Alaster walked through the halls of the Castle with purpose. The servants averted their gazes and huddled into themselves. The nearby lords and ladies watched him pass before whispering amongst themselves.

  Rumors about the mysterious but wrathful Lord Ashborn were plentiful these days. Not that he cared. Very few were even slightly accurate. Unfortunately, the since his third body, Vivian, had made her debut, many of the rumors were about the two of them.

  Since her appearance, she had certainly made an impact. Her seductive mannerisms and dresses, coupled with her masterful manipulations, had quickly caused ripples.

  What made the rumors even worse was the way she interacted with him in public. The two might be the same soul, but Vivian was also paired with the Bandit Boss’s soul. While much of the Bandit’s soul had been subdued by Alaster’s own, certain aspects remained.

  One such aspect was the teasing and jokester.

  Vivian was capable of joking with everyone around her in order to make them more comfortable around her. She changed her entire persona to fit the person before her for just such a reason. Unfortunately for Alaster, Vivian personally enjoyed clinging to him while they were in public.

  Not because she enjoyed it, but because it made Alaster uncomfortable. Especially because the two were the same soul. To them, they were the same person. To everyone else, Vivian draped herself on him every chance she got.

  Luckily, while rumors about Vivian being a slut who slept with anyone circulated rampantly, Evelyn seemed immune. Following Alaster’s instructions, Vivian had befriended Evelyn.

  It was not that difficult either. Evelyn desperated wanted an older woman she could talk to about certain things, but young enough she was still relatable. Evelyn wanted an older sister.

  And Vivian was perfect, especially since she was close to Lord Ashborn, someone who had known her parents closely before they died.

  Anytime Vivian was not seducing and manipulating one of the Nobility to get what she wanted, she was usually talking and giggling with Evelyn somewhere.

  Alaster was sometimes curious about what they talked about, since Vivian was technically an extension of himself, but he did not pry. He made it expressly clear to Vivian that she was to befriend and protect Evelyn, not spy on her.

  Though he had to admit, he was jealous.

  While Alaster had to maintain the mask of a foreign Lord who happened to be friends with her family, and Fenrir had to remain a hidden sword, Vivian was allowed to act like Evelyn’s sibling.

  Even Fenrir was allowed to let loose. He was enjoying himself as he tore through the ranks of any Gilaen Soldiers that the Empire sent at the Horde in their borders.

  But not Alaster.

  Alaster had to control himself. He couldn’t sit and talk with his sister because he had to keep their real relationship secret and their conversations were constantly watched. Nor could he rip out the lungs of every Noble that opened their mouth, despite how much his fingers twitched to do just that.

  Had it not been for Azemar’s teachings, Alaster would have already killed many. But then, he would have been killed or imprisoned by the Masters that guarded the Royal Family. Something that he only recently learned about.

  While Alaster was certain he could kill a handful, he was not too prideful to claim he could take on the entire Thousand. Their armor also gave him pause.

  Alaster had heard rumors, through the many Shadows sneaking around the castle, about the capabilities of the Golden Thousand’s Armor. If even a tenth of the rumors were accurate, Alaster wanted nothing more than to get his hands on a set and attempt to replicate it for his own uses, with Belgroth’s assistance of course.

  As Alaster thought to himself, the Shadows began to be destroyed, simply vanishing.

  Lord Ashborn took a deep breath to steady himself.

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  Sir Castiel was on the move, something that always irritated Alaster as it always disrupted his surveillance network. Not to mention that the man’s mere presence annoyed Alaster. Such was the effect one had on another whose Mana was of polar opposites.

  To make it worse, according to the trail of Shadows vanishing, Sir Castiel was headed to the same place as him.

  ‘Joy.’

  His already sour mood turned even worse, something that those in the halls took note of and stayed away from him.

  In a few minutes, Alaster could feel Castiel’s presence. A sickly feeling that made Alaster nauseous. A few minutes longer, the man came into view.

  “Lord Ashborn.” Sir Castiel said blankly, staring at the door they both stood at.

  “Sir Castiel.” Alaster droned, doing the same.

  The two guards that stood at the door informed them that the office was empty.

  “Did he inform either of you as to when he would return?” Sir Castiel asked, clearly impatient.

