CHAPTER 177: THE SUDDEN NEWS

Ero bursts into Ashen’s chamber without knocking. He looks pale, as he breathes fast. "My lord..." he called out, then dropped to his knees. He bows his head and will not look up.

Ashen snaps awake as he moves fast, hands gentle as he straightens Lumina on the bed.

"Why barge into my chambers like this?" he asked in whispers as he tried to control his voice.

"My lord... There is trouble," Ero stammers. "Cyres is dead."

Lumina’s head jerks up. Her eyes flutter open, shock written on her face. "How... what happened?" she asked.

Ero’s mouth works. "They say..." He swallows. "You and my lady are called to the palace. Now."

The words land like a stone. Ashen’s face goes hard. He moves to take Lumina’s hand.

At that moment Adam’s voice rings like thunder from the hallway. "Where is that bastard of a brother of mine? Arrest him!"

Ashen looks at Lumina as she grabs his shirt, throat tight. "Don’t..." she starts.

"They want to arrest you," Ero says quickly.

"You must go to the inner court for prayers and judgment." Ashen lets out and presses a quick kiss to Lumina’s forehead.

"They are trying to divert attention," Lumina says in a small voice. "They want to frame me for Cyres’ death. So don’t get tangled in it."

He leans close and kisses her again, softer. "Sleep," he tells her. "I will be back soon." He pauses, then, with a quick movement, he taps her on her neck. Lumina gasps and folds forward, fainting on the bed.

Ero snaps up, horrified. "My lady.."

Ashen kneels, trailing tiny kisses on her brow, then looks up, eyes ice.

"Protect her," he orders Ero. "If anything happens to her, I will not promise your life." Ero bows so low his head nearly touches the floor, fear and loyalty clear on his face.

Footsteps and voices crash in the corridor. Ashen stands and moves to the doorway. Fire suddenly lashes from his palm toward Adam’s circle of guards. The blast is a warning that makes everyone freeze in place.

Adam stops in his tracks. His face is white with rage. "Ashen!" he yells. "You..."

Ashen’s voice is slow. "Learn courtesy. My wife is sleeping. Why have you come here?"

Adam’s men edge forward, but Ashen’s aura keeps them back. No one wants to be scorched.

"Arrest him!" Adam barks again. The guards shuffle forward, eyes on Ashen.

Ashen turns and looks each man in the eye. "Arrest me?" he asks calmly. The guards swallow and step back, no one dares to move.

"How dare you attack the crown prince!" Adam’s voice rises.

"You don’t need to shout your title. Silence tells us enough." Ashen stated.

"I will go to the palace and get the response from the king myself that he wants to punish me for killing Cyres as you had said."

"Ashen!" Adam called out, but he didn’t respond, as he had just moved so the guards couldn’t reach him easily.

They all just stood behind him as he walked, just then Aria flew through the chamber gate and stood in front of it like a statue.

*******

The hallway is divided as the King enters with Queen Sephora and other nobles. King Aden’s face is calm but the air around him hums with fury.

"Father, please," Adam says before Aden speaks. "Arrest him.... My man did not deserve to die."

Ashen did not even bother to defend himself. King Aden glanced at him. He meets the King’s eyes without flinching.

Aden studies the room. Then he asks, after a while. "So, who killed him?"

Before anyone can answer, Queen Sephora steps forward, fury burning in every line of her face. "You want to talk of murder here? Ashen is a threat. He served a sliver of chaos to our house."

"Sephora..." Aden’s voice cuts through her, he does not enjoy being argued with in front of his court.

"You defend him now?" Sephora snaps, pointing at Ashen. "You’re acting soft with him now... do you want him to bring ruin to this realm?"

Ashen lets out a short laugh, disbelief on his face. "Your Highness, you can do as you will. Punish me if you must."

Queen Sephora’s face goes red. "You dare speak to me..."

"Shut the hell up, Sephora!" King Aden roars. The room trembles with the force of the word.

Sephora froze and the remaining nobles stepped back. Adam’s face is a mask of rage and shock. He points at Ashen.

"Father.."

"Call my name one more time and I will show you why I became the King." Everyone hooted among themselves and Queen Sephora felt humiliated.

Ashen looks to the King with a slight smirk on his face, "What do you want to know, father?" he asks, voice low.

Aden studies his son, whom he calls the word father. He took in a deep breath and then turned to Adam.

"Do you have evidence?" He asked.

Adam opens his mouth but falters. He looks to his mother, hoping for support.

Sephora opens her mouth to defend her son but the King’s stare pins her lips shut.

Aden raises a hand. Silence falls like a curtain. "We will not allow the court to be used as a blade for personal quarrels. If you have proof, bring it. If not, stop this spectacle."

Adam’s thunderous anger falters into a simmer. He looks at Ashen as if daring him to move.

Then King Aden turns his gaze to Ashen. "Ashen, step forward. Speak plainly. Did you harm Cyres?"

Ashen meets the King’s stare. He takes a breath and answers. "No, Your Highness.... I did not kill him."

A murmur runs through the crowd. Adam’s lips press into a thin line. Queen Sephora opens her mouth again, but the King’s finger lifts, and she falls silent.

Aden looks at Adam with a slow, bitter calm. "If someone murdered Cyres, we will find the truth and again he will be in charge..."

"Father! I can’t accept this, he killed him and now he needs to look for the killer.:"

"Then forget about it.." King Aden fired, "After all he had almost ruined the realm because he had sabotaged and brought a curse to the whole realm."

"Your highness, this is too much of a loss for Adam." Queen Sephora cried out.

"Then Adam should find the killer himself and bring him to me." King Aden fired.

"But we just told you Ashen was the one..."

"He isn’t and that is final... I don’t want to hear about this matter again... also this should be the last time you accuse the last prince of something like this."