Twice Claimed By the Monster I Abandoned. Chapter 18: Definitely Did Something

"So... Athiel, I heard sothing interesting from Johnson." Aster, Athiel’s father, spoke as soon as Athiel sat down.

Athiel tensed almost imdiately, his fingers pausing just above his utensils as he glanced at Johnson, who was seated at the table with them.

Because of Johnson, Athiel had to force himself to retire early from researching Kree’s sperm sample, just to make it to dinner.

Now, usually, he could skip dinner as long as he had brunch with them, or at least showed himself once a day, but tonight was different.

Tonight, he needed to stay on his father’s good side.

Again.

"What is it, Papa?" Athiel said, smiling innocently.

"Uh oh. Yeah, I already believe he did sothing bad. Amie never calls father ’Papa’ unless he does sothing wrong," Lilior pointed out as he took a sip of wine.

Hyacinthe snickered. "As if we needed that. The mont we heard Johnson’s complaint, I think we all already knew it was true."

"I’m right here, you know," Athiel said, narrowing his eyes at them.

"We weren’t exactly being discreet."

"You–"

"Amie," Aster said, his tone disappointed. "How could you force Johnson to attack you? Even for you, that’s quite reckless."

Athiel glanced at Johnson, who still wasn’t looking at him.

"I didn’t force him. Yes, I asked him to attack , but I reasoned with him."

"Your ’reasoning’ usually involves so kind of threat," Hyacinthe pointed out, making Athiel internally groan. "Which basically ans coercion."

"Can you not join in? This is a conversation between Papa and ."

’He always does this.’ No matter how old his brothers were, they still enjoyed teasing the hell out of Athiel.

"I’m the next head of the house and your older brother. This is a family conversation, we’re part of it," Hyacinthe shot back as he nudged Lilior. "Aren’t we?"

"Next head doesn’t an you’re the head. Sothing can still happen to you," Athiel said, narrowing his eyes.

"Scary," Lilior said with a small laugh. "See, father? The more we let Athiel roam free, the wilder he gets."

"Dad, father, Papa... my big brothers are being an to !" Athiel whined, more or less done with the teasing.

’They’re enjoying this too much,’ Athiel grumbled in his thoughts.

Aster sighed, glancing at Hyacinthe and Lilior, who both wore faint grins.

"You’re both adults. Don’t aggravate Amie further. We’re here to talk to him."

"Yes, Father," Hyacinthe said, and Athiel shot him a smug look.

"Of course, Father. We’re just concerned for our dear brother."

"And Athiel, do not deflect," Aster added, his voice turning firm. "The only reason I let you keep that thing is that I thought it would be like the rest. But you have never taken a monster out of your laboratory, and you certainly never asked Johnson or anyone for assistance, let alone had them attack you for research."

"But he consented—"

"It does not matter if he did. You, or he, could have been in grave danger," Aster said.

Across the table, Johnson nodded silently, and Athiel resisted the urge to glare at him.

"I know, Father. Really, I knew the risks. That’s why I ca prepared. I even prepared to save Johnson, and I did. That was being considerate," Athiel said with a small huff.

"Athiel Quartz Viremont."

The warning was imdiate.

Athiel frowned.

"Uh oh," Lilior muttered, glancing at Hyacinthe.

"He’s in real trouble now," Hyacinthe snickered.

’Very mature,’ Athiel thought, though his chest tightened slightly.

Aster rarely used his full na.

Only when he was truly disappointed.

"Daddy," Athiel said.

"Don’t do that. I’m speaking to you seriously, Athiel," Aster said, crossing his arms. "I won’t take away your passion or your hobbies, but do not involve others in it, and do not keep putting yourself in harm’s way. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Athiel said quietly, looking down as his fingers tightened around the napkin on his lap.

Athiel usually didn’t care what anyone said.

Not even his older brothers.

But when it ca to his father...

He cared.

He cared A LOT.

"I’m sorry," Athiel whispered, his lips trembling just slightly. "I’m sorry, Father. I promise it won’t happen again."

The whole table went silent.

Dead silent.

Even his brothers, who had been enjoying the scolding just monts ago, were now just staring at him.

Aster took a slow breath. "I appreciate your genuine remorse, Amie. I know you’re clever, and I would never take this away from you. I understand your fascination with monsters. Your mother was the sa. She was just as passionate."

