CHAPTER 265: 265. I WAS BLUFFING

"What should we do, bro?" Sharon finally broke the silence hanging in the room.

Asher sat frozen, his jaw clenched, teeth biting into his lip hard enough to taste blood. His hands trembled at his sides.

"I’ll burn down the Zephandrian palace!! Kidnap Max’s mother too, and threaten to do the same things he’s planning to do to our mother—to her!!"

Sharon sighed. "That’d be going overboard, bro. Kidnapping the King? And I doubt that dickhead would even care if you took his mother or not. There’s too much at risk with your plan. We don’t want to trigger a war between our kingdoms. Plus, you’re getting Platinum coins from the nobles there. So, going violent would be... stupid. You’d lose more than your temper."

Asher collapsed back into the couch, gripping the armrest tightly. His sister was right. He needed to think this through. Zephandria wasn’t even nearby. Even flying at full speed, it’d take him about forty minutes. And he didn’t even know where his mother was being held.

He dragged a hand through his hair with a sigh. "Then what? You’re not planning to obey that bastard’s demand, right? You’re not walking around naked like he ordered?"

"Hell no." Sharon folded her arms. "He wants to humiliate us, but we’re not gonna give him the satisfaction. Instead of playing his twisted game, why not confront his mother directly? King Janet might be the only person who can slap sense into her overgrown brat."

Asher nodded. "Hmm. Well, they probably won’t let us into the palace at this hour. Which means... we leave early. Before sunrise."

He stood up abruptly and walked off to his room. Sharon watched him go, noting the tension in his shoulders. He was furious—barely holding it together. She followed him silently.

Asher didn’t complain when she entered. He just sighed and climbed into bed. Sharon, already in her nighty, slipped in beside him and wrapped her arms around him. She held him close, knowing it was the only thing she could do to calm him for now. He barely slept. The images he’d seen on that cursed device still burned too vividly in his mind.

**

Around 4 a.m., Asher stirred. Sharon was snoring lightly, her head resting gently on his chest.

He nudged her. "Get up and wear something warm. We’re moving out."

He got out of bed, opened his wardrobe, pulled out a thick sweater, and put them on before tying his boots firmly. Sharon, still groggy, nodded and moved to her own room to change into warm clothes as well—thick layers, a beanie, gloves. She was ready.

Once they were both dressed, they left their rooms, eyes sharp as they locked the house behind them. When they stepped outside, the sky was still a velvet black, the moon hanging low.

Without a word, Asher scooped his sister into a bridal carry and activated a wind barrier around them.

"Hold on tight," he muttered.

Sharon obeyed, one arm over his shoulder, the other tucked behind his back.

With a short chant of Spirit Magic, Asher activated his flight spell, and they soared into the dark sky, the wind barrier shielding them from the harsh air currents. The flight was surprisingly smooth—almost comforting.

Roughly thirty minutes later, the golden lights of Zephandria came into view below, scattered like fallen stars across the landscape. Asher adjusted his course, heading straight for the palace. He landed gracefully in front of the main gate, startling the sleepy guards awake. They jumped to their feet, fumbling for their swords.

"I need to speak with the King," Asher said, placing Sharon down beside him.

One female knight blinked as her eyes adjusted. Recognition spread across her face. "Asher Reynolds? You—you’re not supposed to be here at this hour..."

"I’m not here to chit-chat," Asher interrupted. "It’s urgent."

"Her Majesty doesn’t receive visitors before seven. It’s palace protocol."

Seven. That was the exact time Max had demanded their humiliation begin. Of course. The bastard had planned this perfectly.

Asher smirked darkly. Max thought he’d play him. But he wasn’t playing with an ordinary man.

He closed his eyes. "Sexdusa... activate," he whispered.

A pulse of invisible charm rippled out. Though he hadn’t activated it at its max level, it made the female guards freeze, their eyes clouding over, as their weapons slipped from their fingers. One by one, they turned to him with glassy stares, their expressions melting into something disturbingly worshipful, inching forward, drawn to him like moths to flame.

