With the sun casting soft shadows across the castle grounds, Merina led Isola through the labyrinthine corridors of the Demonstone Castle. The hushed whispers of servants echoed faintly as they passed, their curious and wary eyes fixed on the 6 feet tall enchanting figure of the Umbralfiend Princess following behind the royal consort's maid.
Rumors have already reached them that the Umbralfiend Princess was stripped of her title and was now the Umbralfiend Emissary, working for the royal consort, much to their surprise and dissatisfaction. Why should a defeated enemy enjoy a higher status than them?
"Right this way, Emissary Isola," Merina said, her tone polite as she knew this woman was going to be quite important to her Master.
Isola followed silently, her curious eyes scanning the dark ornate curtain and towering statues that adorned the castle's halls.
She was far from her abyssal home, in a place filled with strange sights and unfamiliar faces, bound by the whims of a kingdom that had ensnared her people.
Yet she couldn't help but feel herself looking around like a newborn, trying to get familiar with this foreign yet interesting environment.
Finally, they reached the outer edges of the castle, where the imposing stone walls gave way to an oasis of tranquility: the Gloaming Pavilion.
Nestled amidst the sprawling inner castle gardens, the indoor Pavilion was a sight to behold.
Moonflowers and night-blooming jasmine lent an ethereal quality to the air, their blue and black blossoms shimmering under the soft light of the setting sun.
A large pool, filled with crystal clear water, was situated at the heart of the pavilion, its surface reflecting the first stars of the evening sky from the roof above.
The overall atmosphere was one of serene solitude, providing a stark contrast to the grandeur and hustle of the castle.
"This will be your quarters, Emissary Isola," Merina announced, gesturing towards the Pavilion.
Isola surveyed the area, her surprised gaze lingering on the pool. It was far from the crushing depths of her home, yet the sight of water brought a small sense of familiarity in this alien world.
She wasn't even expecting a room but some dark and dirty corner to be put in. And so, seeing all this left her feeling baffled.
"I trust it will be to your liking. My Master felt this place would be better than the usual rooms," Merina continued, though there was a tinge of uncertainty in her voice.
She was well aware of the resentment boiling under Isola's silent exterior. Even if she was an Emissary, it wouldn't change the fact that she and her people were chained to this kingdom.
Isola's response was a curt nod as she came out of her reverie. Her eyebrows furrowed, wondering what this so-called 'Master' was trying to achieve by playing nice. Was he planning something sinister for later?
She had no plans to buy into this picturesque scenery, though inwardly, she felt maybe things could have been worse for her.
She also understood the need for diplomacy, for the sake of her people. And so, she decided to be prepared to cross any difficulties, even in the heart of enemy territory.
Merina addressed her, "Emissary Is—"
However, before she could finish, Isola lifted a hand, signaling her to stop,
"No need for the formalities, Merina," Isola interrupted, her voice carrying a hint of authority despite its gentle tone, "Just 'Isola' will suffice."
Merina looked slightly taken aback, but quickly nodded with a light smile. "Of course…Isola," she stuttered, the simple name feeling foreign on her tongue.
Isola paused, her sharp gaze taking in the sight of the werewolf maid.
She had heard stories, tales steeped in lore about the animosity between the werewolves and the Bloodburn Kingdom. It was a strange sight to see a werewolf still alive in enemy territory, and it piqued Isola's curiosity.
"Can you tell me something, Merina…" Isola began, her voice carefully neutral, "How does a werewolf like you come to serve in this kingdom? Was it him? Has he forced you into serving him?"
Merina's eyes widened slightly, and her hands momentarily stilled on the fabric she was smoothing.
After a moment, she responded in a soft but steady voice, "No, Isola. I am a refugee who was allowed to serve the royal family by the late Bloodburn King. I chose to serve here since I can't go back. And my Master is kind and has allowed me to live a better life than I could ever dream of," Merina's eyes became warm, and her cheeks blushing slightly as she added, "Without him, I would have continued to live without a purpose of my own."
The soft murmur of Merina's admission hung in the air of the pavilion like an uninvited guest, casting ripples of perplexity across Isola's expression.
She had prepared herself to hear at least hints of compulsion or coercion, yet the gentle, almost fond words of the maid, painted a picture she could not quite comprehend.
There was no sign of resentment, no hidden anger - only genuine warmth. It was a puzzle that seemed to challenge all she had come to believe about Asher.
Why would she talk about someone like Asher in that way? Was she under some kind of spell?
However, she decided to probe further another day. For now, she had a lot to learn and understand in this new environment.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the creaking of the pavilion door. A cold gust of wind snuck into the room, carrying with it the scent of the night's chill and the faintest echo of Asher's commanding voice.
"Merina, you may leave now."
The voice, so distinctively Asher's, was like a pebble thrown into a still pond, breaking the tranquility of the moment. Merina, her eyes wide with surprise, quickly bowed her head in acknowledgement.
"Y-yes, Master," she stuttered, gathering the fabrics in her arms and retreating towards the door.
Isola narrowed her eyes as Asher's tall figure filled the doorway, blocking the pale light from the evening skies that painted the pavilion in silhouettes.
She instinctively straightened her posture, her eyes alert and wary. His sudden appearance was akin to a predator entering the den of its prey.
