Chapter 33

When I groaned, I heard my mother’s soft yet commanding voice.

“Asher, baby, do not open your eyes yet. I am getting ready. Just lay there and rest. Zara, attend to my boy. You over there, summon the king from Chamber 11.”

I obeyed and remained still, feeling the warmth of her presence. A moment later, I felt Zara’s gentle hands guiding me, and I instinctively latched onto her breast, drinking the energizing milk that soothed both my body and spirit. The rich, nourishing liquid filled me with strength, yet it did little to ease the dull ache in my heart.

By the time I had drained both of her breasts, Zara’s voice rang softly in the chamber.

“It is done, my queen.”

“You may leave,” my mother commanded with regal poise.A bell chimed seven times in the distance, signaling the early hours of the day.

“Mother, may I leave now?” I asked hesitantly.

“No,” she said firmly. “Your father will be arriving soon, and you have some explaining to do about last night’s tears.”

Her tone was gentle but unwavering. I knew there was no arguing with her, so I remained in bed, my mind clouded with thoughts. Soon, I heard the heavy footsteps of my father as he entered the chamber. His presence was always commanding, a force that demanded attention the moment he arrived.

I took a deep breath and began explaining everything once more—the birth on earth, the reincarnation, the events of the previous night, my encounter with Uncle Gerald, and the weight of his final gift. I spoke of the magical beasts, the grimoire, and his parting words. But when I reached the moment of his passing, my voice faltered. My throat tightened, and for a second, I couldn’t continue. The grief was still raw, still fresh.

I somehow forced myself to finish, but by then, the tears had already begun falling again.

My mother was the first to console me, wrapping me in a warm embrace. My father, however, took a different approach.

“Do you think your grandfather would want to see you like this?” he asked sternly. “Crying like a child? Do you think this is how you honor his memory?”

I sniffled and wiped my tears. “No, Father.”

“Then open your eyes and listen carefully. In four days, you will be choosing your eighteen concubines. Do you want to stand before them like this—weak, broken, and drowning in sorrow?” His voice was sharp, filled with authority. “If this is how you intend to be, then I might as well lock you in this room and cancel the banquet. There is no place for a prince who wallows in grief.”

My heart pounded. I knew my father was strict, but his words still stung. He wasn’t being cruel—he was preparing me for the reality of my station.

“Asher, in this kingdom, a noble son of eighteen summers is required to have at least five concubines. If he fails, he is disowned and executed for bringing shame upon his family. You, as a prince, have a duty far greater. The number rises to twenty.”

I felt my stomach churn at the reminder. I had known this all my life, yet the weight of responsibility felt heavier than ever.

He sighed, his voice softening slightly. “The reason I am arranging this marriage so soon is because I want you to stay here, in the castle, with us. I do not know why, but there is a fear in my heart—an unshakable feeling that you will leave us one day.”

I lowered my gaze, unsure of how to respond.

Then, without warning, my father turned to Cassie. “Throw him into the pits with the royal guards for half an hour.”

Before I could react, Cassie grabbed me by the collar and dragged me out.

The training pits were brutal, designed to break men and rebuild them stronger. The moment I was thrown in, the royal guards wasted no time. They attacked relentlessly, forcing me to defend myself with every ounce of strength I had left.

Every strike, every blow, every movement reminded me of my purpose.

By the time the eighth bell rang, signalling the end of the session, my body was battered and sore, but my mind was clearer than before.

I had no choice but to move forward.

For my grandfather.

For my family.

For myself.

After freshening up, I returned to my domain, strolling leisurely through the residential area. The crisp morning air carried the scent of freshly baked bread from a nearby bakery, mingling with the distant chatter of the townsfolk going about their day.

“I think I’ll have to go find Cassie,” I muttered to myself, lost in thought.

Before I could take another step, a sharp smack landed on the back of my head. I winced and turned to find Cassie standing behind me, arms crossed, her expression exasperated.

“What did I tell you about forgetting me?” she scolded.

I chuckled nervously, rubbing the sore spot. “Sorry, Taskmaster.”

Her lips twitched slightly in amusement. “Better. Now, what do you need me for?”

“Do you know where I can find the builder, Gareth Stonewell?” I asked, glancing around.

Cassie tilted her head toward a bustling tavern nearby. “They’re enjoying their drinks over there.”

I narrowed my eyes. “They? Who else is with him?”

“Oh, the usual—Stonewell, the King, Valefang, Bao, Seraphina, Selvara, Eldora, and the Queen. The former adventuring party.”

I frowned. “And what exactly are they doing here?”

Cassie shrugged. “How would I know, you idiot? But I’d advise against disturbing them—at least for now.”

