Chapter 8:Noisy Fox

"You guys seem to be familiar with each other." Said the mask man.

The kitsune immediately replied.

" Ah... We've only met here and fought those bandits. "

But it doesn't mean I'm letting my guard down. Act fool as they said, so you can know their real intention with you. Thought the kitsune.

These guys must know about those bandits. The way he acts earlier tells it all. He's also knowledgeable. He easily found out that I'm an exorcist. Judging just from my clothes isn't enough to tell that I'm an exorcist. Hah, this person must be something else. I wonder what race he was belong. I haven't asked his name.

"I see... Well then, thank you for helping my Lord on fighting those bandits. We'll take care of this matter now. " Said the mask man.

Will take care? Is he trying to say that I should get out from this business? Well I don't mind.

"Okay." Said the kitsune nonchalantly.

"Don't you have questions?" the highness said.

"No, it's none of my business. I don't stick my nose on other's lives. You said you'll take care of them, then I take that they are your people. I've never seen them on our hometown anyway, though I have many questions in my head but I can't give a shit about them can't I?"

" I see... It's good to hear that. as I could see people from blood moon empire doesn't really change." Said the mask man

" What do you mean? " Said the kitsune.

" Do you guys know about this issue?" Said the mask man.

Should I tell the truth? It's true that we don't know about these bandits selling vampires for money. Well it won't hurt to tell the truth doesn't it?

" No." The kitsune replied.

"That's what I'm saying. People from the blood moon are so ignorant. "Said the masked man nonchalantly.

Hearing that, the kitsune would naturally be enrage. But as much as he wants to be mad, he couldn't argue with that because he has a point. The kitsune just remained silent.

"Elder there sure are hideous. Never changed." Said the masked man.

Hideous? What does he mean? Could this be that the elders are aware of this matter?

The kitsune clenched his fist. Suddenly he felt chill run down his spine. He hugged himself and said,

"Why it's so cold suddenly?"

Ahh... Could this be that mother is so enrage right now?

In his imagination;

"That damn brat! Get my thunder whip!"

Ahh... I don't want to imagine it.

" It's getting late. I'll be taking my leave. It'll be fate if we cross each other's path again. " He bowed down and was about to take his leave when suddenly a familiar voice shouted,

" My Lord where are you?"

Long ears, black hair, white skin tone and an innocent face. Seth was panting as he calls his master and saw him with the two masked man, knocked down bandits, and tied up cursed vampires.

Cursed vampires? Bandits? Who are these people?! He thought.

Seeing them, Seth turn up his guard. He activated a barrier surround him and said,

"My Lord come here!"

The kitsune immediately defend them and said,

"Ni-ni this is a misunderstanding. They're not enemies. We beat those bandits."

Lumiere was about to add more details when his servant interrupted his unspoken words.

"My Lord! " Seth said with incensed tone.

It was the first time that Lumiere saw his servant be mad this way. Seeing that, he immediately went silent and didn't argue anymore. He immediately went with him.

"Let's go." Seth said with cold tone.

"Ah... Wait...." Seth dragged him.

While being dragged he yelled, "If we are fated we'll meet again! "

"Silly boy. You repeated it twice." Said the mask man.

"Your Highness, shall we leave?" He said.

"No. I still have some spirit wolves to kill."

"Is that so my Lord. Well I happen to pass by a wolf and some cursed vampires earlier, perhaps the wolf you're talking about was the wolf over there on that bush." Watari said.

"Exactly." The highness replied.

With a gesture of his hand, the bush made it way and revealed the spirit wolf.

The wolf was so afraid and trembling by the aura that the highness is releasing. He looked into it intensely with his eyes illuminating amethyst.

With just a single glance, The wolf was shredded into pieces with a whimper.

"Is there anything else that the Lord want?" The servant asked.

"Watari, bring those bandits to punishment room." The Highness said.

"And?" His servant asked.

"Do what you want with them. Make them talk. Make sure they suffer, but don't kill them. He replied.

"I understand my Lord."

...

"Ah... Ni-ni it hurts... You're gripping so tight."

Hearing that, Seth seemed to come back to his senses. He released his grip to Lumiere.

Weird... I've never seen him be this mad to the point that he grips so tight with me.

"I always do this. Why are you so enrage this time?" Said Lumiere.

Seth was silent for a while then replied in a cold tone.

"Stay away from them. They are dangerous." He said.

