upon which the Wolf King sat in quiet authority.
When they reached the center of the hall, Kenzie bowed slightly. Aries followed at once, mirroring the gesture. After a brief pause, a deep voice rang out.
"You may rise."
They straightened, and the king’s sharp gaze settled on them once more.
"And who is this with you," the king asked calmly, "and why does he conceal his face?"
Kenzie glanced toward Aries. Almost unconsciously, Aries raised a hand to his face and felt the smooth surface of the mask. Memory rushed back—Kenzie had given it to him earlier and insisted he wear it.
Aries lifted his head fully and met the king’s gaze.
The Wolf King was every bit as imposing as Aries had imagined. Age had touched him, but it had not diminished his presence. There was still a rugged charm in his features, a sharpness to his eyes, and an undeniable authority that made it easy to understand how he had once won the hearts of many and fathered a powerful lineage.
While Aries lingered in his thoughts, Kenzie spoke.
"Happy birthday, Father," he said respectfully. "Allow me to introduce my guest for the evening. He will be accompanying me throughout your celebration."
The king’s gaze returned to Aries.
"And the mask?" he asked.
Yes... what about the mask? Aries echoed inwardly.
Discomfort stirred in his chest as the mission and contract lies towards one thing. He knew that no matter the disguise, Lucien would know as it was impossible to hide from the mate pull Lucien had already mentioned. Still, with the king waiting, Aries could only turn his gaze toward Kenzie, silently urging him to explain.
Kenzie stepped forward smoothly, as though he had anticipated the question.
"Your Majesty," he began respectfully, "my friend suffered a facial injury in his youth. Since then, he has been insecure about the scar. As today is a joyous and auspicious occasion, he wished not to draw unnecessary attention or disturb the celebration. Hence, the concealing mask."
The king studied Aries in silence for several long seconds before nodding.
"That is understandable," the king said at last. "In our kingdom, the face holds great significance. Even warriors who march into battle do their utmost to protect it from lasting scars."
He gestured lightly with his hand.
"You may proceed."
Relief washed through Aries. He wouldn’t want the king looking deep into his matter before he even fully settled in the territory. The deeds of the tiger king were still fresh in his heart that another king certainly wasn’t on his list and he was just glad that the princes are the Lord’s he’s meant to influence their meters and not a king.
Both he and Kenzie bowed once more before stepping away from the center of the hall, following the direction of a maid who gestured politely toward their seats.
Kenzie took his seat, and Aries sat beside him. It appeared they were the last to arrive, for the hall grew quiet for a brief moment before the king’s voice sounded again.
"Now that everyone is present," the king announced, "we shall proceed with today’s celebration. Let the party begin."
It was as though his words were the final cue needed. Music burst into the air as instruments played in harmony, and ladies dressed in flowing purple silk entered the center of the hall.
Props were set into place as they performed a graceful dance that captivated the audience, the music weaving enchantment through the room.
Meanwhile, Aries sat quietly, his eyes scanning the hall for one particular person. He searched again, more carefully this time, but still found nothing. At last, with no other choice, he turned toward Kenzie.
"Lord Lucien isn’t here. I hope the plan hasn’t spoiled?" Aries asked, staring at Kenzie with faint concern.
Kenzie was just about to bring a cup of wine to his lips when the question made him pause. His brows knitted briefly, and the cup slipped from his hand before he caught it again. Instead of annoyance, his lips slowly curled into a smile.
"Well... that would be nice," Kenzie said lightly. "It’s not like I wanted him here that much anyway. Offending His Majesty on his birthday by not showing up is just one more way to increase his punishment—especially if the king already knows he’s back. Has he even gone to see him once?"
Aries frowned, bewildered by Kenzie’s words.
"Do you mean the king doesn’t know that Lucien is back?" he asked.
"No," Kenzie replied with the most carefree expression he could muster.
He bent, retrieved the cup of wine he had nearly dropped, and took a slow sip before continuing. "But Lucien hasn’t gone to visit the king since his return. I made sure word reached His Majesty that he suffered nothing more than a scratch—that he was perfectly fine. The healer feeds me information, so I hear exactly what I need to hear. And truly, this doesn’t favor Lucien if he fails to appear tonight after what the king has heard."
"But isn’t this supposed to be the other way around?" Aries pressed. "I mean, shouldn’t the king be the one to visit Lucien after he miraculously survived the war?"
"Well," Kenzie shrugged, "Lucien was unfortunate enough to have offended Father before all this. So he doesn’t care much about what happened to his second son after hearing he was fine. He was worried at first, yes, but now? He’s calm."
Kenzie leaned back slightly, his smile sharpening. "But anyway, if Lucien doesn’t come, it actually works better for my plan. Imagine it—skipping his father’s birthday, only to be caught the very next day with a tiger beast. Not attending because he was busy frolicking with a—"
Kenzie didn’t get to finish.
Aries’ attention was suddenly pulled toward the entrance of the hall, his breath catching as he saw the figure standing there.
Lucien.
He was dressed entirely in black, from head to toe. His silver curls rested casually against his shoulders, and one of his hands was wrapped in white cloth, clearly bandaged. The wound appeared to be on his arm, though the healer had secured the wrap firmly for stability.
"Entering—the second prince of the Wolf Everrie Kingdom, Lord Lucien," a guard announced, just as had been done for the others.
All eyes turned toward the entrance—including Aries’s.
Finally, Kenzie’s carefully laid plans wouldn’t unfold so smoothly. The fact that things had already begun to derail from the start could mean a better outcome than expected. Still, Aries couldn’t ignore the possibility that Kenzie had planned other things—things he hadn’t shared.
Murmurs rippled through the hall as Lucien walked forward. He stopped before the throne and bowed.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," Lucien said respectfully. "I wish you a happy birthday, with long life and prosperity."
"Thank you, Lucien," the king replied. "I presume you had pressing matters that kept you from visiting me after you returned in good health?"
Lucien felt cornered as he caught between his father and his mate. Searching endlessly for Aries, chasing rumors that led nowhere, had consumed him completely, causing him to forget one vital duty: paying his respects to the king.
His gaze dropped to his bandaged hand, and inspiration struck. He raised it slightly, grimacing as though in pain.
"Father," he said, his voice strained, "I would never dare neglect you. This injury made movement difficult, and it has only recently improved. The moment I was able, I made sure to attend your celebration."
"Very well," the king said after a pause. "I wish you a speedy recovery."
Lucien bowed again and stepped away from the center of the hall, finally free to focus on more pressing matters.
His eyes swept across the room, guided by instinct rather than reason until they landed on a wolfkin wearing a mask.
Lucien stilled.
"Who is he?" he murmured.
"And why does he feel like Aries?"