Darren hesitated for a moment, his expression clouded with concern. "There is something I need to share with you, Asher," he began, his voice low and hesitant, "I didn't want to burden you with this, but I fear it might indirectly affect you."
Asher leaned in slightly, his eyes conveying a mix of curiosity and reassurance, "Even if it doesn't affect me directly, you can confide in me with anything, Darren," he said, his voice steady and comforting.
A hint of relief washed over Darren's features as he finally shared his troubles. "Princess Consort Rebecca has been causing problems for me," he admitted, the frustration evident in his tone, "She has somehow pressured my father to cast me aside, making me an outsider to my own House. Because of this, I'm losing face among the other noble Houses, and my support is dwindling. If this keeps up, I might have nothing to my name, and I am afraid I might turn out to be a burden for you."
Asher listened intently, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in Darren's words. This was indeed a serious issue for Darren that could affect his future completely.
After a moment, he reached out and placed a reassuring hand on Darren's shoulder, "Don't worry about this, Darren," he said, his voice filled with conviction, "This situation won't be permanent. Just be patient for a while and rely on me until then. I will help you deal with this issue."
Darren's eyes met Asher's, his gratitude shining through as he bowed, "Thank you so much. I promise I won't let your efforts go to waste."
"I know you won't," Asher said with a subtle smile. However, inwardly, he wondered why Rebecca was suddenly targeting him after laying low for the past few months. What was she up to?
6 months passed,
The soft, golden glow of the lamps flickered in the eastern courtyard, their dancing light casting warm shadows on the walls of the hall.
It was here that Rowena sought solace from the weight of her crown. In this haven of tranquility, she sometimes wanted to free herself from everything.
However, right now, Asher had coaxed her into rekindling her passion for painting, using vibrant hues to bring her vivid imagination to life on canvas. He had insisted on this a few months ago, and ever since, they had been indulging in painting from time to time during evenings.
She never expected to feel so relaxed and peaceful whenever she painted with him. She liked it more and more to the point she began to plan these sessions ahead whenever she could squeeze in some time.
With him by her side, she would feel like she could lean on him. Her day wouldn't feel complete without at least spending some time with him.
As the dark crimson sun dipped toward the horizon, its fiery embrace tingled the rugged mountain peaks with shades of blood.
Asher sat behind Rowena, his strong, skilled hands enveloping her delicate ones. He was her rock, her consort, and now her gentle teacher, guiding her in the art of capturing the breathtaking scene before them.
Since she never got the time to broaden her skills in painting, Asher was helping her out, and she was astonished he was skillful at this too. He had a creative imagination, and his hands were deft, creating beautiful strokes.
Their bodies pressed close together, the warmth of their embrace amplifying the intimacy of the moment.
Asher's steady breath caressed the nape of her neck as he leaned in, resting his chin on her bare shoulder. Rowena's heart remained restless, the mere presence of her consort igniting a fire within her that was impossible to extinguish.
"Relax your grip, Rona," Asher murmured softly, his voice a soothing balm to her anxiety, "Let the brush dance across the canvas like a feather on the wind."
Rowena let out a soft hum, acknowledging his words. Following his tender guidance, she dipped the brush into the palette of rich colors and carefully swept it across the canvas, her hand steadied by his.
Together, they painted the undulating contours of the mountains, each stroke capturing the last rays of sunlight as the day surrendered to the encroaching darkness.
As their brushstrokes swept across the canvas in a delicate dance, Asher could sense the tension in Rowena's hand, a subtle quiver betraying the turmoil hidden beneath her composed facade. He gently held her hand, guiding it down from the easel, his voice soft and concerned.
"Rona, are you still troubled by what is happening in the northern lands?"
Rowena exhaled a weary sigh, her eyes reflecting the weight of her responsibility, "I can't shake the feeling that the north grows more unstable with each passing day. Even from here, I can feel how the air is heavy with misery and discontent, and despite all my efforts, it seems as though nothing truly improves. I've redirected a quarter of our resources to them, and offered incentives for completing quests, and yet... It feels as though some hidden force works against me, crushing my efforts before they can bear fruit. But I cannot fathom who or what it might be. And that…concerns me the most."
Asher's brow furrowed, knowing her concerns weren't misplaced. However, he couldn't tell her certain information for there were some things he was waiting to take advantage of that could benefit him a lot.
He caressed her hand and was about to say something,
*RUUUMNNNN!*
But before he could speak, a loud yet muffled sound of something akin to a giant drum echoed from the northern direction, interrupting their heartfelt exchange.
This sound made both their eyes widen in shock as if they knew what that sound was supposed to mean.
"This cannot be…" Rowena mumbled with a grave expression as she suddenly got up with clenched fists.
At the same time, an insistent knock echoed through the room.
"Your Majesty, forgive the intrusion," called a muffled voice from beyond the door, "There's an urgent matter that requires your attention immediately."
Rowena and Asher exchanged a glance, the warmth of their intimate moment dissipating like mist in the morning sun.
