ASHA’S POV
Five days later, Lamberg’s head butler Truman Snowfall leads the Grand Duke into a drawing room in the afternoon. Asha rises to greet her visitor, deliberately keeping her eyes down and voice soft, before they’re settled in and only the engaged couple as well as their closest attendants are in the room.
Monique and Valora...
Her friends - and Asha has realized now that they’ve been the only friends she’s ever had, no matter how friendly other nobles may act towards her - are glaring openly at the emperor’s nephew, a crime punishable by blinding, but these two have never cared about things like rules when it comes to caring for Asha.
Monique even goes so far as to slam the Grand Duke’s cup of tea down on the table in front of him - spilling some on the saucer - making no apology for her rudeness as she continues to communicate her distaste with every fiber of her being.
Ethan Gloria and Conroy Prima, the Grand Duke’s personal knight and secretary respectively, glare at Asha’s attendants but say nothing when her fiancé raises a hand.
“Since it’s clear our attendants know about our deal,” Asha looks down at the still surface of her favorite tea. “Let’s get on with it. What next?”
You really want to be rid of me as soon as possible, don’t you?
Her contract with him does its usual contraction around her heart in warning, so Asha responds quickly.
“The summer festival is approaching, your highness.” It’s one of the year’s highlights in the Loredan Empire, with tens of thousands of citizens journeying to the capital for celebrations, and hundreds of foreign merchants arriving in the country to showcase their wares. “The third day of the festival is known as a day for lovers, so your highness should prepare a gown and jewels for Lady Medea and arrange to meet her at the festival on that day.”
If Rayleigh is seen with Medea on that day, the pressure will mount to have his engagement with Asha cancelled on grounds of honor.
The noble faction will probably be the most vocal, since the Lambergs currently belong to the imperial party, and they don't want us gaining even more power through marriage. Not that we even need the imperial family - Lamberg is one of the wealthiest, most honorable houses in the country. And our standing as guardians...
“And do you intend to be ill again on Lovers’ Day?”
The question snaps her from her thoughts. Though his voice doesn’t carry the sharp edge she’s used to, but Asha’s certain she hears a warning in it anyway.
You don’t need to threaten me with anything. I’ll die if I fail to fulfil our contract and everyone here knows it.
“Yes, your highness.”
He’s quiet for awhile, taking a sip of his tea despite the stain to pristine white gloves caused by Monique’s actions.
“I’ll compensate you for the potions you purchase.”
> ”How similar you are to one of those vulgar women from the back alleys.”
Does he actually think I’m in this for money? Does he think my family needs his money? Does he really think I've spent almost two millenia of earnings in just nineteen years?
“Your highness, let me be clear.” The insult to her aside, the offense against her family isn’t something Asha can let slide. “The one million gold coins I’m requesting for breaking our engagement are so that we can keep up appearances.” The reason she'd named such a sum is because Grand Duke needs to act as though he’s truly remorseful to his teacher and savior, if House Lamberg wants to retain their pride and if the imperial family wants any hope of an amicable relationship moving forward. “My allowance is more than enough to cover the costs of potions, and I consider whatever I spend an investment towards our deal.”
Silence reigns once again, before that voice - which used to be her favorite in the world, even more so than her father’s - fills the stately room.
“I meant no offense, Lady Asha.” Bullshit. “I know you have more money to spend in a day than Medea does in a year.” Why are you so angry with me about that? Our families are different, our standings are different, so...
“Why are you blaming me for being born into House Lamberg?”
Asha’s always had a problem with controlling herself, has always said exactly what’s on her mind knowing her father would get her out of trouble somehow.
Dammit, I need to watch what I say if I don’t want us to die. It's clear as day - just like back then, every single word I say is always misconstrued and twisted by this asshole into another reason to justify hurting me.
Before she can apologize, the Grand Duke speaks.
“You think I’m angry with you because you’re teacher’s daughter?”
It’s the mockery and contempt in his voice that throws her earlier resolve out the window.
“You hate me for who I am, and everyone knows it. I’m sure you’re always wishing I’d never been born.”
Valora...
Her knight’s lethal aura is dangerously close to alerting everyone in the manor of the argument taking place.
