Naida's gaze momentarily turned distant, reflecting a hidden depth of emotion, before she returned to Asher with a smile, "Happiness is a luxury for people like us," she began, her voice tinged with a certain resignation, "We may have power and wealth, but even then, happiness is far out of our reach, or so I thought until we found each other."
Asher's expression betrayed his confusion, leading him to wonder about the nature of her relationship with Vernon. Noticing the look in his eyes, Naida sighed and sought to clarify, "Vernon isn't cruel to me, but he is a constant reminder of why I am unhappy. I've always strived to maintain the image of a good wife for the sake of my House and for my children. Our marriage is more a matter of convenience and duty than anything else for both him and me."
Asher felt a pang of sympathy for Naida. He understood all too well how marriages in their world often served as strategic alliances rather than genuine partnerships. Back on Earth, the marriages between the Elites were no different than business transactions.
Those marrying out of love were rare.
He didn't feel completely surprised about Naida since back on the ship, she talked as if she wasn't really happy in her marriage.
But based on her wordings he didn't know if she was simply being polite or friendly, though now things were slowly starting to make sense.
"But what about us? We've created a situation that could disrupt our kingdom," Asher voiced his concerns, acutely aware of the potential repercussions of their actions.
He also knew he was being unfair to Vernon, who seemed like a amiable man. But when all these feelings got involved, he couldn't stop.
Naida's response was calm and reassuring. She gently caressed his chest and said, "Nobody is going to know. It's not like we are going to let anybody else in on our little secret. Everything will continue as usual, but…when the time is right and everyone is sleeping, we can enjoy our moments together in the garden."
Asher understood her implication – to continue their affair in secret.
It wasn't something he wanted to do. He would prefer to let everyone know she was his woman, but he knew that he couldn't do that since, right now, he could cause trouble for not only himself but for her as well.
Other than offending Vernon, he would be ruining Naida's reputation as well as his own. It would be a tale of mutual destruction, and as someone who recently became king, now wasn't the time to put himself on the stake.
He also could guess Rowena was going to chide him for being reckless with this. That was another matter he would have to deal with.
However, all this realization fueled Asher's determination to reach his peak potential. He wanted to ensure that when the time came, he could freely declare Naida as his own, and nobody could get in their way.
Holding Naida's hand tenderly, Asher looked into her eyes with a depth of feeling, "I will make you happy even if you didn't tell me that it was what you always wanted," he promised, his voice a blend of conviction and care.
Naida's eyes softened, her gaze filled with a mix of affection and resolve, "I know you will, and I shall make you happy as well," she whispered. Leaning forward, she initiated a gentle kiss, which Asher reciprocated, their connection deepening in that tender moment.
However, the kiss was short-lived as Asher, driven by a sense of urgency and responsibility, pulled back. His expression was one of concern as he said, "We have to get back to the kingdom... today itself."
Naida's eyes widened in surprise and worry, "You cannot be serious, my king. You haven't even fully recovered yet. The only reason you are feeling better is because…" Naida briefly raised her brows with a faint blush, making Asher clear his throat, knowing she was hinting about their steamy night where she let him absorb her cold energy to alleviate his pain.
She then added with concern, "You might not be hurting as before, but you still can't use your mana, right?" she asked, her voice laced with apprehension.
Asher shook his head, his expression resolute, "That's fine. But we cannot afford to stay here any longer. Once Drakar starts the war and launches an attack on our kingdom, we won't be able to make it back safely. He will expect me to rush out the moment he attacks. That's why we have to take him by surprise and leave today. He would least expect us to leave the very next day after we escaped."
Naida's brows furrowed, her understanding of Drakar's nature evident, "You don't know him that well, my king. Drakar always plans for every scenario he can think of. Even if we manage to escape, he will be able to hunt us down quickly before we even reach our kingdom. We don't even have our ship to fly back," she countered, her voice heavy with concern.
Asher nodded, acknowledging the risk, "I know that might happen. But do we have a choice? If we don't get back to our kingdom now, I won't be able to protect it against the draconians. We may not even have a kingdom to return to if we are late. So you tell me... what should we do?"
