Trapped in the Beastworld Breeder System (BL)-Chapter 31: You cannot abort the contract...

The scene shifted to the room where Lucien now stayed after the injury he had suffered and received treatment for.

"Tell me all you know about it," Lucien said, his voice sounding loud and clear as it filled the room.

At those words, Roger suddenly began to look around the chamber as though something had been misplaced and was yet to be found. After a brief moment, he moved toward the door, shut it firmly, and locked it properly before returning.

Throughout all of this, Lucien’s eyes never left him. He watched in silence, his gaze sharp and observant, before finally asking, "And what is the matter?"

Roger bent closer to Lucien’s level, kneeling beside him. Lowering his voice to a careful whisper, he said, "My Lord, this matter isn’t something we can discuss openly. The walls have ears."

Lucien’s brows knitted together at that, and Roger continued quietly, "I dare say it is even fortunate that the healer believes you were with a tigerbeast and not a human—especially not a proclaimed mate."

"Why?" Lucien whispered back, confusion lacing his tone. "Why would that be a problem? What is wrong with it? Why would having a human as a mate be worse than a tigerbeast?"

Roger let out a heavy sigh before responding. "Because humans are coveted. Most humans, before their extinction, were witches, and wolfmen often used them as support—especially in times of war, and if not that, then within territories and noble households. A human would be coveted the moment word spreads of their sudden appearance. My Lord, if you truly wish to keep your mate safe, you may need to make even your own father your enemy."

Lucien’s eyes widened at Roger’s revelation, and he spat out sharply, "Blasphemous, isn’t it, Roger? Are you certain of what you speak?"

Roger rose from his kneeling position and inclined his head in a slight bow, his hands clasped neatly against his thighs. "My Lord, you must not forget my father’s occupation before his demise. He was the royal archivist of the Great Wolf Kingdom. I have read countless books and listened to many histories from him. I know our past as well as the back of my hand."

He hesitated briefly before asking, "My Lord... are you truly certain that he is human?"

That question made Lucien close his eyes. Memories surged forward, vivid and impossible to ignore. When he opened them again, his voice was slow and deliberate.

"I cannot forget the sight I witnessed that day—something strange, yet alluring, something that called to me. His skin was bare, smooth, without fur. It was succulent, soft, almost milky in appearance. His eyes were black." Lucien paused, his breath uneven. "That alone was something I had never seen before. Tigerbeasts have brown eyes. We wolves have blue. Serpents green. Foxes blue or white. But never have I encountered black eyes. I was mesmerized by them."

As he spoke, Lucien seemed to fall into a trance, reliving that moment with unsettling clarity. When he finished, he nodded slowly. "So unless there exist races unknown to me in this beast world, then he must be human or something very close to it."

"He is human," Roger said plainly, his tone sharp and unwavering. "The description you gave aligns exactly with them. Humans may possess different eye colors, but everything else fits. Their skin is bare, pale, and often milky."

Lucien inhaled slowly. "Then if we accept that he is human, how did I come to know him as my mate?"

His voice hardened. "My Lord," Roger added carefully, "it would be a great feat for you to stand against them should word of his existence ever spread."

"And I will not let them know about him," Lucien said firmly.

Roger frowned slightly. "Do you mean to cage him?"

"Firstly," Lucien began, his tone resolute, "I know he is my mate because I felt the mate pull—the one we feel upon finding our soulmate. You know this well. I was declared mate-less when I turned eighteen, and even at twenty-five, nothing had changed. So when I first laid eyes upon him, upon those then brown eyes, I was confused by the emotions that surged within me."

He clenched his fist slightly. "My wolf screamed mate, yet I tried to deny it. He was a tiger, or so I believed, and we are not kin. But denial only lasted so long. When I believed I was going to die, I asked to see him one last time."

Lucien’s voice softened. "That was when he healed me. And then I saw him change form. He had been using a beast veil—one that allows him to assume any form he desires."

