Three days passed, and by now, there was some kind of unrest in the Bloodburn Kingdom. Most of the people in this kingdom were gossiping and discussing only one thing…The sudden disappearance of the royal consort.
On the first day, nobody knew much. However, by the second day, rumors had already traveled that the royal consort wasn't even in the kingdom and that he had left for a quest outside the kingdom and had yet to return.
Nobody knew where he went, but the fact that the royal consort hadn't returned even after two days made them feel that the worst might have happened.
This caused some kind of unrest in the kingdom since the people were excited that someone with an Immortal Bloodline was a part of their kingdom. Even if he wasn't strong now, they were eager to see him grow to his full potential and make their kingdom as prosperous and powerful as it could be.
So the rumors of him not making it back left them despondent. Their kingdom had yet to recover from the loss of their late king, and now their hope for a better future also seemed to have perished.
They couldn't understand why the royal consort would take up a quest outside the kingdom. Any quests outside the kingdom shouldn't matter to him at all. They considered it suicide to take up a quest outside due to how dangerous it was.
However, some of them didn't want to make any assumptions until they heard an official statement from their queen.
...
"Your Majesty, the rumors are already circulating among the people. It would be wise if you were to release an official statement about…the royal consort," Seron said with a serious look, sitting before the queen in the royal meeting hall.
As always, the rest of the royal members were present as well, sitting around the large table.
"That's right. We have to calm down the people before they assume the worst. We don't want our enemies thinking that we lost such an invaluable member of our kingdom," Rebecca said with a low sad sigh, though inwardly she couldn't help but smile ear to ear.
'Serves him right! His corpse must have been eaten by some wild beasts by now after being out there for three days. Even the Devils are on my side.'
Oberon was somehow containing the feeling of elation he was feeling upon the realization of how the annoying vermin was dealt with without him raising a single finger.
However, none of them could really tell what Rowena was thinking since her expression was unmoving as a stone.
"Your Majesty, may I?" Ceti, who was standing behind the queen, suddenly asked respectfully.
Rowena briefly raised her head and nodded, making Ceti pinch her lips together as she said, "I wanted to suggest that we should send some secret search parties outside the kingdom or try and contact our spies outside to see if they heard any news of the royal consort's whereabouts. Then, after all that, if we still have nothing…Your Majesty can consider releasing a statement" As she said this, Ceti had a hint of restlessness and worry in her dark blue eyes.
How could she not feel concerned when her mother was forced to tag along with that pervert consort? She never had to worry for her mother's wellbeing since she was always in the castle, in a silent corner where she was perfectly safe under her watch.
But now, for the first time, she was out there in dangerous lands and hadn't heard anything from her for three days.
Rebecca and Oberon inwardly frowned upon hearing her words. How dare she suggest that when they were this close to convincing the queen to put an end to this matter.
Rebecca immediately forced a smile as she said, "No offense, Battlemaster but—"
"I think the Battlemaster is right. It wouldn't be right for us to not try and see if the royal consort is still out there and if he needs our help," Silvan suddenly spoke up as he looked at Ceti with a gentle smile.
Ceti had a look of gratitude seeing Silvan supporting her and gave a nod in acknowledgment.
Rebecca turned her neck around and gave a stern look at Silvan for putting his tongue in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Oberon also had a cold glint in his eyes as he glanced at his brother, wondering why he was acting against them. Was he that blind in love with that werewolf bitch?
Seron had a stiff look while ignoring Rebecca's hidden glares.
Rowena finally parted her lips as she said calmly, "I already sent search parties and communicated with our people outside," Her expression slightly became taut as she continued, "But as of now, i have yet to hear any good news. Still, I will wait for one more day before I officially say anything on the matter."
Oberon inwardly smiled, realizing that he had nothing to worry about at all, though he felt a pulling sensation in his gust upon seeing how Rowena took all these measures for that alien.
Rebecca had her brows subtly raise as she said, "But if we haven't gotten any news for three days, it could only mean…" Rebecca hesitated for a second before saying, "...that waiting longer wouldn't change anything. We should instead focus on how to deal with this unfortunate development."
"That decision is up to me," Rowena suddenly stated as her cold, deep gaze shifted towards Rebecca who suddenly felt something getting stuck in her throat.
Rowena then looked at everyone before the table and said, "He is my consort, and I will decide when it's time to release a statement," Saying so, Rowena suddenly got up and left the hall along with Ceti and the four Bloodborn Guards.
Rebecca clenched her fists as her lips flattened, unable to believe that her completely logical words were turned down by Rowena.
This was the first time she felt a hint of displeasure in her tone toward her. Was she that concerned about that arrogant bastard?
