Asher rose, the calmness on his face giving way to a solemn resolve. He looked towards Rowena, his voice steady as he addressed her,
"Your Majesty, I am humbled by your trust," Asher looked at her with a warm smile as he briefly bowed.
Everyone still had their jaws slacked and were baffled by the sudden turn of events as this came out of nowhere.
The consort was only around 22 years old, and his real life experience wasn't even longer than three. Even if they account for him possessing special bloodline instincts and wisdom, could it really be enough to bear the burden of a king?
Just being strong or talented wasn't enough to be a king.
There were a number of opinions forming as they conversed with each other in hushed whispers.
Rowena shifted her gaze to the rest, her piercing gaze commanding silence more effectively than any shout could.
As her hand rose, a wave of stillness spread across the room, the once restless murmurings dying down in an instant.
She spoke with a voice that carried not just authority but the weight of destiny, "If there be any among you who would question the ascension of my consort to the throne beside me, let them step forward now."
Her eyes, sharp as the edge of a blade, swept over the assembly, lingering on the representatives of the three Great Houses.
Seron and Silvan glanced at each other, and as if with shared understanding, they bowed their heads silently towards Rowena as if to convey that they had no objections.
"This was a surprise," Silvan mumbled as he glanced at Asher.
"It wasn't that much of a surprise. But I was expecting this to happen at least a few decades later. Not now…" Seron mumbled with furrowed brows.
Thorin, his features carved from stone, narrowed his eyes with an unreadable expression.
Beside him, Esther's eyes held a cold fire, but no words came from her lips. However, the husband and wife then looked at each other before turning their heads straight and remaining silent.
Sabina, always one to find amusement in the play of power, turned to her mother, her voice playful yet edged, "Shall I raise a hand, Mother? Our future could shift with this declaration."
Esther's gaze didn't waver, her voice was a calm, icy river, "No. The time for voices to rise is not upon us—patience."
Sabina leaned back, her smile sly, eyes alight with mischief as she watched Asher, her voice barely above a whisper, "This now got a lot more interesting...Just what more surprises do you have for me, my future king, fufu~"
Meanwhile, Vernon, his face a look of surprise, sought his wife's eyes, "No background, no name. Why would the queen stake so much on him despite not having power of his own?"
Naida regarded the scene with a keen eye, "Unexpected and unusual, yes, but is it truly an unwise decision? Asher may have an unknown and alien lineage, but that's where he shines. He has something nobody in our world could have. He has unimaginable potential and the charisma to lead people, as evident by his consolidating some power of his own within three years. That combination is... impressive."
Vernon contemplated on her words, his brows knitted together, "But a king is more than a mere genius. He must be a symbol, a foundation."
Naida's voice was thoughtful, her eyes still fixed on the scene before them, "Symbols can be forged, and foundations laid. The Quest of the Worthy was his anvil, and now the throne shall be his forge. We watch as a new era is hammered into shape, and we must adapt if we are to rise along with the ambitions of our new king," Her bright red eyes locked onto Asher as she said with a smile, "Silvia is right. We should focus on strengthening our relationship with the Drakes."
"Well, I already know you and our future king were having some friendly visits. Seems like you beat everyone to it," Vernon said with a brief smile, though his eyes held a certain glint.
Naida lightly chuckled and said, "It started out as a coincidence, thanks to our daughter's naughtiness."
"Mother, please. Silvia did nothing wrong," Silvia pouted as she blinked her big, round eyes with an innocent look. She then shifted her gaze towards Asher and looked around the hall with a narrowed and sharp gaze to see if any pea-brained fools were going to step forward to convey their objection.
Rowena's eyes were constantly glancing between the representatives of the three Great Houses to study their reactions and to see if they were going to say anything.
She was able to somewhat relax after seeing that none of these Houses seemed to want to raise any objection.
Asher curved his lips as he felt that everything he did by running around the kingdom in the past three years and during the quest paid off.
Those from House Thorne had the highest chance of raising an objection.
But because of what he did to Edmund and how he was holding the upper hand at this time, they wouldn't dare to push it.
Even if they did, he still had Sabina's support, and he was sure she would be willing to do anything because of the deal they agreed upon.
As for House Valentine, he had already formed friendly relations with them despite having a rocky start with Silvia.
And based on how Silvia was shooting him coquettish glances, he had nothing to worry about them, even in the future as well.
As for House Drake, the only one who surely would have raised an objection would have been Rebecca and Oberon.
But fortunately, due to the timing, both of them weren't here to cause a ruckus, and Rebecca didn't even come despite knowing about this announcement. She would surely be cursing him at the top of her voice later.
As for Seron and Silvan, since Rowena is also considered the head of the House, they would find it unwise to go against her decision based on the kind of people they were.
He thought Silvan might hold it against him for what happened with Ceti, but it seemed as if Ceti and Silvan had already made peace with the matter.
He felt this father and son duo knew how to keep the best interests in their minds, unlike a certain mother and son duo despite belonging to the same family.
However, he and Rowena still noticed some uncertain expressions and whispers lingering in the air.
And indeed, few of them were against it, and some of them weren't sure if this was a good idea. But since they saw none from the three Great Houses raising any objections, they couldn't gather the courage to raise their voices.
Some of them felt convinced it was a good idea because of this very same reason. If the three Great Houses had no issues, then it couldn't be a bad decision.
Still, Asher seemed undeterred by the murmur of doubts and the sea of skeptical eyes that met his.
