Chapter 33: Chapter 33: God
Alaric managed to escape Carlton’s wrath, dragging Rowan into the sanctuary of his study. He slammed the door shut and slumped against it, exhaling a shuddery sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Kastiel breathed an audible sigh as he saw Carlton acting normally for once. The empress usually chased him with a sword at every opportunity, but today he seemed preoccupied. Kastiel hadn’t set foot in the palace or worked with Alaric in ages - he was grateful for this rare reprieve from Carlton’s usual aggression.
However, when Carlton casually handed over guardianship of the children to him and asked him to keep them occupied while he retreated to the library, Kastiel nearly choked on his own tongue. In the past, Charlotte had used Kastiel as a pawn in her schemes almost poisoning Crown Prince Malcolm! Kastiel fully expected Carlton to be his usual imperious self - kicking his ass or brandishing a blade if he so much as glanced at the royal brats. But here he was entrusting them to his care!
Carlton was blissfully unaware of that dark history; all that mattered to his was ensuring those mischievous triplets didn’t sneak off to their "secret place" again. And in Carlton’s estimation, Kastiel would make a far better babysitter than the palace nannies who often lost track of the children.
As evening fell and shadows lengthened, Carlton sat hunched over ancient tomes in the library, poring over information about this world. Was it truly different from his own or merely populated by people with contrasting ways? The empress pondered these questions as he delved deeper into the musty stacks.
After poring over countless ancient texts for hours on end, Carlton finally arrived at a conclusion: this world was essentially the same as his own. The only discernible difference seemed to be the rather... liberal attitudes of its inhabitants. Nearly everyone he’d encountered could be classified as a pervert! But that was hardly surprising given the state of things.
As for the matter of men bearing children, Carlton’s research yielded no definitive answers. Perhaps Rowan or Kastiel might shed some light on the subject. If not them, then Alaric would surely know - though extracting information from that annoying emperor would be like pulling teeth!
Just then, someone had entered the library and now stood mere feet away from where he sat engrossed in study. Suddenly, Carlton sensed another presence looming nearby. He had been so engrossed in his reading that he didn’t notice Tristan approach until the man spoke mere inches from his ear.
"Your Majesty," Tristan intoned solemnly.
Carlton started violently at the unexpected interruption and snapped his book shut with an audible thwack. "Tristan! What is it?"
"The hour grows late. Emperor Alaric and the royal children await your presence in the dining hall for supper."
Carlton blinked, realizing with a start that he had indeed lost track of time. With a sigh, he closed the tome before him and began gathering up the scattered books strewn across his worktable.
"Yes, yes," Carlton muttered distractedly as he rose to his feet, arms laden with heavy books. "I shall return these books to their proper places posthaste."
"Allow me to assist you, Your Majesty," Tristan offered promptly, relieving Carlton of most of his burdens with alacrity. The man swiftly deposited each book upon its designated shelf with practiced efficiency.
Carlton watched Tristan’s speed with awe, marveling at the man’s efficiency. Then a wicked thought crossed his mind - was Tristan merely another perverted creature in this bizarre world? Carlton had a sneaking suspicion that Tristan was at least 90% pervert, but he clung to the desperate hope that perhaps Tristan might be one of the rare normal folk.
After returning all the books to their proper places, they exited the library side-by-side and strolled towards the dining hall. As they walked, Carlton’s curiosity about Tristan’s sexuality grew. Every single person he’d met in this strange land seemed to engage in same-sex relations, including his own children! Carlton felt it would be rude to pry into such personal matters... but he desperately needed some reassurance that not everyone here was utterly different from people back home.
"Tristan," Carlton began hesitantly as they walked, "I must ask you something rather personal..."
"Yes, Your Majesty?" Tristan replied promptly, turning his head to regard Carlton with an expectant expression.
"You... is there someone you fancy? Or do you already have a paramour... perhaps a man, even?" Carlton ventured delicately, hoping he wasn’t overstepping.
Tristan answered without the slightest pause. "No."
Carlton’s heart soared with relief at Tristan’s initial response, but alas, the cruel whims of this bizarre world were not yet done toying with him. As Tristan continued speaking, his face flushed and eyes glazed over with adoration, Carlton felt a growing sense of unease.
"I mean I don’t think of that person as man or human... he’s my god..." Tristan breathed reverently, his usually stoic expression softening into one of pure worship.
".....?"
Carlton blinked in utter confusion. Surely he had misheard? But then Tristan spoke again and Carlton froze mid-step.
"Because he’s pretty, a lot of people like him... but I’m not jealous," Tristan gushed passionately, "I’m just happy that my god has so many admirers! He’s amazing - his body is perfect too. People assume he’d be easy to dominate because of his beauty and slim figure... but they all fall under his spell without realizing that my god is the ultimate top!"
Tristan was practically drooling now, pupils dilated into hearts as he panted heavily, lost in his obsession. Carlton stumbled backwards, a chill running down his spine as he realized the true depths of Tristan’s perversion.
