"Did you miss me, my loves?" Lucius cooed, his voice dripping with warmth as he crouched beside a beast that looked like a cursed fusion of a wolf and a scorpion. The creature let out a guttural howl, its serrated tail curling in delight as it licked his face with a disturbingly forked tongue. Lucius merely smiled, unbothered.
Alexia, standing at a very safe distance, eyed a nearby creature—something between a pig and a dragon, its scales glinting in the dim light. So this is what they call a Drago Pig...
"This is your surprise?" she asked, warily stretching a hand toward its curved horns.
"Yes, sister. Would you like a liger?"
Alexia froze mid-petting. "A what?"
Lucius turned, golden eyes practically glowing. "A liger. A mix between a golden lion and a flaming tiger. It took me three years to find it."
His tone was casual, as if he hadn't just admitted to tracking a literal monster across continents for years like it was a mild hobby.
Alexia, staring at the writhing, mythical creatures that absolutely should not exist, exhaled slowly.
"Lucius, do you ever hear yourself speak?"
Lucius paid no mind to her, his fingers already undoing the latch.
The moment the cage door swung open, a massive beast lunged forward, knocking him to the ground. Clawed paws pressed against his chest, a low, rumbling growl vibrating through the air.
Lucius didn't resist. If anything, he looked pleased.
Alexia's heart stuttered.
"Inferno," Lucius murmured, his voice soft. "That's enough."
The liger hesitated, muscles tensing before its claws flexed. A sharp slash, a clean tear against Lucius' arm.
Blood welled, dark and rich.
Lucius barely blinked. Instead, he sighed, stroking Inferno's mane with a touch so gentle, so adoring, it sent a shiver down Alexia's spine.
"Just this once," he whispered, watching as the beast bent down, lapping at the open wound. "You can't do this after today."
Inferno rumbled deep in its throat, but after a few more slow, deliberate licks, it stepped back, towering over Lucius like a guardian.
Alexia finally found her voice. "What the hell was that?!"
Lucius tilted his head, as if confused by her reaction. "Oh, I raised him on my blood," he said, like it was the most natural thing in the world. "It made him stronger. More unique. Rare things deserve priority, don't you think? A little sacrifice is worth it to keep them safe."
His fingers trailed over Inferno's fur, eyes gleaming with something unsettlingly tender.
Alexia wasn't sure who the real beast was anymore.
Lucius ran a hand through Inferno's thick mane, his voice patient. "Inferno, this is your new master."
Alexia instinctively stepped back as the liger let out a deep, rumbling growl.
Lucius sighed. "Inferno, we talked about this." His fingers traced soothing circles against the beast's fur.
The liger huffed, muscles still tense.
"There comes a time in a man's—" Lucius paused. "Or cat's—life when you must leave the nest for greater things." His golden eyes gleamed with something unreadable. "Inferno, Alexia is my most rare and precious…"
A hesitation. A long one.
"…sister," he finally murmured, the word slow, deliberate, almost reluctant. "She's my precious sister."
His gaze lingered on Inferno, but Alexia wasn't sure if he was convincing the liger or himself.
Lucius placed a hand over Inferno's mane, his voice soft but firm. "Protect her in my stead. But don't die."
Inferno let out a ground-shaking roar—only to suddenly shrink into a sleek black cat.
Alexia blinked. Stared. Then slowly pointed at the now very unimpressed feline licking its paw. "Lucius… my birthday gift is him?!"
Inferno's ears flattened, his fur bristling as he hissed at her like she was the insult to his existence.
Lucius, entirely unbothered, scooped the cat into his arms and cradled him with a fond sigh. "Yes, isn't he precious? I raised him since he was a cub. How time flies."
Before Alexia could protest, Lucius unceremoniously stuffed the wriggling cat into her arms, startling both of them.
Inferno yowled. Alexia nearly dropped him.
Lucius just smiled.
Like he hadn't just handed her a tiny, furious war god in disguise.
Lucius exhaled sharply. "Now that's done. Let's not dwell on this."
The second Inferno left his hands, his fingers twitched—just a little. His body went unnaturally stiff, like a man holding back an instinct he didn't fully understand. Before Alexia could comment, he turned on his heel and walked away. Not just walked—fled.
Alexia blinked, lifting Inferno to eye level. The sleek black cat stretched lazily in her grip before meeting her gaze with something smug. Then—a slow, deliberate "Meow."
Oh, this little demon knows exactly what he's doing.
Alexia narrowed her eyes. "Listen here. My roof, my rules."
Inferno's tail flicked, his smirk practically audible.
Undeterred, she dropped the arrogant feline onto the floor and promptly escaped. She wasn't about to lose a staring contest to a cat—especially not one that used to be a whole-ass liger.
Behind her, Inferno let out a low, rumbling purr.
Somehow, she had the unsettling feeling that he had let her go.
Back in the opulent room, Alexia's eyes landed on the lavish spread of food—and Lucius, smiling at her like he hadn't just casually bled all over his last shirt.
She flicked a glance at his arm. The wound was gone, but the bloodstains and shredded fabric told another story.
Velrith, completely unbothered, was fussing over a selection of shirts, holding them up eagerly. Lucius, however, barely spared him a glance as he stepped forward.
"Sister, I recall you haven't eaten yet. Would you do me the honor of joining me for breakfast?"
Alexia ignored his outstretched hand and sank into a chair.
Lucius paused, his lips twitching ever so slightly before his warm smile returned—just a fraction too smooth.
They ate breakfast in silence. Well—she ate. Lucius, on the other hand, just watched her with unnerving fascination.
Alexia was pretty sure she was eating like a normal person, so what exactly was so interesting?
At some point, Inferno had materialized at the table, comfortably perched beside Lucius and shamelessly helping himself to his plate.
