Asher didn't expect Eradicator to be still here and asked, "Why do you want to know? Or should I ask why you are still here?" He thought she left with Rowena already.
"Because the queen appointed me to be your protector, Your Highness. Unknown dangers are out there who want to claim your life, even more so now that your true strength has been revealed," Eradicator stressed in a serious tone.
Asher knew that the moment he revealed his strength, he might make more enemies, especially those who didn't want him to grow and surpass them. But at the same time, he didn't want to waste time playing weak.
By showing strength, not only can he have more freedom to do things, but he will also be able to earn the respect of these demons and then use them to do his bidding....just like how Darren succumbed to his strength.
Demons respected strength the most, and that was exactly what he displayed to make them fear what he could become.
"I know, but the queen promised me she won't restrict me if I survived the trial. So why are you still here?" Asher was not coming from a wealthy or royal family in his past life. He was a free bird who loved to be on his own. And by observing wealthy people from afar, he had seen how bothersome bodyguards can be. They always follow everywhere and make one feel suffocated.
"The queen knew you would say this. So she told me to tell you that I won't stop you from going anywhere in this kingdom. But...all I will do is follow you just to keep an eye on your well-being," Eradicator said with a firm nod.
"Ain't she clever..." Asher chuckled upon realizing that Rowena had found a way around his condition. Of course, he won't be restricted technically but with Eradicator always with him, she will be keeping tabs on him.
"So if I tell you to not follow me, what are you going to do?" Asher asked to know if she was under his command.
"I apologize, but I only answer to the queen, and protecting you is her direct order," Eradicator said with her back straight.
Asher wasn't surprised, but suddenly an idea struck him, and he felt that she could prove to be quite useful to him.
"Ah, Your Highness, you are still here?" A young man's voice sounded from the side as Asher saw a good-looking man with black hair and red eyes hurriedly walking towards him.
Who could it be other than Darren Aleister?
However, Darren didn't expect Eradicator to be still here and suddenly froze his steps with a nervous look.
"It's fine, Young Lord Darren. She won't bite," Asher chuckled and looked at Eradicator, indirectly telling her to keep her distance.
Eradicator could see that he wanted some privacy and said, "I will be waiting outside the tower whenever Your Highness is ready," Saying so, she walked away, much to the relief of Darren.
He didn't know whether to feel envy or not that such a powerful guard had been appointed as Asher's protector.
"Please call me Darren. I am your vassal now, Your Highness," Darren respectfully said as he bowed his head.
"At ease, Darren. Whenever we are by ourselves, you can shake off the formalities," Asher said since he knew to truly gain one's confidence, he would have to make the other person feel like they could talk anything to him.
Darren didn't expect Asher to have such a simple attitude in these things and awkwardly chuckled, "Y-Yea, if you don't mind. So...once again, let me congratulate you for surviving the trial successfully. I also apologize for my rudeness earlier," Darren hoped Asher would forget about what happened before the trial began.
Asher softly laughed as he patted Darren's shoulder and said, "Don't even worry about it. It's natural for people to underestimate me since they have no idea about me. So let's forget these unnecessary things and tell me a place where men like us hang out and have fun."
"Oh..." Darren didn't expect him to suddenly ask that but seeing how tired he looked, he realized maybe, just like any other man, he wanted to relax and enjoy the night. He must be feeling even more eager after being stuck inside the castle for all these years.
He was glad he could use this chance to gain some confidence with him and felt honored that Asher was depending on him for things like these.
"Of course but..." Darren suddenly realized that Asher was not some ordinary young lord but the royal consort, the husband of the queen. He wasn't sure if what he was going to propose would be a good idea.
"What is it? You can speak freely," Asher said with a nod.
Darren took a deep breath and said, "I am not married, and usually people like me go to a...special placed called...the Honeyed Pearl, ahem," Darren looked around to make sure nobody was hearing them talk. The last thing he wanted was for the queen to hear him mentioning the palace of this name to her consort.
"Oh? Is it the kind of place where they serve the type of honey which most men would want?" Asher asked with a knowing smile. How can a place with such a name not make it any less obvious what their business was about? However, he was actually expecting him to mention a place like this.
Darren was surprised he actually understood what he was talking about. Shouldn't the royal consort be a virgin who has no idea about the existence of these kinds of places? Did the queen already do 'it' with him or what? That can't be...unless she already did a bloodline union test in private? Or perhaps it could have been his maid...Darren felt like he yet again underestimated the royal consort.
