CALLAN LAMBERG’S POV
My poor baby...
He’s never felt more useless - more worthless - than he had yesterday, when his only child had cried herself to sleep begging for forgiveness, heartbroken at not preventing tragedy, desolate about a future past when all of them were killed by Ray and Imperial Knights.
Ray...
Callan isn’t sure how he should feel at the knowledge that his favorite student, his cherished protégé, had killed him and his daughter. And all for the sake of a newcomer, when Ray had been Callan’s pupil in the art of war since the boy was old enough to wield a wooden sword and join his cousin in training.
There has to be a reason for his betrayal.
Asha had been certain it’d been entirely her fault, but something tells the Count that’s not the full story.
Ray isn’t the type to act so cruelly, especially not towards me.
He knows how much the boy admires him, knows how much he strives to be as good a warrior, knows how guilty the Imperial still feels over that incident.
“Master, the Grand Duke is here.”
I need to get to the bottom of this.
When he’d received word that Ray intended to visit Asha today, Callan had deliberately asked to meet his student half an hour earlier, sending the family healer Jai to check Asha’s injuries minutes ago to keep her busy.
“Send him in.”
Don’t worry, baby. Daddy will protect you.
“Teacher.” It’s rare for an Imperial to bow to anyone except a higher ranking family member, but Ray and Fin have always held the Count in great esteem.
“Ray, have a seat.” Despite everything Asha had said, Callan still treasures his student. “Are you alright? You’ve been working day and night on the rescue, repairs, and investigation.”
That handsome face is almost bashful at being commended by his master, and the Grand Duke quietly confirms he’s fine before enquiring about the Count’s health.
“I’m alright, Ray, no need to worry about me.” Callan smiles warmly, before it fades and Ray is sitting straighter than before.
“Teacher?”
Best to let a bit slip.
“Asha told me about her contract with you.” Crimson eyes widen at that, tan face somehow paling as the emperor’s nephew rushes to explain himself. Callan holds up a hand and instantly Ray quiets, hands clenched on his lap.
“If you really didn’t want to marry my daughter, you could have told me, Ray.” The guilt and shame on that chiseled face solidify Callan’s suspicions that his student would never hurt him without good reason, and Asha’s actions in that future don’t qualify as valid enough. She said she tried to use poison on that girl, but it wasn’t any of the truly lethal toxins - easily detected on sight, and just as easily counteracted with remedies available in the palace greenhouse. Asha’s standing alone should have been enough to allow her to get away with only financial penalties, especially since she was still engaged to Ray when it happened. “Am I that untrustworthy a person that you felt you had to sneak around?”
Critical hit.
By bringing up their honor, Callan had put Ray in the unenviable position of being someone who’d betrayed his own teacher - a man who’d saved the empire countless times, who’d personally saved Ray’s life, and who’d earned both the title of count as well as an engagement to a member of the imperial family for his beloved daughter with his blood, sweat, and tears. To commit such a foul deed against so honorable an individual is not merely unseemly, but in the Loredan Empire speaks to ill-birth and an ill-nature that heralds doom for one's bloodline.
“T...teacher...please, forgive me.” That messy head is bowed so low, the Grand Duke’s forehead is almost touching his knees. “It was wrong of me to do that, it was wrong of me to treat Asha so poorly all this time and take advantage of her, it was wrong of me to act in secrecy instead of coming straight to you. Please, teacher, how can I make it up to you?”
How can you indeed.
When teary crimson eyes peek at his own bright blue, Callan gestures for his student to rise, taking a sip of tea before speaking.
“Soul contracts are binding. Which means the terms must be fulfilled for Asha to live.” The guilt in those eyes makes Callan’s heart ache. “I’ll speak to Aaron about nullifying the engagement.” Only the Winter Count can call the Emperor by his first name.
“Teacher...I’m sorry.” It seems Ray has finally realized that the marriage intended wasn’t simply between two people, but two families - one of which ruled over the largest country on the Northern Continent, while the other commanded one of the greatest armies in the world and kept demons at bay year after year.
“What’s done is done, Ray.” He’d said that to the boy back then too, as Ray and Fin had sobbed while clinging to Callan’s bloodied and broken body. “What matters is where we go and what we do from here.”
Still with that bad habit.
While Ray is usually adept at controlling his emotions, in front of his beloved master the Grand Duke tends to act like his younger self - fidgeting, lip biting, and all.
“How can I make it up to you, teacher?”
Don’t kill my daughter.
It’s tempting to say it now, when he has Ray in the palm of his hand, but Callan wonders if it’d be the wiser course of action in the long run.
Well...
“Please be kind to Asha, Ray.” That handsome face is contorted in a way that hurts Callan’s own heart, but he pushes on for his daughter’s sake. “No matter how much you may despise her, don’t be too obvious about it.”
