The Damned Demon

With a soft exhale, Asher finally spoke, his voice steady but heavy with the weight of the truth, "The answer isn't simple. But I…I was once the Golden Prince."

The room seemed to hold its breath as Rowena's shoulders tensed as she slowly stood up, the tension thick enough to suffocate any words that dared to break the silence.

Asher hated the unease coursing through him, the knot in his stomach growing tighter with each passing second.

He opened his mouth, his voice strained, "I know it doesn't make sense and that you might be misunderstanding some things. But let me expl—"

Before he could finish, Rowena's figure blurred in a sudden movement, faster than he anticipated. She lunged at him with all the fury of a woman betrayed, grabbing him by the collar and pulling him with terrifying force.

Asher's back slammed against the stone wall with a sickening crack as the walls shuddered under the impact.

"Rowena!" Isola's voice cried out in concern, but Asher's mind was already in overdrive, hearing her shout from beside him.

He quickly communicated to her in her mind to stay back, making Isola freeze in her tracks since he knew her intervening now would only make it worse for her as well.

Rowena's crimson eyes burned with deep pain, sorrow, and unbridled anger, and she held Asher firmly against the wall, her grip tightening on his collar.

Her lips trembled as she forced the words out, "So all this time...the man who took my father from me was still alive, living beside me, whispering lies into my ears and... making me feel for you, giving you everything I had..." Her voice cracked, the once-icy veneer of control shattering completely, revealing the woman beneath who had trusted him completely.

Asher's heart clenched in pain, the guilt and regret surging through him in waves as he saw Rowena break before him. He had never seen her this broken, and the weight of what he had done crushed him. In this moment he wished he could just turn back time.

She was trembling as she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, "Why... Why would you betray me like this? Was this some twisted, elaborate plan you concocted with the humans to destroy me and my kingdom? Why not just kill me in my sleep if this is what you had planned?"

His chest tightened, and for a long moment, he was paralyzed by her pain, his own mind struggling to keep up with the storm of emotions that followed her words.

He quickly reached up and grabbed her trembling hands, as he tried to steady her, his voice desperate, "No…That's not true! I never would do that to you. My love for you is true, and I would never dream of destroying our kingdom. You know that. What happened was out of my hands, and we never met at that time. I only did what a Hunter would do and I didn't know better at that-"

"But you chose to keep lying to me... didn't you?" Rowena interrupted him, her voice cold and cutting yet her eyes brimming with anguish, "All this time, I was blind… blind and foolish enough to cherish the man whom I had vowed to kill the moment I heard about my father's death. The only reason I never talked about it is because I believed that the Hunter responsible died shortly after, giving me some kind of peace and even making me ignore his severed head for all these years. And yet here he was...You...You made me dishonor my father's memory." Her gaze, which had once been filled with love and trust, was now devoid of anything but pain and anger.

Asher's breath caught in his throat, his heart hammering painfully against his chest. He could not find the words to defend himself, and in that silence, Rowena's eyes darkened further.

Rowena nodded, a hollow look in her eyes, "So you did betray my trust and faith in you, including that of this kingdom. While I and everyone in this kingdom were worrying about you, you were busy sleeping with humans who cut down our people every single day, insulting the souls and memories of those who died for us," Her voice was low, drenched in grief and fury, each word cutting deeper than the last.

Asher's jaw clenched, his mind racing. He had never expected Rowena to know everything. But now, he had to explain, "Rowena, please... they are not the people you think they are. Just let me explain. You can even have my memories searched!"

"Enough of your lies!" Rowena's eyes glowed with fury, and before he could continue,

*Krrchkk!*

She tore the black dragon emblem from his shoulders with a violent jerk, her strength fueled by rage.

The sound of the cloth ripping echoed through the room as the emblem fluttered to the floor, a symbol of his betrayal falling to the ground. Her aura flared in a violent surge of bloody power, filling the air with a palpable, suffocating pressure.

"You are no king of my kingdom or my husband, but a traitor who somehow hid himself in the body of a demon and lied to those around him," Rowena said, her voice low and frigid, each word as sharp as a blade.

Isola's fists clenched in helplessness, her face a mask of concern as she watched the emotional storm raging between Asher and Rowena.

She wanted to step forward, to intervene, but Asher kept discouraging her from doing so, knowing Rowena wasn't in the right mind to listen to anyone and Isola might get caught in the crossfire.

His heart pounded painfully in his chest as he saw Rowena step back from him, her crimson eyes filled with hatred and sorrow. Her fangs glinted in the dim light, and dark crimson veins pulsed across her face as she glared at him with an intensity that took his breath away before looking away as if she was disgusted to look at him even for a second longer.

The pain in her gaze was unbearable, and it only deepened the ache in his chest.

"Rowena, don't do this," Asher pleaded, taking a slow, measured step forward. He raised his hands in a placating gesture, trying to close the distance, "Now is not the—"

But she slowly turned toward him, her expression becoming eerily calm.

The anger and sadness melted from her face, replaced with a coldness that sent chills through his spine. Her voice was dead, empty, and final as she spoke.

"Asher Drake or whoever you are..." Rowena said in an unsettlingly calm tone, her eyes narrowing on him, "By the power vested in me as the sovereign ruler of this kingdom, I hereby strip you of your title, your crown, and every honor this land has bestowed upon you. You, who I trusted above all others, have betrayed not only me but the heart of this kingdom itself. Your lies have tainted the throne, your actions have desecrated our bond, and your presence is no longer welcome here."

