[85.16] Meeting The Creator

"Master. Felix's birthday party is set up how you requested."

Moni hummed in the body of Felix as he checked over documents.

Hank wanted to look over the documents, but was too afraid of being nosy. Moni caught this and spoke without lifting his eyes from the sheet, "Vira is trying to get into the Kingdom again. I might have to use the Duke to speak with the King."

Hank was encouraged by his response and peered over his shoulder, "Is it that serious?"

Moni pursed his lips, "It seems she's trying to create an insurrection and find her way back to the palace."

"How?"

"She's converting influential families. Someone approached Duke Newman recently." He leaned back in the seat with a smirk, "Or I should say my puppet."

"Do you know the families who have accepted?"

"Not all of them, which is why I decided to invite so many to determine who else has strayed. One family is obvious-" He tossed the papers onto his desk which held the sketch of Cyrus's aunt and uncle. Moni snarled, "That d*mn family has always been loyal to Vira. They are the spawn of that evil man- urg!"

Moni leaned forward holding his head. The shadows twisted at his feet as he dug his nails into his head.

"M-Master! Are you okay?"

"He's… He's screaming… Get Felix ready for the party."

The body in front of Hank suddenly relaxed, "Master?"

The small boy turned up his head to look at Hank with tears in his eyes, "He-He LEEEEEEEEFT!"

Hank let out a sigh and bent over to pick up the sobbing boy. As he carried him down the halls rubbing his back, Hank was reminded that his Master had the body of a child.

He sometimes forgot since his Master was so calm.

After taking Felix back to his room, Hank diligently prepared the boy as was asked. As soon as he finished, the sobbing ceased. Hank looked up and saw the dull eyed look staring back at him, "...Master, you've returned."

Moni stepped away from him, readjusting his cuffs, "Just in time, luckily. Hank, I want you to stay in the shadows today and watch for anything suspicious."

"And what about me?"

Felix turned to see the Duchess leaned against the wall glaring at him.

He smirked, "Watch Priscilla. Isn't that your job?"

Her expression turned taut, "I'm not a babysitter."

Moni chuckled playfully, "No, you're her mother."

Rose felt her cheeks flush, "Who said I was her mother!?!"

"Mother mother mother!" As if on cue, Priscilla rushed into the room without knocking, "AH! Big brother! You look so nice!"

Moni reached out to squeeze her cheeks, "And you look so cute!"

She giggled and bashfully pushed his hands away, "Big Brother, stoooop. You'll smear my makeup."

Moni paused, "...Makeup? Why are you wearing makeup?"

"Because everyone wears makeup to these events! Even the men!"

Moni's face twitched, "Who said that?"

"Mother did!"

Moni looked over at Rose who was disguised as the Duchess, "Oh really? Are you sure Mother doesn't want to just play dressup and put you in makeup for fun?"

Rose flushed and crossed her arms, "I-I do not! Nobles are obsessed with appearances even from an early age!!!"

Priscilla flipped her golden curls, "That's why Mother did my hair really nice. Do you like it brother Felix?"

"Yes, yes. It's really nice." 

Her eyes sparkled, "Really really?"

He nodded, "Yes really really."

"How much?"

"Alot."

She held her hands out, "This much?"

"Sure."

She widened her hands, "Or THIS much?"

"...Yes."

"Or-"

Moni quickly had the Duke enter to break the conversation, "Okay, my beloved children. The party is starting soon and the guests have begun to arrive. Let's go greet them."

"Daddy!!!" Priscilla jumped into his arms, "Did Felix get a big cake?"

They started walking out, "He got an entire dessert spread. It's far better than just one big cake."

"Is it better than cousin Nicholas? Because we need to be better than that. Brother is far better than him."

"Priscilla, it's not a competition."

"Of course it is! It's a major competition!!! And Brother Felix is winning!"

Moni scowled as he continued to control the Duke who was trying his best to entertain Priscilla. Seeing Moni being tortured, Rose snickered and slunk off to avoid having to babysit. Moni noticed this, but could only let out a sigh.

After all this time, his sister still couldn't handle large crowds.

Once they entered the main room, the Duke put her down. "Priscilla, your friends have already arrived. Go play with them."

"But I want to stay with Big Brother on his birthday!"

"Felix has to greet guests, he doesn't have time to play with you."

"But-"

"-Young Lady. You won't be allowed cake if you disobey."

She puffed out her cheeks, "Fiiiine."

She gave Felix a big hug before running off to her friends. Moni and the Duke simultaneously breathed out a sigh of exhaustion. They both quickly got into character and started speaking to the guests one by one.

Although the conversations were dull and boring, Moni endured it for the sake of intelligence gathering. As he shook each hand, he dabbled a bit of corruption into them. After reading their memories, he quickly pulled back before anyone could figure out that anything was amiss.

Just as he was getting bored, Moni noticed Reika and Zephyr through the crowd and made a beeline towards them. He was feeling a bit exhausted from the effort he was putting in, not only maintaining the servants and the Duke, but also probing every noble who walked in.

