Dangerous loyalty『Tartaglia x MR』

XXXII

Tʜᴇ sᴇᴀ ᴏғ Dᴀɴᴅᴇʟɪᴏɴs; Eɴᴛᴇʀs Aᴇᴛʜᴇʀ

Later on, at night, the group from Snezhnaya was invited to stay at Diluc's home until their return home. With their stomachs full on good food and wine, M/n harem found themselves in bed asleep while M/n sat up near the bay window of their room, lost in his thoughts. There was so much to do but he felt like there was little time to complete everything.
"After finding Alois I must find Aether...But where should I look.."He ponders aloud to himself,  Eraqus only mentioned the area they were in, not how to find them so that was his issue. He sighs, then turns his view back to the window, when M/n does, he spots something hopping around; a cute little golden rabbit.
"A rabbit? Hm, seems like a cute gift for my dear Baizhu." He pushes the window open and jumps out, a light shines from his being and when he lands, he does so on all fours.

"Heidi's spell worked!!!"He nearly jumps around but he sniffs the air, catching the scent of the bunny and quickly tracking it down, however, M/n wasn't the only one who saw the small rabbit but when the musk of another wolf catches M/n attention he quickly grabs the now startled and shaking rabbit and growls at the other, warning it to back away. Surprisingly, it backs down and leaves.

M/n puts it down, then moves back just enough to see it. The poor thing was shaking like a leaf and he quickly realized that it was still scared but of him this time. Lowering himself, his body language shows he had no interest in hurting it.
"Sorry, but if I didn't grab you, the other wolf would have swallowed you without a second thought."

"Thanks.."

"Are you hungry? I can grab some grapes for you?"The gold rabbit quickly nods its head promoting M/n to pull some down with his mouth and place them down in front of the rabbit.
"It's too dangerous out in the open, follow me...Or uh maybe I can sit on your head and guild you there."

"You have a point, lead the way little rabbit."
M/n allows the smaller creature to climb into his head and guild him further away from Diluc's home towards a giant tree, M/n knew this place, it was once described in the story; Windrise.
"Down there."

"A hole? Why are we going down there?"

"You'll see."M/n takes a deep breath and jumps down into the hole and what was underneath took his breath away, a sea of Dandelions flutter up when he lands, it seemed that someone was living there, most likely a human.
"Uhh does your owner live here?"

"Ah, no I live here your majesty."The small rabbit jumps from his head and into the dandelions below, a gold light shines just as a figure pops up from below.

"Hello, your majesty. My name is Aether."M/n blinks for a moment, the rabbit was his target all along but Aether was the outcome of his little adventure, soon after M/n regain his humanoid form; still sitting in the dandelions as Aether stood up.
"So I assume you have questions?"

"You're quite beautiful- I mean yes I ha-have questions!"M/n could have punched himself in the face for blurting that out, he felt embarrassed when he was usually very smooth.
"Thank you, Your majesty. Also, ask away."

"Why aren't you with Lumine?"

"Lady Lumine...I...I could not follow her."The prince found it off in how Aether addressed his sister, why was he so formal?
"Aether, aren't you close to Lumine?"

"You don't know do you?"

"What am I supposed to know?"Aether grabs M/n by the hand and places said hand onto his chest, albeit stunned by this quick motion, he was prepared to remove his hand but he noticed something, well more like a lack of something.
"You...You don't have a heartbeat?"

"Correct, you may be wondering why and it's simple. I was created to replace Lumine as a prisoner of war told by the Prophet. We grew up together but I was more like her slave than a brother. When the war got on our doorstep, they tried to offer me to The Tsarina but when she saw I was a fake and threw me aside, Khaenri'ah fell victim to the war only because they would give Lumine up. After that, I ran away and found myself here and this has been my home ever since."Aether didn't seem sad he was joyous, a sweet smile on his face.
"So, you're a puppet? Like the Electro Archon?"

"No, I'm a homunculus with no heart, created by Her majesty Rhinedottir, your aunt. Mother to Lumine, the estranged Albedo, and Durin; who is deceased."

"Dear Archons."