"Why Ni-ni say that? They helped me to beat those bad guys." Said Lumiere.

Seth became even more cold.

Ah...

"Nevertheless it's not that we'll meet again anyway. I don't even know their names and hometown, so Ni-ni has nothing to worry."

After walking for a while, they finally finally arrived at the imperial palace. The time they have arrived at the palace, servants were waiting at them and said that the Queen, the majesty is waiting for them at the chamber .

Hearing that news, Lumiere already know what's gonna happen.

An endless scolding and punishment.

Just at the front of the imperial's chamber you could clearly feel the murderous aura inside.

Seeing that, Lumiere couldn't help but to gulp. He let out a deep sigh and look at his servant with a sorry written on his face.

The door of the chamber went opened as if they know that they're already outside.

Lumiere couldn't help but to pray for his last breath.

As he steps inside the aura became even more intense.

Both of them immediately knelt and bowed down.

Sitting on the throne, with 3 personal servants standing on her sides. Long black hair, white skin tone, big breast, beautiful face that gives off a terror step mother aura.

A beautiful yet scary voice belongs to a beautiful woman spoked up.

"Seth! Lumiere Cecil! do you know what time it is?And what's you're wearing?" The queen asked with a fierce aura.

Looking at her will make your spine run cold. At first glance She seemed to be a calm and cold person but she's actually grumpy and hot tempered.

"Ah, mother I mean your highness I was just practicing my dance for the upcoming ceremony, that's why I dressed up like this. hehe" Lumiere laughed nervously.

"At this point you still have the guts to be a jest. I can clearly see the violin behind your back." The Queen said as she looks at Lumiere with murderous glance.

Lumiere's spine run even colder.

"Didn't I say that that thing isn't allowed? Or do I have to make it clear with you again? And you, Seth ,didn't I told you to keep an eye on him?"

The queen hasn't finished her words but Lumiere immediately interfere her unspoken words. He knows that the thing will be blamed to his servant so he immediately cut his mother off.

"Mother I know I am wrong it's not Ni-ni's fault it was me, so please don't scold Ni-ni. I'm the only one who should be punished,so I'll take the responsibility!" Lumiere said with his all his might.

"Very well." The queen replied.

" your highness I-" the servant couldn't finish his word because Lumiere interfere again.

"Ni-ni, it's okay" he said as he smiled warmly.

The servant couldn't do anything but to sigh. As much as he want to take the responsibility, the more he'll say a word, the worst punishment might his master take. ,The Best thing he could do is to remain silent.

The queen looked at her servant and the servant immediately caught what she wants. She immediately brought Lumiere's personal servant to his own room.

As the servant leaves, Lumiere immediately spoke up.

"The majesty knows that I'll never want my servant to be harm, so she does that. There's no need to do that anyway. never did I not took the responsibility for things that I did nor will do. "

" So you still plan to do more troubles? " Said the majesty.

"Rin, my thunder whip." She said.

As I expected...

"I understand your highness" the servant brought the whip to her.

The whip was overwhelming with mana that thunder on every inch was sparking. It was a thunder whip indeed.

The Queen took the whip and it became even more scarier. The thunder on the whip grew and it was glowing purple.

"Lumiere Cecil, just how many times do I have to tell you to stop playing violin?!" The queen fiercely said as she strikes the 1st whip on Lumiere.

"Hngh" Lumiere didn't reply and stayed kneeling.

The queen then strikes the whip for the second time, yet her son still didn't replied. She then again strikes for the third time and said, "Lumiere why don't you ever listen to me huh?!" But still no response at all . She strikes again for the fifth time and still no response.

"how rude! why aren't you responding!?" She asked fiercely.

Finally Lumiere replied, he said," if I reply you'll say 'now you're talking back!' , but now when I'm not responding you're saying that I'm rude!?What should I do now?!"

Because of what Lumiere said, the queen even get mad more. She ended up whipping Lumiere 30 times.

Blood keeps dripping from his body as he stand up tremblingly. The queen has also left the chamber.

The servants were about to lend Lumiere a hand but he refused to.

He walked out from the chamber while dragging his feet and holding his shoulder. Anyone who see his state will be pity at him. His clothes were also shredded and full of blood.

He was about to pass by at the hall way, when suddenly he heard some of the servants gossiping.

"Hey have you heard? the young master did received 30 whippings from the queen." The servant 1 said.

Wow gossips sure spread faster than the wind. Thought Lumiere.

