Twice Claimed By the Monster I Abandoned. Chapter 36: A Day Before The Ball

"We have so... doubts." Lilior says, taking a deep breath, and yep, just as Athiel thought, they were having "so" doubts just before the ball.

’Oh my fucking—’

The irritation hit him instantly.

It was sharp to the point where his head actually started aching.

Oh, Athiel was ready to rage. He could feel it rising in his chest, sitting right at the back of his throat, ready to spill out.

He was about to open his mouth, already preparing a string of profanities, because he was sick of this.

Sick of the doubts.

Sick of the hesitation.

Sick of them acting like he didn’t know what he was doing.

However, Hyacinthe imdiately covered his mouth, cutting him off before he could even get a single word out.

"Mhmf! Hmhp!" Athiel still tried to speak, his brows furrowing as he narrowed his eyes at Hyacinthe, glaring up at him with clear annoyance.

"Calm down. Let us speak. Don’t throw a tantrum yet, we just need more reassurance," Hyacinthe says seriously.

’Reassurance my ass, brother.’

That thought ca out harshly.

Crude even.

It didn’t sound like him.

Or at least, not like the version of him he showed others.

It was that part of him again.

The one that slipped out when he was tired. Or angry. Or both.

He grew up around Johnson and a few servants.

He learned how they spoke.

Rougher. Less polished.

More... honest.

There had been a ti when he copied them without thinking, repeating their words, their tone. It didn’t last long. His governess and tutors corrected him imdiately, drilling it out of him before it could stick.

Of course they did.

It wasn’t proper.

Looking back, he knew it was for the best.

But monts like this made it harder to keep that part buried.

Because sotis, when he couldn’t express himself properly, when the irritation built too much, he just wanted to speak like that.

To be blunt.

To be unfiltered.

Even if it was only in his mind.

"We’re not going to stop you, okay? We just want to say that now, just to be clear," Lilior says, placing a hand on Athiel’s shoulder, looking him directly in the eye.

Athiel didn’t shrug it off.

But he didn’t lean into it either.

He just stayed still.

Hyacinthe nods. "That’s right... it’s just..."

’It’s just?’ Athiel thought, still glaring at them, his patience thinning.

"The royal family... the king specifically, is still distraught. They’re still looking for Prince Vaelor, so they’re still tense," Hyacinthe explains. "It’s a miracle they even went through with this ball."

"Apparently, they’ve already spent so much, and it’s a ball where the common people can attend, so it’s understandable. And to be honest, they aren’t making Prince Vaelor’s disappearance widely known," Lilior adds.

"Yeah, considering they think he still left on his own. Prince Valiante isn’t even too concerned; it’s only the king who’s stressing about it."

Athiel rolls his eyes.

’Okay, so?’

Then, with all his strength, he pushes Hyacinthe’s hand away from his mouth so he could finally speak.

"What does that have to do with bringing Kree exactly?" he says, his voice sharper now, breathing properly again but clearly irritated.

"All we are trying to say is that we are risking a lot for you to bring that creature. Are you sure it’s well-behaved?" Hyacinthe says, placing both his hands on his hips with a sigh. "There will be commoners there, too. Our family na is on the line."

"Oh, so your problem is our reputation?" Athiel asks, furrowing his eyebrows.

There was a slight edge to his voice now.

Not loud, not aggressive, but sharp enough to make it clear he wasn’t pleased with where this was going.

"Yes, our family," Lilior says with a frown. "If that creature makes a ss, knowing we brought it there. If it attacks anyone—"

"It won’t," Athiel cuts in imdiately, crossing his arms against his chest.

There was no hesitation in him.

No doubt.

"It won’t attack anyone. It won’t even attack , no matter what I do," he continues, his tone firm, almost dismissive of the concern. "As long as no one is touching , going near , or attacking , it won’t do anything. It even knows how to dance, for king’s sake."

’Better than half the nobles attending, probably,’ he thought, a faint hint of smugness slipping through.

"And besides..." Athiel tilts his head, a confident smile forming on his face, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes but carried enough certainty to be convincing. "Who is ever going to complain about us?"

He didn’t wait for an answer.

"No one. Not even the royal family. Our family has done so much that we can ruin the economy if we want to."

The statent hung there.

It was bold.