“Teacher...” Ray bows his head once more, shoulders sagging under the weight of his guilt. “I’m sorry, and I swear on my name to always be kind to Asha no matter what.”
That should be enough to keep you safe from his blade, my baby.
His aura - which has naturally gravitated towards Asha the moment Selena had gotten pregnant - tells him his daughter is beginning to descend the stairs towards the drawing room.
“Asha is on her way.” Ray straightens immediately. “I’ll leave you two to your discussion.”
“Yes, teacher. I’ll keep my oath.” I know you will. The Grand Duke rises hastily, bowing low to Callan as the Count makes his way out of the room, greeting Roy and Than as cheerfully as he always does.
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Callan makes it around the corner just as Asha reaches the foyer, and he listens as Ray’s attendants greet her respectfully, wondering how Aaron will react to the news.
He’d better not order that newcomer killed.
If Gusic’s girl dies before getting engaged to Ray, Asha will die as well.
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RAYLEIGH’S POV
I’m a monster. I’m scum. I’m worse than trash, worse than a demon, worse than demon’s trash. How could I do such a thing to teacher?
Rayleigh thought he’d never hate himself as much as he had when teacher had been badly hurt saving him and his cousin, but right now he thinks even hell would be too good for someone as despicable as himself.
Teacher...he knew all this yet he still worried about me.
Clenching his fists, Rayleigh wonders just how much lower a man can sink.
“Good afternoon, Lady Asha.” Hearing Conroy and Ethan greeting teacher’s daughter, Rayleigh hastily smooths his expression over, not wanting to scare Asha since he’d been told before that his face can be absolutely terrifying.
Not that he needed to worry. Asha still refuses to look at him, greeting him softly before taking her father’s recently vacated seat. The fact that she doesn’t question the still warm cup of tea before her indicates she’d heard about the meeting, but doesn’t want to ask him about it.
Somehow, it makes Rayleigh feel guilty all over again at the memory of how he’d treated her before.
Keep your promise, Rayleigh Loredan. It’s the least you can do for teacher.
When Asha says nothing even after a few minutes of silence, Rayleigh wants to kick himself.
She isn’t the same as before. She won’t initiate, not anymore.
“Lady Asha.” She calmly takes a sip of fresh tea. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine, your highness.” It’s rare for her to be this brief, usually going a mile a minute telling him everything on her mind.
What next?
He’s never had to wonder what to say to Asha before this, usually wishing she’d shut up and leave him alone.
“It was very brave and kind of you to help that day.” People like compliments, don’t they? Why do you look angry?
“Do you still think me a false Lamberg, your highness?” I didn’t mean it that way.
“Lady Asha, I meant no disrespect.” I suppose it’s only natural for you to think the worst of me, after everything. “I truly feel your actions the other day were the embodiment of noblesse oblige, and in line with your family’s honorable reputation.”
Why do you look more upset?
She’s refusing to say anything, leaving Rayleigh at a loss.
I was complimenting you sincerely, Asha. You upheld the Lamberg name and proved yourself a true child of the Winter House.
“Lady Asha,” Rayleigh has absolutely no idea what to do in such a situation, so he resorts to just being direct. “Is there anything in particular that interests you?”
What did I do wrong now?
Furrowing his brows, Rayleigh ponders his words before realizing how Asha could have misunderstood.
I shouldn’t have called you vapid before, I’m sorry.
“I ask because I’d like to make up for my poor behavior previously.”
Asha seems to be mulling his intentions, weighing her responses, in a manner so unlike her usual self that Rayleigh is reminded once more of how much the young woman before him has changed.
“Let’s just call it even, your highness.”
’Call it even’?
He can’t believe she’s refusing gifts or outings with him, but he also can’t believe something in his chest is aching at the realization that Asha’s pushing him away.
I should be happy about this. Didn’t I want to be free of the engagement uncle forced on me when other nobles protested uncle’s intention to promote teacher to a Marquess? Once teacher speaks to uncle, the engagement will be dissolved and I can be with Medea.
“I’d still like to give you a gift, at the very least.”
Somehow his words seem to make Asha’s mood worse. Rayleigh has no idea how he’d upset her this time.
“Your highness will be sending one million gold coins to my father soon. That’s all House Lamberg needs from you.”
> ”That’s all House Lamberg needs from you.”
Asha is distancing not just herself, but her entire House from him, possibly even from the imperial family.
I know I made a grave mistake, making that contract with you. I’m sorry, Asha and teacher.
Rayleigh leaves not long after those cold words, uncertain about the empire’s future without the full support of the Lambergs.
I should have just gone through with the marriage, even if there’s someone else I want to be with. Teacher is the only Sword Grandmaster on the Northern Continent - the only person in world history to reach that level of mastery before his twentieth birthday - a true combat genius whom no one else can compare to, a master of warfare who’s kept the country safe throughout the decades, and head of a clan that guards the northern hemisphere from demons. If teacher decides to withdraw and raise the Ice Wall...
