-Dark forest. just outside the suburban precinct of Aeshonem-
A HOODED FIGURE was standing on the cliff, arms outstretched producing a dark flame illuminating the forest "Awaken, my minions. The hour of vengeance has come. We shall raze Aeshonem to the ground. We begin at Northern Territories. Arise, creatures of darkness, and lay waste to all!" Shout the hooded figure with fervor. With the dark flames casting an eerie glow over the woods, monsters and demons emerged, roaring in allegiance to their summoner...
- Royal Palace. East Castle where Prince Asher and Prince Theodore reside-
FROM THE OUTSIDE, the castle appeared neglected, with an unkempt garden and patched holes in its structure. Following the death of Empress Dahlia, the East Castle was deserted. The majority of the staff had been dismissed by Prince Asher, who harbored suspicions and trusted no one. He operated without the support of knights or attendants, a condition imposed by the emperor so that he can easily get rid of the Prince. Despite these challenges, Prince Asher remained steadfast. He knows that he have a responsibility to take care of. He will never let anyone harm his little brother.
In his chamber, Asher was resting on his bed, with Theodore asleep next him. His thoughts drifted to what happened in the previous night, undoubtedly it was the happiest moment of his life, especially after all that happened in his life. The way Natasha blush, and the stark contrast of the hickey he had left on her porcelain skin, and the way they had kissed. Oh, the way they had kissed. Despite knowing they were too young for such intimacy, he couldn't help but be captivated by her tongue and kisses.
Yesterday, they had stopped at making out, but he yearned for more. What happen yesterday, was more than what he was hoping for and he was happy. Yet, neither he nor Natasha had confessed their feelings. After what happen yesterday, what does this means for us? He thought. What if Natasha didn't truly love him and had merely been caught up in the moment? As he lost himself in these thoughts, a knock at the door interrupted his reverie.
As the door opened, Sebastian and Lisa entered. Sebastian and Lisa then, bow down to him. Sebastian Gene and Lisa Sharp were among the few people he trusted. They had been with him for a long time, since the days when his mother was still alive. When Empress Dahlia, was forced to marry Emperor Maximus, she was straight away separated from her family, and was forcefully brought in to the palace. both Sebastian and Lisa had followed his mother and remained with them ever since.
Looking at the wrinkled line on two of his faithful servant, he felt a pang of sorrow. They are already too old, to still be working with him, yet he is too young and powerless to allow them to retire. If he do let them retired, who knows what would happen to them. Right now, Sebastian and Lisa are safest by his side.
"Yes?"
"Your highness. You are summoned to the main palace" Says, Sebastian. As soon as Asher heard that, his heart beating fast out of fear. Although he tried so hard not to show it.
"Did they give any reason?"
"I am afraid not, my liege." Sebastian replied and Asher nod in understanding.
"Lisa please take care of Theodore. I will be back soon."
"Of course, your highness." As soon as Lisa replies, Asher walk out from the room and get ready to see the Emperor. He wondered, why he was summoned. He cannot help but think that its not because his father was missing him.
-Main Palace. Emperor Maximus Throne Room-
ON THE THRONE, sat Emperor Maximus, smirking with his hand resting under his chin. Next to him was Concubine Reya, now Empress Reya. On the side of the Emperor stood The Crown Prince Maximillian. The three of them smirking.
"Asher Alexander the III greets you Your majesty. May the glory shine upon the sun of the empire"
"Ah...my other son. I can see that you're all grown up now." Replied The Emperor. Emperor Maximus, have brown hair as Prince Asher, but he has a pair of dark red eyes. Maximillian is the exact copy of the emperor, except that he have blonde air like his mother.
As Prince Asher look at the 3 people on the throne, he felt chill to the bone. People might say that he is the greatest swordsman in The Kingdom of Aeshonem. However, he really do fear these 3 individual.
He has witnessed the terror they have inflicted on innocent people, on him, and on his mother. No matter how skilled a swordsman he may be, he is still a 16-year-old boy, traumatized by the repeated horrors he has seen.
"To what do i owe the pleasure to be summoned by you, your majesty." Asked Asher.
"Oh nothing much. There has been a series of demonic beast attacking the people on our suburban Northern Territories. It seems like, what these creatures wants are war. Since i have heard so much good thing about you, and how renowned is your sword skill. I have decided that you will be leading this war."
"Oh...please don't worry, I have deported 300 imperial knight to help you." Emperor continues, with a smirk on his lips.
