Summary: The servant is a ghost in the background, always watching, always listening. She knows far more than people suspect, and keeps her feelings to herself. This is the story of Ialessa, maid to both the Glassred and Venomania households.

Disclaimer: Setting belongs to mothy, Gakupo, Luka, Gumi, KAITO, Miku, and IA do not belong to me. This take on the song is wholly mine.

Queen's Quornor: I suppose I should start by saying that Gakupo is easily my favorite Vocaloid, and "The Madness of Duke Venomania" is my favorite song by mothy. It's also one of the coolest vids I've come across involving hand-drawn Vocaloids. That being said, I really never planned on writing fanfiction about it. Normally I stick with video game fics, and leave this fandom be. Then one day I was listening to the song, and started wondering about all the other women who wound up in the duke's harem. Only about half have placeable names - who were these other women? Coincidentally, one my best friends has been heavily into the Vippaloids lately, and introduced me to a couple of their songs. At first I had a funny idea about Ritsu being mistaken for a woman and winding up in Venomania's harem, but then this thought about IA arose, and I realized it might work better if I stuck with actual Vocaloids. So, here we are. Initially I thought about trying to get someone to do a song for this twoshot, but as I don't know anyone with any Vocaloid voicebanks, let alone IA's, I thought I'd let it remain a fanfic.

Servant of Lust

He's with Gumina again.

I suppose I should not be surprised. She is his favorite, because she was his friend when we were children. It does not matter that she taunted him when they grew older, and started telling him such hurtful lies about his looks and worth. He's always cared for her, regardless of the things she used to say to him. He calls for her more often than any other woman, at least since I've joined his household.

Once he's finished with her, I'll escort her back to her little room in the basement, and bring him a light snack before he sleeps.

I'm technically a member of his harem, just like Gumina and the others. But he doesn't ask for me very often. I've been a servant of the Glassred family since I was a very small child. Whenever she played with him, I was sent to accompany them as her handmaiden and companion. Sateriajis never took much note of me, but I certainly paid attention to him. I was charmed by the bright purple hair and eyes that people always mocked, and whenever the bullying got to the point that he would run away, I had to fight to remain with my lady, not run after him and hug him until the tears stopped.

As we grew older, he became even more handsome. But he was very self-conscious, and he would often turn to Gumina for reassurance. But after some time, her kind words became hurtful slurs; she would belittle him, and say that he was worthless. There were times I wanted to rush over and strike her, so cruel did she become.

But I never did. It's not a servant's place to interfere, no matter how much my heart broke for him.

Gumina would sometimes send me on errands at night, carrying notes to her many admirers and friends. There was one dark night when I noticed two shadows against the side of a building, heard voices in the alley opposite. I can still remember my pulse racing when I recognized Sateriajis' voice, heard him exchange his soul for the ability to attract all those women who had mocked him, to make them all fall beneath his spell. I saw the other shadow envelop his, and quickly hid myself when he began walking from the alley. He emerged a totally different man than the young duke I had always loved; this man possessed the lazy grace of a predator, and held his head high while he scanned the empty streets. I watched him depart in the direction of his manor, then I slid to the cobblestones and wept, losing Gumina's letters in the process. She raged at me the next morning, but I did not mind the tongue-lashing. It was the beginning of my atonement, my punishment for allowing him to fall to these depths. My heart has ached since that fell night, and it continues to squeeze painfully whenever his shadow crosses my mind.

I should have said something long ago, before he traded his soul. But it is far too late now.

The effects of his enchantment were subtle, yet immediate. Women, both commoners and nobles, started to vanish. There was never any trace of them, and it seemed that people forgot about them after a time. Even Gumina lost her concern for her missing friends.

Then one day, Sateriajis came calling. He wore a dark cloak and asked to speak with my lady. As he made himself comfortable before the fire, I served him tea, careful to avoid looking directly at him. Even when he threw back his hood, I did not allow myself to meet his gaze. I kept my place as a servant, although my tongue itched to speak with him, to tell him what I had seen.

Then instant Gumina swept into the parlor, she was snared. I saw her mouth open in astonishment, then her eyes went blank and she gave the duke an adoring smile. From my place in the shadows I watched him rise to his feet and open his arms; she rushed into them, clinging tightly as she swore undying love for him.

His expression tore at my heart, for it was the softest I have ever seen him wear in all the years I have known him. This was why he had made that cursed deal - he had feelings for her, and she had scorned his love with a mocking smile and cruel words.

In that instant, I began to hate my lady. She was the reason he had damned himself. She was the cause of all his pain.

After she disappeared, I struggled with my own feelings for a few days. I have loved him since we were children, although it was a forbidden affection. I am a servant, and he is a duke. It is not my place to love him. But I could not help myself. Though it is a sin, I gave him my heart years ago.

So I fled the Glassred manor, and found my way to the Venomania estate.

He seemed surprised when I greeted him, but I was even more shocked: I did not feel any mystical pull towards him. My mind remained clear. All I felt was my usual elation at seeing him again, the joy of being near him. If I so wished, I could have turned and walked away, as no other woman has. I curtsied to him - which I have yet to see any other lady do upon arriving at his mansion - and offered my services as a maid.

He stared at me with those glowing violet eyes, then welcomed me into his harem.

Sateriajis has been my first and only lover. My few nights with him have been intense, and lasted so long I could scarcely walk in the morning. I would not have thought him such a considerate lover, but I believe part of his pleasure is derived from seeing his partner's passion. I believe the only reason he does not often call for me to lay with him is because he knows I am not within his thrall, and he is unsure what to make of it. As for myself, I continue to keep my love a secret and serve him without complaint. I guide the women to and from his chambers, cook his meals, clean the manor, and launder his clothes knowing that he is beyond saving. I just want to be near him, and make his life as happy as I can, so he will have many good memories to comfort him in Hell.

It sounds as though they are finished. Soon he will ring the bell, and I will take Gumina back to the basement. At this rate, it will not be long ere she produces an heir. One of the girls, Lukana Octo, is already with child and another, Mikulia Greonio, suspects she might also be carrying.

If I have a child with him, I want it to have his purple hair and eyes, not my pale pink tresses and blue eyes. I would rather it look like nobility, so no one suspects it to have common blood.

There is the bell. Time to fetch Gumina.