Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Staring silently out at the countryside, I gazed at father with a questioning look, "Where is Mother? Did she not come on this trip."

Shaking his head, Father smiled bitterly, "She is coming. She just had to resign from the governor's position. She should be arriving by tomorrow,"

Nodding absentmindedly, I stared out slowly, getting lost in the view. Hours began to pass as we were brought an elegant-looking meal for lunch. It was, in my opinion, poorly made, lacking in every possible manner aside from aesthetics.

Father seeing my plight, laughed, "Sorry, Sène, I know this was your first meal, but don't worry, they don't always taste like that."

Seeing him try to comfort me made me laugh a bit. There were many roles I could not play as I was far too young, but seeing my father trying so hard, I gave him a bright smile, "It's fine; I'm sure we will have outstanding food in our new home."

Suddenly a loud announcement entered my ears, "Attention, we will be arriving in Pendragon in fifteen minutes."

Smiling, Father carried me back to the room; he grabbed a few documents before the train gradually stopped. Sitting on fathers sturdy shoulders, I gazed out at the majestic train station filled with thousands of people coming and going.

Father did not take more than a few steps before three middle-aged butlers appeared, giving a deep bow, "Greeting Duke Val, your transportation to the Snow estate has been taken care of. Would you please follow us?"

Father did not seem very surprised as he followed behind the three men with me on his back. Staring at the luxurious carriage with five large beautiful black horses with three bulky horns sporting from its head caused me to gasp.

I could feel a profound pulse of power flowing from their bodies as they released steam of white carbon dioxide from their nostrils. Father lifted me down before entering the carriage. Yet, for some reason, my father was a little quiet, causing me to further analyze the three men before me.

One was driving the carriage, and the other two were sitting across from me. They did not smell of blood like Marquess Dra, but rather of nothing...shit.

Listening to my heart beating like a drum, as I tried to remain quiet, but one of the butlers smiled coldly, "who would have thought a small child would discover us. Val, he really is something. Are you sure he is not an old demon?"

Pausing, my eyes grew wide as father burst into laughter, "I did not think he would discover you all either. His perception is exquisite, Eroma, what brings you to me."

Staring in shock, I suddenly saw a bright light flash as the middle age butler turned into a young man with long ashen-colored hair like fathers. His eyes were sharp and deep like the abyss, with a long shallow scar just below his eye reaching down to his chin.

Eroma gave a childlike grin before jumping in between Father and me, "Come on, Val, stop being so uptight it's only us here. Those guys are just dolls. Come on, tell your little bro about outside the walls of the capital. "

Father snorted before chopping Eroma upside the head, "Why the hell did father send you to pick us up." he exclaimed in a somewhat annoyed tone.

"Father was feeling annoyed today, so he sent me here to annoy you. It would seem it's working." Eroma shouted in a loud, happy tone.

Pushing me closer into him, he sized me up, "So you are the new addition to our fam, hmmm, it's going to me be and you...fucking bitches all day...at least when you get older."

Father had a deep vein bulging from his neck as he grabbed Eroma by the collar tossing him far into the sky.

My eyes bulged as I could hear hysterical laughter coming from Eroma flying body. Father seemed even more annoyed before sitting back into the carriage huffing.

"That kid is going to make me kill him one day, jack ass," Father murmured,

Staring at me for a moment, Val slowly began to explain, "that was your uncle Eroma Snow, and he is my younger brother. He is only about a hundred years old, so he is a little immature."

"How did he know I found out about him,"

Eying me with a little pride in his eyes, Father's rugged hand slapped my back, "You did a great job; it was actually because of your heart rate; most cultivators can hear someone's heartbeat. It takes some skill and deep control to control your heart rate to an inaudible frequency."

"But how did you notice him? His technique was flawless; I only saw him because I have a deeper cultivation than him."

Tilting my head, I looked at father in confusion, "It was his smell; he didn't have one. Father has a subtle yet deep fragrance, Dra had a rich scent on the surface, and a foul scent that was hidden away, and mama smells like some of the flowers in the garden."

Rubbing his beard, Father grinned before coldly warning me, "Arsène, never speak to Marquess Dra alone. That man is quite terrifying, even with his title. He holds so much power that even the king has a close watch on all his movements."

Understanding what father was saying, I thought back to the oversize man who didn't look like he could fight with a frown. Suddenly the carriage stopped as one of the dolls, as Eroma called them, stepped out, "We have arrived, My lord and Young master." it declared without a hint of emotion.

Stepping down from the carriage, I gazed upon the armed guards standing near the Snow Estate entrance. Their bodies were all covered in golden armor as they held profound looking halberd in hand.

Taking me by the arm, Father led me through the threshold and into the estate. No one seemed to stop us as we entered. On our way through the estate, Father would usually stop and introduced me to some of my family's various members. Ranging from aunts and uncles to cousins and bastards.

No one paid much attention to me as I was only one year of age, not to mention the second born. A child that would not be inheriting any of my father's or mother's possessions.

Nevertheless, we spent hours touring the estate before Father stopped before a massive door. He gave a slight knock before walking in with me in hand.