"Rowena hasn't left the room of that vermin for more than a day. What the hell are they doing in there?" Oberon asked with a seething look as he walked to and fro in his training hall, his mother standing on the side.
Rebecca had a pained look seeing her son being so anxious and felt even more anger towards Asher since she was sure he somehow made Rowena stay in his room with him, though she just couldn't understand how.
"Don't worry, son. Nothing is going to happen before the bloodline union test," Rebecca said with a firm nod, though her lips were firmly pressed together.
Oberon's eyes shook as he looked at her and said with a cutting gaze, "What? Are you telling me that something will happen? Mother, don't bother downplaying it before me. People are already gossiping that something is up with them and..." Oberon's eyes flashed with killing intent as he heard some of his servants gossiping about how the queen must be having some kind of affection for the royal consort.
Otherwise, would someone like her sleep inside the room of a sick man with only two of them alone?
Of course, Oberon immediately granted them the worst death he could, but he still couldn't shake off this burning sensation in his stomach.
"You said she would take the test right away, but why is it not happening? I don't want her spending a second longer in his room. I have been patient for very long, but this...this is pushing it," Oberon said in a cutting voice.
Rebecca clenched her jaw, seeing how worked up her son was getting, not that she could blame him. She was equally or more frustrated as well, but she didn't want to upset her son even more.
Oberon took a deep breath to calm himself down and steady his mind. After doing so, he looked at his mother and said, "Father is incapable of doing what we want, mother. You should take this into your hands. I have made the necessary preparations, and all you have to do is follow through it. I would have done it myself, but unfortunately, I am not a senior."
Oberon told her what preparations he had made, making Rebecca coldly scoff as she said, "Leave it to me, son. I was going to do that anyway. We won't let him get to her, don't worry."
...
"Mother, please, next time he tries to force you into doing anything dangerous, you have to tell me. He is no less corrupt than any other rotten nobles here," Ceti firmly said as she was determined not to let this pass again.
She was done seeing her poor mother getting pulled into all kinds of trouble because of him.
Merina calmly took a deep breath and held her daughter's hand before looking at her, "Ceti, all this time, I didn't say anything because I didn't really know what kind of a man he was. But now...after spending the past few days outside alone with him...I realized what kind of a man he is."
"You did...right?" Ceti eagerly asked while feeling worried that he had done something bad to her mother.
Merina's eyes glinted with a look of reverence and warmth as she said, "My daughter, you are mistaken in your beliefs about the royal consort. He may not be a perfect man, but he is a man of valor and strength. There is darkness inside him, but at the same time, his heart is noble. I would have died multiple times if not for him, but he risked his life to protect a lowly maid like me. I wouldn't even dare to imagine what would have happened to me if I got captured by them. A 'traitor' like me wouldn't have a good end, and I wouldn't have got to see you again."
Ceti's lips parted as her expression filled with disbelief after hearing her mother speak about that pervert in a tone of admiration and respect. What in the hell did he do to her mother while they were out?
Her mother had never spoken about any soul in such a way as far as she knew. She was actually a woman of few words, but when it came to Asher, she had a lot of words to talk about him.
What was going on here?
Ceti felt that things were worse than she thought and gripped her mother's hand firmly, "Mother, please, don't let him fool you. He doesn't care about you, and I doubt he cares about anyone. He probably only saved you because he needed you or something. I just don't see any other reason."
Merina softly smiled as she nodded, "It would be strange if a powerful person like him cared about some little maid like me. But that's fine with me. As long as he needs me, I will be happy to serve him. He has given me a future, and I am indebted to him for that. So, Ceti, I know you are worried about me, but I don't want to have this discussion again. I mean it. It isn't proper to badmouth the royal consort behind his back. I don't want you getting on his bad side. Please...will you be good before him?"
Ceti felt her chest tighten, realizing that there was no way to convince her mother. That man has somehow used some black magic to fool her mother.
Still, she didn't want to upset her mother and nodded with a thin smile, "Okay, mother...If that makes you happy."
Merina had a relieved look and smiled as she patted her daughter's face with a gentle gaze before walking away.
However, right after she left, Ceti clenched her fists as she mumbled, "Asher...I won't let you corrupt my mother anymore."
...
"You have to swallow this. There is no way out of this."
"I fear no man but...that I can't just take it anymore..."
"Hold your breath and do it. I know how it tastes, but I can't let you leave this room without swallowing this completely. Remember what Igrid said?"
"Tsk, fine...But this better be the last one...*Cough*...*Cough*...Uff..."
"There you go. We are done," Rowena softly looked at Asher with satisfaction as he gulped down the last spoon of medicine with a grimace. This was the hardest part to make him do since he absolutely disliked swallowing this medicine, not that she found it surprising.
She would have slept in her own room, but she didn't feel like wanting to leave him sick and alone in this room.
So she put up a bed here to spend the previous night in his room to take care of him as he wanted. And now it was already morning, and it was time for him to take his medicine as instructed by Igrid.
However, holding the bowl of medicinal food in her hands, she remembered how she felt an awkwardness that she couldn't explain the first time she fed him. She was not accustomed to this kind of intimate care for another person. Even when her father was recovering from his injuries, all she did was sit by his side and talk while the physicians did the rest.
But as hours passed and she saw him lying there, weakened and vulnerable, something inside of her stirred. Perhaps it was a desire to take care of him, to make sure he recovered quickly and fully.