He finally reached the group, "Reika! You made it."

"I did. Can you show me to the buffet table?"

Zephyr nodded quickly, "Yes! Where is that?"

He laughed, "I can show you. Are you sure you don't want to find Cyrus?"

"No. I'm hungry. The snowman didn't let me eat breakfast this morning."

The Headmaster spoke in a low voice, "If you need me just-"

"Yeah, yeah. I will just call you on the bracelet. Don't panic and go have fun."

Moni led Hazel, Zephyr, and Reika away feeling an uncomfortable stare piercing his back, "Will he be alright? He looked a little stiff."

"He's always stiff. It's good for him to attempt socialization."

When the buffet table came into view, Reika's and Zephyr's expression lit up as they started to drool.

Hazel panicked, "W-Wait! You can't just eat the food presented at a banquet! It's considered bad manners-"

Moni felt a twinge of irritation and, while still maintaining his smile, cast her a careful look.

First, Reika reminded him of his Master.

Now…

Why was Hazel reminding him of someone else?

Reika puffed out her chest proudly, "You can't eat manners, but you can eat steak!"

Moni decided not to think about it too deeply and nodded with a smile to agree with her. He watched as they soon started shoving their faces without a care in the world. As they did so, a servant under his control got word that the King had arrived and was in another room. He quickly checked the Duke's memories for proper protocol then sent the Duke off to greet him.

Hazel's voice brought him back to the conversation, "Please forgive us, Young Master Felix! We are making a mockery of your party…"

Moni laughed joyously, "On the contrary, this was boring until now. I'm tired of dealing with stuck-up aristocrats."

Reika and Zephyr both nodded vigorously with full mouths.

Moni waved to them both, "I have to go greet a few more guests, but feel free to help yourselves to the food."

Zephyr shoved three chicken legs into his mouth, "One step ahead of you!"

Moni laughed before shaking his head and turning to leave. As he walked through the banquet hall, he felt less exhausted than before. He marked it up to the fact that whenever Reika was nearby, the voices got far more quiet.

In another place, the Duke met the King who was grinning ear to ear.

"Ah, so you're the new Duke Newman."

"My King, we have already met. Did you forget me already?"

"Hm? We've met? But I don't think I've met the real you."

Moni started to have an uncomfortable feeling in his chest.

The Duke responded calmly, "What do you mean?"

"What's your real name?"

"Your Highness-"

The King pursed his lips, "Don't pretend to be clueless. I know this body is being controlled by a demon elsewhere. I also know that whoever that demon is, he's pretty strong since he's also controlling all of the servants while also possessing a body at the same time."

Moni's eyes flashed orange in anger. He looked to the ground to hide it from the nobles surrounding him before excusing himself to a private area. He glanced around to make sure no one was watching and snuck out through the shadows.

Moni suddenly appeared beside the King and grabbed his hand, twisting it, "How do you know I'm a demon?"

The King buckled under his pressure and cried pitifully, "Because I'm their father!!!"

Moni raised an eyebrow, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"I-I'm Elam! I'm the one Vira wants to kill! I created demons centuries ago!!" He paused and added with a smirk, "Well I still occasionally create some."

"Ah, so you're the cheating bastard Vira always talked about." 

"Hey, hey hey. I may love the company of women, but I would never cheat. When we were together in our relationships, I always stayed faithful."

He released him from his grip, "I never imagined you would become the King of the Kingdom she worked to establish."

He rubbed his wrist with a playful smirk, "Someone once told me the best hiding place is in plain sight. And what better place than her beloved Palace? She's caused me so many heart attacks over these years, I barely had the opportunity to enjoy my time with the ladies. So if she can ruin the things I enjoy, why can't I ruin the things she enjoys?"

Moni looked him up and down, "How did you become King?"

"Oh this? I'm possessing this body." Smoke poured out of his body as a man suddenly jumped out, "I only possess dead people. This guy was poisoned by his enemies and I thought, hm. A King sounds fun to play. I haven't tried that yet."

Moni stared at the likeness of the individual and muttered, "How… How did you create demons?"

He answered unabashedly, "I supplied the necessary ingredients to the women."

"...You had them as children!?"

"That's one way of putting it."

"How many children have you had?"

"Over the last 1000 years or eons? Either way, too many to count."

"Have you ever taken care of any of them!?"

"No. Why would I do that? My genes are already a gift."

"...So you're just a deadbeat."

Elam opened his mouth to refute, but then changed the subject, "So why did you take over the Newman family?"

Moni narrowed his eyes, "That's not any of your business."

"Oh come on!" He pulled him over as if they were best friends, "I told you my secret! Maybe I could help you with whatever you need."

Moni scowled as he looked at the arm draped over his shoulder, "Why would you help me?"

"Well… To be honest, I'd like to make a deal." 

Moni lifted up an eyebrow, "A deal?"

"You seem to be the strongest demon I've ever created. So I want to propose an alliance. Protect me from Vira, and I will help you with anything you need."