With a commanding presence and a voice that resonated with an unshakeable confidence, he addressed the assembly, his words carrying the force of his conviction,
"Esteemed lords, ladies, and dignitaries of our great kingdom," Asher began, his eyes locking with those of every doubter in the room, "I stand before you, not as a conqueror imposing will, but as a man who has come to call this kingdom home. It is true, I am young, and to many of you, I am an alien who is not of this world and has no background. But the strength of a kingdom lies not in the past glories of a name, but in the present valor and the future aspirations."
He paced slowly down the platform, the weight of every step measured and kingly while letting himself appear closer to them, "I ask not for blind faith, but for the chance to prove my allegiance and my resolve. The blood that runs through me may not be of this land, but the heart that beats within me has pledged itself to its prosperity, to my queen, and to you, its people."
Thorin finally shifted his gaze towards Asher while Naida's lips formed a brief smile as she and her family listened.
The air was thick with a fiery energy, his fervor seemed to ignite a spark in the crowd, "As king, I shall ensure our kingdom stands unrivaled. Our enemies will falter at the mere whisper of our might, and those who dare challenge us will find themselves crushed beneath the unyielding weight of our resolve. We will forge our destiny with iron will and fire-borne spirit, and let it be known across our realm—The Bloodburn throne does not yield, it conquers!"
His words, infused with a sincerity and passion that was almost palpable, seemed to sway the mood in the room.
Eyes that had been cold now flickered with the beginnings of respect, and whispers of uncertainty began to give way to nods of cautious approval.
Asher had spoken not only to their minds but to their hearts, and in doing so, he had proved to them that he had the grit to become their king.
"Ooohnn~" Sabina let out a weak whimper as she bit down on her lip and squirmed her legs together, feeling turned on by the sound of his passionate voice and smelling the feverish blood in his veins, which seemed to have gotten influenced by his words.
But she had no choice but to control herself with all her willpower to maintain decorum.
Rowena couldn't help but stare at his back with flames of pride in her crimson eyes.
She knew he wasn't giving a speech to merely appease the people gathered here but to voice what he was going to do in the future.
Otherwise, his words wouldn't have had such an effect on these people.
The hall was alive with the murmurs and shuffling of feet as the assembly bowed before Asher, their gestures full of newfound respect, "Your Majesty, we will be honored and proud to have you as our king," they chorused, their voices a harmony of reverence and hope.
Asher's smile was modest, yet it held the assurance of a leader as he nodded and gestured at them to rise.
The next moment, Rowena raised her hand, and the hall stilled instantly, all eyes turning towards her in anticipation, "In the spirit of new beginnings and the dawn of a new era," she began, her voice echoing with an air of mystery that piqued the curiosity of all present, "I have yet another proclamation to make."
The crowd exchanged glances, the air thick with questions. What more could there be beyond this historic ascension?
Rowena's gaze swept across the assembly before settling on Isola, "For the prosperity of our people and the lands that nourish us, it is time we forge alliances that strengthen our bonds and ensure our future," The suspense was palpable as every breath was held, waiting for her to unveil her intentions.
She then turned to Moraxor with a look of steely determination, "King Moraxor, I propose to reinstate your kingdom and to give you the foundation to rebuild your kingdom to its former glory. In return, I seek a union that will be the cornerstone of our alliance."
Whispers erupted like a sudden storm, speculation rampant as to who the proposed union could involve.
"What in the Seven Hells…" Narissara mumbled with a look of disbelief, never expecting such an announcement. Was this why he told her to wait?
She looked at Moraxor to see his reaction, only to see that he was as calm as a pond. Did he know?
She looked at Isola, who looked at her and nodded with a light smile, "I told you, mother. He only wants the best for us."
"You…" Narissara fell at a loss for words as every notion she held about Asher and his queen was completely overturned.
If they truly considered her people as enemies, why would they reinstate her kingdom and give them a chance to rebuild everything?
Was Isola truly right? Were they different from their ancestors? Were they really wishing for a better future for all?
"As a token of this new era, and to cement our commitment to one another, I propose that my king shall be joined in marriage to Princess Isola, forming a bond between our kingdoms that shall be unbreakable."
The words hung in the air like a spell, stunning the assembly into silence before gasps filled the hall.
Eyes turned to the umbralfiend princess, who didn't appear shocked at all, and it seemed as if this was decided beforehand.
"Nooo, that's not fair. He gets to marry our enemy?" Silvia hissed as she shot a bitter glare at Isola.
Sabina inwardly sighed as her ghostly red eyes landed on Isola, 'Fuuu…I underestimated you greatly. How clever of you to sleep on his bed without anyone knowing all this time. Whatever…You won't be the only one, fufu~"
Isola looked at her father and gave a firm nod as he proudly smiled and stepped forward with a puffed-up chest and said in a loud, thunderous voice, "I, King Moraxor, will gladly accept this union of our kingdoms if it will result in letting our kingdoms rise to greater heights."
Narissara felt Moraxor's gaze earlier, asking for her approval. And strangely enough, she couldn't think of any reason to refuse. Maybe that audacious yet strong-willed young man might prove her wrong.
The hall was ablaze with reactions, a cacophony of disbelief and wonder, as the enormity of their queen and the umbralfiend king's declarations.
This was not merely a political move; it was a statement of unity and strength, and despite the history they shared, none of them could find a reason to oppose this alliance, for it was not at all detrimental to their kingdom.
In fact, they inwardly lauded their queen for being so wise since conquering through force can never be as effective as conquering through an alliance like this.
With the umbralfiends having their princess wedded to their king, they would become part of their kingdom as well.
Rowena's eyes shone with satisfaction to see that the people were taking it better than she expected. She then turned to Asher and asked in a regal tone, "Asher Drake, do you accept to take part in this alliance and accept Isola as your consort?"
Asher smiled as he locked his gaze with Isola's shimmering sapphire blue eyes and said, "I wouldn't have it any other way."
