Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 430: A New Presence ()

Rosalie hurried down the hallway, she held her dress up in her hands so she did not trip over it as she walked briskly, glancing around ever so often to ensure she had not attracted any attention.

The Keep was busy in these days, today in particular, the Keep saw more guests than it had in a long while and it was hard to move about unnoticed but Rosalie did not have much of a choice.

There was a piece of paper scrunched up tightly in her right hand, a note she had received from an unknown sender and the contents of the note had left Rosalie in full blown panic.

’A message to your father is all it would take, Duncan’s life and the life of the other are in your hands. I will be waiting in the back garden of the Keep, come alone.’ The note read.

There was not much content in the note, but Rosalie whom the note was meant for perfectly understood the threat concealed within.

Duncan, he was an apprentice healer just like Rosalie herself was. It was only that unlike Rosalie and most others, he was one of the few healers who hailed from a common mortal background.

They were not even of Asvarian bloodline, they were just ordinary mortals and while they were considered an important part of the society, there was still a disparity in class that could not be overlooked.

Now, the dragons did not mind this at all, they were noble beings that could not contemplate such pettiness. The dragons were also firmly against this discrimination and did not tolerate any such happening brought to their knowledge.

But some nobles of Asvarian bloodline still made sure to draw a clear line in rank.

They were all mortals, but it was an unspoken knowledge that those mortals of Asvarian bloodline considered themselves royalty compared with the ordinary mortals with no traces of dragon blood.

Out of all these nobles, there was one high noble of Asvarian blood that was known to absolutely detest those mortals who did not have Asvarian blood and this noble was Lord Myrtle, Rosalie’s father.

The discord between the Myrtle clan and the non blooded mortals had gone on for generations and even till this day, though it was kept under wraps, Rosalie knew nothing had changed.

Now Duncan, Duncan was of that bloodline Rosalie’s clan so absolutely detested, Duncan was that healer Rosalie and her closest friends Adrienne and Celia would always look down on, isolate and mistreat even when he was a far more talented apprentice than they were.

It was this very same Duncan who fathered the child Rosalie currently carried in her womb, a secret Rosalie had sworn to take to her grave.

For Rosalie knew that if word of this were to reach her father and clan, they would stop at nothing to slaughter both father and child.

Other than Duncan and Celia, no one else knew of this, or so Rosalie had thought till she received this note.

Rosalie arrived at the third ascending room to find that it was also occupied.

"Please! Just please!" Rosalie exclaimed urgency as she pulled on the lever, hoping the ascending room would come up but it just kept descending.

Rosalie turned, heading to the stairwell as fast as she could. It was a long way down to the ground floor through the stairwell but it was a better option than waiting for the ascending room.

Rosalie hurried down the stairwell, while everyone else headed up to the grand hall for the event, Rosalie was practically the only noble headed in the opposite direction at this time.

It took Rosalie a while but she soon arrived on a level where the ascending room was free and she took the ascending room down to the ground floor.

From there, Rosalie headed out to the back garden.

It was already dark when Rosalie stepped out of the keep, the back garden was isolated as most guests trooped in and out through the front doors of the keep.

No one had the leisure to idle away in the darkness of the back garden, except of course, the person who had sent the note to Rosalie.

Rosalie slowed down her steps, glancing around the garden cautiously.

"Hello? Anyone there?!" Rosalie called out into the darkness, but of course, she received no response.

However, from the corner of her eyes, Rosalie caught a movement somewhere farther into the garden.

"You asked me to come here, I’m here now! Show yourself!" Rosalie called out, all to no avail.

Rosalie frowned, walking slowly in the direction where she had noticed movement.

"What do you want from me?! Gold?! Lands?! Just say it and be done with it!" Rosalie yelled out into the darkness, but again she got no response.

Rosalie glanced up at the sky, she was already so late for the ceremony and would get a stern lecture from her father.

Any later and he would send someone out to look for her, Duncan and Celia would also notice soon and they would be worried.

"I can’t go back without sorting this out." Rosalie murmured determinedly, placing a hand on her abdomen where she knew a new life blossomed.

Rosalie ventured deeper into the garden, and she had only gone in so far when a strong force slammed into the back of her head.

Rosalie let out a gasp of pain as she collapsed on the ground unconscious,

And under the cover of darkness, Rosalie’s body was pulled through the garden by a figure in a black cloak, into a hidden corner, precisely one of the few points out of sight to the patrolling dragon lords up above.

Not long after, a woman was seen returning into the castle, dressed in Rosalie’s attire and ornaments, ornaments which included a bejewelled fan she lifted up to her face, elegantly but surely keeping her face out of view.

________________

"The Lord and Lady of Ruby Scales arrives!!" The guards announced.

Menarx and Neveah walked into the grand hall, greeted by the bright lighting and a crowd of elegant and luxuriously dressed guests.

The grand hall was the largest hall in Dragon Keep, and at this moment, it hosted over three hundred guests consisting of the rider council, high nobles and the most respected figures from Keep Skies and it’s environs.

There was also the unified council present and all eyes turned to the door as Menarx and Neveah walked into the hall.

"They look good together." A noble lady gushed.

"A pair as perfect as a ruby." Another agreed with a nod.

Many more agreed with their statement, whispering their approval amongst themselves.

"I finally have reason to believe the nobles are sensible." Menarx whispered to Neveah, knowing she could hear the whispers of awe all around them just as he did.

"Selectively so." Neveah whispered back.

Menarx stifled a chuckle, keeping a straight face as they gracefully moved to the front of the hall where the dragon king’s throne was mounted on a dais,

The owner of the throne sat in all his glory, looking over the hall, his countenance cold and calm as always.

King Jian watched them and Neveah also returned the gaze as they moved closer.

It had been two months since she last laid eyes on the Dragon King and Neveah noted that he did not look any less annoying than he had when she had left.

As they got to the first step, Menarx and Neveah stopped, lowering their heads to a deep bow of respect.

"At ease." King Jian permitted.

Menarx and Neveah stood straight and King Jian nodded his head to the elder who stood by his side.

"Lord Menarx, in honor of our traditions, we have come on your summons to bear witness to your chosen bond. Whom do you have in hand?" The elder asked aloud.

Menarx glanced over at Neveah, a small smile on his lips. Before Menarx could say a word, the arrival of a new presence was announced in a loud tone.

"Lord Xenon of Onyx Scales arrives!!!" Came the announcement.

The doors flung open at the same moment and in walked a familiar figure dressed in pitch black robes.