  The guard opened his mouth but was interrupted by the Duke walking quickly down the hall towards the door, flanked by four more guards following after their charge.

  Sensing the urgency of the Duke, the guards standing at the door opened the door and stood aside.

  Alaster and Castiel also stepped back, allowing the Duke to walk past them without stopping. The four guards similarly passed them.

  Alaster and Castiel walked in after them, the doors being closed behind them by the two guards who remained outside.

  The Duke stood behind his desk, his back slumped at he rested his fists on the desktop.

  He took a deep breath. One of frustration.

  Looking up, he looked up, motioning with two of you fingers, “You four, get out.”

  The guards, who had stationed themselves against the back wall, stood at attention, saluted, and quickly left the room.

  With Castiel nearby, Alaster did not have any Shadows outside the room, but he imagined that the four guards had positioned themselves just outside.

  The room grew quite then, remaining so for several minutes as the Duke tried to calm himself. Eventually, he sat down in his chair, leaning back as he looked up at the ceiling.

  “I called both of you here to tell you the same thing. You both have a special interest in Lady Evelyn.

  Sir Castiel, you believe she is some sort of messenger sent from the Gods meant to aid you as you protect the world.

  Lord Alaster, she is the daughter of a dear friend of yours.”

  The Duke sighed once more before he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.

  “I was just informed that in two days, the Royal Family will be leaving the Inner Castle. That is not an issue. If anything, I welcome them as it means that they can take control. I hope, at least.”

  The Duke’s guests remained quiet, allowing the Duke to gather his thoughts.

  “I…was also informed that the Crown Prince has expressed his desire to ask Evelyn to be his queen.”

  The shadows grew darker, encroaching on the room and blocking out the bright sunlight from the window. The wooden furniture creaked as gravity seemed to grow heavier.

  Sir Castiel felt himself unconsciously stepped away from the Lord Ashborn. He had heard the rumors, but he had assumed, as with most rumors, that they had been exaggerated. Castiel had assumed that it was the Lord’s guards that had done the act.

  Sir Castiel was from a time of constant warfare and strife. He had personally killed thousands of Experts and caused the deaths of tens of thousands with his direct actions and intentions.

  He had merely seen Lord Ashborn as an annoyance. A small stone that he would have to step over to continue his path, but now, personally feeling the pressure this Lord Ashborn could exert on his surroundings without casting a single spell or moving a muscle, Sir Castiel worried that the man might prove to be a fortress in his way.

  Alaster did not move, yet his voice took on a layered sound, as if a dozen voices were speaking all at once.

  “I allowed your son to court Evelyn because she enjoyed his company. I did not like it, but I was willing to accept it. I will say this once, and once only, no one will force her to do anything. I do not care who.”

  In an instant, the room returned to normal.

  Alaster turned and opened the door, glancing over his shoulder, “Do not test me.”

  The doors closed behind him, leaving the Duke and Saint alone.

  “He just threatened your prince.” Sir Castiel spoke first.

  “You just felt his power. I have seen it. Yet I am sure we both know that was nowhere near even a fraction of what he is capable of, let alone those who would follow him.”

  “Do you truly believe he could be a threat to your brother or his son?”

  Daniel shrugged, something he rarely did, even in the company of friends and family, neither of which the Saint could be considered.

  “I have no idea. And that frightens me. Lord Ashborn is a mystery, despite my network. All that is known is that he suddenly showed up within Onigas, alongside an army, practically singlehandedly saving the city against the Tarian Siege, then he vanished. There are speculations that he went to Galmore, but no evidence of such.”

  “And the army?”

  “Vanished. That would imply some sort of Minion based force, yet the descriptions I have received of them are unlike any Minion in any record.

  What I know for certain, whatever force that is behind the Lord, is powerful and unknown, both in power, and in quantity.

  Lord Ashborn has great ties to the newly formed Independent Alliance, and while it is unknown if they would back him in a war against our Kingdom, I would not be surprised. And that is not counting this mysterious military power that lies behind him separate from any other.”

  Sir Castiel silently nodded, looking at the doors the Lord had left through just moments before, “What are you going to do?”

  “I am going to dissuade my nephew against creating a powerful enemy for the Kingdom, as best as I can.”

  “And if that doesn’t work?”

  “Prepare for a war.”

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