"He is now known as Sin Klepton, the cursed taker of souls," Lucius ended in a soft tone. He shut the book with one hand, tempted to toss it out of the window along with the toy (which was me) that his precious little brother was hugging.
The older sibling was flabbergasted by the sparkling eyes of the young prince who stared at him in astonishment under the comforting thick sheaths of the bed.
Every corner of this place, and even in every nook and cranny, showed the perfect painting of royalty and grace. I didn't know much about the ancients, but their race must hold a lot of power if they can still live in opulence while the rest of the world thinned to ashes.
"Read it again, onii!" Lucian demanded.
Lucius rubbed his nape with a frustrated expression smacked on his face. He sighed and put the book under the bed.
"The young prince must get a good night's sleep and besides, I don't think this story is appropriate for a bedtime story. I'll borrow a nice book from the library to read it to you, alright?"
I agree with this overprotective, over-loving, over-the-edge, and overly obsessive older brother. I had been hearing the same story over and over again and I was sick of it. It was like eating nuts every single meal that I lost my nuts from having too much of it.
The young prince shook his head disapprovingly. He stood up on his bed to protest with an upset pout on his reddened face. He was already donned in a white robe that made him appear like a real doll. If anyone made a doll after his looks many children would have demanded their parents to have one.
I just hope that the geezer wouldn't take an interest in him. With the rigid security around the prince, I doubt he'd even get close to him or let alone have his eyes set on him.
Glad I was just a creepy-ass toy that looked like it could kill but was considered "so cute" from the most adored and protected person in this concealed kingdom.
"I'm not sleepy and so is Sin," he explained. He picked me up and showed me to his brother.
I never sleep but meh, whatever. Do whatever you wanna do, Lucian. I doubt you'd look bad anyway.
Even if you stabbed an innocent man with a flowery smile, had his blood stain your hair and robe, and boogie around his corpse while summoning creatures from an otherworldly dimension, the innocent man would still get the blame. He'd get sentenced to another ghastly death for no reason– mutilated and ridiculed until he was reincarnated and hunted down by Lucian fanatics.
In short, the prince would still be the innocent honey bee being cooed and praised by everyone. I'll be rooting for him. Fuck justice.
He would make an adorable stinging and murderous cutie pie.
Wouldn't you agree?
Lucius glared at my existence and was close to snatching me from Lucian's tiny and fragile looking hands. I had no reservations that he had been wishing to bury me halfway across the world just to keep me away from his precious little brother.
Hey, maybe I guessed his thoughts right.
I'd bury myself too and just hope to be reborn into a hot smoking beast, but because of some fuckery done to me, I was stuck to being this...cursed looking toy that could bite someone's dick off at the slightest provocation.
"I dislike the books from the library that okaa had read to me," Lucian explained.
Lucius leaned forward, reaching out to lift him by his armpits. He sat him down on his lap.
"And why is that, tesoro? Isn't it nice reading happy endings?" the older brother questioned.
The young prince lowered his head before looking up to his brother with sad eyes that could hit any cold-blooded bastard in the gut of guilt.
"Those books only tell the happy endings for Ancients, but how about the people outside of this refuge, are they getting happy endings?"
Lucius was stricken with incredulity from his younger brother's words. A swell of pride appeared in his eyes.
I was also impressed by his words. My respect for this child just grew even further. I never heard a child think this way. This was my first time hearing a young'un like him worry about reality and its harshness.
"Look at you, thinking like an adult already. You still have more years of being a child. Why can't you talk more about...childish interests or cry about the smallest of things? You are making me sad," Lucius murmured lovingly.
He embraced his brother tightly with me in between them.
"You don't have to worry about that matter. Enjoy your childhood and I promise you...when you grow up, I'll take you with me and we'll help people get their happy endings. Would you like that?" Lucius asked.
"Yes," Lucian replied sleepily.
He pulled away from Lucius.
"Onii, do you know how I can help Sin too?"
Lucius's eyes narrowed in confusion, but held a smile that tried to comprehend what he was saying.
"Sin?"