Deploying, 300 knights for a full-scale war seems illogical to anyone who hears it. We'd be quickly overwhelmed, given the significant disparity between the strength of ordinary knights and that of a demonic creatures, especially under the command of a mere 16-year-old. He knows that the Emperor's current actions are merely a pretext to eliminate him. The notion that the Emperor would endanger the lives of knights and civilians just to get rid of him fills him with disgust.
"It seems like you have something to say to me? Do you dare to object me?"
"No your highness. It is my greatest pleasure to lead the imperial knight for this war."
"Good. If you ever come back, i will reward you appropriately. That is, if you are able to come back. Now you may dismissed." After bowing to the Emperor, Asher turned to leave the throne room. Seething with rage, he vowed to return from this war and reclaim his rightful place.
- Duke Henry's Estate. Natasha's chamber -
WHAT THE HELL just happened yesterday, Natasha? Natasha paced back and forth in her room. Remembering the moment that she had shared with Prince Asher yesterday night, fill her with shame. How can someone with a mentality of a 30 years old woman, cave in to a mere 16 years old seduction? Where does she placed her brain and sense? Of course she knows that it is actually normal for a 16 years old young teen like her, to fell in love, felt the love for the first time. On her previous life, this is what we called youth. But for a person with a much more mature mentality, she supposed to know better than succumb to Asher's feelings. Since she knows this will be complicated in the future, especially when he will fall in love with Adeline along the line, following the game plot. And how most of the misfortune that will befall him, will be because of the villainess Natasha.
On her defense, for a mere 16 years old Prince Asher certainly know how to push her button. And his kisses yesterday, she have to admit that it was better than any of the man that she ever dated in her previous life. In the game shows that Prince Asher was a tsundere character. But in reality, Asher was the opposite of tsundere. He never try hiding his true feelings, and he is soft from the outside and inside. Not that kind of character, that are soft from the inside but a jerk in the outside. As she lost in thought, she heard her room door was abruptly opened, then comes Ace rushing in.
"Would it hurt for you to knock, Ace?" Asked Natasha, annoyed.
"We have no time, for that. listen. Father was ordered by the emperor to go to the war that will begins at Northern Territory." Replied Ace. Then, Natasha's heart sank.
"What...?"
"Come. Father wants to see us in his studies." Ace then pull Natasha hand and drag her out from the room.
- Duke Henry's Estate. Duke Henry Studies-
"FATHER, please don't tell me that its true that you will be deployed for the war?" Asked Natasha as he entered the studies. Mother was sitting on the couch wiping her tears. It seems like Mother's handkerchief was soaked with her tears.
"Its true, sweetie. Unfortunately. I will be departing to the Northern territories for the war tomorrow. Your uncle is there and I need to help him, since all of the Northern territory belong to our family." Says Duke Henry. In the suburban part of the Northern Territories, her Uncle Count Hayes Ali was the one who was in charged of that area.
"No. Father No! Let me come with you. I can wield sword and control my magic now, i am sure i will be able to help you fight in that war. It is a full scale war between demonic creature and the imperial knight anyway. And the Magic Wielder will be the perfect fighter to defeat them."
"I want to come to. I might not be a Magic Wielder, but my sword skill is as good as you Father." Ace requested.
"Indeed you both are right. However you and your sister are still too young. Beside I need both of you here to take care of your Mother and the Estate."
"But Father..."
"But Father..." Duke Henry then pat Natasha's head and Ace shoulder softly, he then crooked a soft smile. Natasha's tears could no longer be contained, and they began to stream down her cheeks.
"Please my children. I will be coming home unscathed. Please wait for me until then and take care of my wife for me. Alright?" Says Duke Henry softly. While Natasha vigorously wipe her tears, Ace was nodding so aggressively.
Duke Henry then let out a little chuckle seeing how adorable his two kids are in front of him. He then embrace both of his children and then gesture at his wife to join them. After embracing each other for a long while. The 4 of them finally lets go of each other.
"Prince Asher will be our commander during the war. Since he is skilled at swords and Magic, i am sure we will be alright."
"What...?" This surprises Natasha. Prince Asher will be commanding the war? But he is still so young. And then Natasha remembered, from her previous life, when she was going through Asher's route in the game, it was mentioned briefly that The Emperor ordered him to be the commander of a war, not because he trusted Prince Asher enough. Its just that, the emperor had hoped that Prince Asher will never come back from this and die. To his dismay, Prince Asher came back stronger then ever. Is this the war that was mentioned? If it is, then...He will come back when he's 23 years old. That's the settings, when the game will begin and when he meet Adeline White. The Female Protagonist.