He stopped for a while to listen to their gossips.

"Really? Hah Serves him right. Because of him we're always getting scolded." The servant 2 replied.

"They said that the whippings is more intense than usual. I heard that the young master even bled." The servant 1 added.

"Sigh he do really never learns, just look at his state now. Sigh I don't know,but sometimes I was thinking if the second son is really the queen's child." The servant 3 said.

Hearing that, Lumiere's eyes shifted. He clenched his fist and continued to listen to their gossips in silence.

"What do you mean?" The servant 4 asked.

"Can't you see how the queen treat him? He wasn't treated like a son at all. His punishment is even worst than us!" The servant 3 replied.

"But the queen is just treating him like that, because he is her son. So the punishment must be heavier than us. So Stop talking bullshit and don't speak ill to him." Servant 4 said.

Lumiere felt a little joy because of the servant 4 said.

That's right. I've always known that and still believing in that, so why would I even feel bothered? My mother does that because I'm different from others.

"Oh really? Then why when the first Lord is the one making a mistake, she doesn't get that far?" Servant 2 rebutted.

Different...

" Of course, he's the crowned prince that's why she doesn't go that far." The servant 4 replied with a doubt on himself.

"Fool! The first Lord is the crowned prince, then shouldn't the queen be more strict to him than the second Lord?" Servant 3 said.

" Ah... That's... Maybe she loves second Lord Cecil more? " Servant 4 said.

" He have a point. " Servant 1 said.

"Tch... physical touch? Love language? Then explain why is the second Young master's eye is crimson when his father and mother's eyes are not crimson? Probably you already know about this that the young master was just using magic to hide the real color of his eyes. His eyes wasn't blue, it was really red. If you can explain that to me then I'll stop speaking 'bullshit' about him." The servant 3 said.

"Ah that is..." The servant 4 couldn't think a reason anymore.

Lumiere just decided to show himself and walk in front of them. He looked at the servants and smiled. The servants bows down and greets him.

"Good evening your highness."

"Lift your heads. Good evening." Said Lumiere .

Lumiere's eyes changed. It glowed crimson from blue as he looks at the servant 3.

"Ah..."

The servant 3 bowed down subconsciously.

"Is something matter?" Lumiere said as he smiled.

"Ah no n.. nothing." The servant 3 replied with a trembling voice.

"Ah I see... pardon if my appearance is disturbing, don't worry I'll clean the blood later after I finish the life of the noisy fox I caught earlier." Lumiere said while smiling.

"Ah yes... H..have a good time your highness." The servant 3 said as he trembles while remaining his bowed position.

Lumiere then left.

The servants was really terrified specially the servant 3. Servant 4 couldn't help but just to sigh.

"Hey(servant 2) do you think he heard us?" Servant 1 said.

"I don't know."servant 2 replied.

"Perhaps he heard us, just look what he just did earlier. He sounds really terrifying. It's as if that the fox that he's talking about is us. And the look he gives at (servant 3). It really terrifies me." The servant 2 added.

"It's your guys fault after all. Why would you speak ill to him when he is so kind? He always help the commoners and peasants. And the scoldings we get is only verbal, because he always take the responsibility whenever he makes a trouble." The servant 4 said.

"Ah but what I said earlier really makes sense. I mean why would the queen treat him like that? And his eyes, how would you explain it?"the servant 3 said.

"Come to think of it, there are rumors why is the queen like that to the second lord. They said that the reason why she's so cruel with him is because of the prophecy." The servant 1 said.

"Prophecy?" The 3 servants asked with a confusing face.

"Yes, long time ago an oracle said that the time that the morning star meet the second ruler of the celestial realm,one of the house Cecil will rebirth to an evil God.At first the oracle wasn't clear but now it seems to make sense." Servant 1 said.

"Huh? How? it's still unclear.the servant 3 said.

"Are you an idiot? Don't you remember the time that the queen gave birth to the second lord?" The servant 1 said with a fierce voice.

"Ah yes I remember it, that night was really beautiful. the morning and evening star meet the moon. It was so beautiful. But how did that-" Before the servant 3 could finish his words servant 2 interrupted.

"The ruler of the celestial realm, or also known as the crowned prince of the heavens. His name was Lune which means 'moon'." Servant 2 said.

"Wait... Wait... No way!" Servant 3 cried in disbelief.

"So you're saying that the second lord is a reincarnation of an evil God?!" Servant 3 said.

