3 3 The Fraternal Twins

Thick clouds loomed ominously from afar, blanketing the skies above the palace with dust grays. As a roar of thunder boomed through the skies, a light drizzle fell daintily next. Coating the grass and leaves with a tint of limpid droplets.

Even though the sun was at its zenith a few moments before, the weather could be unpredictable and random occasionally.

"Oh my."

Standing by the mansion's entrance, Gus bowed toward the middle-aged madam who was about to see her out of the mansion. "I humbly greet the Viscountess of Clorence."

"Skip the formalities, Gus. I thought we're well over that!" The Viscountess said, as she beamed a cordial smile at the genteel butler. Viscountess Clorence was a tutor hired for the education of young master and lady— Claude and Viola. The fraternal twins of Prince Belphegor's and his consort Lyssa's.

As per usual, the head butler had waited for their lessons to be over as he stood by the entrance, seeing the noble lady off. Though before that, they tend to exchange a few conversations of their own.

"Recently, Princess Viola has been talking a lot about you. Even Prince Claude has gotten more engaging whenever your name was mentioned," The madam stated. Clasping her hands in fondness as she recalled the exuberance of her students earlier. In contrast, Gus looked rather askance.

Because the elder sister of the twins wasn't one for praises and compliments. Especially when it comes to him. Nonetheless, the head butler asked, "That's surprising, I wonder what I did that might have caught our young lady's attention."

"Oh please," The Viscountess stifled a giggle, before pushing playfully at the head butler's shoulder. "There's no need to be shy. Though I might not look like it, I'm still a mother of three, you know." She winked at Gus, as if to reassure him that whatever she'd heard, it would be safe with her.

Now, Gus had a bad premonition as to where this was going.

"I'm sorry, madam. I don't think I'm following...?" Gus gave a puzzled look.

"Like I said, it's perfectly fine to have your own preferences that might differ from the others," The noblewoman said as she nodded. Her expression was taut and solemn.

What?

Dumbfounded, Gus froze on the spot. There were blaze hidden behind the madam's eyes now. Feeling empathy, she asserted, "Need not feel ashamed, Gus. We all have the rights and freedom to our own sexual orientations. Be proud of it, and put them on gallows if anyone dare say otherwise."

The Viscountess showed a thumbs-up, followed by a low whisper of 'I'll be rooting for you' before sauntering to the gates. Leaving the petrified butler behind.

<i>'I see she didn't just talk about me, she talk shit about me.'</i>

An exasperated sigh escaped his lips. He could feel a headache coming any time now, as his hands found themselves massaging the creases in his brows.

Just then—a sinister snicker traveled to Gus' ears.

"It wasn't completely wrong though. It's true ya ain't interested in woman," Viola smirked. Twirling one of her braids as she bounded down the stairs. Her skipping steps told that she was in a good mood, which the head butler could clearly surmised.

"Don't you think your jokes have gotten too far lately, Milady?" Gus asked as he resumed an inscrutable mask again. Unyielding, even in the face of a child.

Viola snorted in response. Rolling her eyes, she said, "I'm just givin' ya a hand to be your honest self. Ya should be grateful to me!"

The truth was, her usual violence antics hadn't had the desirable effects on the half-human as of lately. Flamethrower, spikes, booby traps, insects, and more. None of those worked in the slightest. So she'd resorted to using verbal attacks. Cheap it might seemed, but at least it was effective.

Gus held his tongue for awhile. He seemed hesitant at first, but nonetheless decided to have the prankster had a taste of her own medicine. A disciplinary was needed for bad kids.

"Correct me if my memories fails me, didn't Lady Viola had a skin allergic awhile back?"

The young girl arched a brow at him. Wondering what he was scheming then.

"I remembered the doctor who after seeing the Milady, told me the causes privately..." The butler mused, before he snapped his fingers confidently.

"Wasn't it diaper rash?"

Instead of swinging a big home-run like Viola, August Floyd did a bunt. The trick was low, nonetheless it turned the tide to his favor.

Because the young girl's face turned beet red, and was fuming with rage now.

"W-W-What p-preposterous thing ya are sprouting a-at, imbecile!?" Viola stuttered. All reasons seemed to have lost on her, as she began to babbled incoherently at the butler.

"Young princess, I'm merely asking out of concern for you. If you're feeling well, then I couldn't be more glad as a servant of yours," In contrary to his loyal context, his voice was detached and void of emotions as he said.