Asher's eyes widened as he realized what she was doing. His mouth opened to speak, but no words came out. His mind raced, desperate for a way to make her understand. But before he could try again, Rowena continued, her voice as cold as ice.

"I had given you my faith, my loyalty, and my love, only to find myself deceived by the man I held closest. For this betrayal, I banish you from these lands forever. You are no longer king, no longer my equal, and no longer one of us. Never again shall you set foot in this realm, or it will be as an enemy. This is the only mercy you will get from me for whatever good you have brought to this kingdom, no matter your dishonest intentions."

Asher felt the ground slip away beneath him as Rowena's words crushed his soul, and the weight of her decree slammed into him like a tidal wave.

She was casting him outstripping him of everything he had worked for, everything he had hoped for, and everything he had loved.

He stood before her, every fiber of his being aching with the force of the rejection. He knew this moment was inevitable, but it didn't help him prepare for it any better.

The truth of his betrayal had shattered everything they had built together, and Rowena's eyes once filled with warmth, now held only indifference.

"Rowena, you need me... Please don't throw me out before this is over," Asher said softly, his voice barely a whisper as he took a slow step toward her, his hand outstretched in silent plea.

Rowena's gaze never wavered, her crimson eyes cold and chilling as they met his.

She looked through him as if he were nothing more than a shadow in her life. "I don't know who you are anymore, nor can I ever trust you or any tainted memory of yours," she said flatly, her tone like ice, "I... I won't entrust my kingdom's safety in the hands of a traitor like you. So leave before I announce my decree to my guards, and no consort or people of my kingdom shall accompany you."

As she spoke, Rowena's cutting gaze shifted to Isola, who stood a few steps beside Asher. The look in Rowena's eyes was sharp, unsettling, and Isola's heart pounded in her chest.

She never expected the worst would happen unexpectedly, and yet she could feel the weight of Rowena's cold fury.

Isola glanced at Asher, her heart heavy with worry, but Asher did not protest Rowena's words.

Asher's heart tightened with the realization that Rowena had made up her mind. There was nothing he could do to change it. Not now.

He was the one to blame for this fracture, and he would bear the consequences.

He turned to Isola, his gaze softening for a moment, offering her a fleeting, reassuring glance. As if telling her it would be okay, that everything would be fine—though deep down, he wasn't sure if he believed it himself.

With a heavy sigh, Asher faced Rowena one last time, "I am sorry…," he said softly, the pain of those words cutting deep. He wanted to say more...a lot more, but he couldn't find his voice.

In a single, swift movement, Rowena raised her hand, and with a flick of her wrist, the large window behind Asher began to reduce, shrinking into nothingness, leaving a massive opening in the stone wall.

The crimson sky beyond stretched wide and endless, welcoming Asher like a prisoner set free—yet he felt anything but free.

He didn't say another word as he shot into the air, his figure disappearing into the stormy skies, leaving the hall behind.

The wind roared in his ears, but it didn't drown out the pain in his heart.

Rowena stood motionless, her gaze fixed on the skies where Asher had just flown.

Her fists clenched tightly at her sides as she fought to keep her composure. Her crimson eyes shimmered, a deep, unreadable sadness flickering behind the cold exterior she had built.

For a moment, it seemed as if the very air around her was suffocating, heavy with the weight of the loss she had just experienced, yet the pain in her chest was far more excruciating.

"Rowena..." Isola's voice broke the silence, her tone filled with desperate urgency.

She stepped closer, trying to reason with her, to somehow undo the damage that had been done, "Please... I beg you to retract your order. I can show you the whole truth. Asher never intended to betray you. He was just afraid that you won't take the truth well. He wanted to tell you after everything was-"

But Rowena turned sharply, her eyes darkening as if struck by a sudden, uncontrollable force. Her glare pinned Isola in place, "You knew... didn't you?" Rowena's voice was ice-cold, laced with a quiet fury that made Isola freeze.

"I—" Isola's voice faltered, unsure of how to explain herself, how to justify what had been kept from Rowena all this time.

Rowena's expression twisted with a fierce bitterness, "Then I have heard enough from you," she spat, her voice low and hurt, "I trusted and loved you like my sister, and yet it seems you never considered me as one. You are no different than him. A liar who played me for a fool. The only reason I am not throwing you into a dungeon is because my kingdom needs you and your kingdom's power. Whether you like it or not, you are to obey my commands and fight to the death for this kingdom. If I find you trying to seek him out or go to him, then your people will suffer for it."

Isola stood frozen, her heart aching to hear such harsh words from her she never could even imagine.

The weight of Rowena's words slammed into her, harder than any physical blow. The intensity of the anger and betrayal in Rowena's eyes was enough to break anyone.

Without another word, Rowena turned on her heel and walked out of the hall, her footsteps echoing in the silence that followed. Her back was straight, her expression cold, her pride intact. But Isola could see the crack in her armor—the pain that she refused to let anyone see.

She stared after Rowena, her fists clenched tightly, the gravity of the situation settling heavily on her shoulders. She had lost both Asher and Rowena on the same day.

The kingdom was in danger, and she was unsure where her loyalties should lie. The uncertainty churned in her gut, threatening to swallow her whole.

The last sound she heard was Rowena's footsteps fading away into the distance.

However, her gaze then landed on the Sight Stone on the floor, and a black letter was left open. Not long after, she came to know what was responsible for everything that happened today.