Arren was correct. It was complete nonsense. How could the victim be denied the opportunity to see their perpetrators if they so desired? Spade simply didn't want them to meet.
"Rules were rules. You are not allowed to know his whereabouts, let alone meet him," he said firmly, leaving no room for argument. What he said was ridiculous even for him, but he didn't like the fact that the omega was meeting that bastard.
Arren was going insane with these rules, like fuck the rules. He couldn't say anything. Who made these damn policies? He had already knitted his brows and was about to tear his hair to make sure it wasn't a dream. He didn't believe it in the least.
"Are you playing with me?" he asked, gritting his teeth in annoyance. This investigator couldn't be joking with him, could he?
"Why should I?" the alpha asked innocently as if everything he said were true. Even his calm demeanor couldn't save the situation. Arren was completely unable to read his thoughts.
He sighed dejectedly. They were going in circles, and he knew the investigator wouldn't tell him anything no matter what he asked, which enraged him. He immediately comes up with numerous countermeasures.
Then he had an idea for a devious plan in his head. He smiled playfully once again, making one think that the angry omega just then was an illusion. He certainly shifted his mood quickly. He was always quick to adapt to new situations.
"Your phone," he said as he extended his hand. He smiled and waited for the alpha's phone.
"Why?" the alpha asked, perplexed as to why he was demanding his phone. Arren didn't mind though and just grinned widely.
"Let us exchange phone numbers," at some point, he was already closer to the alpha than before. It's gotten to the point where Spade could clearly smell the omega's pheromones. "So, you can keep me updated on the investigation," he smiled, showing his white teeth. He was obviously pleased with the plan he devised.
"Why should I?" said the alpha, furrowing his brows.
Arren's lips twitched, and he began to chant to himself that he needed to calm down. This alpha was clearly irritating him. Even so, the smile on his lips didn't fade.
"Have you heard the saying, 'Human is alive, but the rule is dead?' You know..." his soft voice suddenly became alluring.
He got closer and closer to the alpha until he was only an arm's length away from him. With his enchanting voice, he began persuading this difficult investigator. He was quite confident in it; he had used it numerous times to dupe people, and it had never failed him.
"No one would know anyways. I can get some information from you and you'll get a favor from me, and I tell you, a favor from a noble like me carries a lot of weight. It's a win-win situation, right?" Regardless of what Arren thinks of it, it was a brilliant plan. He was confident that no one would refuse such an offer.
Officials these days weren't as completely loyal as in ancient times, and some of them have a side job. They could avoid punishment as long as the offense was not serious.
Spade was speechless; he tried hard not to smile because it was so ridiculous that someone was discussing rule-breaking in front of him, the emperor. It was just an amusing sight.
Arren patiently awaited the investigator's response. Sure enough, even this hardheaded investigator couldn't refuse him. Perhaps he was captivated by his beauty? Because of this narcissistic thought, he internally laughed.
The investigator took his phone from his pocket and handed it to Arren, who gratefully accepted it. The phone was also one of the most recent models, similar to his phone; it did not have a password, and he easily opened it. The home screen was the default one, but he didn't mess with it too much. In any case, it was not his phone.
Like as he had intended. He shamelessly dialed his phone number so that the number would be saved on his phone. He returned the phone to the alpha, satisfied.
Spade was fascinated by Arren's beauty, but that wasn't the reason why he agreed to the omega's request. He did so primarily because he thought he was an interesting individual. Everything about the omega continues to entice him. He was interested in learning more about him.
He was used to everyone he met instantly recognizing him and displaying a respectful demeanor whenever they saw him. It was the first time someone spoke to him so boldly without regard for his status, given that Arren had no idea who he was. But that was one of the points, Arren didn't know him. It was unbelievable, but the omega didn't appear to be faking it.
It was especially amusing how every time they met, the omega mistook him for someone else, first for his driver and now for an investigator. Spade wasn't sure, but he did follow his instincts. He just went with the flow and pretended as the investigator. What would happen if the omega found out the truth? He would just think about it later.
"I'll send you a message later; make sure to reply, okay?" Arren threatened. He stared at him straight and his phoenix eyes narrowed into a slit.