Not for the first time, Rayleigh wishes he had the ability to return to the past.
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ASHA’S POV
He can probably recite everything Medea likes by heart by now, but after so many years together he still doesn’t know what I like?
> ”Only the most expensive items satisfy you. I suppose it’s true that there’s no accounting for taste.”
She’s in a foul mood as she tries to read a random economics book she’d picked because of the cover, and her inability to focus just frustrates her further.
Calm down. Dad met him earlier, and Truman said dad went straight to the palace after. That means I’ll be free of the contract soon.
> ”There is nothing more that I wish for, than to be free of your gaze.”
When Truman knocks, walking in with a concerned expression once she gives permission to enter, Asha’s heart starts to race.
What happened?
“My lady, your presence is urgently requested at the palace.”
WHAT?!
There can be only one reason for this, and Asha hopes the Emperor won’t take his anger out on her House.
Opting to ride Luna instead of taking a carriage, her thoughts race far ahead of her mare’s hooves, despite Luna being known as one of the fastest horses in the empire.
Imperial Knights and servants seem surprised to see her arrive on horseback, and even more surprised when she dismounts gracefully even before Luna comes to a stop.
> ”Is it really so difficult for you to understand how to behave like a lady?”
Have all of you forgotten who my father is? Who my mother was?
Resisting the urge to snap, she follows the head maid quietly, Monique and Valora walking silently behind her as always.
“Greetings to the sun and stars of the empire.” Asha had been preparing since childhood to become a member of the imperial family, which means her manners are impeccable when she feels like it.
“Asha! It’s been far too long since I’ve seen you, my dear.” He doesn’t look angry with me, at least. “Come closer, child. How thin you’ve gotten! Has Callan been stealing your food?”
Beside the Emperor, her father rolls his eyes - it’s an inside joke about the time during the Sorcerer War when the Winter Count had swiped the Emperor’s steak and run off to give it to High Mage Selena - and Asha wants to giggle but she somehow holds her mirth back before responding smoothly.
“How dare I feast when so many have lost and are suffering, your majesty?”
At her words, that cheerful countenance darkens, before a crimson gaze sharpens as the emperor observes Asha carefully.
“I heard you were injured while saving the citizens, Asha.” The Emperor looks both pleased and upset with that. “Such behavior is becoming of not just a Lamberg, but one who should be Grand Duchess.”
Here we go.
“Your majesty is too generous.” Asha bows gracefully. “I simply wished not to bring shame to my father.”
I think I won that round.
By mentioning shame and her father, Asha had highlighted the humiliation Rayleigh would be bringing to both House Lamberg and the imperial family.
“Indeed.” The Emperor is scowling openly at his nephew now. “It’s a pity that some are far too foolish to comprehend such things.”
Rayleigh flushes and bows his head, and Asha feels a vindictive satisfaction at the sight.
Serves you right for killing my dad.
“Father.” Crown Prince Griffin has always treated Rayleigh like a little brother, and now the heir to the throne is stepping forward to physically and verbally shield the Grand Duke. “Ray’s already apologized profusely to you and teacher, and the reason you called Asha here is so we can complete the soul contract.”
You shouldn’t have said that.
At the reminder that Rayleigh had put Asha’s life in danger for the adopted commoner daughter of a lowly country baron, the Emperor’s fury flares once more, aura threatening to overwhelm all non-Senior Swordmasters in the room.
“Aaron.”
Only her father can speak to the Emperor so casually and get away with it.
Heaving a sigh, the older male leans back in his chair, unclenching his fists and taking a deep breath before speaking again.
“I’ve called for Baron Gusic.” Congratulations, Medea and Rayleigh. “Ray.”
“Yes, uncle.” He actually seems contrite, how unlike him.
> ”I wish we’d never been engaged. Why did it have to be you?”
“Do you truly wish to marry that Gusic girl?” That definitely hurts. Serves you right. By deliberately speaking so lowly of Medea, the Emperor is indicating his immense disapproval with Rayleigh.
“No, uncle.” WHAT?! Have you gone MAD, you absolute WANK?!
Snorts from her behind her tell Asha she’d blurted out her thoughts again. Only Monique and Valora would dare to laugh at an Imperial so openly, just to support their lady.
“Asha...” It seems even her father is trying to control his laughter.
“Asha,” the Crown Prince’s voice is trembling, while the Crown Princess is coughing into a handkerchief. “I realize my little brother has caused you a great deal of distress thus far, and I do hope you’ll be able to guide him well moving forward.”
WHAT in the name of the gods’ ARSEHOLES is going on?!
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MOONRISE BY LUNASEA: CHAPTER 7 END