Buckingham Palace, London, England.
"Get away from me you damned pervert!"
"Oh what's the harm dear brother? Can you not shower me with affection just like the old days?"
"Get away from Father, Aunt Amber!"
So went the exchange of Ashen, Amber, and Evaline as they walked through the gilded hallways of the palace.
Amber, the Second Princess of England, clung to Ashen's one remaining arm and hugged it tightly between her ample breasts much to the annoyance of Ashen who cannot seem to pull away. Partly because Amber had placed a spell on him to restrain his movements by the order of Queen Olivia. At least, that's how she explained it to him.
It was an understandable order if it came from the queen. However, Ashen could easily see the perverted ulterior motive of this particular woman clinging to his arm.
'Goddamit, at this point, getting chained to that Gummy Bear would be more preferable!'
He grimaced as he continuously tried to shake off Amber in vain.
Even with Evaline helping him by trying to pull her away she wouldn't budge and stickily clung to his arm like a monkey.
Maids passed by and unlike the time when he entered the palace yesterday where they averted their eyes and muttered to themselves, this time, they stopped and did a bow before continuing onwards. Not a single mutter or comment could be heard after which Ashen found to be strange.
Afterall, the maids whispered amongst themselves even after Ashen had passed by while accompanying Queen Olivia and Guinnevere yesterday. Today however, they were strangely quiet which perplexed him.
"Oi. Pervert Bitch..."
He calls out to the lasciviously swooning Amber.
"Did something happen last night when I went to sleep?"
He asked while taking a look at each maid that they passed.
"Hm? Nothing of note that I know of brother. Mother and elder sister went back to work right after dinner while I led the Saint to her quarters right after you went to your room. Why do you ask?", Amber replied completely without a stutter or signs of deceit.
"The stupid maids are just acting strange. At least, compared to yesterday. I don't hear them talking trash behind my back."
He stated in complete estrangement.
"Father, why would you find it strange? You are a wonderful person so why would people talk about you negatively?", Evaline stated innocently.
"Because in truth, I have the worst possible personality based on human standards, Eva. That's why people would normally talk about me negatively."
There was no point in deceiving Evaline here, so Ashen simply told her the truth.
"More like you are being misunderstood most of the time dear brother. Why say such a blatant joke?", Amber interjected with a chuckle.
"Not helping pervert.", Ashen retorted as his brow twitched.
"Maybe it's because of your clothes right now brother.", Amber gestured towards his clothes.
Ashen looked at his current attire;
A white surcoat embroidered with a black lotus in the middle and lined with black decorative lacings on the creases, a black tunic and black trousers underneath with a long black half cape lined with white arabesque patterns that covered his entire left arm attached under a black leather spaulder on his shoulder and finally, a pair of silver armored boots.
It was the same old Ceremonial Clothing he wore long ago. Additionally, his unruly hair was combed and tied up into a ponytail.
But he already erased his presence in the records of the Royal Family so now, the servants currently serving the Royal Family shouldn't know anything about him, let alone recognize this clothing. Unless...
"Oi pervert. Did you perhaps inform the servants here of me?"
"Nope I did not. I do not know about elder sister or mother though. Evaline also said nothing about you other than you are her father. The most the servants should know about you is that the Forbidden Room is yours. Even the significance of the room was not explained to them if I remember correctly."
Asking her is as he expected, more confusing. Almost on the level of having to handle Rosseweisse back in Lothargien and that's just when he has only spent less than a week with the latter compared to the former whom he had spent a few years with.
"What do you mean by that Aunt-"
"We're here so keep silent Eva."
Ashen stopped her mid-question as they finally find themselves before a rather decorated set of double doors; each of the doors had a prancing lion with a crown relief decorated by other stuff almost like a coat of arms with a shield and two crossed swords in the background.
Just as he remembered it.
"Let me go already pervert! I need to open the doors."
He tried shaking Amber off but to no avail.
"I do not want to!", she giggled while tightening her hug even more.
"Tsk! You annoying little-! Eva, please open the doors. This pervert of an aunt of yours is being a major pain in the ass.", he turned to Evaline who had been trying to pry off Amber.
Evaline was confused for a moment but then proceeds to open the doors.
"You can let go of me now pervert.", Ashen once again tells Amber to let go but as expected,
"Teehee! No can do brother!", she refused.
"You little-"
Before he could finish, the loud voice of the herald resounded from within the throne room,
"His Highness, Lord Ashen and his daughter; Her Highness, Baroness Evaline Ashcreed, and her Highness, Princess Amber Creed have arrived."
The voice continued to echo all across the throne room and inside, Ashen could see knights, military officers and people wearing expensive-looking suits and dresses standing all across the wide room; a red carpet cutting through the crowd that led to the two thrones at the far end of the room with the black knights from yesterday all standing at attention on both sides.
The crowd all turned their attention towards Ashen's entourage which made him uncomfortable. His dislike for humans causing him to feel a slight headache as he realized he has to deal with yet again another part of human society.
