Chapter 142: HIS RETURN
Everyone aside from the king had stormed out of the chamber, their faces twisted with anger, Only Aria, Ashen and King Aden stayed behind.
Ashen stood there, motionless, still reeling from what had just happened.
King Aden’s sudden change in attitude toward him left him almost unsettled. For years, he had been treated as an unwanted shadow in this palace, he could recall how many times he had even gained entrance to the palace.
Now his father had not only defended him but had openly dismissed the accusations against him.
King Aden exhaled slowly and turned toward the door. "You can go meet your wife now," he said with surprising gentleness. "I am sure she will be happy to know you are free."
But as the King began to leave, Ashen stepped forward. "Your Highness."
King Aden paused and turned back, his brows slightly raised.
"Why did you help me?" Ashen asked, not able to keep in confusion in him
King Aden’s lips curled faintly, as though he had been expecting that question all along.
"Maybe," he said slowly, "because I am sure you would never do it. Or..." he let the word hang in the air for a moment
"Perhaps because I owe your wife my life. If anything were to happen to you, Ashen, it would seem as though this court failed to protect you. I do not want her to return to the Celestial Realm."
Ashen chuckled softly, the sound laced with bitter amusement. "I thought as much," he said. "Because I was not used to this side of you."
King Aden nodded once, solemnly, and turned to leave again. But Ashen’s voice stopped him a second time.
"I do not think I want this from you," Ashen said quietly, though his voice was firm. "Adam is your Crown Prince. I do not need more of his petty schemes thrown my way. I will take care of my wife myself."
King Aden studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable, then said,
"Of course, son. Just... never do anything you will regret." With the left.
Ashen stood there, scoffing under his breath before he turned to Aria, who was still in the chamber.
"What is it?" he asked.
Aria tilted his head. "He also helped your wife last night," he said, his tone careful.
Ashen’s brows furrowed. "What?"
"When the Queen tried to stir up trouble, it was the King who stopped her," Aria said. "If you ask me... maybe the attack never even happened. Or if it did, it was staged to put you in trouble."
Ashen’s lips twisted into a humorless smile. "Yes. She just does not want me to attend the festival. But this time, I will. My wife wants to go."
Aria rolled his eyes. "Of course. And now you are going to order me to get the best dress for your wife, right?"
Ashen gave him a sly look.
Aria groaned dramatically. "Who would have thought? I would one day be using my powers to fetch dresses. I was trained to fight wars, not choose silks."
Ashen only smirked and continued walking toward his chamber, ignoring Aria’s grumbling.
The moment he stepped into his chambers, a familiar warmth washed over him.
The air was scented with the amount of food coming from the kitchen and he noticed how everything had been rearranged slightly.
He remembered the years he had lived here alone with only Ero. The chamber had always been silent, cold, a place for a man who did not expect to be loved. Now it felt alive.
He did not think he could ever go back to those lonely days.
His eyes found Lumina across the room. She was bent slightly toward Stella, instructing her how to pack a tray of food.
Ashen’s lips curved. So she had been planning to bring him food this morning.
The maids noticed him first and straightened quickly, their mouths opening to greet him but Ashen lifted one hand, a silent command for them to stay quiet.
They obeyed instantly, smiling at one another in delight, clearly happy to see their master return.
Ashen walked forward quietly, his steps soundless on the floor.
Lumina was so focused on explaining something to Stella that she did not hear him until he slid his arms around her from behind, his chest pressing against her back. He buried his face against her neck, inhaling her scent, then pressed a slow kiss to her skin.
Lumina let out a startled breath that quickly softened into relief but then she tensed suddenly and pushed him away, turning to face him.
"Are you supposed to be here?" she asked in a rush. "Will this not affect the King’s judgment? The King..."
"Hey," Ashen said softly, cutting her off.. "Relax. Everything has been settled. I am free of their accusations."
Her shoulders sagged at once, a wave of relief passing over her. "Thank goodness," she whispered but then, as if remembering something, her hands flew to touch his arms, his chest, his face.
"Were you punished?" she asked quickly. "You were not tortured, were you?"
Ashen caught her hands gently and pressed them to his lips. "Of course not, my lady. The case has been ruled out. The King has ordered that no one speak of it again."
Lumina’s eyes narrowed. "And your mother?"
"She does not believe I am innocent," Ashen admitted. "She would rather drop the matter entirely than let me prove her wrong."
Lumina let out a soft snort. "Then she was behind it," she said flatly.
Ashen studied her face carefully. He recognized the storm brewing on it.
"Let it go," he said quietly.
She pressed her lips together, clearly unhappy, but she nodded once. "Very well. I will try."
Ashen smiled faintly, then sank down onto the nearest chair. "You must be hungry," Lumina said quickly, gesturing to the tray Stella had been preparing. "Sit properly. I will feed you."
Ashen laughed softly. "You should be the one telling me how you spent your night without me," he teased.
But Lumina did not smile. She only moved closer, wrapping her arms around him in a sudden, fierce embrace.
"If they had not released you," she said quietly, her voice almost trembling, "I had already planned how I would make them pay."
Ashen stiffened slightly, then tilted his head to look at her. "Do not hurt my mother," he said gently. Lumina did not answer.
"I mean it," Ashen repeated, more firmly this time.
Finally, she nodded, though her eyes still held that stubborn glint. "I am not promising you," she murmured. "But I will try."
Ashen chuckled at that, drawing her closer before letting her go. "Good enough for me. Now feed me before I starve."
She smiled faintly this time and gestured to Stella, who quickly brought the tray forward.