Chapter 68: MOON LIGHT BALL 3
The large doors of the ballroom burst open with a loud sound that made everyone turn in shock.
Ashen stepped in, his steps fast and strong as he rushed straight toward Lumina.
"Who is he?" someone asked.
"That can’t be the last prince is he?" another voice followed
"Oh my goodness he is hot." Several comments were thrown at Ashen but all he cared about was his lady on the ground.
His eyes were burning with anger, and he pushed Stella away from Lumina and pulled Lumina up worriedly.
"Lumina... are you okay? Were you hurt?" he asked choking her around for any possible wound but there was none.
"I... have nothing to do with magic... I.." she cried out and Ashen glanced at Stella.
"What happened here?" he asked and Stella instantly bowed. "I am right here Ashen... you don’t have to.."
"Mother! You were right there when my lady fell to the ground and you did nothing about it!" Queen Sephora for the first time got so intimidated by her son that she turned mute immediately as she watched Stella explain everything to Ashen.
His jaw was clenched, and the tension in his body was clear to everyone as he glared right at his mother, Queen Sephora.
"Mother," he said, his voice shaking with rage, "what is the meaning of this? What are you trying to prove?"
Queen Sephora raised her chin slightly, her expression cold and unbothered, even as whispers rose in the room. "I was not trying to prove anything," she said simply. "It was just a scroll. I only asked her to read it. That is all."
"She is already on her way to becoming my wife. The nuptial ceremony is almost here. And still, you are looking for ways to strip her of that position. Even now, in front of everyone."
"I am the Queen," Sephora said quickly, her voice sharper now. "You will not speak to me like this."
Ashen took a step forward, eyes still locked with hers. "You are also my mother. I have told you before. She is supposed to be treated specially. Did I not explain this to you last time? Why are you trying to make it seem like I am the one who has failed here?"
He then turned sharply to Freya, who was still standing, trembling and ashamed. "You tried to trick everyone and made them believe that my lady was the one using forbidden magic, when in truth, you are the one with the power."
Freya’s lips trembled as she fell to her knees. "My Lord, I promise I don’t know what is going on. I don’t know how the power came around me. I swear I know nothing."
"But we all know that magic like this is forbidden in the palace, especially when they are used to attack someone," Ashen said. "Was it not you who handed her the scroll?"
He reached into his coat and pulled out the golden seal that had once belonged to the king. The royal crest shone in the candlelight.
"Guards!" he shouted, and the entire room froze. "Arrest her... I will deal with her myself later."
"You cannot be serious!" Queen Sephora cried out.
"She has been with us for a long time. You are going to punish her just like that for a little misunderstanding we are yet to clear."
Ashen did not even look at her. "Did you think of that when my lady was the one being accused?" Queen Sephora scoffed at this.
"I.. I.."
"Not minding her position in her realm and this one you called guards to seize her..." he let out as he moved closer to his mother.
"So I see nothing wrong with me punishing the actual perpetrator.."
Freya sobbed on the floor as the guards stepped forward, "Your highness please say something! I know nothing about this! Please save me!" she cried out but was dragged away, her cries fading with each step.
Ashen did not say another word, he reached down and gently lifted Lumina into his arms.
No one dared speak, everyone was speechless, it was the first time seeing Ashen in the gathering.
"Get back her Ashen!" Queen Sephora called his name again, but he ignored her completely.
His full attention was on the woman in his arms as he walked out of the Moonlight Ballroom.
When they reached their chamber, he gently placed Lumina on the large silk-covered bed, but his anger had not faded. He was breathing heavily, his face hard.
"Take care of her," he said in a deep voice to Stella and then he turned to leave.
But Lumina reached out and touched the edge of his robe gently. She could feel his anger.
"Ashen..." she whispered but it was too late. He didn’t know she had grabbed his robe and the force of his walking off made her slip and fall to the ground.
"Ahh!" She let out a soft groan of pain as her body hit the floor, and the maids gasped in shock.
Ashen rushed back to her at once. His heart jumped in fear and guilt. He bent over and lifted her quickly, holding her tightly in his arms. But just then, the blindfold she had worn slid down from her head. Her eyes, soft and slightly shining, looked up at him. Even though she could not see, they still pierced into his soul.
He was silent for a moment, completely caught off guard by her soft expression.
"I am sorry..." Lumina said, her voice trembling. "I couldn’t reach you earlier. I didn’t want to go without you. But I had to..."
"You were almost punished again!" he shouted, cutting her off.
She held his robe tighter, snuggling into his chest trying not to cry. "But I wasn’t, I am not a child. You don’t have to protect me all the time. I can protect myself."
"Protect yourself?" he said, his voice rising again. "You are my woman. My lady. My soon-to-be wife. So tell me, who else is supposed to protect you if not me?"
Stella quickly left the room, closing the door behind her and a huge smile played on her lips.
Lumina bit her lip and touched his shirt softly as her voice dropped lower.
"Please stop yelling at me," she whispered, looking upward trying to sound pitiful. "I didn’t want to disrupt your investigation. I am sorry, Ashen."
Ashen closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Her soft voice touched something inside him. She leaned closer and placed her head on his chest, her hands still holding him tightly.
"I am not trying to be angry at you," he said slowly. "You have no idea how scared I was. Just the thought of you being punished in front of everyone... it made me go mad."
"I was handling it already." she murmured and Ashen placed his hand gently on her back and kissed her forehead.
"If there is anything else like this again, I do not care what kind of event it is, even if it is only for women. You will not go unless I am by your side."
She nodded softly. "Alright. I promise. I will not go anywhere without you anymore."
He smiled a little and touched her cheek. "You should be resting. There’s just one day left until our ceremony."
"I knew something bad was going to happen," Lumina admitted. "But Freya pissed me off so bad so I planned to teach her a lesson... before our ceremony."
Ashen looked at her, surprised. "You planned this?"
"Yeah... my sister invited me, "I am not a fool." she let out.
He leaned closer and cupped her face in his hands. "I am sorry for raising my voice at you... I will make sure Freya pays for what she did."
She smiled gently and leaned up to kiss his cheek. "Thank you for defending me... but like I said leave Freya to me."
Ashen stared at her for a while and then he kissed her forehead again.
"As you wish my lady."