As they began to swarm him, he raised a hand. "You’ll all get a taste of me... if you let me through. Take me to the King’s chambers."

Ten knights, drunk on charm, obeyed without hesitation. With hearts pounding and cheeks flushed, they giggled and led him forward, some reaching to touch him. Sharon walked beside him, scowling at the sight.

"If one of you touches him again, I’ll break your fingers," she muttered.

They reached the grand golden doors of the King’s chamber. One of the bewitched knights pushed it open. Asher and Sharon stepped in, and the doors shut behind them, sealing the rest out.

The room was lavish with an oversized bed, velvet drapes, and gold-trimmed furniture. But neither of them had time to admire the decor.

The Queen lay across the bed, snoring softly, draped in a thin pink nightie. One leg dangled out from under the covers, the other tucked beneath. Her pose was awkward, and completely unroyal.

Asher approached and gave her a nudge.

She snored.

He shook her harder. This time, her eyes fluttered open—then widened as his charm took hold.

"Asher... Reynolds?" she blinked, dazed.

The charm had seeped into her bloodstream. Her thoughts, like the guards’, turned hazy and confusing. Why was this boy suddenly so hot?

"Sorry for barging in," Asher said, coldly, jolting her from her trance. "Where’s your son?"

Janet blinked, trying to gather her thoughts. "He hasn’t been home since yesterday morning..."

Asher sat on the edge of the bed. "He kidnapped my mother. Because of Valerie."

Janet’s eyes snapped open fully. "What?!"

"Yeah. He’s making threats. Either I walk around naked or he’ll have people sleep with my mom... and stream it."

Janet froze. It was absurd, disgusting—but she knew her son. And she knew only someone like Max would go that far just to get petty revenge over a bruised ego.

"I’m... I’m sorry. Let me contact him."

She grabbed her magic phone from the bedside shelf and dialed. It rang a few times before Max answered.

"Max!" she barked. "Seriously? You kidnapped Asher’s mother over some stupid reason?!"

Asher’s eyes narrowed. Some stupid reason? So if it wasn’t stupid, it would’ve been justified? He suddenly got a feeling that the King was just as twisted as her son, but he said nothing. Just waited, and hoped Max would panic. Maybe even apologize. But what came next sent a spike of cold through his chest.

"Hahaha! So the brat came crying to you already? Knew he would. Exactly what I wanted!" Max cackled. "Listen, brat, I was bluffing about streaming her to the people of Eldoria. Hard to pull off with the range of the skill, and yeah—illegal to just stream at a foreign land. But now that you’ve stepped foot in my kingdom? I can do what I want. I’ll stream your mother moaning beneath my men, tied up like the slut she is!"

Asher clenched his jaw. This bastard was begging for death.

"Let her go, Max. For your mother’s sake, I’ll walk away if you end this now."

"Lemme guess... that was a threat?" Max laughed. "Cute! But you’re not in control here, brat. I call the shots. Know your place."

Asher shook with fury. He turned to Janet. "Can I get permission to hunt down your son and strangle him to death?"

Janet blinked at the deadly seriousness in his eyes. Then she sighed.

"I’m sorry. As much as he’s... a jerk, Max is vital to Zephandria. Not many men achieve A-rank status. Those who do are the only ones compatible enough for our elite females to reproduce with. He’s considered a national asset. If he dies... the nobles would riot. And besides..." she looked down, "...what kind of mother would agree to kill her son?"

Asher’s brow twitched. "And what kind of mother lets her son tie up someone else’s and—" he couldn’t finish. His rage broke through the words.

Janet was speechless.

"Fine. I won’t kill him." He turned sharply. "But I’ll leave him broken. On the edge of death. Let’s go, sis."

With a click of her tongue at the King, Sharon grabbed her brother’s hand and walked out, leaving Janet pale and trembling.

As they stormed out, the King reached again for her communicator, her fingers trembling.

"Max, you idiot! You’re in deep trouble now. Just—just hide! Asher looks ready to tear you limb from limb!"

Max laughed again. "Relax, Mom. Let me enjoy myself a little."

Then he ended the call.

TBC