Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 145: Scene CXLV

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Long strides, determined to reach the study where his cousin had agreed on meeting him were given in inward good mood, while the Archduke’s outer appearance conveyed danger with his clean yet scowling demeanour.

Wearing the garments used at the north, a high neck closed coat was worn with simple silver decorations down its centre in a black marine blue by the savage nobleman. Covering his shoulders in a prominent cloak of beastly dark fur, carrying his weapons on his back and leg, showcasing lavish prestige to those guarding the corridors of the Zaarmideos Kingdom’s palace.

The familiar gates to a study were finally in sight, and uninterested in talking to the guards before it, Aslak ignored their futile attempt to halt his strides, bursting with ease the doors to speak with the relaxed king.

*Clank!* 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"!?"

"I’ve come as agreed. Talk quickly."

"Well, Greetings cousin... Aslak, you’re the only one who dares burst into my study like this... what’s the rush?"

"There’s a better company I can be with." — Letting his good mood lightly appear as a grin to the recall of the sleeping wife he left not long ago, Aslak told without shame to a sceptic Jollveld. Who calmly stood from his place to talk eye to eye with his cousin.

"Hah, I know... Aslak, it’s truly amazing how my idea turned out. You even call that woman you bought fatædi now."

"Don’t say I bought her. She doesn’t like it... Besides... my woman, she turned out to be my fated lung."

"!? What? She’s your fate??"

"... Ou. Ewelina is my air. She deserves that address." — Proud, Aslak crossed his limbs, smirking to confirm the truth behind two deeply bonded souls. Starting to feel more eager on ending this meeting to join his wife in bed once more. — "My Fatædi truly was to be mine..."

"Ha! Don’t you think you should thank me? You only met her since I told you to marry. Want wine?"

"... That’s just my luck, not because of ya." — Going to Jollveld’s side, Aslak received the cup of wine and drank it whole in a gulp, putting it back on the trail to make the king talk. — "Tell me what you called me for. I want to go back quickly."

"Haaa... Effing arse, can’t you take a seat at least? What I want to know is how it’s been... this whole thing emerged because you didn’t want Dorothea as your wife, don’t you remember? Have you told your wife about this?"

"She doesn’t need to know."

"Are you stupid?"

"No."

"Aslak." — Turning severe, Jollveld leaned over to tell the ignorant savage placing his heavy hand on his shoulder to walk him to take a seat. — "She’s still here at the palace. She probably already knows you are here. Do you think Dorothea will stay put and leave your woman alone?"

"... If she doesn’t it means she dislikes having a head attached to her body."

"You can’t kill her."

"Tsk..... This darn kingdom of yours... If she wants war I’ll bring my people. Don’t wag your tail to their threats."

"If war starts I’m taking your people to war like it or not, Aslak. The problem is..."

"Food."

"..."

"You said that before. On our way, we visited some of those nobles you asked me to. People in small towns are starving."

"... The earth is manifesting itself strongly this year. Harvests take long and little fruit survives the earth’s wrath. Herklain has vast harvests and has been providing the kingdom with what it lacks... I helped you marry only because you hate Dorothea’s capricious ways... but know well, she’s crazy enough to kill whoever to get what she wants."

"Are you saying she could harm my Fatædi." — Standing with bestial fury, Aslak condemned the king’s words with a flaring glare, clenching his fists at the mere thought of Ewelina finding danger because of a distasteful Princess.

And yet the Kind did not step back on his sayings, adopting a severe tone to continue their conversation.

"She could. Aslak, as much of a savage you are, you know well the fame Dorothea has because of her caprices. My eardrums still hurt from the day she learned you had a wife back home."

"... Then you should be ready for war already. If her sanity is so little, her head not only will fall but will be fucked while showcased at the doors of the Kingdom."

Serious in his ideas, Aslak calmly informed Jollveld. Ready to swing his axe at the foreign princess staying at the king’s residence.

"....."

Attentive, Jollveld listened to the man looking down on him, menacing in his tall stance as in his amber eyes he could see more violence than that one told.

A sigh left the king... sitting exhausted because his insights into Aslak’s attitude the day before had turned true.

"... You truly met your lung..."

"... I did." — Only to confirm such, the Archduke’s tone softened, for the gain of this present was the joy and peace he had ignored.

Nevertheless, there was more the king wished to tell. Hence, staying as severe, a pause was taken to contemplate the possibility and glaring back at his cousin, Jollveld’s concern was conveyed.

"If so... tell me, my cousin... is your wish to not bare an heir intact?"

"It is."

"... Then... have you told her? Your woman?"

"..... She doesn’t need to–"

"Oh, she does." — Standing as threatening as the Archduke, the king looked straight into the amber hues both shared. Continuing to speak more on what the Archduchess should learn. — "She needs to know her man doesn’t want offspring as well as the truth behind it. This advice, I hope you will listen... Although you don’t even listen to the warlock who shares the earth’s eye..."

"..."

"Anyway. First, you should tell her that the day after tomorrow a feast will be celebrated."

"What?"

To the swift turn on his feet, the now relaxed king suddenly announced his true intentions of summoning Myrkzver to the centre of the kingdom. Glancing at him while walking back to his desk, forfeiting any seriousness he portrayed before... to add more to his announcement.

"What you heard. Now that you have a wife, nobles should meet her. You are my cousin, Aslak, what kind of King wouldn’t do this much for their family? Besides if I die my children are too young to be king. You would follow before they can take the crown."

"No."

"No, what."

"You can die all ya want, I’m not taking this worthless throne of yours."

"Haha!... That’s not for you to decide this time."

The cup filled with wine was taken in the king’s hand once again, drinking its last drop to grin without happiness in his eyes.

"Neither I am... But life itself, Aslak, my friend and blood..."