Seron sighed as he shook his head and glanced at her.
…
Right after the meeting, Seron and his family entered their family mansion.
"Rebecca, what were you thinking by saying to her that it was pointless to wait anymore? You just indirectly told her that her consort must have died. How could you act without thinking?" Seron couldn't help but vent the thoughts that had piled up since the meeting ended.
Rebecca let out a sharp scoff with her hands on her hips, "Hmph, don't make it seem like I said something stupid. We all know how it would be a miracle if that brat survived even an hour outside this kingdom, let alone three days! It is a fact he is already under the ground by now. It's not my fault that our queen is too young to listen to the voice of reason. I can't believe she is that eager for him to return."
Oberon let out a light snicker, "We all know how Rowena, as a queen cares about this kingdom more than anything. So it's more like she doesn't want to lose the only bearer of an Immortal Bloodline. Other than that, she doesn't care about him in the least," He said in a confident tone, though inwardly, his thoughts weren't as confident as his tone.
Seron rubbed his forehead as he shook his head and said, "It doesn't matter what's logical or not if Rowena doesn't take it kindly. I was trying my best to redirect her, and you just had to butt in. You should let me do the talking from here on. I am her Royal Advisor, not you."
Rebecca felt infuriated as she pointed her finger at him with a glare, "Hmph, you don't get to say when I should talk or not. Look at where all your advice towards her has brought us. If only I had acted earlier, we could have gotten rid of that brat before he raised his tail. The demon king wasn't even there to interfere. And before you try to talk me down, why don't you reprimand your son for supporting that werewolf rat?"
She immediately turned her head to look at Silvan, "Silvan, next time you support that scab in front of us, you better forfeit your last name."
Oberon also nodded with a cold glint as he grabbed Silvan's collar, "You heard my mother, right? You better watch yourself, brother. Otherwise, it's hard to say whose side you are on, and I won't be kind to those who aren't on our side."
Silvan narrowed his gaze as he calmly said, "It had nothing to do with me supporting her, even if it seemed like that. Ceti had already made her point and it seemed as if the queen would agree to it since we never got any proof that something happened to him and he is still her consort. So I only supported her words to show our concern for the royal consort instead of making it seem like we want him dead unless we want the queen to suspect us of perfidy. Do we?"
"You…" Rebecca clicked her tongue in annoyance as she couldn't help but feel as if his words made sense.
"My son did the right thing. Stop scolding him for no reason. Oberon, let him go," Seron said in a strict tone, making Oberon coldly smile as he let go of Silvan's collar and patted his shirt, "Sorry for that, brother. It seems like we misunderstood you."
"I can understand. It's alright, brother," Silvan said with a slight smile and brushed his collar the moment Oberon turned around.
"By arguing amongst ourselves, we are forgetting to ask the most important question," Seron said as Rebecca narrowed her eyes.
"What kind of quest would make that boy take the risk of letting go of the protection of the kingdom by going outside? It seems like Rowena knows something she isn't telling us. It's surprising that someone who is as decisive and rational as her is still waiting for his return. Unfortunately, none of us will know as long as she remains tightlipped," Seron said as he rubbed his chin.
Oberon subtly furrowed his brows as he also felt that something seemed odd about this whole thing. However, he didn't care since, no matter what, Asher wasn't coming back.
…
Elsewhere, in the queen's private study, Rowena was sitting at her desk, though her eyes were glazed as they stared out the window, lost in thought. The usually impassive look on her face was replaced by a subtle frown, and her eyes clouded with certain emotions.
She came here to distract herself with her work, but her mind continuously drifted back to Asher. He had always been near her for more than 14 years, even if he was soulless for those years.
She never expected that him suddenly not being near her would make her feel distracted like this.
Did she make the wrong choice by letting him go? Still, she can't go back against her word.
The only good news she got was that Crimson Grove was untouched and that they found bodies of dead Hunters. This only meant that Asher succeeded just like he said, no matter how astonishing it seemed for him to survive against so many Hunters. This was the only fact that made her believe that he was still out there.
But the fact that she didn't get any word from her contacts about his whereabouts made her feel a sense of uneasiness.
He had willingly taken up a dangerous quest on her behalf, risking his life to protect and successfully secure it.
And so, after three days, her mind couldn't help but race with worst-case scenarios.
She tried to push away these thoughts, trying to focus on the stack of reports and petitions in front of her. But every time she closed her eyes, all she could see was his confident smile, the twinkle in his dark yellow eyes.
And every time she opened them, she was drawn back to the window, to the endless expanse of her kingdom and the question of his safety.
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