"In the story, he lost his magnificence. His friends turned against him. He's all alone now. He must be lonely," he explained and raised me to his line of view.
His older brother didn't look at me with the same irritating gaze, instead, he stared at me with understanding. He took me from his grasp and glanced at him with warmth.
"I believe that Sin is happy just being your friend. Isn't that right, Sin?"
"Yep, you got that right."
The two siblings blinked in confusion. Both of them searched for the source of that reply. Lucius handed me to his brother before setting him down on the bed. He trudged towards the open door. He glanced to his left and then to his right and found no one.
He turned around with a puzzled and bothered appearance before shooting a suspicious gaze at me.
Well, you weren't wrong with your doubts.
"I'm...I'm sleeping here for the night."
I guess it was too early for me to speak.
Days passed by and Lucian had brought me wherever he went despite his brother's disapproving gaze. I hadn't spoken a word or even revealed that I could move. His older brother would have thrown me into a ditch and had his pegacorn shit on me.
In all honesty, I was content being by Lucian's side. I was serving my purpose and it was fulfilling. No matter how many toys he received from the noble and rich, I was his favorite. All those playthings from that Segreth man were sacked and ready to be burnt.
Lucius wasn't fond of him.
The way that guy prowled around the little prince was unnerving. He would often visit the prince to play, giving him gifts and smoldering him with praises. He had his intentions and it wasn't appropriate to make it known with the prince's current age. He was acting as if he was just fond of children, especially a child named Lucian.
"You like Klepton don't you, Your Highness?" Segreth asked.
They sat on the floor with toys scattered on the carpet. One toy was held by the visitor who was merely moving it erratically.
"Mm, Klepton is my best friend," Lucian replied and kissed me.
Segreth's eyes flashed with interest. I couldn't help but feel the simmering heat of anguish inside of me. Lucian excused himself to use the bathroom, placing me down on the floor to pat my head.
"Be a good boy, Sin," he told me with a pleasant smile.
I'll be good. Oh, don't you worry.
"Do you need assistance, Your Highness?" Segreth asked.
What are you gonna do, pull his tiny baby dick for him? Sit your ass down man. I need to have a word with you.
Lucian swayed his head. "No thank you, I can do it myself."
Atta boy.
Segreth released a sigh once Lucian shut the door. I was left sitting in front of the pervert before I was grabbed by him with a firm scowl on his face. He analyzed my body, scoffing in disbelief.
"I can't believe the prince adores such a filthy toy. How can Prince Lucius let his brother play with this?"
I won't disagree with you on that one but I was sure as heck that Lucius preferred me a hundred times better than your perverted ass.
"Once the prince becomes mine, I'll make sure that everything he owns is aesthetically pleasing like him."
"What?!" I exclaimed in pure disgust that made the man throw me in shock.
He surveyed the room and even went out to see if anyone was eavesdropping. He was as pale as paper. Segreth jolted in place when my torso rose with my head a little behind time. My head snapped to look at him; my sewn grin became even wider that it was splitting the threads.
"I heard you~"
I will torment you.
A scream erupted from Segreth's throat. I lied down to return to my pretense of being a mere toy. Lucian rushed outside the bathroom. He was about to pick me up in fear of whatever that scared his visitor, but Segreth plucked him from the ground and tried to explain to him how dangerous I was.
"Your Highness, Sin must be disposed of! I will not stand idly by with that ugly cursed thing you play with!" he yelled.
"What are you saying? Unhand me! Sin! Sin!" Lucian yelled in panic. He tried to scramble away from the adult to reach out to me.
The struggle of Lucian's angst reflected against my false eyes. I never discerned this height of vexation before. My eyes darkened in anguish as Segreth's arms became tighter and more dominating around the young male. My arm raised and a dark and circular mark that released a black smoke surrounded my form.
"Let me go! Don't take Sin away from me!"
"Stop struggling, Your Highness! This is for your own good!"
Segreth's left leg snapped into two, causing a sound of resonating crack throughout the room followed by a scream.
"I said, let him go," Lucian and I spoke in unison.