"Urgh...such a gaudy introduction...", Ashen groaned, "This is one of the many reasons why I don't like it here. You guys make a big deal out of everything. Sheesh! Can't you just let me enter the room in peace and silence?"
"What nonsense brother. You and and Evaline hold proper noble status within the Royal Family and are of higher status than any noble currently under our rule. It IS a big deal when you arrive.", Amber however denied Ashen's complaint.
"Tsk! Whatever. Let's just get this over with.", not wanting to prolong the uncomfortable atmosphere, Ashen hurries inside.
"Hey. What is with his clothing?"
"From what family is he from?"
"A black lotus? Was there a family who held such a crest before?"
The people in the room started murmuring amongst themselves as Ashen walked through the carpet.
'So the people do not know about me. This is bad. I feel like the moment I approach the throne, I would get myself another pain in the ass problem. I should probably turn back now before-'
"Restrain.", the whisper of Amber interrupts Ashen mid-thought.
Suddenly, he could feel something clasp itself on his wrist.
"You cannot turn back brother. Rather, you are not allowed to.", Amber whispered.
'Shit!'
Was all Ashen could think of. He was a step too late.
Moments later, the trio find themselves before the thrones.
Guinnevere, the Queen Regent, sat on one of them and regarded them warmly.
"Nice of you to join us for the announcement today, Evaline, Amber, and Ashen."
Evaline and Amber kneeled and as expected, Ashen did not. Much to the surprise of the onlooking crowd.
"Meh. Good morning to you to Gummy Bear. Nice clothes."
Ashen however did not care and simply greeted Guinnevere back even complimenting her clothes;
A pure white halter dress with a chiffon cape draping from the shoulders. Both were decorated with golden arabesque linings. On her neck was a black rhinestone necklace that glinted like polished obsidian and a gold plated black rhinestone tiara sat prettily atop her golden-white hair that gracefully flowed down her shoulders.
Hearing his compliment, Guinnevere was blushing slightly. Apparently unused to receiving compliments based on Ashen's observation.
Coughing once, "You look good as well in your formal clothes.", she gestures for Evaline and Amber to rise, "You may take your seat."
"Ok. Oi, Pervert, unbind me already.", Ashen urged Amber to remove the magical binding afterwards, Amber went to sit on one of the luxurious chairs down the steps. The Queen Regnant, Olivia, also sat on one of those chairs alongside Kallen and Rosseweisse who waved hello at Ashen.
'Hmm? Why are there only 4 chairs?'
Ashen wondered. Evaline also did not go there and instead went to sit on the smaller throne right between Guinnevere's throne and the empty one.
'Figures, she is technically 'our' daughter so it's a given.'
Thinking so, Ashen continued to wonder where he should sit. His eyes then turned towards the crowd,
'Do I also stand over there I wonder? Ugh. What a pain that would that be.'
Thinking so, he began to descend the steps but is then stopped by Guinnevere,
"Where do you think you are going Ashen?", she asked.
"Uh...right over there with them annoying humans. I don't see a seat for me over there by the nitwit so I figured I'm supposed to be standing with the mob."
Ashen answered in utter confusion.
"Are you daft? Your seat is right over here!", Guinnevere retorted while gesturing towards the empty throne; a collective gasp echoing amongst the crowd as she did so.
"Ahaha! You sure are funny! That's a throne for the reigning monarch idiot. Why the heck am I supposed to sit there?", Ashen did not find the thought funny at all.
However, Guinnevere sighed in exasperation much to Ashen's confusion.
"What?"
"What do I do with you?", she sighed while shaking her head.
"You know, it would save us all the headache if you can just bring out a monoblock chair and put it in that corner over there. That way, no one would have to look at me and-"
Guinnevere suddenly stood up and before Ashen could even ask what she was about to do, she took a deep breath and in a loud voice, addressed the crowd;
"Hear me! People of England! I believe all of you should have realized by now from the way I had welcomed him and by the fact that the Order of the Ashen King is right here in this throne room. Rather, all of you should have realized it the moment my daughter, Evaline had entered alongside him."
Ashen felt like Guinnevere's words are ringing alarm bells in his mind. All them signaling him to run for it right this instant.
"This man, Lord Ashen, is part of the Royal Family, a Knight King and my husband!"
Another collective gasp echoed from the crowd as they stared in disbelief at the figure of Ashen who found himself once again in a situation he could only think of as a;
'Shit! I should've ran already!' situation.
At this point, he could not very well run away. Especially since from where he stood, he could perfectly see Evaline looking at him with eyes that implored him to stay.
'No! I am strong-willed! I must not be swayed by Evaline! If I let myself be taken in by her adorable plea, I will end up having to do shit for the rest of humanity at my expense! So no! I must deny the Gummy Bear's declaration right now!'
"Father...please stay."
...
...
...
"Ah Damn it...Fine."
And Ashen takes his seat on the empty throne beside Evaline.
Whatever happened to his strong will?