1.2.Yandere Prince's Royal Butler

"W-Who… who are you?"

A trembling voice, barely above a whisper, came from beneath the thick sheets, pulling Russ out of his thoughts.

Snapping back to reality, he quickly composed himself, bowing slightly before speaking in a smooth, reassuring tone.

"Greetings, Your Highness. I am Russ, your newly appointed butler, assigned by His Majesty."

From beneath the covers, a pair of wide, cautious eyes peeked out, brimming with curiosity yet tinged with fear.

[ Taeyun (Russ):This baby is too cute to be a yandere. ]

[ System Pluto:Host, beware. Appearances can be deceiving. ]

Taeyun sighed internally. Pluto had a point. He had learned that lesson the hard way.

During his time working in the Villain Department, he had once grown attached to an adorable, fluffy cat—only for it to transform into the story's evil protagonist and drive a blade through his heart. Ever since that betrayal, Taeyun had sworn never to let appearances fool him again.

But as he looked at the small, trembling figure before him, it was hard to believe that this timid child was destined to become the infamous yandere who would one day plunge the empire into chaos.

"B-Butler…!" The prince's voice quivered with panic. "D-Don't hit Little Lucius… Lucius is a good boy… don't hit! Don't hit!"

A high-pitched, terrified cry tore through the room as the prince scrambled back under the sheets, curling into a tight ball. The fabric rustled violently as his frail body trembled beneath it.

Russ's breath hitched.

What the hell?

Why was he reacting like this? Had the abuse already begun?

A sick feeling settled in Russ's stomach.

"Of course not, Your Highness," he said softly, keeping his voice gentle and steady. "I would never hurt you. I am here to care for you, to protect you. I am your personal butler—I will always be on your side."

The sheets shifted slightly, hesitantly, before a small head peeked out once more. Wide, wary eyes locked onto Russ, searching for deception.

Russ smiled, keeping his expression open and kind, allowing the prince to approach at his own pace.

But as Lucius slowly stepped forward, Russ felt his stomach twist.

He's so small.

His limbs were thin, his skin unnaturally pale, and his frame so fragile it looked like a strong wind could knock him over. He was seven, but he barely looked five.

Russ clenched his fists. A child of royal blood should never look this malnourished.

Lucius hesitated before craning his neck to look up at Russ.

Russ immediately knelt, lowering himself to the prince's level to keep him from straining.

"You… you really won't hurt me?" Lucius whispered. "You'll protect me?"

"Yes, Your Highness," Russ assured, his voice unwavering. "Always."

*KNOCK! KNOCK!*

A sudden, violent pounding on the door shattered the moment.

Lucius flinched as if struck. His tiny body recoiled, and in the blink of an eye, he had disappeared beneath the sheets again, trembling even more violently than before.

Russ's eyes darkened.

Who the hell was at the door?

Straightening, he strode over and opened it.

Standing outside was an elderly maid in a traditional uniform, her deep-set frown making her wrinkled face look even more severe. A food trolley stood in front of her, but her expression was anything but kind.

"Who are you?"she demanded in a clipped, unfriendly tone.

"The Crown Prince's new butler," Russ replied, matching her sharpness.

The maid scoffed. "How dare you speak to me like that? Do you even know who I am?"

Russ's patience snapped.

"I don't know, nor do I care," he said coldly. "You're here to serve the prince, yet your attitude is disgraceful. Someone with such disrespect has no place near his Highness. Leave before I make sure you do."

His voice was sharp, his aura radiating quiet menace.

The maid visibly paled. The hostility in Russ's gaze sent a chill down her spine. Without another word, she abandoned the food trolley and hurried away.

Russ sneered, pushing the cart inside before shutting the door.

But as he turned to examine the food, his stomach twisted in disbelief.

…Was this food rotten?

It was barely edible—stale bread, foul-smelling soup. Surely, the prince of the empire wouldn't be served something like this… would he?

A quiet whimper snapped Russ's attention back to Lucius.

The boy was peeking out from the sheets again, but this time, his expression was pure panic.

"No! No! Little Lucius won't eat! Throw it away! Blade… blade inside!"