Alexia's eye twitched as she watched the greedy feline. Am I supposed to feed this bottomless pit?
Inferno, sensing her gaze, flicked an ear in her direction, scoffed, and continued his feast.
Lucius's smile only widened as he began placing several items onto the table—a thick book, an onyx jar, and a small cage.
He lifted the book first. "This is Inferno's care manual—his likes, tendencies, dislikes, blood type, preferred environment, genetic variation…" He trailed off when he noticed her expression.
"…And some other things," he amended smoothly, sliding the book toward her.
He gestured toward the jar. "This is filled with my blood—for reward purposes."
Then, finally, the cage. "And these," he said, voice as pleasant as ever, "are just a few creatures Inferno likes to…play with."
Alexia, fork frozen mid-air, slowly turned to the smug black cat.
Inferno licked his paw, utterly unbothered.
Before Alexia could respond, a maid gracefully bowed and spoke.
"Your Highness, the Queen requests your presence immediately."
Lucius sighed, setting his utensils down with deliberate slowness.
"Sister, it seems my time with you has been cut short. I shall return after speaking with Mother."
Rising from his seat, he strode toward the door, his posture regal, his presence commanding.
Alexia barely spared him a glance, too busy glaring at Inferno—just as the smug little beast flicked a chunk of cheese onto her face.
She inhaled sharply. "Damn cat!"
Inferno simply licked his paw, looking thoroughly unbothered.
Alexia grabbed a handful of meat and hurled it at Inferno.
The beast smirked. Dodged. And retaliated.
A chunk of food smacked against her shoulder.
The maids gasped.
"Is this truly His Highness's sister? She fights like a common brute!"
"The prince is so charming. Did you see the way he smiled at me?"
"Smile? He held my hand."
A collective sigh. A dreamy giggle.
"No wonder the princess is kept hidden, while our prince will become the eternal sun."
They turned back to the chaos unfolding before them.
Alexia glared at the smug feline, brushing crumbs off her sleeve.
"The princess is losing," one of the maids murmured.
"To a cat," another whispered in disbelief.
A final, reverent sigh.
"Even His Highness's beasts are more refined than most nobles."
The mess only grew.
Sensing the pointed stares from the maids, Alexia stiffened, heat creeping up her neck. She turned her glare to the true culprit of this disaster—Inferno, who remained entirely unbothered, licking his paw like royalty.
A maid stepped forward, her tone perfectly poised. "Your Highness, would you like to freshen up?"
"Yes!" Another chimed in eagerly. "His Highness anticipated something like this would happen and arranged everything in advance."
"How thoughtful." One of the younger maids sighed dreamily—until a wave of judgmental glares, including one from Inferno, shut her down. She quickly straightened, clearing her throat.
Alexia exhaled, rubbing her temples. "Right. Thanks." She followed one of the maids, ignoring the whispers trailing behind her.
"Poor Highness, burdened with such an unruly sister."
"I know, right? Even we, as lesser noble daughters, carry ourselves with more grace."
Their hushed tones dripped with carefully restrained smugness.
Alexia didn't even bother turning around. She just clenched her fists.
Inferno flicked an ear. Judging.
***
"Mother." Lucius sighed, watching as the beautiful woman across from him arched a perfectly sculpted brow from her seat on the bed.
"Son." Astrid's brow lifted higher. "Are you normal?"
Lucius blinked. "Mother, what do you mean? You seem tense." He stepped forward, hands settling on her shoulders, kneading them with a practiced ease.
Astrid exhaled but didn't soften. "You missed your blind date."
"Mother—"
"You haven't touched any of the women I provided for you," she continued, voice as cold as ever, though her posture relaxed under his touch. Her crimson eyes sharpened. "And your bride died."
Lucius smiled. "I can explain—"
"You barely interact with any woman."
"But Mother, I do."
"Your polite mask doesn't count," she cut in. "Lucius, I raised you, but sometimes I don't understand you."
Lucius chuckled, fingers still working at the knots in her shoulders. "Isn't that the essence of your lessons, Mother?" He tilted his head slightly, golden eyes gleaming as they traced the long strands of peach hair cascading down her back—the same shade as his own.
"Besides, Mother—be unreadable, be polite, be charismatic, be their desire." Lucius whispered, his fingers weaving through her hair with practiced ease.
Astrid's brow twitched. "Lucius—"
"After all," he continued smoothly, "you and Father don't love each other, yet here I am." His eyes darkened for the briefest moment, but his lips remained curved in that ever-present smile.
"It'll all work out, one way or another." He paused, tilting his head slightly. "With you as the pivot."
Astrid's crimson gaze sharpened. "Lucius, do you want me to handle that little distraction of yours?"
His hands stilled for a fraction of a second before resuming their careful braiding.
She smiled, slow and knowing. "You forgot one lesson, my dear son. Never let your weakness be obvious enough for others to exploit."
She examined her red and gray nails idly, as though the conversation was of little consequence.
Lucius merely chuckled, but his grip on her hair tightened ever so slightly.
"So, you're still indulging in that little hobby of yours?" Astrid mused, her voice smooth and cold as she examined her polished nails.
Lucius' smile didn't waver. "Mother, I wasn't aware you took an interest." His tone was warm—too warm—but his fingers twitched, tugging on her hair just slightly.
Astrid's eyes flicked up. "Lucius—"
"Ah, my apologies, Mother. That was careless of me." His voice remained gentle, yet effortlessly smooth, as if the slip had never happened. "I was simply surprised. You never really asked before." He finished the last twist of her braid with practiced ease.
Astrid tilted her head slightly, crimson eyes unreadable. "You're my son."
Lucius met her gaze with a slow, knowing smile. "That I am, Mother."