She remembered how yesterday she was hesitant, unsure of how to go about feeding him. But as she took a spoonful of the food and brought it to his lips, she noticed how grateful and appreciative he looked. His eyes, usually so stern and commanding, were softened by his illness.
And the more she fed him, the more she found herself becoming more comfortable with the act. By now, she was feeling a warmth in her chest that she couldn't explain. It was as if she could sense a connection with him that she had never felt before. Or more like they both had shared something special.
But one thing that became worse was the taste of the food the physicians kept prescribing. It only seemed to get worse as hours passed.
"Ugh...this tastes like it was brewed in the depths of the underworld," Asher said with a half-hearted smile and added, "But at least it's better than being down there, I guess..."
Rowena unconsciously let out a soft chuckle upon hearing his casual, funny remark.
Asher heard a soft sound that was similar to a melody and saw her succulent black lips curved gently, giving a small yet distinct impression of amusement.
The smile was not full-blown, but it was still noticeable for a moment and added a touch of warmth to her otherwise striking appearance.
As Asher caught sight of such a rare sight, he was struck by the beauty of it. Who would have thought someone as stoic as her would have one of the most mesmerizing smiles he had ever seen.
"I never thought I'd be the cause of such a beautiful smile. My sense of humor mustn't be as bad as I thought," Asher softly chuckled as he looked at her.
Rowena's cheeks turned a light shade of pink, and she didn't even realize she had smiled. Hearing his words, she unconsciously averted her gaze, not knowing what to say. It just felt strange, but at the same time, she was surprised she could smile.
"You know, I have something to give you...Something that belongs to you. I waited this long since I wanted to hand it over to you after I got better," Asher broke the silence as he sat straight up and turned his body towards her.
Rowena blinked her eyes and asked, with a subtle shake of her head, "What is it?" She was feeling curious seeing his expression.
Asher subtly smiled as he said, "It will be a good surprise for you. So first, I want you to close your eyes and turn around. You shouldn't open your eyes until I say so. Deal?"
Rowena became even more curious, but she softly nodded as she turned around and closed her eyes.
Asher gazed upon the vision of loveliness before him. Rowena sat before him, draped in the silken garments of the night, her long sleek hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of darkness.
He took out the Crimson Heart from his Damned Dimension and crawled near to her on his knees as she sat on the side of his bed.
The crimson stone glimmered in the soft ambient light, casting a warm glow across her porcelain skin. He lifted the necklace and slowly brought it closer to her neck, his eyes fixed on the gentle slope of her collarbone.
Nothing happened for a moment or two, but Rowena suddenly felt a light touch of something warm being fastened around her neck.
She felt his rough hands brushing against her skin, causing her to catch her breath.
"I found this during the quest, and I knew it had to be something special to you, and I wanted you to have it. You can open your eyes now," Asher leaned in, his breath whispering against her ear and his voice tender.
Rowena's eyelids flickered open, and coincidentally there was a large mirror right in front of her. Her brows raised as her eyes quivered upon seeing the crimson necklace on her neck.
Her eyes fluttered shut, her heart swelling with complicated emotions as she felt the weight of the necklace around her neck.
As she gently touched the necklace, her eyes became warm and moist. The drop of fiery blood inside the pear-shaped crimson gem glowed with a soft, warm light upon her touch as if resonating with her.
She heard the gentle voice of a woman echoing in her mind,
"My dearest daughter, my heart is filled with love and pride as I leave this message for you. Your Blood Anniversary is coming soon, and I, unfortunately, can't be with you at that time due to this important quest I must undertake. I know you might be sad and disappointed in me. However, you are my greatest treasure, and I leave this necklace to you as a gift and as a symbol of my love. Wear it always with pride, my dear Rona, and know that wherever I may be, my spirit will always be with you and protect you till I reunite with you."
The words of her late mother echoed in her mind, making her heartache in a similar way when she heard the news of the death of her father.
Asher saw Rowena's body subtly quiver and how her aura was shaky. He heard her gulping air softly and gently gathered her into his strong arms. He held her close, rubbing her back gently as he whispered in her ears, "It's fine, Rowena...It's okay to let it all out...Only I am here..."
Asher's words were like the catalyst that made the weight of her loss press down on her. For so long, she had kept her emotions locked away, believing that as the queen of this kingdom, she couldn't afford to show any signs of weakness or get distracted by them.
But now, with Asher's encouragement and the heavy emotions in her heart, she let those emotions break through, and the tears flowed freely down her face.
Asher didn't say anything but continued to hold her close, simply giving her warmth and letting her mourn and grieve for her parents.
Rowena felt Asher's warm embrace as a balm to her soul, and for the first time since the passing of her loved ones, she felt a sense of peace and comfort.
As the tears slowly subsided, Rowena slowly turned her head to look at him, "Thank you...for everything..." Rowena realized how much this man, who was once a soulless consort to her, had come to mean to her. He gave her the peace she had been seeking all this time.
Asher softly smiled as he lightly shook his head, "You aren't alone anymore...I will be beside you for the rest of your life and never let you go," Asher softly whispered as he leaned his face a bit closer till their faces were barely an inch or two away from each other.
Rowena felt her heart skip a beat, stirring with emotion. With his face so close to hers, she felt her guard lowering. His eyes were like pools of gentle flames, warm and inviting, and before she knew it, she found herself leaning toward him.
The heat from his breath on her skin sent shivers down her skin, and she felt her heart flutter as she felt her lips touching his warm lips.
It was a moment of raw and vulnerable emotion, a moment where her soul found comfort in his embrace as time stood still for her.
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