Chapter 332: A Surprise?

Asher's comfortable sunbathing, with the rhythmic sound of the waves serving as the perfect background music, was abruptly disrupted by the crunching sound of footsteps on sand.

A guard, armored with a sheen that reflected the sunlight, approached with a slight hesitance evident in his gait.

"Your Highness," he began, bowing respectfully,"I apologize for the disturbance. Young Lord Edmund, Young Lady Zephyrine, Young Lord Thaddaeus, and Young Lord Ignatius wish to speak with you."

Asher tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing as he caught the sight of the four figures standing a distance away.

Edmund was standing at the front, wearing pants and casual outerwear, showing off his abs with a subtle smile hanging on his lips while being flanked by Ignatius and Thaddaeus.

Beside them was a woman with wings in a bikini, her medium bust accentuated by the design. She shot him a flirty glance, one that lingered just a fraction of a second longer than necessary.

"And what might they want?" Asher inquired, his tone cool.

The guard swallowed audibly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, "They claim to have important information to share, Your Highness."

Asher hummed, "Let them approach," he finally responded, his voice relaxed.

Ceti overheard this and couldn't help but scowl, "Your Highness, is it something really important?" Ceti found it a bit strange that Edmund and his group were suddenly approaching them now.

Asher chuckled, winking playfully at Ceti, "Let's just hear them out and send them on their way. No harm in being informed, is there? But don't worry. After this, I won't allow any interruptions."

"I-I never said anything was being interrupted," Ceti said in a slightly flustered tone upon feeling his knowing gaze and sat back on her sunlounger.

Yet, in the midst of their exchange, Isola and Asher shared a fleeting yet profound moment of understanding.

Merina, ever perceptive, picked up on the subtle exchange. She had known her Master long enough to recognize that whenever Edmund was involved, there was always a deeper game afoot.

The guards made way for Edmund and his group, making the atmosphere charged with an undeniable tension.

Just as they got close, Asher gracefully rose, followed by Isola, Ceti, and Merina.

"Consort Asher," Edmund began, a hint of a sly smile playing on his lips, "Congratulations on securing the Deviar. Quite the achievement for someone... of your 'special' background."

Ceti gritted her teeth, unable to believe this arrogant bastard had the cheek to make fun of Asher. She always knew Edmund was scum, but it seemed like he had something against Asher as well, or maybe it was newfound jealousy after Asher claimed the Deviar, which not only he but everyone was dreaming of obtaining.

However, she knew she didn't have the qualifications to say or intervene since, even technically, he wasn't saying anything bad.

Asher's lips curled into a smile, the kind that never reached his eyes, "Thank you, Young Lord. It's always satisfying to achieve something those from illustrious backgrounds can only dream of."

Ceti smirked and felt that only someone like Asher could know to bite back the spot that would hurt people like Edmund the most.

Edmund's eyes flashed with a momentary annoyance, but his smile never wavered, "Indeed. Some people have all the luck," he drawled.

Asher laughed softly, his tone dripping with casual arrogance, "That might be true, but it's not all luck. Sometimes, some people have all the skills that others clearly don't."

Edmund's hands tightened behind his back, his wide smile almost breaking.

But he took a deep breath, unwilling to let Asher notice anything, "Of course, and I would be happy to continue our small discussion later. But we, no, my friend, Zephyrine, has a nice surprise for you to congratulate you."

Asher arched an eyebrow, clearly intrigued as he glanced at Zephyrine, "Oh? Do enlighten me."

Zephyrine gave a flirtatious smile and said, "I apologize, Your Highness. It is a very special gift I had prepared and is in my quarters. If you don't mind, can you allow me to guide you to it so that I can hand it over to you?"

Isola and Merina briefly shared a glance but remained silent.

Ceti's gaze sharpened upon seeing this woman giving strange glances at Asher, "Your Highness," she began, "Let me accompany you."

Asher nodded with a brief smile, "Sure. We can all go and see what surprise the young lady has to offer."

Edmund let out a soft, airy chuckle, his voice almost playful, "Ah, I have some matters concerning my House that require discussion with the Umbralfiend Emissary, especially as it pertains to her people," He said while briefly glancing at Isola, who softly looked at him for a brief moment, making his heart skip a beat.

Still, he continued without a moment's delay, "And seeing as we plan to leave soon, there isn't a better time. Thaddaeus and Ignatius," he gestured towards the two who stood a short distance away, deep in conversation, "also have some House matters they'd like to discuss with the Battlemaster."

Ceti frowned, feeling something was off.

Asher's gaze lingered on Edmund, assessing, calculating, "And you believe now is the most opportune time?"

