Dangerous loyalty『Tartaglia x MR』

XXXVIII

Tʜᴇ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ ᴏʀ ᴀ ʟɪᴇ?

With their trip to Mondstadt over, the group plus Alois were heading through a portal back to Snezhnaya. It was quite the shock when nothing but frosty winds scratched at bare skin, however, M/n, Tartaglia, Verose, and Diluc didn't appear to be bothered by the cold but the rest quickly clung to the nearest person to keep warm.
"Is it me or is it colder than usual?!"

"Beats me, however, I'm sure queen bitch is the reason.."The bitter tone of M/n's voice was brought about frost prints along his visible skin; his neck and face. Kunikuzushi peers around M/n to look at the castle, he could feel it. M/n's mother was indeed the cause, it could explain why Verose didn't take them to the castle in the first place. It wasn't a safe choice to enter while the castle was covered in an isolated blizzard.
"I guess she could sense him before we even arrived. Ready for answers, Aether?"

"... Ye-Yes."

❄️❄️❄️

"Glory to the mother of Snezhnaya."

"I see you've returned...With that boy.."Hearing her snare out those words out M/n and Tartaglia; who decided to accompany them in high alert. Aether trembles a bit but he felt safe near M/n and Tartaglia.
"His name is Aether and he's a part of my harem, your highness. I want the truth and if your answer isn't what I want, I won't train the recruits at all."

"...How dare you-"

"Cut to the chase, I've been away for a while and I wish to rest."The two stare each other down, the Tsaritsa knew that there wasn't anyone else who could do the job because if M/n pulls back so will Tartaglia and Scaramouche.
"What do you wish to know."

"Why did you leave Aether alive?"

"I did so by chance."

"You must not take me seriously. Tell. The. Truth."M/n threatens harshly, his tone near murderous, it was easy to tell when she lied and M/n didn't want to prolong this; sensing Aether's distress.
".. Your father pleaded with me to spare the young of his home. Saying the war was against the adults, not the children. At first, I was going to disregard him and do as I please but.."The Tsaritsa glances at Aether then out of a large ceiling to floor window, overlooking miles of beautiful snow-covered trees.
"It had no heartbeat, what would be the point in killing something that wasn't even alive? I assume that this thing would cease to exist later on or that something would eat it, break it even and I would never have to worry about it."

"Why are you talking about him like that? Like Aether isn't a person?"

"Sweetheart, homunculus aren't people. They are objects to fulfill desires or delusions alike. Usually, they're not supposed to show emotions like love or fear, they're meant to be subservient to their master, nothing else."M/n frowns at this answer, though it wasn't to his liking he knew it was true but false at the same time.
"You're wrong about that, Aether knows love and fear. What's makes him so different, you're missing something from that story mother."His tone mocked the word the Tsaritsa longed to hear from her son and Tartaglia could see a flicker of pain in her eyes realizing the tone was not sincere.
"It showed fear when they threw it to me. I felt pity for it, that's all. Are we done here? If so, leave."

"Tsk, May the ice immortalize her highness glory."M/n turns on his heels quickly and pulls the others out with him. Once out of the throne room the doors slam shut with so much force it shakes the walls it was attached to.
"That went well."

"Is that what you wanted to hear?"Aether cues in, gripping M/n's hand a bit. The blondie still felt the cold gaze of the Cryo Archon on his back even with the doors blocking her view of them.
"Something like that, I figured she'd mention my father being a reason, he is a Khaenrian royal man after all and what royal would want to see the future citizens of their nation die? Let's think about this later, I want to introduce you to the kingdom and its soldiers."M/n chuckles darkly knowing that everything was going as planned, he was going to make Lumine lose her shit.
"I'm a bit scared of that chuckle.."

"Oh, you'll get used to it! His majesty does that a lot nowadays."