"Great! I was going to advise something similar. Is it okay if you take your lessons with me?" Asterion asked.
"Take lessons with you. I don't think I am that capable. I mean your lessons would be tough. Plus you are taking lessons at level six cultivation, it must be something difficult." Ether answered in all honesty.
"Yes I am level six and the lessons are difficult. But you don't have to do it all like me. We can start with easy lessons for you. I will practise my lessons to reach level seven while you practise for better building of your body and defence." Asterion explained with a light smile.
"Okay. We can do that. Anyways I don't have a lot to do over here." Ether said.
"What did you do in your free time in the Fire palace?" Asterion sounded interested to know.
"In the morning I would wake up early and pluck flowers for my mother. She loved putting different flowers as hair ornaments everyday.
After that I would discuss the court matters with my father and then head together for breakfast. After father went to the court, I would then take my defence lessons.
I would spend the rest of the evening designing candles or making perfumes or sometimes some ornaments. Then I would head to the kitchen and help cook something for our dinner together. I guess this could sum up my random day." Ether's eyes sparkled while reminiscing about her past days.
"What about Vesta? What did she do all the time? From your explanation earlier, you both didn't spend much time together." Asterion asked, but the curiosity from earlier was gone.
"She would wake up late and head straight to the training room. She would fight the men there. Then attend the royal court with my father.
She would take tours around the city, sometimes country, before returning for dinner at night. Precisely this was it, I don't know the details." Ether answered.
"Why didn't you attend the royal court? Didn't you discuss those matters with your father?" Asterion asked.
"Not everyone was kind enough to listen to solutions from a useless princess. And father, though being the king, could not shut up every mouth that spoke against me." Ether was simple and direct, but Asterion knew it wasn't as simple as Ether presented it to be.
People were cruel and their comments even more harsh. There must have been severe insults and extreme recuperations from the ministers for the king himself to stop his daughter from not attending the court.
"You knew how to solve the court matter though. I think-" Asterion was speaking when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." Asterion said before getting up from the bed.
"Your highness, the dinner is ready." Medusa informed.
"Bring the dinner to the chamber." Asterion ordered.
"Yes, your highness." Medusa retreated.
"I would have loved showing you around the palace, the dining hall as well. But I will have to order all other guards to leave the palace. If I do that frequently, the Royal palace will definitely find something suspicious." Asterion explained.
"Is someone keeping a watch over you?" Ether asked, catching the underlying meaning.
"You are smart. Yes, there are people who want to find faults in me so that they can replace the future ruler." Asterion shrugged.
"Is there anyone more capable than you?" Ether asked in all honesty.
"Throne is not limited to capability, Princess. People are greedy. No one can solely rely on their elemental powers. Plus I really have a great competitor against me, Marcus, my cousin." Asterion sat beside Ether.
"Level six?" Ether raised a brow.
"Soon to be level six. He has been struggling at the bar of level five for quite some time. It's about time he turns level six." Asterion explained.
Ether was pondering over this when there was another knock on the door before Doris and Medusa entered with food trays.
The couple had a hearty talk during dinner. Discussing their previous lives, their future goals, how to tackle present problems and a lot more.
Ether had never opened up to someone this quick as she did today. Little did she know that it was the same for Asterion. But no matter what the reason was, the couple had thoroughly enjoyed their very first day after marriage.
Both of them slept peacefully while remaining on their respective sides of bed, but there was no awkwardness between them.
"Ether. Wake up, princess." A deep voice called her.
Ether slowly opened her eyes, only to find that there was scarce light outside signalling it was early morning.
"Your highness, why-" Ether said a little groggily when Asterion placed a finger on her lips, silencing her immediately.
"Asterion." He reminded her.
"Asterion." Ether said slowly, fully awake now.
Only the bedside candle was still lit, giving a faint glow to Asterion's face from one side. She could now notice how godlike Asterion looked, with his short hairs undone, covering a little of his forehead, not to mention the raspy morning voice laced with that depth which ended up with butterflies in her stomach.
"You wanted to take defence lessons and practise with me, right?" Asterion asked, wondering how the girl in front of him managed to look so heavenly even after waking from a sound sleep.
Her eyes swollen, cheeks a tint of pink, silky locks of hairs flowing everywhere, those eyes twinkling even this early and lips juicier like strawberries - did this woman lack in any aspect?
"Hmmmm." Ether replied while getting up.
"Get ready and come with me." Asterion dispersed all the thoughts about Ether's look.
"Yes." Ether replied as both the husband and wife climbed out of the bed, ready to start a new journey, Together.
"What is this place?" Ether asked in confusion after watching a huge hall, nothing like the fields where she used to practise with guards.
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Hope you all like the current plot. The story was a little slow paced till now but we will get back to normal speed soon. Please do comment and vote with powerstones and golden tickets!
- Kizy