Ashton was slowly pressured by the way a prince presence could have in a room. From the moment he barged in to the hall where the kids are held captive, all eyes are focused on him - admiration, fear, unearned respect - and still not used by how much people guarding him now. "Where's three people who saved me earlier?" He asked to the guards.
"Prince, if you are talking about people closest to you during the attack, they are over there," The guards points at the east wing of the hall.
"Thank you," Shocked by how earnest Ashton is in thanking him, he raised his chin. Ashton hurriedly sprint to the east wing, partly because he fears by what they would do to his friends. Fortunately, they just kinda locked in a great hall. The three 'savior' alerted by the marching of a royal guard as everyone start standing up.
"May I knew your names?" He confront the three of them while hiding his relief.
Alice was the first one bowing and answer. "Prince Ashton Oakwood, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Alice Rockhall, daughter of Thomas and Beatrice Rockhall. It is an honor to meet you"
"Ah, daughter of Beatrice. No wonder you have a talent for pyromancy," Kielra trying to interfere direct contact between them. "I have a pleasure working with your parents. They are.. an extremely formidable force." Alice smiled as she shake Kielra's hand.
"My name is Alex," the tiger girl introduced herself. "I am a part of a feline nomad clan led by Araund."
"Araund is very well liked and fear by both ally and foe. We thank that you chose to be an ally today." Alex smiled and pretend not to understand the implication behind her words.
"Ab. I'm nobody, really. Don't think I have a last name or any discernible ally. I'm a beggar and an orphan," Ab confront her eyesight directly.
"Ah.. we thank-"
"-I, Ashton Oakwood, would like the three of you to meet my father, so that I could thank you properly for your aid. I will-"
"Prince. Should we-"
"-grant each of you one personal wish, yes I agree! Upon Oakwood I would try my best to fulfill it," Kielra shocked to the core that the prince already grant them a wish under his last name. She's certain she were summoned here to prevent exactly this.
"I don't think the prince is in-"
"Kielra, do you value my life so lowly?" the Prince taunt.
"..No, prince. I do not." Kielra answer weakly.
"Neither do I. Would you trust me that I would do my best to properly conduct myself as a prince?" Kielra only nod and backed down awkwardly. In her minds are awful memories filled with first prince selfishness. So it runs in family, I guess.
"Then let's march to the kingdom this very moment. Bring Baron Toni as well. We need to properly thank him for his service. Place Ab, Alice and Alex upon my royal carriage - and before you complained, place a barrier between me and them. No peeking or eavesdropping. I will be conducting royal inquiry upon my ride." Kielra looks defeated and a little terrified on how the fourth prince, the one that is supposed to be calm and kind, act very direct with her.
--
Amongst all the things the royal bloodline inherit, one of the more practical benefits are the exclusive royal spell they can cast under their respective country. The highest one, royal mandate, is reserved for the king and can only directed toward its subject. The simpler one, royal inquiry, is a handy area spell that prevent anyone that is not allowed in the discussion to hear anything inside the area the royal dictate.
"Well that was tough. I feel so bad towards Kielran, why would you make me do that?" Ashton finally let loose after entering the carriage and lower his shoulder. The others are finally laughing, after hours of watching drama unfold in his very eyes.
“You act so bad, how is that not changed. Anyway, we agreed that you need to establish your image first. We need you to look like you have a prince who ‘awakened’ after assassination attempt, half-traumatized half-driven with purpose,” Alice, the self-appointed brand image manager, speak firmly.
“Or at least a selfish bratty one, let’s see how that scan,” Alex finally sitting normally after laughing.
"Then why am I the one that is born into royalty? Why not him?" Ashton points at Ab.
"Nope. Are we gonna ignore the fact that in this world Alex is a girl, though?" Ab laugh at Alex.
"I actually have no problem with this. Do you know when you walk-"
"Stop. Let's focus on bigger picture,” Alice kicked Alex’s shin before she finish a very predictable sentence. “The God-King has proven correct so far, but this is the easy part,"
"Yeah, in the kingdom, any prince that is older than me can overrule any of my power. This could go wrong at any point."
"We need to prepare a real argument to achieve that. We need to decide on an angle. Ab, thoughts?"
--
"Father, I have returned." Ashton were greeted with a big hug from the king, who leapt out of the gate to greet them.
"I am glad that you are okay. Your mother and I are proud that you've defended yourself well. I've heard everything that happened," the king scan all of them with a bright spell. Alice noticeably curious by the spell. Kielra try to open his mouth and Ashton intercept again.
"Yeah, I am absolutely fine. Father, I am here to grant these three people a wish," Ashton awkwardly embracing the gang and push them to a front a little. "these are my friend who bravely lay their life to save me. This one is Ab, this one is Alex, and the third one is Alice Rockhall. They saved me when they have absolutely no idea who I am, and where the other is just stand and watch."
“I cannot thanked you enough, to save my kid regardless of who he is. You saved my son, and for that I will be eternally grateful.” To hear such a heartfelt message from the King himself, they cannot control their expression and bowing awkwardly. The king cast a quick gaze toward Kielra, who felt like she could be dead anytime.
“We certainly did not worthy of your praise. We just do what any other people would do in that situation,” Alice try to represent the group as calmly as possible.
“That’s the exact opposite of what Ashton just said,” The king lowered his stance to match their eye level. “I heard that the prince granted you a wish, is there anything that you want?”
They look at each other, and with the same tone. “We want to continue guarding Prince Ashton.”
The entire area felt silent.
“I want them to be my personal guard! This is actually my request. They start next week?” the room aura changed. They sense a hostile energy from king, and few people on the side of the room.
“What?”
—
“You certain that you cut all the loose string?” the first voice ominously ask.
“Not even the bark street detective would be able to trace our mana. Now the plan is to wait, they are in too much alert. The elder ask to wait for seven years,” the second voice expecting disappointment for how long the second plan begins, only to met with calm pondering.
“And we can’t even confirm whether we’re correctly attacking a Godseed? Did I just try to kill a prince without any assurance I’m on the right path?”
“Him being born in Oakwood is a bonus. Look at how quick they move, The Old Grey are already annihilated. And you wanted to use your own blade?” The second voice sharply criticize the first voice, as they were watching the entire building destroyed and all the member of The Old Grey captured, all because a single clue of who sold the blade the assassin use. “Lay low, meet me in six years. Now we wait for the Godseed plan.
image.png [https://codahosted.io/docs/ft6899ShHc/blobs/bl-bAtr4zWC0s/f886469c733f499899e4651d805178091535e9b340e9249a54efcd65e35df9e410162e91fd627061c36def58d2d0abaa119e6cb1da16ba7c804f4d0919ac6aac6e343771f7f2e0fc438c82af91b6ea491abba67d105a4ce548d4a8fdd7fbe952f4cf3d3a]