"We wouldn't want 'it'... getting in the way now that the sun is up and our conversation is about to get... 'exciting'.
Kasper smirks mischievously!
"Hmmmm...."
Asmodeus's face lights up with delight as she returns his mischievous grin with one of her own, which has quickly become a trademark of her mysterious personality!
*Ding.Ding.
The bell sounds, signaling the servers to prepare the table for the most important meal of the day!!
"..."
-A Little While Later-
"Heh."
Asmodeus giggles quietly to herself. She is smiling so much right now that it is impossible to disguise how excited she is.
"But of course... 'My liege'."
Unwrapping her veil and tossing it into the air... The Minister of Ashgate appears to be having the most fun she's had in years!
"Hm."
Given how little control the young lord seems to have over his own mischievous smile, Kasper could actually identify with this sentiment.
The two, like kids in a sandbox, exchange sinister smiles as the veil slowly falls to the floor... And vanishes into thin air right before it makes contact with it!
"..."
-One Tasty Breakfast Later-
"..."
"I take it back..."
"You are just as 'exciting' as I expected."
At the entrance to the courtroom, Asmodeus bows lightly and grins as she compliments the young lord of Ashgate.
"A pleasure, my liege."
The Minister of Ashgate says softly before straightening her posture.
"Please... The pleasure was all mine."
Kasper responds with a modest smile.
"Shall I begin preparing for your trip tomorrow?"
Asmodeus says, grinning devilishly.
"...sure..."
The young lord answers.
A hint of caution in his tone, but not enough for Asmodeus to notice.
"Then! Till we meet again."
Asmodeus turns to bow once more and bids her farewell like a sobby child being hauled off her playground.
Her expression clearly changing to 'bored' as she starts walking.
"..."
-silence-
"..."
"Sariel..."
Under his breath, Kasper calls out to his subject. keeping up a visible, courteous smile for the Minister who is leaving.
"..."
A call answered when the purple-haired demon appears inversely to the ground.
The shadow cast by one of the hallway candles was large enough to allow the hooded figure to emerge only to her neck.
"Master?"
Sariel responds, taking care not to let the strutting Minister of Ashgate ahead of her see her head.
"Call my sister... And, before we depart tomorrow, make sure to inspect all of our luggage."
Kasper remarks, observing Asmodeus strut off when her flashy red dress suddenly turns to black!
The design and embroidery on it completely changing too!!!
"..."
"...twice."
"Inspect the luggage twice."
The young lord continues, his expression intensifying after Landrose's successor's ostentatious performance.
"..."
"Sir."
While she and Kasper watch the enigma that is "Asmodeus of Ashgate" stroll brashly to her next playground, a salty Sariel responds to the command with a stiff expression!
"..."
-The Following Morning-
"Big brother what's all this about you traveling to Hatchett's City??"
The doors to Kasper's room violently swing open when the young princess suddenly bursts in.
"Well?"
She asks again, hands on her hips, waiting for her brother, who is seated in his customary spot by the large window, to answer.
His gaze firmly planted on the carriage outside and the directions Sariel gives to the serving staff.
"... nothing worth worrying about."
The young lord says casually, jumping down from the window and leaning against its sill.
"..."
"Ugh... You know that place gives me the creeps, right?
Maria grunts, feigning a shiver, as she pulls herself a chair from his desk.
"Yeah... I know..."
Still keeping his eyes on the outside, Kasper says softly.
"..."
"Are you okay?"
His younger sister inquires, becoming a little worried when she sees how uncannily bland his responses are.
"Hm?"
"Oh, yeah. Put it out of your mind. I will have Sariel with me."
Kasper fakes a smile, hoping to calm her fears.
*Sigh... "Sure, just... stay safe. Okay."
The young lady of Ashgate says, frustratedly placing her arms over her knees and supporting her head with her hand.
"..."
Kasper watches her little tantrum with a smile on his face.
Who else is as short-tempered as the pampered daughter of Demon-Lord Xhaka?