Both of their expressions became serious as they separated from each other while Rowena took a step forward,
"Enter," she called, her voice steady and commanding but her brows furrowed.
The guard burst into the room, beads of sweat streaming down his face, panic evident in his wide eyes. "Your Majesty, the northern lands are under attack!"
Rowena's eyes widened in shock, her lips quivering as she clenched her fists. "By whom?" she demanded sternly.
The guard swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he replied, "T-The Kraken, Your Majesty!"
Rowena's eyes shook as she whispered, "How is that possible?" Asher, too was taken aback, for he knew that the Kraken was House Thorne's most formidable 'weapon' - a giant, powerful sea monster that had no equal. The symbol of the Kraken was something they proudly wore on their robes and etched onto their banners.
The Kraken was considered the guardian of the seas surrounding the northern lands, and losing control over it meant leaving the region utterly defenseless. Its lifespan was so high, it was definitely older than a thousand years. Some even considered it to be the offspring of a devil and worshipped it, especially the people of the north.
"But how could House Thorne lose control of the Kraken? They are its masters, right?" Asher asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
"The events unfolded suddenly, Your Highness," the guard answered, his voice shaking, "No one knows how they lost control of the Kraken. House Thorne's soldiers and their vassals have been trying to repel the attack, but the giant beast is too powerful. And it is not even the end. A rebellion has emerged, with the northern people claiming that, with the help of the Kraken and their allies, they will form their own kingdom."
"A rebellion and allies?" Rowena murmured, feeling as if the situation was far worse than she had initially thought.
She couldn't comprehend why the people of the north would turn against her after all she had done for them. She felt as if she had failed both herself and her kingdom by allowing this to happen.
However, determination filled her eyes as she ordered the guard, "Assemble every vassal of our House and inform Lord Stormrider to gather his forces before meeting me. We will have to deal with this crisis before it could escalate into something worse."
Asher immediately stepped forward, his voice firm, "I have contacts in the north. Let me go there first while you prepare our forces."
Rowena shook her head, fear for his safety clouding her eyes, "It's too dangerous for you to go alone, especially with the situation so volatile."
Asher offered a reassuring smile, the confidence in his eyes unmistakable, "Don't worry, Rona. Eradicator will get me out of there if things become too dangerous. I'll be back before you know it."
Without even waiting for her to respond, Asher set off to confront the chaos unfolding in the north while Rowena looked at his disappearing back with a worried look. However, her gaze hardened as she left the courtyard to handle this immediately.
…
High above the northern lands, Asher clung tightly to the back of Grimeras, Eradicator's fearsome flying mount. Its powerful wings beat the air with mighty gusts as it soared through the sky, casting a dark and imposing shadow upon the earth below.
Eradicator's eyes scanned the horizon with hawk-like vigilance, aware of the precarious situation that lay before them. She made sure to surround Asher with a part of her mana just to be safe.
As they neared Mistshore Village, Asher's gaze drifted downwards, taking in the chaotic scene unfolding in the far surrounding lands. The once-rich fields and relatively peaceful landscapes had been ravaged by destruction and conflict.
Billowing plumes of smoke and angry flames danced menacingly across the land, and from the depths of this apocalyptic landscape, Asher could make out the faint, anguished cries of the desperate and the doomed.
He realized he had underestimated how powerful the Kraken was to shake the entire northern lands within a short time. He had never seen it personally but had seen its illustrations in books to have an idea of how terrifying it could be.
He knew people were very upset and that they might go on strikes and put pressure on the kingdom which was something he had been waiting for to further his own prospects. However, he felt they still wouldn't have the courage to go against the kingdom and even claim that they want a kingdom of their own.
But the reality had betrayed his expectations.
The sudden explosion of a full-fledged rebellion coupled with the Kraken running amok caught him off guard, with the latter one disrupting the calculated plans in his mind. He never saw this coming.
Nevertheless, he knew he had to make sure this didn't get out of hand since it would definitely affect his own interests as well. Fortunately, thanks to a certain someone, he already knew some things that didn't completely leave him clueless.
As Asher approached the village, he saw many soldiers standing guard around the village, as if they were on the lookout for something. He knew they were from House Thorne and its vassals.
The villagers seemed to be very busy, setting up shelters and defenses to protect themselves. It was not as if they could leave their homes.
Asher didn't spot the Kraken anywhere even when he was flying earlier, and wondered if the Kraken was taking a nap or something after causing all this chaos.
Nereon, the respected village chief of the Naiadon Tribe, strode forward to meet him, as if he had been anticipating Asher's arrival. His expression was etched with pain and worry, and he addressed Asher with a deferential tone.
"Y-Your Highness," he began, "I am troubled to inform you that the situation here in the northern lands is dire. It may not be safe for you to be here at this time."
Asher dismounted, his steely gaze never leaving Nereon's eyes, "I appreciate your concern, Chief Nereon, but I must take action to address the troubles here," he replied firmly, "But first I want you to tell me what is really happening here."