Even for Athiel.

And very dangerous.

"But we won’t," Hyacinthe says pointedly, his tone firm, grounding.

"I know," Athiel replies easily, not even bothered by the correction. "But what matters is... we can."

His smile didn’t fade.

It stayed there, steady, controlled.

"So there’s no need to worry, brothers. I won’t bring Kree if I don’t think it’s ready."

He steps closer to them, closing the distance without hesitation, reaching out to grab each of their hands.

His fingers curled around theirs naturally, like this was sothing he had done a thousand tis before.

He looked up at them, smiling.

It was a gentle smile, ant to be convincing.

"My reputation is alone in the line, not just yours," he says softly. "If you think I won’t be selfless enough to think about what’s best for us..."

There was a brief pause.

Then—

"...then at least think I’m narcissistic enough not to put my own na in a bad light as a researcher."

’That should be enough,’ he thought, watching their expressions carefully.

"We don’t think you’re being selfish," Lilior says with a sigh, his shoulders relaxing just slightly. "We’re just really concerned. Okay?"

"We know you’re bratty, but we know you wouldn’t put us at risk," Hyacinthe adds, placing a gentle hand on Athiel’s head, his touch familiar, almost grounding as he caressed his hair.

For a mont, Athiel let himself stay still.

Didn’t pull away.

"If anything happens..." Lilior continues, his voice quieter now, more serious. "Even if we threaten this whole kingdom, if the royal family gets crossed with you and does anything, we wouldn’t be able to do anything."

That was the truth.

And they all knew it.

Athiel’s smile softened just slightly.

"Don’t worry, brothers," he says. "If anything, I might be building a good relationship with the royal family again... just like mother did."

’Or sothing far more interesting,’ he thought, his gaze flickering for just a second before settling again.

‧ . ‿̩͙⊱༻♕༺⊰‿̩͙ . ‧

Athiel walked back to his room, humming a soft tune.

It wasn’t loud.

Just enough for him to hear, sothing that lingered on his lips as he moved through the halls, his steps light, almost careless.

"Your grace, the tailor has sent word that your outfit for tomorrow’s ball will be delivered in an hour," Athiel’s maid, Cherry Pie, spoke as they walked beside each other. "The carriage you asked to be made is already here, if you would like to check."

"It’s okay, I’ll check it tomorrow," Athiel says, glancing at her briefly before looking ahead again.

His mind wasn’t on the carriage.

It wasn’t on the ball.

Not really.

"Your custom shoes will be arriving tonight. The shoemaker did send an apology for the delay, as he said he found new materials that would make your shoes even more elegant."

"As if people will be looking at my feet," Athiel says sarcastically, the corner of his lips twitching slightly.

Cherry Pie giggled softly at that.

"You know how he is, Your Grace," she says, and Athiel nods in agreent. "And then, I will bring your gem-coated leash for the monster along with the tea you requested."

They both stop just in front of Athiel’s door.

The quiet settles between them for a mont.

"Rember, Cherry Pie, bring it after two hours, no earlier, no later. Tell everyone I need privacy until the end; no one cos in and out of my room. Understood?"

His tone was calm.

But firm.

There was no room for mistakes.

"Understood." Cherry Pie smiles, bowing her head as she turns to walk away, leaving Athiel alone by his door.

Athiel smiles.

’I’m a little bit late today, but it’s fine.’

The thought ca easily.

Like this had already beco routine.

He opens his door, stepping inside, loosening the top button of his clothing almost imdiately, his movents practiced, absentminded.

Ever since Athiel’s self-discovery of liking tentacles...

Athiel had found himself with a new pasti.

Sothing he didn’t question.

Didn’t analyze the way he usually would.

At least once a day, Athiel would "play" with Kree after lessons and training.

It gave him more control.

More than anything else had.

And with that control ca sothing else.

Sothing quieter.

Sothing he didn’t fully put into words.

It made him feel... free.

’Strange,’ he thought, though there was no real confusion behind it. ’But useful.’

Athiel convinced himself that before the ball, this would be the last ti.

Because once the ball happened, once Kree was unveiled, the royal family might start getting involved.

And when that happened...

Things would change.

’So I might as well go all out tonight.’ Athiel thought, a small smile forming on his face as he walked further inside, making his way down toward his lab.