Crying Glass || Yanderes x Reader

[04] A shift in perspective

 Ethan Vaniel woke up to too many problems. The first one?

He actually woke up. That was significantly annoying. His idiot brother had promised him one morning a week where he could sleep in undisturbed. In the young nobles' opinion, it wasn't an absurd request.

But alas, his older brother was garbage at following orders.

"Sorry brother." Sheepishly, William Vaniel rubbed his eyes. A mischievous grin played on his lips. "I couldn't resist waking you up. There's something urgent we need to discuss."

Ethan groaned, pulling the covers over his head. "Can't it wait? I had a late night."

William scoffed. "You always have a late night. But this is important. Father wants to see us both in his study right away."

Now, if it was just William coming into his room to bother him, Ethan would have turned right over and gone back to sleep. Lord knows his brother had the biggest stick stuck up his posterior. But if it was his father . . .

"I hate you." Ethan all but flew out of bed. "Right. Give me two minutes and we'll go see him."

William nodded his head. "Right of course. Take ten. You stink and I highly doubt father would appreciate you stinking up the joint."

"You are the biggest piece of shit to ever grace this planet," Ethan grumbled as he headed towards the washroom.

The brown haired boy quickly washed his face and attempted to tame his unruly bedhead. When it was somewhat presentable, he left it. No doubt his father would make some backhanded comment about his appearance, but whatever.

That was the least of his concerns. The young man's mind raced with possibilities of what could be so urgent that their father needed to see them both immediately. It wasn't typical for Lord Vaniel to summon them without prior notice, especially not so early in the morning.

Because no matter what anyone said, Ethan picked up his hatred for early morning from his father.

With a sigh, Ethan pushed aside his curiosity for the moment and focused on the task at hand. Once he felt presentable enough, he exited his room and joined William in the hallway.

"Alright, let's get this over with," Ethan said, resigned to facing whatever awaited them in their father's study.

Knowing his luck, there was no chance it was good.

Ethan was correct. His father didn't summon him for a loving, fun time. Immediately as his foot crossed the threshold of his father's study came that know it all tone.

"Ah so look who finally awoke. Enough beauty sleep for you princess?"

If it was anyone else who had spoken to the young man in such a manner, they would have a busted face. Unfortunately, it was his father. His father - while a prick - was a powerful man. And Ethan wouldn't put it past his dad to . . . dispose of him should differences arise. So for now, he bowed like the proper boy he was trained to be. And for good measure, he bit back the witty retort ready to fly off his tongue.

"Father. Apologies for sleeping in this late. It was not my intention." Lies. It was absolutely his intention. Just once, Ethan wanted to sleep in. To have a couple of moments of peace all to himself. But his dad seemed to be hell bent on ruining that for him. "William said that I was required here immediately. I came as quickly as I could."

It was a convincing performance. But James Vaniel wasn't paying a lick of attention to his son. His attention appeared to be on an envelope lying on his desk. Ethan's eyebrow twitched. Had the man in front of him registered a single word that he spoke? How infuriating! He got that his dad was some high up - but come on. There should have been some level of respect for him.