Edmund's lips curled up into a sly smile, "Well, we could wait, but the gift that Zephyrine has prepared for you may not last. You see, it has a rather... short expiry time. We would have brought it to you if not for it being slightly inconvenient for you. We are also planning to leave this place shortly after and couldn't find a better time to discuss things."

Asher's eyes flicked to Zephyrine, who kept looking at him with a coy gaze.

After a moment of contemplation, he shrugged with an air of indifference, "Alright then. Lead the way, young lady. I'm right behind you."

With that, he began to follow Zephyrine, leaving the familiar comfort of his companions behind.

Ceti, however, stood rooted, a frown etching her features. There was a nagging sensation at the back of her mind, an unease that she couldn't quite place.

Watching Asher's receding figure, she felt like something wasn't sitting right with the whole picture, though she couldn't do anything if he was prepared to go alone.

However, she wasn't too worried since she was confident he could handle this harpy woman.

However, her attention was swiftly diverted by the approach of Thaddaeus and Ignatius.

Ignatius gave a half-awkward smile, "Battlemaster, we've been meaning to have a chat. You see, there are matters of mutual interest between our Houses and the esteemed Queen's House. We thought it'd be insightful to have your... perspective on the matter."

Ceti's eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion evident in her gaze. She didn't trust anybody who followed Edmund, though she knew she had to hear them out since they were still influential young lords.

With a deliberate sigh and a false smile touching her lips, she responded, "Fine then, let's talk." Her voice hinted at weariness, but there was a sharp edge underneath.

As the trio distanced themselves, setting their own stage of discussion, Isola found herself standing gracefully by the shoreline.

She looked at Merina and said with a light smile, "Merina, would you please go and keep Callisa company for a while?"

Merina gave a brief smile in response and walked towards where Callisa was enjoying the sea view.

Just as she walked away, Edmund approached, his footsteps deliberate, confidence oozing from him.

He smirked upon hearing Isola telling Merina to leave, making him feel like he should have come to see Isola sooner.

His eyes fixed upon Isola, her face neutral with a hint of pleasantness.

"Young Lord Edmund," she greeted, her voice a melodious chime, "It's a pleasure to see you here...like a breath of fresh air," Her words were courteous, but the subtle undertone was unmistakable, expressing her delight upon seeing him.

Edmund was momentarily taken aback, not expecting her to hold such desire.

But, soon, Isola's enchanting smile and beauty diverted his focus. The pale twilight blue of her skin shimmered, her white hair cascading like moonlit waterfalls. And the way her ample breasts were hugged by her stark white bikini while squeezing together such a deep cleavage made his heart race.

If only they weren't standing in public, he could at least feel her up. After all, he can't let his sister get any whiff of him touching another woman in public lest he risks offending his future wife.

Still, a pang of jealousy hit him; Asher's fortune of having her by his side was a constant thorn in his side.

Clearing his throat, he attempted to regain composure, "You do me too much honor. You can drop the formalities. Just call me Edmund. We are not strangers after all, are we?"

"Of course. What did you wish to speak of?" she asked, her voice soft and calm.

Edmund hesitated for a fraction of a second before saying with a glint in his eyes, "I'll make this swift," he began, choosing his words carefully, "Just how much have you endured under him?"

Isola's eyes clouded momentarily.

She sighed, her gaze drifting to the horizon, as if trying to find a solace in the expanse of the ocean, "I've had little choice but to acquiesce to his whims, for the sake of my people. Lamenting my fate won't alter it. This is the hand destiny dealt me."

Watching her, Edmund's chest tightened. The pain in her eyes was evident, and he clenched his fists, wondering what all that alien cur did to her.

Through gritted teeth, he ventured, "It doesn't have to be this way. Your fate can be reshaped, made anew. I possess the means, if only I could find the right... opportunity."

Isola looked back at him, her sapphire blue eyes searching his. "Would you really jeopardize everything for my sake? What could possibly drive a man to such extremes for someone like me?"

Edmund stepped closer, his gaze never leaving hers, "Every man with an ounce of valor would brave the fiery breath of a dragon for a mere smile from you. But me? I would face a thousand such beasts if it meant I could free you from his chains," His voice was fervent, carrying a weight of conviction.

A soft smile played on Isola's lips, her hand touching her chest as if to steady her racing heart, "In all my years, no one has ever expressed such a wish to aid me. If you truly mean what you say, I could... provide the opportunity you seek."

Hope and satisfaction glinted in Edmund's eyes, "That's all I ever wanted to hear."

With a nod, Isola murmured, "I can lure him to a secluded spot. Just the two of us. From there, we can put an end to his reign and tyranny," She said with a cold light in her eyes, making Edmund smile ear to ear, "Perfect."