His heart pounding as he put some much-needed distance between himself and the crazed fanboy. Carlton had faced countless battles without fear, but this was an enemy he knew not how to fight - a super pervert with no shame or restraint!
This world truly was full of madness...
Tristan continued to ramble enthusiastically, oblivious to Carlton’s growing discomfort. "Even a few days ago I peeked at him doing it with some people, and made them all faint! He’s the best~♡♡♡♡"
He gushed, his face now contorted into an expression of pure perverted bliss. It was almost enough to make Carlton scream for help - not because he was the object of Tristan’s affections, but because the sheer intensity of Tristan’s obsession was utterly terrifying.
A wistful sigh escaped Tristan’s lips as he continued. "Unfortunately it was dark because I was hiding in the ceiling, so I couldn’t paint that scene... I guess I’ll have to hide in the closet or behind the window like usual..."
He peeps on people having sex and paints them?!!! A stalker AND a voyeuristic artist?! Oh god...
Carlton shuddered violently at the thought, goosebumps erupting across his skin.
Carlton tried desperately to maintain a calm and authoritative tone despite his mounting horror. "Tristan," he said firmly, "you must understand that what you’re doing is highly inappropriate. Invading the privacy of your... god in such a manner is simply not right."
But even as the words left his mouth, Carlton knew it was futile. Tristan was far too lost in his own twisted world to comprehend the gravity of his actions. This was a level of perversion Carlton had never encountered before - and he wasn’t sure how to handle it.
Tristan’s face crumpled with sadness as he continued to ramble about his beloved god.
"Your majesty, my god is a pervert, so he doesn’t mind people seeing him having sex. It’s just that... he doesn’t like me... he always says that when he looks into my eyes, he loses his erection in one second..." Tristan looked utterly dejected, making Carlton unsure whether to offer comfort or silently agree with Tristan’s god - who could possibly find arousal in the gaze of such a maniac?
But then Carlton realized something unsettling about this ’god’ of Tristan’s. He seemed rather wild and unrestrained himself...
Carlton sighed heavily and attempted to reason with the lovesick obsessed man. "Tristan, you’re obsessed in a very unhealthy way," he pointed out gently but firmly. "And that god of yours... well, he seems like the type who just likes to play around and doesn’t want to get serious."
Even as he spoke, Carlton wasn’t entirely sure if Tristan was merely a devoted fanboy or genuinely in love. His nonchalance about his crush sleeping with others was rather concerning. But Tristan was too focused on defending his beloved ’god’ to hear Carlton’s words of wisdom.
"No! He’s not just playing around!" Tristan insisted vehemently, eyes brimming with tears. "It’s just his attempt to hide the pain of being rejected by the person he likes!!! Poor my god... age is just a number... but he was rejected because of their age gap..."
Tristan broke down into sobs then, overwhelmed by imaginary heartbreak on behalf of his idol. Carlton could only watch in stunned silence as Tristan wept openly, mourning the perceived rejection suffered by his ’god’.
Carlton’s eyes widened in shock as the horrifying realization dawned on him once more...
Wait a minute... Since Tristan’s god is a pervert... Don’t tell me... he likes little kids?!!!
He quickly turned to Tristan, desperation etched across his face as he demanded answers. "How big is the age gap between them?" Carlton asked urgently, needing to know the extent of this potential pedophilic relationship.
Tristan paused for a moment, seemingly deep in thought before responding. "I’m not entirely certain, but I’d wager it’s somewhere close to 20 years..."
A chill ran down Carlton’s spine at this revelation. Twenty years?! That was far too large an age difference for any healthy relationship - especially when one party was underage! What kind of sick individual would pursue such a taboo connection?
Before Carlton could press further, a child’s cheerful voice interrupted their conversation. Austin came bounding down the hall towards them, his small arms outstretched as he ran to embrace his father.
"Daddy!" Austin cried happily as he wrapped himself around Carlton’s waist. "You took so long when we were waiting for you in the dining room. Is Daddy busy with Uncle Tristan?"
In an instant, Tristan’s maniacal expression vanished like smoke on the wind, replaced by his usual stoic demeanor at Austin’s arrival - it was like watching someone with multiple personalities shift gears right before Carlton’s eyes! He bowed stiffly to Carlton, all traces of his earlier ramblings gone.
"Your Majesty," Tristan said formally, "it seems His Imperial Majesty Emperor and the other royal children are quite famished after waiting so patiently for your arrival. Perhaps it would be best if we adjourned our conversation and proceeded to the dining hall."
Carlton nodded absently, still reeling from the revelation about Tristan’s ’god’. He took Austin’s small hand in his own and began walking towards the dining room, but there was a growing sense of unease gnawing at him.
Secretly, Carlton found himself consumed by curiosity about this sordid love triangle between Tristan, his perverted god who apparently had a penchant for young lovers, and an unknown third party. The unhealthy dynamics at play were both unsettling and morbidly fascinating to him...
These troubling thoughts swirled through Carlton’s mind as they entered the dining hall filled with hungry children awaiting their meal, his earlier lighthearted mood now replaced by grim determination. He would get to the bottom of this sordid affair, no matter what it took!
