Chapter 137: THEIR LITTLE SESSION
Everyone could feel the tense moment in the room but no one spoke until Ashen broke the silence.
"Why did you call us here, Mother?" he asked bluntly.
Queen Sephora took a delicate sip of her wine before answering. "The First Flame Festival is near," she said.
"It is the first time the Crown Prince will attend it along with his wife, and I would advise you not to appear with your wife. It would not look good for the realm."
Ashen’s lips curled into a humorless laugh. "So that’s why you called me here," he said. "I knew there was no way you wanted to share a meal with me out of care."
Lumina’s head tilted toward him slightly, her brows knitting. She didn’t understand why this woman could not love her own son, at least pretend to care.
Queen Sephora’s expression didn’t change. "You should not go. The festival has a great cause... You’re going to it won’t be a good omen."
"Not a good omen?" Ashen repeated, his laughter now bitter. "Mother, the King himself personally invited me, are you saying he does not know the rules and customs of the realm?"
"Ashen... he must have invited you out of courtesy, but you and I are aware that you are not needed there."
"But when the King commands, I obey, not you mother."
"You dare..."
"Yes," Ashen cut her off, his voice low and cold. "I dare. Because for once in my life, I am not hiding. I will go to the festival, and there is nothing you can do to stop me."
Adam’s hand slammed down on the table, the sound echoing through the room. "How dare you talk to our mother like that, you little brat!"
Ashen turned his head slowly, tilting it in mock curiosity. "Our mother?" His voice dripped with annoyance.
"That’s funny. I never once believed I was her son. She made sure to remind me every single day that I was nothing but a curse... is that who you call a mother?"
"Ashen!" Queen Sephora snapped.
"Maybe! Just Maybe... if you direct that hatred to one of my siblings, for just a day, you all will know how I feel deep inside me."
"If you had not been cursed then you would be highly welcome!"
"Adam!" Ashen shot back, his voice rising as he stood.
"Show some respect!" Adam barked out.
"You have never been in my place, You have always been loved, celebrated, worshipped in this realm. Don’t you dare lecture me about respect. You sit here waiting for her to break me down, waiting for her to call me a curse so you can smirk while I bleed inside!"
"That’s because you don’t deserve any of this!" Adam shouted, his face red with anger. "You are a curse!"
That was the last straw. Ashen’s chair scraped loudly against the floor as he rose to his feet.
"Sit down!" Queen Sephora ordered, but Ashen ignored her, stepping around the table to where Lumina sat. He caught her hand firmly, helping her to her feet.
"Where do you think you are going?" Queen Sephora demanded.
"Somewhere I am not treated like filth," Ashen said darkly. "Somewhere someone actually cares about me."
"You...!"
But Ashen was already walking out of the chamber, pulling Lumina with him. The guards didn’t dare stop them as he stormed down the hallways, his anger like fire spilling from his skin.
Lumina stumbled to keep up with his pace, Ero and Stella following quietly behind them.
"Ashen..." she called softly, but he didn’t slow down. His grip on her hand was tight, almost desperate.
By the time they reached their chambers, his anger had grown into more fury.
He slammed the door shut behind them and pulled her into the room, ignoring Ero’s and Stella’s worried glances as they stayed outside.
He paced the floor like a caged wolf, his breath coming hard.
"Ashen..." Lumina called out gently, stepping closer.
He didn’t respond. His hands were clenched, his shoulders tense, fury rolling off him.
She moved carefully, reaching for him. "Ashen, look at me," she whispered.
Slowly, he turned, his eyes burning with fire.
Without another word, she walked forward and wrapped her arms around him from behind. His body was stiff, but she held on.
"It doesn’t matter what they say," she murmured. "We are fine, you and I. Let them think what they want. But you will never be a curse to me."
He didn’t speak, but his breathing slowed a little. She could tell she still hadn’t convinced him after all she never responded to his little confession the previous night.
"Let’s sit." She announced and slowly guided him gently toward the bed.
"Come," she said, tugging his sleeve. "Sit with me." He still refused to sit until she pulled him to a seat.
"Lie down." She let out, but he refused; she only smiled at this.
Then coaxed him to lie his head on her lap until he finally gave in, resting against her thighs. Her fingers slipped into his hair, stroking slowly.
"You are not a curse," she whispered. "You are my husband. You are the man I chose, the man who fights for me. If the whole realm calls you cursed, I will still stay by your side."
His hand reached up, gripping her wrist tightly. "Does that mean... You are finally accepting me by your side forever without thinking of just revenge?" He asked but she didn’t respond.
"Look at me," she said softly.
He lifted his head slightly, and she bent down to press her lips to his.
It was meant to comfort him, but something shifted. His hand moved to the back of her neck, pulling her closer as he kissed her back with hunger.
She gasped softly as he shifted, turning to face her fully. The kiss deepened, his other hand finding her waist.
When she didn’t pull away, he lifted her onto the bed with him, his lips never leaving hers.
Her hands clutched his shirt as he pressed her down gently against the sheets.
One by one, the robe loosened beneath his fingers. Her breath caught, but she didn’t stop him.
Cloth rustled, falling aside piece by piece as their bodies pressed closer.
The once quiet room was now filled with their slow kisses but it was soon short-lived when Ero knocked on the door.
"Alpha! You are needed in the palace right now! The queen was attacked!"