“Lady Asha Lamberg.” I’m sorry, I’m sorry, please please don’t kill my family. “I don’t know where you got such a ludicrous idea, but I have never wished for your death.”
Liar.
Clenching her jaw and fists, Asha glares mutinously at her untouched teacup as she wills away angry tears.
Rayleigh sighs before speaking again after several minutes of silence. “You’re as stubborn as ever.”
Don’t act like you know me, asshole.
When she hears gasps, Asha realizes belatedly she’d once again blurted out her true thoughts.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
No! My family will be punished, I’m sure of it! He's a cruel, uncaring monster who killed even his beloved teacher for no reason!
“Y...your highness, what I meant was...”
“So I’m an asshole?” We’re done for. What do I say? How can I save my family? “I suppose you’d think of me that way, since I wish to break our engagement.”
It’s not just the engagement.
“Is that so? I’m interested to know what I’ve done to make you think that way, Lady Asha.”
I need to stop speaking without a filter. This is dangerous.
“Please disregard the thoughtless words of a fool, your highness.” Asha bows, gritting her teeth. “How dare one as lowly as myself hope to understand such an illustrious person?”
Just leave. Just go away. Please just leave us alone.
When it becomes clear to everyone that she has no intention of raising her head or elaborating, Rayleigh sighs once more before rising.
“You’re the most stubborn person I’ve ever met.”
Whatever, just go away.
“I’ll do as you suggested then. Good day, Lady Asha.”
It’s only once the door shuts behind him when Asha realizes that until their meeting on the hill, he hadn’t called her by her name since she turned twelve.
What did I ever do to you?
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RAYLEIGH’S POV
What’s gotten into her?
As far back as he can remember, Asha had always only had eyes for him, going so far as to impose herself on his trainings, meetings, and missions to disastrous results.
She really did as she promised, and faked an illness so I could attend Ashville’s party with Medea.
At the memory of the ball, the recollection of holding Medea’s slender body in his arms as they danced and her musical laughter filled his ears, those brilliant golden eyes shining up at him, Rayleigh smiles happily to himself.
Conroy, seated across from him in the luxurious carriage, says nothing, simply keeping a watchful gaze on his master in his quiet way.
Rayleigh clears his throat, looking back down at the documents in his hand, though the meeting with Asha earlier distracts him from his work once more.
What happened to the girl who used to stalk me everywhere, staring at me with those covetous eyes?
He’d heard the rumors, whispered in his ear by Ethan and Conroy, about Asha waking up one day in a frenzy, screaming for her father and running around the manor asking if everyone’s alright, if they’re all in hell or if she’s dreaming because there’s no way they’re all alive.
Did she hit her head? She wasn’t ill before that, not as far as I know.
It hadn’t been easy turning a member of the Lamberg household into his informant, but he’d relied on his status as Asha’s fiancé and prevailed eventually, though information is scarce and limited only to events the informant deems worthy of his knowledge.
She stopped looking at me after that.
Although they’d only met twice since Asha’s momentary insanity, the changes in his teacher’s daughter couldn’t be more obvious.
From her style of dressing - usually too glamorous and provocative, but now simple and elegant - to her refusal to meet his eyes, and her soft voice...
She hasn’t called me ‘Ray’ or ‘Ray Ray’ since then. Only ‘your highness’, as though she’s distancing herself from me.
Could it be...?
“Conroy.” Immediately his secretary sits at attention. “Find out who Asha’s lover is.”
Brown eyes widen comically at that, the dumbfounded expression on a handsome face making Rayleigh want to laugh.
“Y...your highness...what do you mean?”
His secretary is known to be a genius, which is why such a question is out of character enough for Rayleigh to furrow his brows and cock his head in enquiry.
“Lady Asha has only ever had eyes for you, and everyone in the empire knows it, your highness.”
That’s true.
“What other explanation is there for her actions? House Lamberg has plenty of money and honor.”
Though they’d only become nobles three generations ago - during the time of teacher’s grandfather - the fact is that even as a mercenary company before that the northern clan of warriors had always been famous for their feats on behalf of the country and the world.