"...find anything on the woman I told you about?"
The young lord of Ashgate inquires with a blank expression.
Returning his gaze to the packing staff and Sariel.
"... nothing."
Maria answers with a frustrated, stoic look.
"What? Really??"
"Yeah, I am just as surprised as you are."
She says softly... The tone of her voice not only frustrated but also cautious now.
"You should be careful around her, Kas..."
Maria issues her warning in a tone that is even more serious than before, stretching back to lean against the chair and propping herself back up again.
"...heh..."
"When am I not?"
"Don't start with me."
The two exchange a quick back and forth before the young lady of Ashgate reaches out her hand to her brother.
"What?"
Kasper questions the outstretched hand with a tired expression on his face.
Is it possible that the young lord had foregone his rest for the second day in a row?
"Daddy will want to see you before you depart."
Maria replies softly. Locking eyes with her brother, whose expression softens and becomes sombre.
"...sure..."
-Later-
[Throne Room, Castle Ashgate]
"...So you are going to Hatchett's City."
The Demon-Lord Supreme's voice descends like a great roar from atop the chained throne.
His aura and presence seem to always be with him, even when uttering such basic words.
"...yes, father."
Kasper responds humbly from one knee...
A throne room empty of people.
A beast, and a boy.
A monarch, and his successor.
A father, and his son.
For the pair that occupy the throne room, today is but one of many rituals they have conducted whenever one of the members of the royal family departs the castle.
Benevolence... or traveling mercies.
Even with all of its imperfections, the 'House of Rov' remains one of the closest-knit family's.
Perhaps that's why Kasper vehemently chose not to oppose his father for all those years...
So even now, at a time when father and son are actively gunning for each other's necks.
Battling for a throne that is already theirs by blood.
Kasper bows down before the Demon-Lord Supreme, his father, asking for guidance and blessings for the journey ahead.
And his father, the Demon-Lord Supreme, wholeheartedly complies with his son's request.
"...travel safely, my son."
Xhaka makes an outward motion toward the door.
The echo of his voice throughout the throne room giving the impression that this was an order rather than a wish upon traveling mercies.
"...Thank you, Father."
Kasper replies calmly.
Getting ready to get up and go when...
"I trust you still recall your last name."
The Demon-lord Supreme poses a question to his heir, phrasing it in a way that makes it sound more like a statement if anything else...
"Hm."
The young lord nods in response.
"Then you understand what I expect of you."
At that moment...
The beast dismisses his heir, who rises to his feet and bows briefly before continuing on his way.
All but completing the Rov family's timeless ritual.
-Later-
[Open Roads, The 'Enshrouded Forest']
As visibility becomes a luxury in this dense forest, it becomes clear why this place is known as the 'enshrouded' forest...
Towering trees reaching up to hundreds of meters in height and short branches with leaves that form the ideal maze.
The 'Enshrouded Forest', not only serves as Castle Ashgate's last line of defense... But also...
...The final challenge that any aspiring hero must overcome in their quest to vanquish the Demon-Lord...
*Klak.Klak.Klak.
Through the dense underbrush of the forest, a lone carriage pulls slowly along a hidden path, carrying a member of the royal family.
Two skeleton pegasus, covered in what looks to be dense smoke and fog, are pulling the heavy load, which is being driven by a headless butler.
"..."
Kasper looks up at the forest's low hanging trees, taking in the strange features of this location that has served as the royal family's most capable guardian for many generations.
*Sigh...
With a soft breath, the young lord considers the days ahead and plots every action that could either elevate his standing in the Demon-Lord Supreme's Royal court or, should he fail to address the problems plaguing the City of Hatchett, destroy the Demon-realm altogether!
*Klak.Klak.Klak.
"..."
"My last name huh..."
Kasper mumbles to himself calmly, gazing out the carriage windows as the journey to the Demon-realm's capital is finally underway!!...
To Hatchett's City and the Cathedral that birthed it, it's name!!!
"..."
"..."
-To Be Continued-