"So, you asked about how I plan to keep him from everyone else knowing and trying to get to him. It’s quite simple, he’ll use that beast veil he has been using and disguise himself as a wolf."

"Hmmm..." Roger hummed at Lucien’s words.

The plan was attainable, but honestly, not something sustainable in the long term. Just as Lucien had unknowingly discovered that the boy was not a tigerbeast, others would eventually uncover the truth as well and realize he was human. Still, for now, it was doable, and Roger chose not to voice his doubts.

Instead, he said, "Then that isn’t bad, my Lord. If you can manage to disguise him properly before announcing him as your mate, it should save us all a great deal of trouble."

"Good," Lucien said, then asked, "So, have you obtained any information about him while I’ve been unconscious?"

"Yes, my Lord."

"Go on."

"Just as you suspected, it seems he isn’t dead. What I’ve also discovered is that someone from Prince Kenzie’s side was the one who took him to the dungeon. That means he might currently be with him."

Lucien’s eyes narrowed. "Are you implying that my brother might know he is my mate and took him for himself?"

"That depends," Roger replied carefully. "Which possibility do you mean?"

"Did he take him to keep him safe until I recovered and could retrieve him myself," Lucien asked slowly, "or did he take him with the intention of using him to harm me in return?"

"I would assume the latter," Roger said without hesitation. "Lord Kenzie is far too cunning. He will seize any opportunity that allows him to get close to you. I believe the boy is with him, and hopefully still alive and unharmed."

Lucien exhaled. "Then will you do this for me? Investigate my brother."

As he spoke, Lucien leaned back more comfortably against the headboard. For the first time since regaining consciousness, the situation felt as though it was finally beginning to ease.

From their discussion, he now had a reason to attempt rest after the wound that had befallen his hand.

As Roger and Lucien concluded their conversation, the scene shifted to Aries, who had been left alone in the room after Kenzie departed, having already delivered everything he needed to say.

Seated on the large, soft bed provided for his recovery, Aries let out a long sigh, sinking into its warmth. Only then did he finally focus fully on the system notification hovering before him.

The first words that left Aries’ mouth were sharp and bitter. "You deceitful creature!"

"How am I supposed to know you weren’t sent to destroy me?"

The system’s voice chimed calmly. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

[Host, sometimes you make me remember that you aren’t nearly as meek and gentle as I once thought. First, I was greedy and a thief, and now you call me deceitful? What have I done this time to earn the wrath of such a vengeful host?]

The system spoke with infuriating innocence, which only caused Aries’ anger to boil over further. With clenched teeth and a pounding heart, he spat, "You were the one who advised me to sign that contract. You told me to follow Kenzie’s bidding. And now you’re the same one giving me a mission to abolish the very contract I just signed. If that isn’t deceitful, then what is? You trapped me."

[Oh... so that’s it.]

Rather than responding with the apologetic tone Aries had expected—one that might have soothed him even slightly, the system sounded almost arrogant, as though it were deliberately provoking him.

Aries could only seethe as the events replayed in his mind, over and over again.

Finally, the system spoke more reasonably.

[Host, you need to be patient. I have not disrupted your plans in any way. On the contrary, I have found a method that allows you to kill two birds with one stone.]

"And how is that?" Aries snapped. "Because all I see is a trap."

[That is because you are not thinking clearly at the moment.

Anyway, you recall that I mentioned you could terminate the contract once everyone witnesses Lucien sleeping with a tigerbeast, correct?]

[That means the contract’s effective range ends at the moment they are caught in the act—not during the punishment phase. You are free to alter the consequences that follow.]

[After that point, you can speak freely. The contract will no longer bind you.]

"But..." Aries began, his thoughts spiraling. "Why don’t I just terminate the contract now?"

He frowned deeply. "It already seems nearly impossible. It might even require me to sleep with Lucien. So why not just cancel it entirely? That way, I complete the mission without risking anything."

The system paused briefly before responding.

[Unfortunately, Host... you cannot abort the contract.]