" But which evil God? The demon king? Or 'that' crazy God who went havoc and destroyed all of the shrines of the Queen of the celestial realm. Who burned down the blood moon empire just 16 years ago?! Sigh... The memory was still fresh from me! That was really scary! Thank goodness we recovered fast from that thanks to the helps of other Gods."servant 3 said

"Eh wait so you're saying that that oracle from hundred years ago managed to predict that there will be a rebirth of an evil God, when it's only around almost 35 years ago when the demon king died . And only 16 years ago when that crazy God went havoc?! That's ridiculous!" Servant 2 added

"Well yes perhaps let's just say that. But who knows that it might be true? Besides there are also other evil God than them." Servant 1 replied.

"But how did that explain the crimson eyes of the second lord?"Servant 3asked.

"Hmm perhaps that evil God has crimson eyes that's why the second lord's eyes is crimson!" Servant 1said with a scary tone.

"Sigh it's all just bullshits!" Servant 4 said.

"There's no way that the second lord is a reincarnation of an evil God! Stop talking nonsense!" He added.

" Don't you guys think that there's something with the oracle?" The servant 4 said.

All the three servant looked at him with curiosity.

" Look it was said that 'the time that the morning star meet the second ruler of the celestial realm,one of the house Cecil will rebirth to an evil God.' "

" So what's wrong with it? " Servant 2 said.

" It was said that the 'second ruler' but the crowned prince is the only son of the devine Queen, so it was wrong! "

"That's right stop talking nonsense, or do you want your tongue to get cut from speaking ill to a royal blood?" The general of the blood moon empire said.

"Ah g.. general since when have you been here?" Servant 1 said as they bows down as a show of respect.

"You guys still bow down after talking ill to the second lord? Don't you guys have any shame left on you?" The general said with intense aura. The servants couldn't help but just to be scared so they immediately beg to the general.

"Um... G..general we are sorry p.. please don't punish us! We're begging you!" Servant 1 said with a trembling voice.

"Kneel in front of our principles for 5 hours." Idk said nonchalantly.

"Right now?!" Servant 3said.

"Be grateful it's just 5 hours. I don't want to go this thing outside so I'm doing you guys a favor. After that write all of our principles and rules ten times. Finish it all within 24 hours." He said with a cold tone.

" Eh-" servant 3 was about to say something again, but his comrades covered his mouth.

They bowed down and said, "Thank you for your grace General. We promise that this will never happen again. "

" Good. Now take your leave and kneel. " The general said.

"The prophecy huh... "

Walking at the balcony, Lumiere paused a little to appreciate the beauty of the moon and the stars.

He looked up while holding his bloody shoulders and smiled warmly.

"Someday- no Soon I'll change this world."

"Onichan?" A tiny voice of a boy spoke up.

Hearing that, Lumiere immediately let go of his shoulders and smiled at the child.

" Yuki why are you still awake? It's so late. " said Lumiere.

The child immediately run towards Lumiere, and hugged his legs. He buried his face with it and said,

" I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. I was finding for Onichan, but he's not in the bed. I also went to his house but still couldn't find, that's why I'm outside."

" Onichan where did you go? " The child looked up with curious face.

Lumiere didn't say a single word and just stared at him.

"Onichan, your clothes is tore up and you have so many blood on your back. Did you got into fight? " said the child.

Hearing that, Lumiere's face went dark and remembered that he was looking like that. Clothes tore up and blood dripping from his back.

Lumiere you dumb! How could you forget you scumbag! Lumiere yelled on his thoughts.

"Ah... No, this... This is part of the ritual. You see the festival is coming so I went hunting and killed some fox! It's their blood all over my clothes. I'm sorry I shouldn't have just let you hugged me." Said Lumiere .

Disbelief was still written on the child's face.

"Yuki isn't dumb, but if that's what Onichan says then I'll believe it. "

Ah...

"I don't want to see Onichan in blood anymore, so don't go hunting at night . Play violin for me so I'll get to sleep. " Said the child as he held Lumiere's hand.

Silly I can't fool you anymore huh? But you're only five! What a genius!

" Sure! " Said Lumiere.

Both of them walked to their usual house. In front of their house Lumiere begun to play a beautiful melody, while his brother was leaning at the wall in front of the door.

The melody is so soothing like a feather falling on a snow. It was so cold yet relaxing at the same time. A perfect melody indeed to make someone fall asleep.