"H-How dare ya—" to Viola's chagrin, she couldn't retort back to the butler without sounding like a spoiled brat. Biting her lips in frustration, the young princess proceeded to hurl a few fancy curses belied her age at the four-eyes, before stomping her way out of the battlefield in defeat.

Gus watched the girl's reaction with an apathy look. Be it physical or mental, August Floyd was impenetrable. Even if he does, it was only right to have a counterattack ready in his palms.

Lesson two— a head butler should always have one or two secrets of their masters, stashed away for insurance purpose.

———

"Young master, it's time for bed."

Just as Gus was ready to blow out the lights on his candelabra, he felt a small tug on his sleeve. "Gus, can't you read me a bedtime story?" Claude asked. His glistening onyx eyes stared earnestly at the older male.

The butler sighed softly, "I will. Only if you'll promise me to go to sleep once I'm done."

Claude fervently nodded. He scooted over to the right, so as to allow the butler to climb into the bed next to him. The young boy asked eagerly, "What story are Gus telling me tonight?"

"Let's see..." Gus pondered, as he sat leaning against the headboard. He wrapped an arm over to the boy's neck, which Claude happily accept and rested his head on. "How about a story of an Unemployed Kuma?"

At the mention of the story's title, the boy could no longer hide the excitement. He tucked himself into the blanket comfortably, ready for the storytelling to begin.

Gus cleared his throat, his voice a pitch lower than usual. "Once upon a time, there was a bear whose name was Kuma. Kuma was a jobless animal. Due to the fact that bears were large intimidating, their specie was often shunned by other animals.

Kuma was ostracized and couldn't find any job. Depressed, Kuma holed himself in the cave for a long period of times, refusing to meet anyone or interact with the outside world. That was—until an injured raccoon scurried into the Kuma's cave."

Claude fidgeted around, his gaze went to the butler and urged him to carry on the story. After taking a glance at the boy, Gus returned to his storytelling. "Kuma was a kind bear. He couldn't leave the injured raccoon alone and thus, he decided to tend to his injuries and let him stay in the cave, until he recovers.

Weeks later, the raccoon was up and healthy, thanks to Kuma's treating. Grateful for the bear's kindness and hospitality, the raccoon wanted to return this favor. Seeing how Kuma has always holed himself at home, the raccoon asked the bear, 'Isn't it boring to always stay cope up in the cave?'. Just then, an idea came into the raccoon's head. He was gone in the next moment, by the time he came back to the cave, was three days after."

Claude asked curiously, "What was it?" The butler pushed his glasses up as he continued, "To Kuma's surprise, the raccoon brought back a large quantities of items with him. Most of those were new and foreign to the bear; a gaming console, comics, laptop, and a WI-FI router."

The young master tilted his head. A puzzle look plagued his face, but he kept quiet so as to not disrupt the story unfold.

"After bringing home all the entertainment gadgets for the bear, the raccoon proudly presented them, and even taught the bear how to utilize those. Thinking he has returned the favor, the raccoon then left the cave soon after, leaving the bear to his own devices."

Gus paused, which had the boy in his arm looked up at him quizzically. Claude tugged on his arm as he asked, "What happened to Kuma in the end?"

As the bespectacled man peered at the young master, a corner of his lips twitched up. At this, Claude felt a shiver ran down his spine.

"Kuma was astonished to find out the existence of such miracles. He found an enlightenment like never before, and he cursed himself for not realizing sooner." Claude gulped nervously, anticipation welled up within him as he waited for the conclusion.

"Ever since then, Kuma had spent all his times immersing himself in the world of games and entertainment. As a result, the bear died of stroke from gaming long hours in long period of times. The end."

What?

Dumbfounded, the boy stared wide-eyed at the butler.

That was the most anti-climax the child had ever came across throughout his childhood, to the point he'd got no idea whether to cry or laugh.

"Now. Be a good boy and go to sleep," Gus cooed gently as he tucked the child into the bed, covering him fully with the blanket. Claude didn't protest, and merely followed the butler's guide. After Gus had left the chamber, the young master lie awake in his bed with just one thought.

'<i>Rather than a bedtime story, it turned out to be a horror story instead</i>.'

In the end, Claude didn't manage to catch a wink of sleep that night.