"What…" Duke Aster Vio Viremont, head of the Purple House and Amethiel's father, asked slowly. "…is this?"
His gaze moved over his sons. All three of them.
Then it shifted to the large figure standing behind his youngest. A tall, broad shape with blond hair and bright red eyes.
And yet, Amethiel was smiling.
That familiar smile.
The one most people found unsettling. Borderline psychotic, even. But to Aster, it was unmistakable.
Adorable.
And very dangerous.
That smile was reserved for monsters. For creatures that Amethiel found fascinating.
Which meant the strange figure behind him, the one with claws and an aura Aster couldn't quite place, was not a man at all.
It was a creature.
That realization explained the sheer width of Amethiel's grin. It also explained the shame written all over his older sons' faces.
'But… it looks human?'
Before Aster could dwell on that thought, something else caught his attention. Something far more important.
"You're injured," Aster said sharply as he strode forward. He cupped Amethiel's face without hesitation. "When I was told you were missing, I had a terrible feeling. Now I know why."
He turned to Hyacinthe and Lilior, his expression darkening.
"What happened to your brother?"
The two exchanged a look, clearly struggling to find the right words. Aster's concern twisted quickly into something far more dangerous.
If someone had harmed his youngest, human or otherwise, Aster would make sure they paid.
Then Amethiel let out a nervous laugh.
"Well… when I saw a strange flying creature, I followed it. And I may or may not have… not watched where I was going. And then I kind of… tripped… on that."
He pointed behind him.
The creature looked at Amethiel, tilting its head with quiet curiosity.
"And then tell Father why you also have cuts on your arms, Amie," Hyacinthe added, crossing his arms.
Amethiel forced a laugh again. Awkward.
"Hahaha… hahaha…"
"What happened?" Aster asked. The concern was still there, but dread now crept into his tone. Because of course.
Of course it was Amethiel who somehow managed to injure himself while monster hunting by tripping.
"Well…" Amethiel offered a small, familiar smile. The one he used whenever he was about to get scolded. "My brothers thought this very unique, very fascinating creature was human and were about to attack it. I had to protect it. And then I also ended up… falling."
"I—"
Aster stopped himself and pressed a hand to his forehead.
Beside Amethiel, his two older sons snickered.
"Oh, Amie," Aster said, looking down at his youngest, who offered him a sheepish smile. "When are you going to stop going insane and risking your life just to chase monsters? We have guards for that. We have Johnson."
"But Father, Johnson doesn't know anything," Amethiel replied. "He's old in age, yes, but the wisdom is not quite there."
"Offense not taken, Your Grace," Johnson said from behind Aster.
Amethiel ignored him completely, which made Aster cover his face again.
"Oh, Amethiel. When are you going to learn?"
"Father…" Amethiel's tone softened as he stepped closer and gently placed a hand on Aster's forearm. "…I truly am sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. But this monster…"
He gestured toward the humanoid creature behind him. "It might be my breakthrough. I overexerted myself, I admit that. But please don't scold me too much."
And there it was.
The eyes.
Amethiel's neon green eyes widened just slightly, shimmering with carefully crafted regret.
It was Aster's weakness.
Amethiel knew it.
And Aster knew Amethiel knew it.
But still—
"Hah. Fine," Aster sighed. "I will let it go this time. However, I am going with you to your laboratory. I know you banned all of us from entering, but I will personally make sure that this monster is secured properly."
Amethiel's eyes sparkled even brighter.
"Not a problem at all, Father! You truly are the best father ever!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms around Aster.
Of course, Aster hugged him back.
Behind Amethiel, however, Aster caught the narrowed stares of his older sons as they rolled their eyes.
'As if the two of you have never bent the rules for him,' Aster thought, giving them a look that clearly said, 'Judge me again once you have a son as adorable as Amethiel.'
Then again, they never would.
The real reason Hyacinthe and Lilior judged him was simple.
They couldn't say no to Amethiel either.
"Yipee!"
Amethiel's excitement reached its peak.
He practically squealed.
Before anyone could stop him, he rushed toward the creature, eyes shining as if he had just been handed the greatest gift in the world.
That alone made Aster feel… strange.
This monster was not like the others.
It did not look small. Or contained. Or harmless in the way the previous ones eventually became, though it did not seem dangerous at the same time.
It stood tall.
As if it was actually human.
And it was watching everything.
Amethiel specifically.
The monster almost did not tear its eyes away from Amethiel unless someone went near him or spoke.
Amethiel reached it and grabbed the chain wrapped around the creature's wrist. Aster hadn't even noticed the restraint until now.
It hung loosely, clinking as some of the chains hit each other.
"Come with me," Amethiel said brightly, tugging the chain.
He did not need to pull hard though.
The creature followed.
Obediently.
'It follows him,' Aster thought, unease creeping into his chest. 'Not the chain. Him.'
That was new.
No loud squealing.
No claws scratching on the floor.
It wasn't trying to get free.