"How can Asher go with you, but we can't? He is more younger than me." Says Ace.
"I really have no idea about this. It was said due to his formidable skill. But i just think that, there's an underlying intention in ordering him to be the commander at the young age of 16 and only deploying 300 imperial knight for a full scale war. Fortunately. We have our own private knight that can make up to that short number of knights" Duke Henry's explained.
Oh...there is and underlying intention indeed. Natasha, thought.
- Duke Henry's Estate. Natasha's chamber, late night -
SHE IS doing her best to fall asleep, however news that both her Father and Asher will be deploying to a war leave her restless and unable to sleep. As she was about to close her eyes, she heard a soft knock on her balcony glass door. When she open her eyes to see who was knocking, she was stunned. She then quickly get up from the bed and open the door for Asher.
"Asher what are y...mmph!" As soon as Asher entered her room, he immediately kiss Natasha. At first, Natasha was taken aback, but after a few moment, she reciprocate the kiss. This time, it was Asher's tongue who slip into her mouth first. While they were making out, Natasha noticed that her door was not closed. She then used her Ice Magic to automatically close the door before returning to kissing Asher.
They were kissing ever so passionately. Their body pressed together heatedly. Their breath getting harder as they continue to ravage each other's mouth. From Natasha's thin fabric, Asher's can feel everything. Her soft supple breast, her waist that is not so thin nor so wide. He moved his hands slowly to her back, tracing her waist and then trailing down to her bottom. Without noticing their surrounding, before he realize it, he has backed Natasha against her bed and they both stumbled on top of it. With a soft thud, he is now on top of Natasha. But this does not stop him.
Even though they have stumbled on top of her bed, this does not stop Asher from kissing her. Their tongue tangled and wrestle against one another. She can feel the warmth of his tongue inside her mouth, which sent a shiver to her body. When they had stop to catch their breath, Asher's moved his kisses to her neck, resulted her to let out a soft moan. Once again, she can feel a tinge of a bite.
Satisfied, they both eventually stop kissing. From on top of her, she can see that Asher was looking at her softly. He brushed strained of her hair away from her face, and softly brush Natasha's cheek. Both of them are still breathing heavily, the remaining of their vigorous making out session. She then deeply stared into that beautiful Hazel eyes. Now its her turn to brush his cheeks and look at him softly.
"Are you alright, your highness?" Asked Natasha, when she finally able to catch her breath.
"I have missed you"
"That's why you sneakily knocking my balcony door?"
"Who knows, when I will be able to do that again." Asher smile softly and simultaneously lay down on the bed next to Natasha. He then cuddle her from behind and casually plant a kiss on her shoulder. Natasha then, hold his hands that was wrapped around her.
"Are you going to be alright, your highness?" Asher then chuckle a little, hearing repeated question from Natasha.
"I am going to be alright my lady." Says Asher jokingly. "Although I can't help but feeling scared."
Hearing that, she felt a pang of sadness creeping out in her heart. Of course. Who wouldn't. No matter what people said, he is still only a 16 years old boy. No matter how good his sword skills are, or how great he is at Magic. In her previous life, 16 years old boy, was still whining to their parent, when they were being grounded. Here, at 16 years old, he have to command knights for a full scale war.
"Natasha?"
"Yes your highness?"
"What are we? What am I to you?" Asked Asher.
Again, she felt a pang of sadness in her heart with that question. Honestly, she also do not know, what are they. But what she does know, is that Asher is important to her. and with all her power, she vow to protect him and to stop whatever misfortune that will come in the future to him.
She does not know, how long will he harbor this feelings for her, one thing for sure, there is a possibility that he will change his heart. After all, Adeline White is the Female protagonist. This world exist for her. When that day come, when Asher no longer have feeling for her, she is more than ready to accept, if that can make him happy.
Natasha then turn to look at him. She then smile and kiss Asher's lips, ever so soft
"Come back to me soon, and i will tell you, what are we." Asher then, smile widely and nodding his head.
THAT NIGHT, Asher was staring at Natasha sleeping face softly. He then slowly get up from the bed, without making any noise, so that it will not disturb her sleep. His gaze lingered to her. Before his make his way out of her room, he plant a soft kiss on her forehead.
I will be back soon. When I am back. Please tell me, what are we.