The evil circle surrounding me withdrew when a tenebrous airflow of wings shot out from the prince's back. It knocked Segreth unconscious. The prince's face became deathly pale and dark veins branched out from his skin. His voice wasn't that of the innocent and good-natured boy. It was deep-sounding, heinous even. It was like someone else resided within his guiltless stature.
The ground trembled; the wooden furniture chipped away and soldiers poured inside the room, dragging Segreth out. A tall, compelling, stern, and rugged-looking man who wore clothes of royalty entered the room and emitted a bright light that overshadowed the darkness creeping out from the prince's young body.
The prince fell into unconsciousness. The older man caught him and cradled him in his scarred arms.
Once the prince opened his eyes, they swelled with tears. His chin trembled at the start of his crying.
"Tesoro..." he called out gently, cupping his chubby cheek.
"Otou..." he whimpered in a soft and weak plea.
He shattered into a wailing turmoil. The veins vacated his skin and returned into a healthy vibrant glow. The king assisted his youngest son into standing when the prince searched for a comforting hug from someone.
The child wrapped his arms around his father's neck while trembling and wailing. The king embraced him tightly.
"Otou...Otou...I'm scared..." he cried softly in broken sobs.
Loud shouts echoed from outside. Lucius and their mother entered the room with extreme fear on their faces.
The king nodded at them, assuring them that he had everything under control. The queen and the eldest prince joined them.
"He was going to take Sin from me. He was going to hurt him," the boy said. "I didn't want to hurt him. I just..."
"Nē (Hey) Nē, Lucian," Lucius trailed. He picked me up from the ground. "I'm sure Sin was happy that you protected him. Sin is lucky that he has a friend like you."
You got that right. I was a happy boy.
Lucian rubbed his puffy eyes. The queen put a clean handkerchief against his nose for him to blow on.
After cleaning his face from any snot, the prince took me from his brother's hold and looked at me.
More tears were threatening to come down and I couldn't help but perceive this protectiveness over him.
If only I had hands like theirs to wipe your tears away and long arms to embrace you when you feel sad.
"Sorry..." he murmured.
"Let's get you fixed up okay? Lucius, will you please check on Segreth?" the queen asked.
"The bastard deserved it," he replied in a gruff.
"Lucius," the queen sighed. "Please watch your language around your brother. That is unbecoming of a prince," she scolded.
Fucking right. How can you speak such shitty profanities in front of him, you dickwad? You should be ashamed of yourself.
The prince took a nap in another room with me lying beside him as usual. His arm was draped over my body, leaving me with a depressing thought as I turned and placed my stuffed paw over his cheek.
"Thank you for being my friend."
I wish I could be more than just his toy. I wish we met in a different circumstance.
If I would be reborn in a different body, I wish that I could carry these memories of him with me. I want to remember that someone accepted me at my worst when everyone else tossed me out.
I had always felt like everything was stolen from me. I felt deceived for no reason. Every child that I had ever known had turned their backs on me. I didn't know if I was just born on the same day I was created or if I had my previous life stolen from me.
If I had lost my magnificence along with my dignity, I did not mind if I didn't get them back anymore if losing them meant meeting him.
"Shinigami (Death bringer)," a voice called out.
A spirit descended from the ceiling. He landed beside the bed. His body was see-through and he carried a cold air around him. His face was calm yet his piercing gaze meant business.
Who was this chicken tender?
The newcomer had silvery-blue wings and hair. He was clad with silver heavy armor. A spear was attached to his back. He folded his arms.
"I'm sure you don't wish to stay as a toy forever," he told me.
His words immediately grabbed my full attention. I slipped off Lucian's arms.
"What do you know about me?" I asked.
"I know enough to break the seal on your body, but you have to do something for me first," he negotiated.
"What can I do exactly?"
The cyan haired man grinned. "Aside from being a shinigami, you're also the Akuma (Satan). You can do a lot more than you think."
I crossed my arms in imitation of him.
"Like?" I challenged, not fully comprehending what he was saying about me.
The guy's grin widened. He was up to no good.
"Making a certain someone infertile."