Azrael's eyes lingered on the sword at his throat before his attention shifted back to Ashelia. His grip on her chin loosened a bit, making her feel a little relieved but he didn't let go.
Duke Alistair moved his sword closer to the skin of his neck, but he didn't dare to draw blood. "Did I stutter, your Highness?"
Ashelia frowned up at him. She tried to pry his hand away from her chin but he didn't budge no matter how hard she tried.
She clenched her teeth as her grip on his arm tightened. "Let… go."
'What in the world is wrong with this man?' She thought. 'Is he really a lunatic?'
Azrael raised a brow when he saw the defiance in her eyes, before he turned toward her father with a smirk. "I hoped that our conflict would end at the border nine years ago, Duke Alistair, but I'm afraid I will have to annoy you once again."
Duke Alistair's brows furrowed and he clenched his sword tighter. "What do you mean?"
Azrael looked down at Ashelia with so much curiosity in his eyes. It was like she was some kind of rare animal he was seeing for the first time. Suddenly, his grip moved away from her chin and he took hold of her hand tightly.
The action startled Ashelia and she tried to pull her hand away, but she couldn't budge an inch. 'H–how strong is this man?!'
Azrael smiled. "Give your daughter to me."
The entire hall dissolved into an uproar and the nobles started to whisper amongst themselves. The second Prince, Reagan, was so shocked by the Archduke's brazen nature that he instantly rose from his chair.
'How dare he?!'
Duke Alistair's eyes widened, his hand almost letting go of the sword. "Pardon?"
"You have my word that I will not harm her in anyway–"
Ashelia's heart skipped a beat. "Have you lost your mind?!" She sparked, finally mustering the strength to pull her hand away.
Azrael's eyes widened and he stared at his hand in disbelief before he looked back at her. 'How did she pull away from my grasp?'
He clenched his fist and released it slowly, watching Ashelia as she rubbed her wrist. She seemed surprised that she wasn't bruised.
"I am perfectly sane actually." Azrael countered. "And wanting to take you with me is a perfectly sane decision."
Ashelia's frown deepened. "I heard you were a lunatic, but I did not think you would be this deranged."
Azrael's lips twitched. "You've gotten even more amusing than I thought you were. It is decided that you are coming with me."
Ashelia quickly backed away a few steps and stood right beside her father. The Duke instantly blocked her from Azrael's view.
"What makes you think the Empire will sit and watch as you take my daughter away?" Duke Alistair asked. "You underestimate us greatly, your Highness."
"I am not looking down on the Empire. I simply speak the truth. Your armies combined could never hold a candle to me, and you know that, Duke Alistair." Azrael told him calmly. "I have decided that I want your daughter, and so I shall take her with me. Even if I have to do it by force."
"I'm afraid I cannot let you do that, Archduke Eldrath." The Emperor's voice sounded from above the platform. "If that was your motive for infiltrating my palace, then you are too late."
Less than a minute after he said those words, palace knights surrounded Azrael with their swords brandished at him.
Azrael's brows furrowed. "Are you sure you want to do this, Garius?" He asked, and as if on cue, his aide, Fabian, appeared behind one of the Knights with a sword pointed to the back of his head. "I would be careful if I were you."
"And I would be even more careful if I were you." Emperor Garius countered with a smirk. "Whether you know it or not, you have indirectly threatened to kidnap a member of the imperial family. Right in front of me, no less."
The Archduke's frown deepened. "What?"
"You see," the Emperor started as he pulled the second prince forward and draped an arm over his shoulders. "Duke Orlan's daughter over there, has just been engaged to my son."
Just then, Reagan placed his right hand over his chest and bowed respectfully. "It is an honour to meet you, your highness."
Azrael's brow twitched. "You gave the daughter of a Duke to a bastard child?"
Emperor Garius frowned. "I ask that you mind your words, Lord Eldrath." He warned. "He might be a child born outside of marriage but he is still my son."
Azrael was quiet for a long time. "I see." He finally said after thinking for a while. Then he turned on his heel and started to walk toward the exit of the banquet hall. "Let us leave, Fabian. My work here is done."
Everyone was taken aback by the sudden decision. What? All of a sudden?
Fabian, with the sword still in his hand, looked bewildered. "Milord?"
"We're going home." Azrael stressed.
"Yes, Milord." Fabian answered without hesitation, quickly dropping the sword and going to walk by the Archduke's side.
"I will be leaving for now, Garius, but I will be looking forward to seeing you again." Azrael said flatly, his eyes lingering on Ashelia for a moment before he finally walked out the door with his aide behind him.
The heavy atmosphere in the hall was finally lifted and it was as if the crowd could breathe again.
Ashelia's knees buckled under her, but her father was quick to hold on to her arm to stop her from falling.
"You must have been so scared, my dear." The Duke said with worry in his eyes as he pulled her into a gentle hug. "I promise I won't let him near you ever again."
Ashelia pursed her lips before returning the hug. "Thank you, father…"
But how strange… she wasn't scared at all. Instead she felt relieved.
'I wonder why?'
….
Fabian quietly trailed behind Azrael as they made their way out of the palace grounds. The Archduke had been silent ever since they left the hall and it was starting to make him curious.
"Are you upset, Milord?"
Azrael didn't answer for a while. "Why do you ask?"
"Because that is what it seems like." Fabian answered plainly.
Azrael sighed and a sad smile formed on his lips. "I cannot exactly understand what I'm feeling but yes, you could say I am a little upset."
Fabian's lips twitched. '' A little" does not even begin to cover it, Milord.' He thought as he watched every shrub Azrael stepped on die.
"What was so special about that woman you wanted to take with you?" He asked.
Azrael suddenly stopped in his tracks. "Nothing." He said flatly as he looked up at the dark sky. "There was absolutely nothing special about her."
Then he frowned. 'But I will be back to take her with me. I will definitely come back to take what is mine.'