CHAPTER 59: THE BRUTAL PAYBACK

One could see Ashen storming toward the Queen’s chambers, his eyes filled with rage as his cloak flew behind him.

His steps were fast while Ero ran after him, almost breathless, trying to stop him.

"My Lord, please! You need to calm down!" Ero hurried out trying to reach for his shoulder but Ashen pushed his hand away without looking back.

He understood the fact that Lumina kept getting bullied by her mates but what he didn’t expect was for his mother to personally come to his chamber to punish her unfairly.

He reached the Queen’s chamber, where two guards stood by the door and quickly lowered their heads when they saw who it was.

"My Lord... what.."

"Announce me now," he ordered, cutting them off as he stood in front of the door.

But they hesitated looking at one another, "I said you should announce my arrival!" his voice hollered and they shook their heads, having that worried gaze.

"My Lord we can’t, the queen is..." Their words were interrupted when flame lit in his palm and flew straight at them, forcing them to jump out of the way in fear.

His face was dark with anger, his chest rising and falling heavily. Ero was more than worried about what his anger might cause him.

He kicked the door open storming inside, and there he met with the queen’s waiting ladies.

"You were the one who checked the princess weren’t you?" They both stared at one another and he stretched his hands the moment they saw fire glowing in his hands they both fell on their knees.

"My Lord... we did it because it was the order of the queen." Ashen nodded with a sly smirk.

"Yeah... I agree with you, it was the queen’s order and that is why I will deal with you in front of the queen." he moved toward the queen’s inner chamber and kicked the door open.

Inside was Queen Sephora, seated with a cup of tea in her hand.

While King Aden sat beside her, his gaze was calm but firm as he lifted his eyes to see who entered so rudely.

Ashen marched in without even bowing.

"Why?" he pointed straight at Queen Sephora. "Why would you? "

Before the words could even finish, a strong force hit his chest and sent him crashing to the ground.

"Where is your respect?" King Aden’s voice boomed through the entire chambers, at the same time shocked at how Ashen had spoken to his mother. Even if he had always been disrespectful he never crossed his mother because he always wanted her favor so he accepted whatever way he was treated unfairly by her.

"You walk into my chambers without bowing or greeting?" Ashen gritted his teeth, kneeling with one palm on the floor.

"Forgive me, Father," he said through clenched teeth. "But this cannot wait."

"You will speak only when I ask you to," King Aden said, his voice sharp ready to strike his son again.

Ashen looked up now, his eyes full of pain. "She was hurt... e... my soon-to-be wife." Queen Sephora looked away.

King Aden narrowed his eyes, "Explain."

Ashen stood slowly, brushing the dust from his robe.

"Your Queen ordered her maids to check if my wife was still pure." Queen Sephora dropped her tea slowly now.

Ashen stepped closer. "She was held down, stripped, touched against her will... even when she cried and begged them to stop."

King Aden was stunned at this as he glanced at Queen Sephora. "That is a strong accusation, did she tell you?" King Aden asked.

"She didn’t tell me," Ashen added.

"Because she didn’t want to ruin what little bond I have with my mother, I have my ways of watching over her." Ashen and solving.

Queen Sephora stood up, her face strong.

"She broke the custom. She was said to have slept with you already before the ceremony. I did what I must."

"She is going to be my wife, even if she did, that is between me and her!" Ashen shouted now, his voice shaking with anger.

"You raised your hands on her... and worse, you allowed others to touch her private body."

Queen Sephora looked shocked at the way he had yelled at her again, then King Aden leaned back, thinking deeply.

"Well, I was told that and I needed to punish her for breaking the rules.."

Ashen let out a bitter laugh and then turned to Ero, who was already standing near the door.

"Get those ladies for me," he announced and at once, Ero stepped outside and returned with both of them being dragged in.

Ero pushed them to their knees in front of the queen and Queen Sephora asked.

"What is this for?" Ashen moved forward slowly, a pace that even his father is getting worried about.

"I want to hear it from you in front of the queen. Which hand did you use to touch her?" The maids trembled, their eyes wide with fear.

"Answer me!" Ashen roared.

One of them pointed to her right hand, the other to her left. Their fingers shook badly.

Ashen’s hand rose slowly, a sharp blade forming from flames.

"Which hand did you use?" he asked again, stepping closer.

Queen Sephora moved forward so fast, "Ashen, what do you think you are doing?" But before she could get close, King Aden raised his hand, stopping her.

"Let him speak," the King said.

"He is about to hurt them!" she let out worriedly and Ashen broke into another bitter laugh.

"Father, I have never asked for your love or your throne." He let out as he turned to the maids, his eyes burning with rage.

"But today, I want justice."

The flame blade flashed in seconds before King Aden could catch on, in a single, merciless swing, both their hands hit the ground.

Their screams ripped through the walls as blood spattered across the ground and over his face.

Queen Sephora froze with her hands on her lips, while King Aden’s brows lifted slightly.

Ashen stood blade still burning in his grip. "Father!" He called the King.

"I know you wouldn’t let this go, so I am ready for any punishment you are willing to give me."

Queen Sephora stared at her son in disbelief. She had never seen him this way.

"Mother! This is your last warning. If anything happens to her again, even a scratch..." He stepped closer to her, his eyes burning.

"Even if you are my mother... I will not spare you."

With that, he turned around and walked out of the chamber, not even looking back.