"I know," Athiel whispered again.

He had heard it all growing up.

He had read everything.

His mother’s docunts, the records of the first monsters she helped the kingdom discover, even her personal notes.

Her diary entries.

All of it.

Just to understand who she was.

Because all Athiel truly had of her... was her face.

"Look, uh..." Hyacinthe suddenly spoke. "If you really need a guinea pig for this new monster of yours, you can just ask Lilior and ."

Athiel looked up at them.

Both Hyacinthe and Lilior gave him a small smile.

"Yeah, you don’t have to put our people in danger. We can handle it," Lilior added.

Aster nodded. "Use your brothers if they’re willing. Leave Johnson and the others out of it."

"I agree," Johnson said, raising his hand slightly, as if he were part of the discussion.

"Okay, Father. Okay, brothers... thank you," Athiel said, offering a small smile.

It was subtle.

But inside—

’That worked,’ Athiel thought.

He had felt his father’s disappointnt, yes.

But not enough to lose control.

He knew exactly when to soften his voice.

When to lower his gaze.

When to look just affected enough.

If it ant getting what he wanted, he would do it.

And this ti—

He did.

’Now my brothers have agreed to help ,’ Athiel mused quietly.

"Since that has been settled, shall we eat then?" Aster said.

Everyone nodded in agreent.

The maids moved quietly around the table, placing dishes one by one as if they had been waiting.

Plates were set.

Wine was poured.

The soft clink of cutlery followed soon after.

"Eat while it’s warm," Aster said, picking up his utensils.

Everyone followed.

Everyone except Athiel, at least at first.

He stared at his plate for a second before finally beginning to eat, his movents slower than usual.

Not because he had lost his appetite, but because his mind had already drifted elsewhere.

Back to the lab.

Back to Kree.

’Its behavior seems closer to a human,’ Athiel thought, absentmindedly cutting into his food. ’Based on what I’ve read, at least. The sample looks identical to a human’s, but I won’t be certain until...’

His brows furrowed slightly.

Hm.

Right.

Athiel needed a comparison.

’If that’s the case, then I need a baseline.’

He took another bite without really tasting it.

Human baseline.

That was the missing variable.

’I need to see the difference,’ he thought.

Across the table, his brothers had already fallen into conversation.

"Still no sign of him?" Lilior asked, leaning back slightly.

Hyacinthe shook his head. "None. It’s like he just vanished."

"A prince doesn’t just vanish," Lilior added. "Soone has to be hiding him."

"There are rumors," Hyacinthe continued. "So are saying he was never taken. That he left on his own."

"That’s ridiculous," Lilior scoffed. "Vaelor’s life is the envy of the ton."

"Is it?" Hyacinthe shrugged. "You know how people are, whether they’re royalty or not. He’s always been... a strange one."

Athiel didn’t look up.

But he heard every word.

’Missing prince...’ he noted vaguely. ’So that’s why my brothers have been busy.’

It didn’t concern him.

As long as they kept their word and acted as his test subjects, it didn’t matter.

His focus returned almost imdiately.

’Human sample,’ Athiel thought again, more firmly this ti. ’Where would I even get one?’

And then—

The most obvious answer surfaced.

Himself.

Athiel paused mid-motion, his fork hovering just above his plate.

’That would be the easiest,’ he realized. ’No variables. No contamination. Direct control.’

He blinked once.

Thinking.

’I’ve never properly... done it,’ he admitted to himself. ’Only once. And that was... inconclusive.’

He hadn’t understood the appeal back then.

He still didn’t.

But this wasn’t about appeal.

This was about research.

Athiel set his utensils down after finishing about half his food. It wasn’t even that good anyway.

"Father," he said, finally speaking up.

Aster looked at him. "Yes?"

"May I be excused?"

Aster studied him for a brief mont, then nodded. "Go ahead. Just rember what I told you."

"Thank you."

Athiel stood up.

Before leaving, he leaned slightly toward Aster and gave him a brief hug.

"Good night, Father. Good night, brothers."

Aster patted his shoulder. "Don’t stay up too late."

"I won’t."

Athiel pulled away and turned without another word.

His steps were quick, but his expression remained calm. His breathing stayed even. His heartbeat steady.

There was no anticipation.

If anything, there was only confusion.

’Now how am I supposed to do this?’