Perhaps the alpha didn't take his threat seriously. He simply took his phone and shrugged.
"If I'm not busy," the investigator said without waiting for his reaction and began walking away.
Arren reacted slowly and did not intervene to stop the investigator. He only watched his back until the alpha was out of his sight, so not a gentleman! He thought.
He returned to the couch and relaxed his muscles by leaning his back against it. His attention was not on the television, but on the alpha who had just left. Then he had a flash of insight. His phone was confiscated by his father. How was he supposed to contact the alpha? This time, he completely miscalculated.
Arren tried his luck on his father during dinner. He would cast a sidelong glance at his father, unsure when to strike up a conversation. He was always brave and bold, but when it came to his father, he would sometimes hesitate. It wasn't because he was afraid of being reprimanded; his father never reprimanded him harshly, and it was precisely for this reason that he was always careful with his words when speaking to his father.
He was aware of his father's love for him and would not hesitate to grant his wishes, even if they were nearly impossible. He was just being careful not to say anything carelessly, as he knew his father always listened to him.
The Duke noticed his hesitation right away. As he previously stated, his father had always been attentive to him.
As he looks at his son, the Duke places his fork down. While he couldn't claim to be able to read Arren like a book, as a father, he could say he knew enough about him to know that his son had something to say to him but wasn't sure where to begin.
"What is it?" the Duke decided to ask first, seeing how his son was struggling to form some words.
Arren was taken aback by this. His mouth pouted as he lowered his head. He swallowed the food he had been chewing on and raised his head to look at his father, who was sitting in the front seat. Their seats were right next to each other.
"Dad, can I get my phone back now?" he asked, his voice low and guilty. It was rare for him to speak in that tiny not so confident voice, even for his father. He waited for his father's response. He added hurriedly, "Dad, I'm grounded, anyway. And I'm so bored here, you know that I don't like watching shows or anything. I'm really 'gonna die of boredom, please, dad?" He pleaded as he made his voice more pitiful, surely his father couldn't bear to see him act like this, right? He should have been persuaded enough, right?
He needed his phone back so he could contact that hot but annoying investigator; otherwise, his efforts would be futile. wasted in the end.
The Duke raised a corner of his lips, shrugged his shoulders, and resumed eating, which made Arren despair. His father's lack of reaction simply indicates that he had no intention of returning his phone. It can't be. He needed his phone.
"Dad, please? I need my phone," he begged earnestly. He'd never needed his phone more than he did now.
His father raised an eyebrow at his son's unusual reactions.
"Why? Who would you contact? Those so-called friends of yours?" Arren was stunned by the Duke's unexpected question. When he didn't respond, the Duke continued. "Listen, son, I never interfered with your affairs or who you wanted to make friends with, but that doesn't mean I wasn't concerned; this incident made me open my eyes and regret not protecting you enough."
Hearing his father's solemn voice, Arren became even more silent. Arren couldn't refute it, so he just let his father express his feelings.
"I admit it was partly my fault; I thought I was already doing my best as a father, but I guess I still failed. You almost..." the Duke sighed heavily before continuing.
"You are not allowed to contact those friends of yours, and I will not be returning your phone any time soon; from now on, you will have your bodyguards with you wherever you go; and you are still not allowed to go out; I have already made a compromise with your school, allowing you to study and learn online for the time being until we are certain that the threat has been removed." His father was firm. His solemn and determined expression confirmed this.
Arren was sullen. He wanted to argue, but he knew that even if he cried all day, he wouldn't be able to change his father's mind this time. He should have known that his stubborn personality was inherited from his father.
He didn't say anything and became distracted. He can't get his phone back now. His father was adamant about this, and his charm was useless in this situation. Not having his phone meant he couldn't contact that hot investigator, and that meant he couldn't ask for information from him. It was completely pointless.
The information and phone number of a potential boyfriend vanished in an instant. He couldn't help but be depressed. That Alpha is exactly his type; hopefully, he will return. It was very rare for him to be interested 'no. A potential partner had to be snatched up as soon as possible. Sigh. He hoped the alpha was still single.