He awkwardly nodded, to which Asher said with one of his brows raised, "Then why don't we pay a visit and see what kind of pearls they offer?"
"B-But...the queen might..." Darren knew that the queen might lose face if somebody found him in a place like that. She might not take that news well.
"Don't worry about her. I can disguise myself," Asher said with a reassuring smile.
However, Darren still felt worried as he said, "But the Eradicator is still here. I know how annoying protectors can be. I also had one when I was younger, but I was able to trick them and do my own thing. But a Bloodborn Guard like her is no ordinary protector. She can't be tricked. She was trained since she was born to kill, and that includes learning the skill to track people."
Asher's expression didn't change as he said with a confident smile, "I have no doubt about her capability. But that doesn't mean I don't have a way to shake her off."
He then looked at Merina, who was standing silent in the corner, and gestured for her to go home.
Darren had a baffled look, wondering what possible way Asher could have to shake off someone like her.
...
Eradicator was standing right outside the tower, patiently waiting for the royal consort to come out, though her vigilant gaze was continuously scanning her surroundings.
"Aiyyy...my fate is cursed...nnnhh..."
Eradicator heard the miserable howling of a man in pain and saw two men carrying away a man covered in a sheet on a stretcher.
"Tsk, tsk, who would have known he would get crippled right after the 3rd trial."
"Sigh, his fate must be really cursed..."
Eradicator looked away the next second, ignoring them. After a few minutes, she saw Darren come out, though the royal consort was not with him.
She wondered if the royal consort stayed behind to talk to someone. However, she waited for ten more minutes, and there was no sign of him coming out.
She had already seen how tired he was, and there was no way he was going to continue his training tonight.
Feeling that something was off, she went back into the tower only to frown upon seeing that there was no sign of Asher.
But then her eyes landed on one of the farthest corners of the hall where a werewolf boy was busy chatting with a young female centaur who was taller than him.
The female centaur was about to return home after her training when suddenly, this annoying young werewolf man jumped in front of her with an obnoxious smile. She didn't like associating herself with someone whose people were enemies of the kingdom.
But the moment he opened his mouth and revealed who he was, she couldn't help but hear him out.
"You won't believe how much the royal consort confides in me. He considers me as a true brother from another mother. He told me he could help me get all the pretty women in this kingdom, but I, as a man of culture and values, refused. I was waiting for my soul mate who would look beyond my manly looks and race. And the moment I laid my eyes on you, my heart teared up...letting me know that I have found the one," Kookus said with a smoldering look, though he couldn't help but let his gaze wander towards her thick, shiny ass from time to time. Even if a piece of cloth was covering her ass, his eyes were attuned to look past such useless things.
Even her horse legs, with strong, curved hooves, looked quite powerful and graceful. Surely he had to try hugging the legs of such a creature that expressed beauty and strength.
"The royal consort really confides in you? I had no idea someone like him would have a confidant like you," The girl said with a look of disbelief as she covered her mouth with her hand.
"I know how impressive I am. It's only natural," Kookus said with a smoldering smile.
"I--" The girl was about to say something when a shadow fell on her face, making her eyes widen.
She gulped and suddenly ran off, making Kookus shout from behind, "Hey! You don't have to be that shy to run away from my awesomeness. Let me at least ride you once. I mean on your back...wait, that might still sound wrong to her...But why did she---Whoa!" Kookus' eyes widened upon feeling someone grabbing his collar and lifting him into the air effortlessly.
"Who dares to touch the royal consort's--" Just before he could finish shouting the sentence he had rehearsed hundreds of times, he saw a sleek and fierce-looking full-face plate helmet in front of his face. The crimson emblem on the forehead of her helmet can even make a pig recognize it as one belonging to a Bloodborn Guard!
"...servant..." Kookus finished the last word of his sentence with a shaky smile. He was about to finish with the word 'brother,' but he thought this may not be the right time to use that word.
He was frightened out of his wits, wondering when she sneaked up behind him. Could she have been moved by the charisma he displayed earlier?
But the intense gaze coming from the eyes slits on her helmet made him feel that she wasn't feeling friendly at all.
"Where is the royal consort? Lie to me, and you will lose more than just a tongue," Eradicator's assertive and sharp voice rattled his spine.
