Later, Kael, Laura, Amanda, and Melissa gathered in the living room. The space was cozy yet grand, with plush chairs arranged around a low oak table. Cups of tea sat before them.
Laura tapped her fingers impatiently against the armrest, her eyes darting to the clock on the wall. "It's already 9:30," She said in irritation. "This is a waste of time. Let's have dinner."
Melissa shot her a pointed look, maintaining calmness. "Be patient, Laura. Shiera is the Queen. She has many responsibilities."
"Oh, really?" Laura scoffed, taking a sip of her tea. "I see Eldest Sister came home early." She cast a sidelong glance at the elegant woman exuding sophistication. "And she's Prime Minister. Either Shiera didn't think this was important, or Eldest Sister didn't have much work at the palace."
Amanda furrowed her brows at her sister's comment. "Not everyone has a peaceful sitting job like you do, Laura," she said, giving her a sharp glare. "Some jobs can be so mentally taxing that they stress people to hell," she added, taking another sip of tea.
"Oh please… We all know that you have been sidelined by Shiera on purpose," Laura hit back at her, her tone carrying extreme confidence as if she were stating a fact. "First, your work timings were restricted to 5 p.m. in the name of giving you enough rest, then appointing a special advisor for the throne in the name of reducing your burden, and now you were given the Duchy of Siglrid in the name of elevating your status. Anyone with a little bit of brain can see that little brat is trying to…"
Before Laura could finish it, the stewardess entered the room, maintaining a steady pace. She bowed slightly before announcing, "Lady Seraphina and Her Majesty have entered the mansion compound."
Melissa patted Laura's arm, "We know that both of you have reservations about each other since your childhood, which only made worse after the truth of your birth came out, but she is still the queen we are serving and also a wife-sister. You only see her once a week anyway. Just try to stay calm and act nice, alright?" She softened her tone and spoke as if she was requesting her instead of giving her advice.
Laura let out a soft huff. "Alright," she muttered, taking another sip of her tea with exaggerated nonchalance.
Kael shook his head, suppressing a sigh. "Oh, Queen Remia… my life was devoid of headaches until I accepted your proposal."
The mansion's doors closed softly behind two women as they entered, their presence cutting through the room like a cool breeze. One silver-haired beauty had a mature, well-developed body to the point that any woman would feel envious of the figure, while the other was nothing in comparison, the Queen had this coolness of a soldier that could melt down the hearts of even women.
Simply put, one gives off the vibes of a mother goddess while the other gives off the vibes of a war goddess.
*
Shiera Flamehart
Race: Human
Age: 20
Rank: Tier-8/Legendary
Element: Ice
Bloodline: None
Description: Former sixth princess and Kael's fifth/youngest wife. Born of the former queen and the king consort. Biological sister of Seraphina and Melissa. Queen of Elyria. Before ascending to the throne, she was an adventurer and later an Army General.
*
Seraphina Flamehart
Race: Human
Age: 20
Rank: Tier-7/Exalt
Element: Light
Bloodline: None
Description: Third princess of Elyira and Kael's second wife. Born of the former queen and the king consort. Biological sister of Shiera and Melissa. Currently, she is serving as the Royal Healer. Formerly a Freelance healer and later, Priestess of the Goddess of Light.
*
As the servants quickly moved to serve them tea, Laura eyes them with raised brows. "So, what kept you both until this hour? Was Her Majesty too busy with royal affairs?" She asked in a sharp tone.
Melissa shot a warning glance at Laura, but it was Shiera who answered, maintaining the demeanor of a Queen. "I heard Marquessa Flora was in the city. She was visiting her cousin, Revenue Minister Sasha, and I made a visit to inquire why she'd left the borders during a time when tensions with the Golden Eagle Queendom were rising."
The others listened intently, their expressions turned serious. Shiera took a sip of warm tea and continued, "But, when I arrived at the minister's residence, I found something… unexpected." She then cast a sidelong glance at her sister.
Seraphina spoke then, her usual serenity turned to displeasure as she explained, "I was invited by Minister Regina to look at Marquessa Flora's son, who was said to be cursed by an object, and dispelling curses was my specialty. However, after a brief examination, I found that it wasn't a curse caused by an action but the result of a forced soul-bound ritual between a beast and that kid. Marquessa Flora wasn't ready to admit that she caused his life force to dwindle at a rapid pace, and neither did she allow its death, which would free her son. Instead, she put the blame on me, trying to hurt her by killing her Tier-8 beast in the name of saving her son. The beast suddenly went out of control."
