CHAPTER 183: DISCUSSION BETWEEN FATHER AND SON

Ashen walked in, shoulders tight, eyes like flint, he had dropped his wife off at Lord Drex’s chambers before coming to the palace to see his father.

King Aden sat at the high table, face stony, until Ashen walked inside and stood to the side, with his head bowed.

"Your Highness..."He greeted and King Aden gestured for him to rise.

"This is my report," Ashen let out and the king aides collected it from him handing it to him.

Ashen found his way quietly to sit as King Aden went through the report, several expressions played on his face as she read this.

King Aden’s jaw clenched as he rubbed his hands together to hide the tremor of anger. "I trusted him," the king said without looking up. "I trusted everyone around him and this is what happened."

Ashen looked straight at his father. "Your Highness, can I leave now... I.." but King Aden slammed his fist against his throne, shutting him up immediately.

"Leave.." King Aden gestured to his aide who quickly bowed and left.

"Call me father and stop with the titles. There’s only the two of us here now." King Aden’s voice filled the room like a bell.

Ashen froze, he had expected anger since he was used to it, not this sudden demand. He bowed his head, then looked up and forced out a shaky nod.

"I... I..." he began, voice tight.

"You can’t call me ’father’?" King Aden cut him off. His tone was hard like stone. Ashen swallowed and tried to smile. It came out thin and wrong.

"It’s not that I want to be rude," Ashen said. "I grew up calling you ’Your Highness.’ It’s what I was taught. Asking me to call your father now. It’s strange. Forgive me, Your Highness."

The king tightened his fist until his knuckles went white. He looked older than usual, every line on his face pulled tight. For years he had been a ruler first and a father after. Tonight, that history sat between them.

"I am sorry," the king said at last. The words came slowly and Ashen was left puzzled.

His father had never shown care to him, so hearing his father apologize to him was more like a shock to him.

"I admit I was hard on you. I failed as a father in ways I can’t take back."

Ashen let out a breath that felt like a release and a wound at the same time. "You did push me away," he said. "When I needed someone, I found only rules and distance. You made me feel useless."

The king’s eyes did not leave him, of course, he is the only son who speaks his mind to him.

"The ways I raised you were for the realm," Aden answered. "I followed law and custom because I thought it would keep us safe."

"No," Ashen said. The word was soft, but it cut the air. "It kept me alone. If I have come this far, it’s because of Lumina. She pulled me into this place in the first place. She stayed when others walked away. She cared when no one else did. I fight now because of her."

"Ashen..." the king started, but Ashen went on.

"I don’t want the throne for titles," he said, of course, he understood his father’s sudden niceness. Seeing that Adam is not to be trusted he wants blood and battles.

"You could give it to Adam. Or.." He swallowed. The next name left his mouth rough. "Or Alexis."

The hall went colder at that single name. King Aden’s face was drained of color.

"Ashen!" The king’s voice rose.

"I am very sure he is not dead, Your Highness." Ashen’s lips curved in a small, bitter smile. "People say he is gone but I don’t believe that."

King Aden stared at his son long and hard. The father in him fought with the ruler. For a moment the older man looked lost under the weight of both roles.

"Enough," Aden said finally. His voice had the strain of a man who had carried a crown too long.

"You are my son. I raised you wrong in some ways. I am sorry for that. But blood and duty have to hold this house together. You cannot toss all that away."

Ashen straightened his shoulders. "I don’t want people to use my heart against me," he said. "I am tired of being treated like a curse, like I am weak because I do not play power games the way you taught us to." he let out.

"I know if Alexis is fine you will not think of me, you only use your sons as a game ."

The king’s jaw worked. "You speak as if you hold no fear," Aden told him. "But you must know what the realm needs. You must think beyond yourself."

"I know what I want," Ashen answered. "I want a simple life with someone who stands by me. If I have to fight the world to keep that then I will."

"Ashen!" King Aden’s voice roared but Ashen only bowed. "I have made my decision, your highness... I won’t fall for the little care you have shown these days."

"But I have always protected your wife, why is it hard for you to make my responsibility lighter?" Ashen smiled.

"Your Highness... I still stand on my right." With that, he bowed and left the palace.

From the shadowed corner, a man in a dark cloak stepped slowly forward. He had watched in silence. Now he leaned his head toward the king, voice low and even.

"Your Highness," He called out.

"What do you think I can do?" King Aden asked.

"There is a way to force a son to grow into his role. Put pressure on him. Make the world demand he stand tall."

King Aden turned his face to him. He looked uncertain for the first time, and that small crack on his face also made the cloaked man worried.

"What do you mean?" the king asked.

"To match on his tailbone, you hurt his wife... make taking the throne the only way he can save her."