Naida, her eyebrows still arched in a mixture of surprise and inquiry, asked Asher, "Are you really sure about entrusting such a precious and powerful item to me?"
Asher, momentarily taken aback by his own decisiveness, pondered why he had not given a second thought before offering the hilt to Naida.
It was uncharacteristic of him; typically, he would entrust such an item only to his most loyal confidants like Eradicator or to one of his women.
Yet here he was, offering it to Naida without hesitation.
Of course, his women weren't here, and Naida was stronger than Eradicator. Still, even then, he wouldn't have made this decision before.
It was as if he could already feel a sense of trust and confidence in Naida that was absent before.
He didn't know if it was a good or bad thing, but in a desperate situation like this and considering Naida always put the kingdom's interests before anything and even saved his life at the risk of hers, he felt logically she was the right choice to protect this.
He looked at her, a brief smile playing on his lips, and said with certainty, "There is nobody else more capable to protect this right now. You have after all, mastered the art of letting people see what you want them to."
He also was feeing a strong sense of protectiveness towards his kingdom, especially the desire to keep it safe no matter what.
He already had it before but because of Rowena and for her sake he was willing to do anything to help her protect the kingdom.
But since he had only been living there for a few years, he never truly felt as if he was part of the kingdom or feel attached other than the people living in it.
However, now, it was as he could feel the desire to protect his kingdom gushing forth from his soul. Never before had he felt so worried and concerned about the future of his kingdom. It felt no different than holding one's heart in your hand and having the will to protect it from any harm.
Naida gazed at the crimson hilt, her eyes reflecting a firm determination as she responded, "Since you are willing to have such faith in me, I shall make sure this key never falls into the wrong hands."
Taking the hilt from Asher, she carefully inserted it into her sleeves, her movements deliberate and secure, "For now, it can stay there. It's really inconvenient that we can't store this key even in a spatial root," she remarked, emphasizing how risky it was to carry it with them.
Asher, his face etched with a blend of resolve and concern, nodded in agreement with Naida's assessment, "I know, but we have to somehow manage it until we get out of here," he said, his voice steady despite the uncertainty of their situation.
Naida's expression mirrored the gravity of their predicament, "Do you have any plans to get out before the celebration? I have a very bad feeling about this. Drakar is not known to play nice. He must need something from you. Otherwise, he would have already had us all killed," she pointed out.
Hearing this from someone whose intuition was honed from years of navigating the treacherous politics of their world made Asher believe that they were even more in danger than he had expected.
His demeanor turned serious, "I have no plans as of now," he admitted, "I wasn't expecting the pact to suddenly fall off the face of the world and put us all at risk. We can't even send a message to our kingdom since the draconians are blocking all forms of communication from leaving this place."
"Then…" Naida's concern deepened, but before she could completely voice her thoughts, Asher continued, "I never thought Isola's worries would come true. But Lysandra is our best bet now. If she really wants to see her son again more than anything, then I am sure she will try to get in touch. Otherwise...we are... let's not even go there," he said, shaking his head with a frustrated look.
Seeking to offer some comfort, Naida gently placed her hand on his shoulder as she looked up to meet his gaze, "Do not worry, my king. No matter what happens, I will ensure nothing will happen to you. That is the least I can do for you," she said, her voice carrying a reassuring tone and her ruby red eyes peering into his.
Asher felt a familiar sensation at her touch, reminiscent of Selene, stirring something within him, making his gaze unconsciously shift toward her hand.
Realizing the intimacy of her gesture, Naida's eyes flickered with a sudden clarity. She slowly withdrew her hand, her smile tinged with a hint of confusion and apology, "Forgive me for my rudeness. I..."
"It's fine," Asher interrupted, shaking his head gently before their gazes unconsciously met each other, their thoughts melting into the silence that suddenly filled the subtle air of tension between them.
But the next moment, Naida shifted her gaze as she turned to leave, "I should head back now. If I stay here any longer, Lysandra might not try to get in touch with you," she said.
"Right…I will let you know if anything comes up," Asher said as Naida briefly bowed her head before walking away.
Asher let out a brief sigh as he watched Naida walk out of the room, her departure leaving him in a contemplative silence.
He rubbed his head and felt now was not the time to get distracted by what happened in the tower.