Nothing.
Aster exhaled slowly and gestured for his other sons to move.
Hyacinthe and Lilior exchanged a look, then followed with visible reluctance.
"Return to your posts," Lilior told Johnson and the other knights. "We will handle this."
Johnson hesitated. "Shouldn't we accompany you, Your Grace? This isn't like…any other monster the little grace has ever brought."
"No," Aster replied calmly. "No need."
Johnson looked like he wanted to argue, but one look from Aster ended the discussion.
'If anyone else steps into that laboratory, Amethiel will lose his mind,' Aster thought. 'And I would rather not deal with that today.'
So it was just the four of them.
Father. Three sons.
And a monster walking quietly behind the youngest.
As they entered the main halls of the estate, servants paused mid-step. Maids carrying trays froze. Footmen went pale.
A whisper rippled through the corridor as eyes landed on the massive humanoid creature bound to Amethiel's leash.
"What is that…?"
"Is that…little grace's new…pet?"
"Isn't that a man?"
"Is it?"
Some looked frightened.
"What's important is not to look."
"Don't look at it."
"It's giving me shivers."
"It's revolting."
Some looked ready to faint.
Aster could only offer them a polite, reassuring smile as they passed.
'Pretend this is normal,' he repeated the same thing he repeats to their staff every single time Amethiel brings home a new pet. 'It is not the strangest thing this house has seen.'
Well…
Anyways.
Amethiel walked ahead proudly, limping slightly but grinning all the same, the chain loose in his hand.
The creature followed without resistance.
Without sound.
Without breaking its gaze from Amethiel.
Aster noticed that too.
He noticed everything.
And as they approached the doors to Amethiel's room, which led to the forbidden laboratory below, a quiet thought settled heavily in his mind.
'It's been awhile since I have visited his laboratory.' He sighs. 'I do hope it's better now than…the last time I saw it.'
"We're almost there!" Amethiel exclaimed brightly to the monster as he pushed open the doors to his room.
His room was the largest in the manor.
'Clean as always.' Aster noted.
It was spotless. It always was. After the maids finished cleaning, Amethiel would clean it again himself. As if he did not trust dust to stay gone unless he personally chased it away.
Everything was arranged perfectly. Not a book out of place. Not a speck on the floor.
Amethiel hurried toward the large portrait hanging on the far wall. It was painted when he turned eighteen. In it, he stood holding a skull, his expression somber and distant.
An odd choice for a portrait.
But Amethiel had insisted.
To keep strangers away.
If anyone dared to step into his room, they would never guess what lay beyond it.
Because his laboratory…
"Welcome to your new home!" Amethiel beamed at the monster as he grabbed the side of the portrait frame and pulled.
The painting swung open like a door.
A hidden passage revealed itself.
"Ugh. I really don't like going in there," Lilior muttered.
"Amie's laboratory gives me the creeps," Hyacinthe added quietly.
"Grow up. You are both adults," Aster said, though his eyes remained fixed on Amethiel stepping into the passage, the monster following without resistance.
'As if I enjoy it any more than they do,' Aster thought.
He felt the familiar chill settle in his bones the moment he crossed the threshold.
"Let's go," Aster said, following them inside.
The atmosphere changed immediately. Gone were the elegant walls and polished floors of Amethiel's bedroom. In their place stood stone walls, rough and cold.
The only light came from torches fixed along the sides, their flames flickering and casting long shadows.
"From now on, you'll be living here," Amethiel said cheerfully to the monster. "We're going to have so much fun."
Fun.
Aster inhaled slowly.
The reason he disliked this place was not only the darkness or the smell of alchemy in the air.
It was what filled the room.
Cages lined the walls.
Large ones. Small ones.
Inside them, monsters shifted and watched.
Some growled.
Some screeched.
Some made strange, clicking noises that echoed through the chamber.
In the center stood a steel table fitted with restraints. Shelves nearby were filled with bottles and strange liquids in every imaginable shade.
Aster looked away.
"Little ones!" Amethiel called out excitedly, stepping deeper inside. "Meet the newest member of our family!"
More noises answered him.
"Raaah… raaah!"
"Kriii… krii…"
"Tchk! Tchk!"
The sound of it all pressed against Aster's ears.
"Alright, Amie," Aster said gently. "Now that you've secured your new pet, your brothers and I will take our leave."
Lilior and Hyacinthe both looked pale.
"Alright, Father! Don't expect me for dinner!" Amethiel replied brightly.
Aster glanced at him.
The smile was there again.
Wide.
Too wide.
The one reserved for monsters.
'Oh, how I love him so,' Aster thought, his chest tightening.
But no matter how much he loved his son, this place unsettled him.
Because Amethiel did not simply adore monsters.
He experimented on them.
He locked himself away in this cold chamber and studied them relentlessly.
It was disturbing.
It was cruel.
It was brilliant.
It was Amethiel.
"Very well, my son," Aster said softly. "As you wish."
He could never say no to him.