Raymond was dumbfounded by what had happened. He had just thrown that slipper in order to stop Allen from attacking Jasmine but instead ended up sending him flying.
Raymond stretched his ears and heard Allen's heartbeat, he heaved a sigh of relief when he confirmed that Allen wasn't dead.
But before he could find out what was happening here before he came, he was bear hugged by Jasmine who dived straight into his arms.
He felt her body trembling against his chest. Raymond thought that she must be scared by what had just happened. He rubbed her back in a soothing manner.
"Don't worry, I am here." He whispered.
She shook again hearing his words and tightened her arms around him.
"There, there. He won't do anything, I will not let anyth-'' he was interrupted when she suddenly raised her head and kissed him on the lips. Although the kiss ended briefly, Raymond felt a strange sensation in his heart.
Even though he had behaved like a gentleman in front of her for years, his thoughts regarding her weren't exactly pure either. After all he would be abnormal if he didn't feel anything towards her after all the time they had spent together.
Soon he found himself looking into her enchanting green eyes and she raised her head to kiss him again. This time though he wasn't going to let it end quickly. He wrapped his arm around her slim waist and lifted her off her feet, she hungrily kissed him in return.
Their teeths clashed from time to time due to their inexperience, something he was sure he needed to train properly in the future to get better.
Jasmine's heart started beating faster and faster as she felt his strong arms wrapped around her and wanted to stay like this as long as she could. But first she wanted to mock Allen for everything he had done to her. She was sure that if she told her master about everything that Allen had done to her, he would kill him for sure.
No, death would be too quick of a punishment for him, she wanted him to know that he would live his life without ever laying his hands on her again, that she belonged to her master and her master alone.
So she turned around to make sure Allen was looking and started making out with Raymond, she broke off the kiss and stuck out her tongue at Allen as if to mock him and her face blossomed into a huge smile when he fainted.
'This little, is she trying to goad him?' Raymond chuckled inwardly.
"Come with me. Where did you keep my Grandpa's book?" He dragged her back to her room.
Jasmine quickly closed the door after they entered and looked at her master curiously.
"Master, when did you get so strong?" She asked tentatively.
Raymond bonked her on the head and flared his nose.
"Hmph, why do you think I was training all these years? Wasn't it to get stronger?" He retorted.
"I thought you liked beating yourself up." She japed.
"You! Do you think I am a pervert? I was training to get stronger, not because I liked to punish myself." Raymond averted his eyes as soon as he said that. Although the training was torturous he quite liked the feeling of mana strengthening his body afterwards, who was he kidding?, he was in fact addicted to that feeling.
"Tee-hee, I was joking master. Of course I knew you were only training." She quickly mollified him.
"Good, don't go around spreading rumours about me, understand?" He narrowed his eyes on her.
"Master, when have I ever spread rumours about you?" She said feeling wronged.
"Uhm, never." He said, scratching his head.
Suddenly he remembered something and shot her a scathing look.
"You used to spy on me for my father…." But he lost his voice when he remembered his father. He sighed wistfully thinking about the times he had spent with his father, he regretted not spending more time with him. And everytime he remembered he wasn't there for Thomas's funeral, he felt a stab in his heart.
So lost he was in his training that he had missed the chance to see his father for one last time.
He felt Jasmine hugging him and he wrapped his arms around her, liking the comfort it brought to him.
"Master, now that you are here, why don't you become the head of the family? You know, things have changed ever since Master Thomas died. It's not how it used to be, everyone is behaving differently towards us, they even gave your room to that Allen. You need to set them straight." She started complaining.
"Hushh, there's no point in doing that. They are just showing their true faces now that father is no longer around." He said, shaking his head. There was no one beside his father, his grandpa and Jasmine he considered his real family.
"Moreover, I don't plan on staying here. I have to search for my Grandpa, I can't do that if I assume these responsibilities." It was only the half truth, ever since he was a child his grandfather had told him about the world outside of this capital city, of the vast world that offered so much more than a mere Empire in a corner of this world could ever hope to.
"Hmmm, I understand, master. But don't think you can just leave me behind. I am going to follow you wherever you go." She said leaving no room for arguments.
"Haha, I know." He chuckled.
*******
In a far corner of the Capital City…
There was a secret tunnel that led to one of the manors inside the Imperial Palace Grounds.
Capital City was surrounded by well built 10 metres high walls. If one were to look down on the city from the sky they would notice that the walls surrounding the city formed an oval shape.
The Imperial Palace was located in the centre of the city, which stretched on for miles. The Imperial palace was a city in and of itself.
The Imperial Palace was where the emperor held his court and ruled his empire. The Emperor's harem resides in the innermost part of the palace. It was one of the safest places in the Empire, second only to the Emperor's Imperial Bedchamber.
The Imperial Palace was surrounded by the hundreds of manors and courtyards with artificial ponds built in it, sky reaching decorative trees, and all kinds of defensive buildings to guard the Imperial Palace.
All of these buildings were again surrounded by well built 15 metres high walls. This inner part of the city was called the Imperial Palace Grounds.
This Imperial Palace Grounds was heavily guarded. No one was allowed inside without special permission or invitation from the Imperial Family. Every entry and exit of people were strictly recorded.
At night, a man with a hood covering his face could be seen making his way towards the outskirts of the Capital city . He quickly arrived in front of a dilapidated house and looked around to make sure no one was watching him before he entered the house.
House was in a terrible condition and looked as if no one had lived in it for decades. The man made his way towards the kitchen and tapped on the floor three times.
Immediately some strange runes appeared in the ground and he infused his mana which caused the floor to open, revealing a set of stairs leading downwards. He went down the stairs and entered the secret tunnel. After walking for half an hour, he arrived inside one of the manor located in Imperial Palace Grounds.
The hooded man quickly went to an inconspicuous room and knelt on the floor.
"So, what news do you have for me?" He heard a voice in his head.
"My lord, Allen has failed in his task. He was knocked out by our target when he tried to cause trouble for him." He informed the voice without lifting his head.
"Hmm, interesting. Send the word to our men at the border, tell them to initiate Plan B. Looks like we can get rid of him earlier than expected." He heard the voice ordering him.
"As you command, my lord." He felt the presence vanishing from the room and heaved a sigh of relief. He always felt suffocated whenever he was near his lord due to the sheer amount of mana roiling around his seemingly invisible lord.
He quickly retraced his steps and arrived back at the Clover family compounds. After entering his room he took out a messenger talisman and wrote the order given by his lord. After burning the talisman he took off his hood and went to sleep.