Asher took some steps back. "Guys, we don't have to-" they attacked Scarlet before he could finish his sentence.

Scarlet wielded her weapon with speed and great stamina, taking down some of them. Beaded sweats fell from her face, Scarlet pierced her sword on the ground, panting. 
They just keep coming.

Betty and Ethan raced from the building with the speed of light, and knocked her off with a flying kick. 

They picked Scarlet, and tied her to a wooden pole. 

Asher gasped, wide-eyed. "Stop! I command you, as your king."

His eyes brightened as Tristan and his Dad walked from the building. "Ah, there you are!"

Asher ran and kissed Tristan on his lips. "Honey, where have you been? I was looking all over for you." He smiled, then turned with his nose scrunched, and pointed. "They attacked Scarlet for no reason."  

"Betty, Ethan." Tristan signalled with his head. They grabbed Asher's hands and tied him to the next pole.

"What is this?" he said, struggling.

A wicked smirk crawled on Tristan's face, one Asher has never seen. "Exactly what it looks like."

"I-Is something wrong? We can talk about this." 

A short silence followed. Asher turned to Tristan's father. "Dad?"

Darius sighed. "It was the dying wish of his mother to steal the castle treasures someday-"

"And I won't let you ruin this again," Tristan said. 

"I understand, please, come back with me. I won't say anything about the gold."

Tristan scoffed. "It's not stealing if you're going to give us just like that."

"Can we at least talk?" Asher said.

"The ship is ready," Ethan interrupted. 

Tristan turned, trailing behind his father.

Asher screamed with a broken voice. "After everything we've been through, after everything I've done for you!" He lowered his head, then spoke in a low shaky tone. "All that... meant nothing to you?"

Tristan darted from his gaze. 
I won't let him get to me this time, I can't fail my mother, like I failed myself.

“You won't stay here for long," Tristan raised his head to the sky. "Blueberry is here, she'll find help soon." 

"Goodbye, Asher." He turned and left.
I'll never forget you.
…

"He's awake!" Alice whispered.

Asher slowly blinked, he turned to his parents. "Mom? Dad?"

"We're here, darling. The guards brought you and Scarlet, but she was injured," his mom said. "What happened? Did you find them?"

Asher's chest tightened, he lowered his head, and a lump formed in his throat. "Tristan, he-" Asher cried bitterly in his palms, he couldn't hold back the tears anymore. 

"I knew it! I never liked him in the first place," his father frowned, Alice glared at Owen knowingly. 

Asher was devastated for weeks— he cried all day, skipped meals, and restricted people from visiting. He just wanted to be left alone.

Then, he stopped feeling sorry for himself. Asher returned to the throne as a completely different person, dressed in all black, in contrast to the bright colours he always wore. 

He changed the rules again. Brought the nobles back to power, and ignored the commoners. Asher added death sentences to anybody who slandered the king, stole, kidnapped, cheated, or divorced their partners, and committed other crimes. 

One hundred strokes was to be given to anybody who disrespected or addressed the king inappropriately. 

Anyone who delivered false or irrelevant information to him would have their left hand chopped off. 

Asher increased tax to recover the lost property, built higher walls to separate the nobles and peasants. The people of Ashernia lived in fear, anyone would agree that going to war would be a more safer job than serving the king directly. 
…

Months later, Asher was sitting on his throne when his messenger ran into the room. "Sir, you have an important visitor."

The guards moved aside as a man in royal indigo attire waltzed in with a grin. His servants lined up with different gifts he brought.

The man gasped. "Your beauty cannot be easily comprehended, you came to me like a pearl washed off the shore. I am more than lucky to be betrothed to you..."

Asher raised a brow. "Who is this clown?"

Scarlet paused. "King Ace, from Acelands."

"Why is he talking like a madman? Spilling gibberish."

She lowered her voice and sunk into her neck. "Y-Your parents signed a marriage contract-" 

"What! Is this a joke?" his nose flared.

"I-I'm sure they just want what's best for you," she murmured.

We found your type on a platter of gold— single, gay, handsome, tall, dark-skinned, buff, and he's rich! So we don't have to worry about him stealing from you, then running off.

"No, I'm not doing this," Asher shook his head and left.

Scarlet forced a smile. "We will be back," she hurried to catch up with him in the hallway.

"Asher! He's waiting, what should I say?"

"Tell him to go, and never come back." Asher paused. "Oh, he should also take his junk out of my castle."

Scarlet went back to the throne room. "Greetings, king Ace," she bowed, then faked a smile. "King Asher is really tired... so, he is not in the mood to see anyone today."  

"Oh, that's a shame. I'll be overseas for some years, for business after today. I wanted to meet him so I can formally introduce myself," he breathed out.

What should I say?
Scarlet rubbed the back of her head. "S-Sorry about that."

"It's alright, I'll be back for my Asher," he grinned. "But for now, he should accept this small token of my love," king Ace pointed at the gifts. "I'll be back with more."

"But Asher said-"

"Tell him I love him, until we meet again."
…

Asher stormed into his father’s chamber. "What the hell was that?"

His mother jumped. "Calm down, dear, what's the matter?”

Asher glared at them. "King Ace."

"Oh," they glimpsed at each other for a while, as if deciding who to talk first.