The room fell silent for a moment, a collective breath held by everyone as they processed her words.
"The beast… it attacked you, didn't it?" Kael took the initiative to ask, his tone contained confidence as if he saw it with his own eyes.
Seraphina nodded, gazing distant as she recalled the scene. "Yes, it did. But Shiera came in time and her guards took care of it."
Shiera added, "We couldn't kill it though. Flora intervened in time and asked for mercy." One could sense a slight intention of killing in her voice.
Amanda then scoffed, curling her lips into a knowing smile. "She probably did it on purpose, didn't she?" She said, dripping in suspicion. "She hates our mother, you know. She used to be a countess, enjoying the luxury in Triton City. But, her battle prowess made our mother send her family to that dangerous border territory, where constant attacks came from neighboring lands… I'm sure she still held enough grudge even today."
Melissa raised an eyebrow, "Eldest sister, you might be reading too much into this. It could have been a coincidence."
Amanda shrugged, unconvinced, "Coincidences are seldom in politics."
Seraphina sighed, leaning back in her chair. "Regardless, a Tier-8 beast of fierce grade doesn't pose a life threat to me. She also knew it. I don't think she would aim at my life. But, yeah, it is possible that she was trying to show her frustration on me, considering the fact that hurting me by accident wouldn't incur any serious charges on her as I'm neither directly tied to the court affairs nor any powerful organization."
Shiera, however, had a different view. With an unwavering firm voice, she spoke, "I don't care of her intentions, sister. Whether it was intentional or not, she ought to pay the consequences. I intend to investigate this matter thoroughly."
Seraphina, ever the peacemaker, shook her head. "It's not worth pursuing, Shiera. It'll only bring more trouble if it is an accident. In the times of peace, you ought to make compromises, not unnecessarily show off your strength."
Shiera silently stared at her for a few seconds and let out a sigh, "Alright, fine. I'll just summon her to the court and give a scolding. Atleast, she should give a formal apology."
Kael, who had largely stayed quiet, inwardly sighed with unclear thoughts. He continued to remain silent for most of the conversation.
*
Later that night, in the warmth of their shared bed, a naked Shiera lay on the bed, busied herself in a deep and peaceful sleep, something which is rare for a monarch like her. Kael, meanwhile, stared up at the ceiling, his mind whirling with the events of the day, especially the matter with Flora.
After a while, he slowly slipped out of bed, careful enough not to disturb his young wife. He approached the wardrobe and took out black clothes from it. Within moments, he was dressed in the black assassin garb, his mask slipping into place. His body vanished into the shadows of the room in the next moment and reappeared on the rooftop of the mansion. He then lunged into the air and turned into a blur, disappearing into darkness.
A couple of hours later, deep in the midnight;
Inside the Revenue Minister's house, Marquessa Flora was in a deep sleep. However, her sleep was disturbed by a disgusting stench nearby. She couldn't help but pinch her nose as she woke up shouting, "Who is there? Remove this…" Her eyes fell on the object lying beside her.
Well, it wasn't just an object. It was a large head of a hound—her hound, the fierce grade beast of Tier-8 strength, just lying there, with its blood drenching the sheets. Its right eye is pierced with a sharp metallic object in the shape of "K."
Her eyes widened and her entire body started shivering in sweat.
"Aaahhhh…"
A scream ripped through the air, echoing into the night of the mansion.
Kael, standing atop a nearby terrace, removed his mask, staring into the direction of the source of the scream in coldness. "Consider this a light punishment, Flora. When I learned that you were the culprit, your head would also be severed from your body. Until then, sleep in fear for your life cuz Assassin K's blade is at your neck," He murmured to himself before vanishing into the night, leaving nothing but the echo of his words to linger in the air.
*
This is the story of Kael Moonstone, a peacock husband during the day and an assassin at night.
Do you think you got the gist of his story? Do you think you can understand the life he leads? I'm not sure you do.
But I'll tell you anyway. Step into Kael's world, and let him show you the truth of who he really is.