Naida closed her eyes, wrestling with the dilemma. Then, looking at Asher with softened eyes, she conceded, "For your safety, I would advise you to stay, but as you said, we have to protect our kingdom as well. We will do as you wish. We will leave today, but we are taking a very dangerous risk. I am greatly worried for you."
Asher leaned forward, his arm wrapping around her slender waist reassuringly, "As long as you are with me, and the rest of us are together, we will be fine. We won't let history repeat," he declared.
Naida's eyes shimmered with a myriad of emotions, knowing he was referring to the events that happened in the tower.
She then turned slightly, the fabric of her dress partially undone, leaving her upper back exposed.
"Before we leave, would you mind helping me zip up my dress?" she requested, gesturing to the delicate red fastening at the base of her waist.
Asher leaned forward slowly, savoring the view of her flawless back. With his fingers, he reached out and brushed his knuckles along the curve of her spine. Naida shivered, arching her back slightly, inviting him closer.
He leaned in and kissed the hollow of her spine, sending goosebumps rippling through her skin, "Your back is truly stunning," he murmured huskily, trailing his fingertips across the small of her waist, "I swear it's the most beautiful back I have ever seen."
Naida let out a light chuckle at his compliment, "Your tongue is too sweet. You've seen the backs of so many beauties, including the most beautiful woman in our kingdom, the queen herself."
Asher smiled, pulling away to directly look into her bright red eyes, "Every woman has her own unique charms. And for you, my lady, your back never fails to charm me," he said, his words carrying a tone of deep affection.
Naida's smile widened with warmth, her eyes sparkling with delight, "I feel greatly flattered," she said. Then, with a playful glint in her eye, she added while glancing at his crotch, "I've also been charmed by your little dragon."
Asher shook his head, still smiling, feeling a strong temptation to draw her back into the bed for just a few more moments of relaxation. However, he recognized the urgency of their situation. Time was a luxury they couldn't afford, and returning to his kingdom was the priority now.
In the main hall of the underground chamber, the atmosphere was one of quiet preparation, tension, and vigilance. Leonidas and Caelum were meticulously inspecting their weapons, ensuring they were in prime condition for whatever lay ahead. Silvan, meanwhile, was diligently going through their potion inventory, double-checking their supplies.
Eradicator, in her own corner, was feeding her cat, Twilight, some blood from a bottle. The cat meowed contentedly, relishing the attention and sustenance.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Leonidas cast a discreet glance towards Eradicator, who stood some distance away, before whispering to Caelum and Silvan, "Hey... Lady Valentine never left His Majesty's room. What do you think is going on?"
Caelum exhaled deeply, a note of caution in his voice, "Brother Leonidas, you really don't know any fear. The last thing we should do is gossip about the king or someone like Lady Valentine."
Leonidas inhaled sharply, his tone low and conspiratorial, "I'm not trying to gossip, but I am just curious. It's not like anybody else is here anyway. I am also trying to take my mind off about worrying about the impending war."
Silvan, joining the conversation with a calm demeanor, offered his view, "I'm sure Lady Valentine is treating His Majesty. We all saw how unwell he is. In his condition, it's only sensible that someone watches over him constantly, especially in the absence of a physician."
Leonidas raised his eyebrows, nodding in agreement, "That does make sense, and I guessed that too. But still, I feel that our king and..." He trailed off, noticing the looks from Caelum and Silvan, and quickly changed the subject. "Nevermind. Where is our foo—"
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Asher and Naida emerged from the room, their complexions noticeably rosier and more vibrant than before, especially Asher, who had looked particularly unwell the previous day.
Leonidas silently marveled at the transformation, wondering if Lady Valentine possessed medical expertise he hadn't known about.
Respectfully, the group bowed deeply as the two approached. Eradicator stepped forward to join them, Twilight still perched atop her head as it licked its paws.
"Your Majesty, are you feeling better?" Caelum asked, his expression hopeful.
Asher exhaled slowly, a hint of weariness in his voice, "I am indeed feeling better, but unfortunately, I'm not well enough to use my mana for a while. Nevertheless…" Asher's eyes narrowed as he added in a voice of firm determination, "...we are going to return to our kingdom... now."
His declaration was met with wide-eyed looks of surprise from everyone as the atmosphere in the hall turned even more tense.