The tension in the room tightened like a drawn bowstring, yet she remained resolute, her gaze never wavering from his figure.
"What do you want now?" Isola asked with a doubtful look as she saw Asher slowly walking towards her with a subtle smile.
The sound of Asher's chuckle bounced off the pavilion's stone walls, echoing in the stillness of the twilight.
His face was illuminated by the light of the setting sun streaming in through the window, giving it an almost otherworldly glow.
"There's no need to be on guard, princess" he said, a charming smile playing on his lips, "I'm not going to bite."
His words hung in the air between them, a taunt masked as reassurance.
Isola eyed him skeptically, her arms crossed defensively across her chest,
"I don't need your fancy rooms or your empty words," she retorted, her voice echoing with defiance, "Don't think you can trick me again. I know you intend to exploit my people for your own gain."
Asher didn't flinch at her accusation, instead, he simply closed the distance between them, his figure looming over her.
With him standing so close, she wanted to take a step back but she didn't want to in case he took it as a sign of weakness.
Asher's voice was calm, almost soothing, as he countered her skepticism, "You should be grateful, Isola. You and your people now have a chance at survival instead of rotting away in the darkness," His eyes bore into hers with an intensity that was hard to look away from, "Everything else I told you back when we were in the Kraken's belly was the truth, especially the part where your people won't survive if they kept fighting. As for the part where I tricked you...why would I reveal my identity while your people were attacking my kingdom? Would any sane enemy do that?"
Isola's mouth tightened into a thin line, her gaze lowering at his words.
She wanted to argue, to rebuke his claim, but a part of her couldn't deny the logic behind his argument.
Even so, she couldn't get rid of the bitterness in her chest that was left behind by his deception.
Asher watched as Isola's expression subtly shifted, her defiance momentarily flickering into uncertainty. Sensing the slight change in her demeanor, he leaned against the cool stone of the wall and spoke, his voice heavy with sincerity.
"I also meant what I said in the Kraken's belly, Isola," he began, his gaze steady on her, "Your life...it's worth more than just a sacrifice," Asher then added in his mind, 'Worthy enough to be a powerful pawn in my hands.'
Isola's gaze dropped to the floor, a sudden confusion creeping into her eyes. But she quickly masked it with a hardened stare, meeting his gaze once again.
"And why," she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, "why would you believe that?"
Asher gave a dismissive shake of his head, "It doesn't matter why but because you lived, didn't you get to save the lives of your people as well, just like I said?"
"That is…" Isola couldn't exactly refute that as well even though her life was used as a tool to make her people surrender. Still, there was a lingering doubt about whether the prophecy would have come to fruition if Asher hadn't tricked her, "You couldn't have known for sure..." She added softly with a distant gaze.
Asher gave a direct stare as he said with a set jaw, "Seriously? I can't fathom how you and your people could be so blinded by a prophecy... just words, Isola, that you'd throw your lives away for it. You are also too gullible enough to let your own people turn you into a mere sacrificial offering," His voice contained a hint of his own anger as he remembered certain people in his previous life.
Isola's eyes flared at his words, "Don't disrespect my people and the prophecy of my god by saying that," she said in an offended tone, her expression contorted, "It's our guiding light, the beacon that led our ancestors through the darkness for millennia. It was the only thing that motivated my people all this time to survive. And my people weren't forcing me into it. They believed in me, and I believed in the prophecy."
Asher merely scoffed in response, a bitter laugh escaping his lips, "Your so-called prophecy would have led you straight to death. You'd all have died clinging to that prophecy if I hadn't stepped in."
He pushed off from the wall, coming to stand in front of her once more. His face was serious, his eyes intense.
"Leave it. I don't want to argue about this anymore," he said firmly, "But believe me or not, I intend to forge an alliance with your people. A strong, friendly alliance. We have a common goal - making the human world succumb to us. But whether that alliance takes shape... that's in your hands."
His words, audacious as they were, stirred something within her, a tumult of feelings she was not yet ready to confront. Her mind was a battlefield of conflicting emotions, a tussle between the anger she felt for Asher's deceit and the undeniable truth in his words.
This time she couldn't help but feel that maybe he was telling the truth about this.
Otherwise, worse things could have happened to her and her people. She didn't even dare imagine what would have happened to her if she had ended up as a prisoner in the hands of someone else.
She had noticed the dirty looks from the men in this castle and on the battlefield, especially from the nobles, who were supposed to have more decency and manners. It was the first time she felt so disgusted since all her life, nobody looked at her like that.
Still, she didn't know why Asher was so motivated about bringing down the humans.
Most or all of them can hardly have the luxury to worry about their own lives, let alone worry about the future of the entire realm.
Nevertheless, this made her feel a bit relieved and hopeful that her people probably wouldn't be treated harshly.
While Isola found herself lost in a whirlpool of thoughts, Asher's eyes suddenly fluttered and drooped, his face paling noticeably.
Before he could even realize what was going on, his knees buckled, his body swaying dangerously before it collapsed onto a distracted Isola.
"You!" Caught off guard, Isola gasped in surprise, her slender frame rigid as his head lolled onto her smooth shoulder and his body went limp against hers.
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