I sighed but nodded. It wasn’t every day the former adventuring party, a legendary group in their prime, gathered like this. Whatever their reason for being here, it was clearly important.

We continued walking, exchanging idle conversation, until I stumbled upon Xian.

We chatted for a few minutes about random things—how the new residents were settling in, the changes within the castle, and the upcoming banquet. While we spoke, I casually observed the area.

Then I spotted Darius, deep in conversation with a Royal Guard. His usual easygoing demeanor was gone, replaced by a serious, almost tense expression.

Something was off.

I kept walking, but my ears caught a single word that sent alarm bells ringing in my head.

“Shifting.”

It was subtle, barely a whisper, but it made my instincts scream. Something was being hidden from me. If I wanted the truth, I needed to separate Cassie from the situation.

As I approached Darius and the Royal Guard, they both fell silent, their eyes betraying concern. I ignored their hesitation and spoke directly to Darius.

“Darius, what happened to the new recruits that were with you the day we met?”

I noticed his shoulders sag slightly in relief before he answered.

“Nothing. You haven’t given any specific orders or instructions on their training, so I haven’t started much with them yet. Why?”

I nodded, feigning indifference. “Oh, I have something planned.”

Turning to the Royal Guard, I commanded, “Send one of your men to bring me the Royal Warehouse Manager.”

The guard hesitated. “Prince Asher, I do not have any men here.”

I scoffed. “Don’t take me for a fool. I can literally see your men blending into the crowd behind you.”

His expression stiffened, but after a moment, he nodded and summoned one of his subordinates, giving him instructions to fetch the warehouse manager.

With that settled, I turned to Cassie, putting on my most charming voice. “Cassie, could you personally fetch Angela for me? Please?”

She frowned, her suspicion evident. “Why do I feel like you’re trying to get rid of me?”

I widened my eyes, playing innocent. “Come on, Cassie. It’s just a small favor.”

She sighed heavily, glaring at me as if debating whether to argue. But in the end, she relented. “Fine. But you owe me for this.”

I gave her my most winning smile as she turned and walked off.

The moment she was out of earshot, my smile vanished, and I fixed Darius and the Royal Guard with a sharp look.

“Now, speak.”

They exchanged wary glances before the Royal Guard exhaled a long, tired sigh and finally answered.

“Through our sources, we’ve learned that the Veydras are planning something nefarious. They intend to cause trouble at Prince Draven’s wedding.”

My eyes narrowed. “And?”

The guard hesitated. “That’s all we know so far, Prince Asher.”

I took a step closer, lowering my voice. “Don’t test my patience.”

He swallowed hard, then, after a brief pause, he continued. “There is gossip ... rumors circulating that once the Prince marries, the King will step down from the throne.”

My fingers clenched involuntarily. That ... was not a small piece of information.

If the King planned to abdicate, the political landscape would shift dramatically. And if the Veydras were scheming something, then this wedding wasn’t just a simple ceremony—it was the catalyst for something much bigger.

“What else?” I asked, my voice dangerously quiet.

The guard hesitated once more, as if debating whether he should say more.

Something told me I wouldn’t like his next words.

“Speak up, dammit!” I shouted, my voice ringing out with authority.

The royal guard hesitated for a moment before finally relenting. “Our scouts found an assassin attempting to enter your forest. Upon interrogation, we discovered that there are seven more hidden within your lands. They are lost for now, but their ultimate targets are the King and Queen.”

My blood ran cold at his words. Assassins? In my domain? Here to kill my parents? My body tensed with fury as I roared with all my strength, “Ravrik! Fenrir!”

The response was immediate. A chorus of furious howls erupted across my domain, a deafening symphony of rage that sent a shiver down the spines of those nearby. Within moments, a whole company of wolves came charging toward me. They stopped a short distance away, forming a disciplined semi-circle, but one massive gray wolf stepped forward, his head bowed. Ravrik, my most trusted companion, could feel the storm of emotions radiating from me.

I locked eyes with him. “Take every hunter and tracker under your command and head into the forest. I want those seven assassins found—alive. They have come here to murder my father, your friend’s father. If you consider me your friend, then you will bring them to me within a bell.”

Ravrik lifted his head and let out a long, bone-chilling howl. The moment the sound died out, he turned and sprinted into the woods, his pack following close behind. The hunt had begun.

A sharp voice suddenly cut through the tension. “You weren’t supposed to know about this!” Cassie bellowed, her face contorted with frustration. “You were forbidden!”

I turned to her slowly, my expression dark. “What did you just say?” My voice was low, but the weight behind it was crushing.

She squeaked in response, visibly trembling. “The King and Queen ... they didn’t want to burden you with this.”