“Your highness, pardon my insolence, but there’s Lady Asha’s unexplained behavior less than a month ago.”
No one had been able to figure out what had sparked it, their informant only saying that after a week of madness the young lady of the house had ceased her mutterings and aimless wandering through the manor before sending him that letter asking for a meeting.
Did she have a bad dream?
It’d be quite out of character for someone as bold and brazen as Asha to be so shaken from something as silly as that.
“Find out what you can.”
Conroy nods, loyal as ever, though that usually impassive face is troubled.
No one has ever doubted Asha’s love for Rayleigh. Until now.
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ASHA’S POV
Thank the gods we survived.
She used to think that Rayleigh would never raise a hand against her, but after seeing him kill her father - his beloved teacher - and then being beheaded by him herself, Asha knows without a doubt that the Grand Duke wouldn’t hesitate to hurt her if it’s for Medea’s sake.
Daddy should be home soon.
Asha had deliberately chosen this date and time for her appointment, remembering that her father would be called to the palace urgently for a private meeting with the Emperor.
The pirates.
While the Crown Princess’ family held authority over the empire’s navy, the Emperor favored Count Lamberg’s counsel in all military matters, given the Grandmaster’s skill, experience, and heritage.
> ”To be a Lamberg is to be a Master of Combat.”
Her father had told her that when she was a toddler, when explaining their House’s motto to her as he’d held her in his arms.
> ”Let they who desire peace prepare for war.”
It took almost six months back then to defeat those criminals terrorizing our trade ships and foreign merchants visiting our shores for...
Wait. The foreign merchants who’re coming for the festival - what was it some of them were carrying?
Eyes widening, Asha stops in her tracks. Behind her, Monique and Valora say nothing, though she knows they’re watching her carefully, ready to fight for her at a moment’s notice.
Gunpowder. Ten ships from the Quan Empire are carrying gunpowder in the form of fireworks for the festival.
Up until now, all sky flowers in the Loredan Empire have been products of magic. However, Quan’s discovery and invention of gunpowder would change not only celebrations but the entire nature of warfare.
I remember now. Not long after we defeat the pirates, a new weapon is used against us, causing the Crown Prince to suffer permanent disfigurement since healing spells and potions don’t work against such injuries. And the Crown Princess miscarries because she’s told her husband had perished in battle.
Why would someone lie to Her Highness like that? Unless...
It’s nebulous - just wisps of half formed thoughts snaking in her mind - but Asha can’t shake the feeling that it has something to do with her father’s execution for her error in judgement.
Dad’s the only Sword Grandmaster in the empire, on the entire Northern Continent. The only other Sword Grandmasters are across the seas in Quan, Frankland, Vautour, and Anouar.
What if someone wanted to get rid of him because without dad the empire’s defenses would be weakened?
We have three Magic Grandmasters now, when in the Sorcerer War...
The Sorcerer War.
Thirty years ago, a group of sorcerers came together under Chief Sorceress Circe and declared themselves a kingdom. Loredan’s response had been swift, aided by Anouar on the Southern Continent, and thus began a brutal ten year campaign to destroy the nation of heretics.
Though magic is common in the world, mages rely on their own mana to cast spells while sorcerers utilize blood sacrifices and unholy practices inherited from demons. These made them more powerful than mages, causing them to be hunted for millennia by all nations who either feared their abilities and/or believed in the sanctity of human life.
Ultimately, it’d been then Viscount Lamberg who’d killed the Chief Sorceress, ending a decade of war that had turned the southern part of the Northern Continent into a barren wasteland.
Sorcerers are extinct now, dad made sure of that. The important thing is the gunpowder.
The weapons utilizing gunpowder had wreaked havoc on the world, though no nation had claimed responsibility. As inventors of gunpowder, Quan had faced immense backlash and suspicion, which had eventually led to the eastern empire closing its borders and cutting all ties with others.
Without dad around to help protect Loredan, the terrorists would have a much easier time destroying our defenses.
Though it makes sense, Asha gets the feeling that she’s missing an important part of the puzzle.
Who’s behind it all? What’s their motivation?
How do I protect my family?
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MOONRISE BY LUNASEA: CHAPTER 2 END