"That's admirable. I have to say…I have never met anyone as ambitious as you," Sabina said with a subtle smile, making Asher wonder if she was complimenting him or being sarcastic.
However, he didn't care if she thought he was simply wasting his time or trying hard for dumb reasons. Once he can make his own health potions, he wouldn't have to worry about feeding his ring, nor would he arouse any suspicion from Rowena.
"But you could have asked the queen for this small favor. It isn't like you asked for something special," Sabina said as if she was wondering why he went so far to even win a bet for this.
Asher shook his head with a smile and said, "My wife is too overprotective of me to the point I can't even leave the castle. So if I talked to her about experimenting with the ingredients, she might think I might hurt myself even if I am not that stupid," Even though Asher said this, in reality, he was also worried that Rowena might feel suspicious if he always asked her for ingredients. He already decided to buy his own after he earned enough life crystals.
Sabina squinted her eyes as she said, "In a way, you are quite lucky to be married to her. Mnn…Since I already gave you my word, I will give you what you want as a personal gift and be discreet about it. Hope it will be of good use to you. See you soon then," Sabina said with a charming wink as she slowly walked away, her gait appearing as if she was walking on clouds.
Asher couldn't believe he managed to get something he desperately needed after learning about feeding the ring with his blood. He had been worrying about it all this while since he couldn't even ask anyone about this until Sabina's idea of a bet made it easy for him.
With a relieved smile, he walked back to his seat, though he could feel a cold gaze on him and saw Oberon Drake looking at him with a dark, cold expression.
Asher subtly curved his lips with a narrowed gaze before looking away. When he walked up to the platform, he caught Ceti looking at him with a strange expression, but when he looked at her, she immediately averted her gaze, making him wonder what was wrong with her now.
Was she too scared of him now? Asher was satisfied he was able to make her shut up, but he still had plans for her.
Kookus was eagerly fidgeting behind the chair to greet Asher and said with a flattery smile, "Your Highness, this worthy servant was blown away by your performance. Even the devils would sigh in admiration, and the skies will—"
"Kookus?"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"Shut up."
" >_< "
After getting some silence, Asher looked towards Rowena, whose eyes seemed to wander unlike before.
But as he kept staring at her side profile, he saw her eyes ripple slightly before returning to normal. Ceti, who was standing behind the throne, couldn't help but notice a subtle tension in the air between these two. She shook her head inwardly as she kept thinking about what had happened earlier.
The Night Dance came to an end as everyone already dispersed from the center.
Rowena nodded as the Hall Elder stepped forward and said in a loud voice, "This eventful day…." He went on with his speech, and, Jarius Thorne couldn't hold it any longer and whispered to his father meekly, "F-Father…can we please tell the queen about that so-called Hellbringer? If she knows, then she can immediately—"
"You incompetent fool. I told you once to not mention your incapability to me. And now you want me to make not only me but our House look pathetic before the queen and the people? Speak of this once more, and you won't speak for a year," Lord Thorin Thorne said in a cold, cutting tone that made Jarius shrink his neck with an indignant look. He no longer had the guts to speak to his father about this again.
Esther Thorne simply gave a passing glance at her son before saying to her husband, "I know it was his impotence that caused him to lose face. But he is still a member of our House, and his defeat is a disgrace to us as well. Are you really not planning to do anything about this so-called Hellbringer?" She asked with a narrowed gaze.
Lord Thorin let out a short, cold chuckle and said, "He described it as a lich on flames. It must be some undead that Edmund used to play a prank on him. He is not that younger than Silvan, and yet he continues to be an embarrassment. Don't entertain his fanatics."
Esther's eyes narrowed, but then she nodded and didn't say anything anymore.
Jarius didn't hear, but he could see how nobody in his family was taking him seriously, especially about what happened to him. He now regretted even telling them about it.
He felt that the only way was to find this Hellbringer himself and make him realize who he messed with.
The Hall Elder was about to end his speech, but…
"What a surprise…A celebration for a cripple? This is definitely unprecedented in the history of our kingdom. It's funny how far we have fallen, isn't it?" A cynical voice of a woman suddenly echoed from the entrance as all eyes suddenly shifted in that direction.
They saw a feminine figure in a black cloak wearing a hood entering the hall through the door, much to the confusion of the others as they wondered who this person was, especially to utter such bold words that would instantly award them a death sentence.
Within just a few sentences, she not only ridiculed the crippled consort but also insulted the queen's presence which would be more than enough for a death warrant. Even if the royal consort was a cripple, nobody would say it aloud, especially before the queen, since it would be an insult to the royal family.
Some of them naturally tried to use their mana to sense who this mysterious person was, but those who did it collapsed immediately on the floor, causing panic and even more confusion.
*Thud!*
"AAH!"
Obviously, this kind of commotion garnered everyone's attention, including Asher and Rowena.
However, the moment Rowena saw this mysterious woman, her crimson eyes shook. Asher noticed how her aura and expression drastically changed and wondered if she knew who this woman in the cloak was.
All he could see was the pale hands of the mysterious woman with black nail polish on her sharp nails, just like that of Rowena's.
Seron's face became grim as he mumbled, "Why is she here…"
Rebecca grabbed her armrest as she mumbled with a look of disbelief, "Is she mad? She has to be…"
"This is bad…" Lord Vernon Valentine mumbled as his previously calm smile stiffened upon seeing the woman in the cloak.
Naida Valentine grabbed the hand of her husband and her daughter with a taut expression, "Why would she come back…"
"Is that…" Silvia Valentine gasped as she covered her mouth with raised brows.
Jael Valentine, who was sitting bored and silent all this time, suddenly became vigilant as he placed his hand on his hip.
Lord Thorin Thorne, who had been sitting with a deadpan expression since he came here, suddenly leaned forward with a wary glint in his eyes upon seeing her.
Lady Esther Thorne glanced at Sabina, who nodded with a subtle glow in her eyes.
The rest of the nobles gathered in the hall even hurriedly left their tables with looks of terror and fear as they scurried to the side. It was as if they recognized who it was after seeing some of them collapse just from trying to probe her.
The entire hall was plunged into a deathly silence as the mysterious woman stopped walking as she reached the center of the hall.
"Just a year ago, on this day, our lives changed. The blind and the fools of this kingdom say it was you who lost everything, but…we all know who truly lost everything. You know that the best, don't you, niece?" The mysterious woman said in a cold, seething tone as she suddenly removed her hood to reveal a graceful-looking middle-aged woman with dark red eyes that radiated suppressed killing intent, making those who looked at her eyes feel their bodies shudder.
"Aunt Iryna…you will regret coming back," Rowena finally spoke with a firm, cold gaze.
'Aunt Iryna?' Asher didn't expect Rowena to have an aunt he didn't know about before. If she was her aunt, then why wasn't she staying in the castle, and what was with this heavy and hostile atmosphere in the hall. Asher didn't know who this woman was, but he could tell that she was not a demon that was powerful enough to put every other demon in this hall to hold their breaths.
Only Rowena seemed to have a strange expression upon seeing her, and he wondered what happened between these two since her aunt seemed to have something against her?
Iryna coldly chuckled as she tilted her head, "Regret? Really? Are you worried that I am back to take what never should have belonged to you, my dear niece?"
Asher felt as if this woman had a nut loose in her head since her bearings seemed a bit deranged. Her actions were all screaming for a death wish since she literally hinted at taking the throne!