"Cough!" As if on a sudden impulse, Asher let out a sharp cough as he covered his mouth with his palm.
His eyes widened when he slowly moved his palm away and saw blood on it.
"What the…Am I sick?" Asher mumbled, but then he remembered Drakaris saying that his body was going to get worse first before it got better.
He knew whatever was happening was for the good of his own body. But seeing the effects taking place now only made things seem even more grim in his current situation.
Even if the worst happens, he can't escape into his Damned Dimension.
*Knock*
The unexpected knock on the door caught Asher off guard as he wiped off the blood on his palm.
He wondered if it was Naida who returned with additional information or concerns.
"Your Majesty, may this servant come in to serve you some drinks?" A woman's low voice echoed from outside the door.
Realizing that it was just a maid probably sent by Drakar, "I'm not in the mood for drinks," Asher replied curtly, his mind preoccupied with more pressing matters.
But the woman persisted, her voice carrying a note of insistence, "But these are drinks specially prepared for you, Your Majesty," she added.
This statement piqued Asher's curiosity, his brow furrowing in contemplation. After a brief pause, he called out, "Come in."
The door opened to reveal a young woman clad in maid's attire, her demeanor polite and her smile practiced.
She stepped into the room, carrying a tray adorned with exquisite-looking drinks. After closing the door behind her, she placed the tray on a table.
Then, unexpectedly, she began to walk towards Asher, her steps measured and deliberate.
Asher's wariness intensified as he watched her movements. His hand instinctively moved towards a defensive position as she suddenly produced a knife.
He frowned as he wondered if she was here to try to assassinate him, though he wasn't worried since his body was still strong as a peak Soul Purger, and she didn't seem that strong.
However, instead of advancing further, the maid stopped in her tracks.
To Asher's astonishment, she turned the blade upon herself, slashing her wrist in a swift, deliberate motion.
"What are you doing?" Asher mumbled with a confused look, his brows furrowed.
The maid, her expression one of respect and solemnity, bowed her head slightly and held out her bleeding wrist towards him, "Please drink this, Your Majesty," she implored.
Asher, still grappling with the surreal nature of the situation, shook his head firmly, "In case you didn't notice, I am no vampire to drink blood," he said firmly, his gaze fixed on the maid, "Who told you to do this?" he asked, his tone demanding an explanation.
The maid, maintaining her posture of reverence, kept her head bowed as she responded, "This is for your own good, Your Majesty. This servant means no ill intent," she said earnestly, her voice steady despite the unusual circumstances.
Asher studied her closely, sensing her genuine belief in her actions and the sincerity behind her words.
He realized she was either unwilling or unable to divulge more information.
Observing the dark blood trickling down her skin, he reasoned that it was unlikely to be poisonous.
It didn't seem like a ploy Drakar or any powerful draconian he knew would use for an assassination attempt – it was too elaborate and unconventional.
Even if it was poisonous, it wouldn't be strong enough to kill him.
Making a swift decision, Asher reached out and grasped her wrist, albeit with a visible hesitation.
The idea of consuming blood was far from his preference, but the circumstances left him with little choice.
Closing his eyes momentarily, he held his breath and pressed his lips against the skin of her wrist, drawing the blood into his mouth.
As he did so, an unexpected sensation overcame him. It wasn't just the metallic taste of the blood or the strangeness of the act; it was the sudden, clear echo of Lysandra's cold voice in his mind.
[There isn't much time or the means to meet you face to face. So, just keep this in mind. Drakar plans to hold the celebration in an old royal building. I don't know what he plans to do with you, but you don't want to stay around and find out. So get inside the carriage that will be prepared for you and your people. Don't ask any questions, and let the carriage take you outside this kingdom. I know you also wouldn't want to attend this celebration. So consider this as a favor I am doing for you. You have no idea how much I am risking to get this message across and to get you out of here alive. So once you are outside, you better keep your promise. Or I swear...there is no place in this realm where you can hide from me.]
The message, laden with urgency and a veiled threat as expected from someone like her, resonated in Asher's mind. He slowly released the maid's wrist, his lips curving into a subtle smile.
It seemed as if most of his worries would be solved by the queen consort of the most dangerous man in this land. Nobody would see that coming.