Tears welled up in his wide eyes, his breath coming in quick, panicked gasps. His words were rushed, broken, but Russ understood them.

Dread pooled in his chest.

Ignoring the prince's fearful cries, Russ quickly checked the food—only for his blood to run cold.

The stale bread contained razor-sharp shards of metal.

The soup reeked of rot, and as he sifted through it, he found rusted iron nails hidden at the bottom.

[ System Pluto: WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK!? (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻ ]

Suppressing his fury, Russ swiftly discarded the poisoned meal.

"Your Highness, it's gone," he reassured gently, wiping away the prince's tears with a soft tissue. "Tell me, what would you like to eat? I'll make it for you myself."

Lucius sniffled, rubbing his swollen eyes. "You… can cook?"

Russ smiled. "I can. And I'll make you something delicious."

Lucius hesitated. "I'm not picky… I just want… tasty food…".

[ System Pluto: This is so heartbreaking. My poor baby. ಥ_ಥ Host, you HAVE to protect him. ]

Russ ruffled the prince's hair. "Then wait here. I'll bring you the best meal you've ever had."

---

Lucius anxiously watched the doors, his tiny hands gripping the edge of his blanket.

Would he really come back?

Doubt gnawed at his chest. People always left. Promises were always broken.

But then—

The heavy doors creaked open, and a warm glow spilled into the dimly lit room.

Russ stepped inside, pushing a food trolley laden with steaming, mouthwatering dishes. The rich aroma filled the air, and Lucius's eyes widened in shock.

He blinked. Then blinked again.

"Is… is all of this for me?" he asked hesitantly, almost afraid the answer would be no.

Russ smiled. "Yes, Your Highness. Every bite."

Lucius stared at the feast before him, disbelief flashing across his face.

No one had ever prepared food just for him. No one had ever cared enough to.

Slowly, hesitantly, he took a small bite. Then another.

And then—

As if something inside him snapped, he started devouring the food desperately, shoving mouthfuls past his lips with frantic urgency.

His body moved on instinct, fueled by years of hunger, by the fear that if he didn't eat fast enough, someone would take it away.

His chest tightened. His throat constricted. A strangled cough escaped him.

He was choking.

Russ reacted instantly, reaching out to pat his back. "Slow down, Your Highness. The food isn't going anywhere."

Lucius flinched at the sudden touch. His body tensed, and before he could think, he jerked away instinctively.

Russ's hands froze mid-air.

Shit.

He withdrew immediately. "I apologize, Your Highness. I didn't mean to overstep."

Lucius hesitated, clutching the fabric of his sleeves.

He should have hated it.

Touch was always cold. Always cruel. Hands only ever reached for him to hurt him, to strike him, to push him away.

But Russ's hand…

It had been warm. Gentle. Safe.

His small fingers twitched. Then, before he could talk himself out of it, he reached out hesitantly—grasping onto Russ's pinky with his own.

Russ stilled.

Lucius lowered his gaze, his cheeks burning. "I… I didn't hate it,"he mumbled. "You can pat me whenever you want."

Russ chuckled softly, ruffling his hair. "Understood, Your Highness."

Lucius's face turned an even deeper shade of red.

---

That night, as Russ tucked Lucius into bed, the prince hesitated.

"You'll come back tomorrow… right?" he asked quietly. "You won't abandon me?"

Russ's expression softened. "Never, Your Highness. I promise."

Lucius stared at him for a long moment before finally whispering, "Thank you… Good night."

As Russ left, the large doors shutting behind him, Lucius lay in bed, silent and alone.

Under the covers, his small hand glowed faintly with a blue light. A portal flickered into existence before him. Reaching inside, he pulled out an old, worn diary and a quill.

Turning to a blank page, he wrote:

Dear Diary,

Today, I ate until I was full. Someone made food just for me. Someone was kind to me. He is different from the others…

A dark voice slithered into his mind.

"Are you sure?"

Lucius clutched his head.

"He'll betray you. He'll abandon you. Just like the rest."

His small fingers trembled, gripping the quill so tightly it snapped in half.

His eyes glowed an eerie, ominous blue.

"No."

"If he ever tries to leave me…"

A cold, cruel smile curled on his lips.

"Then I'll make sure he never can."