Ashton lay looking at the ceiling, his vision had adapted to the dark but... some darkness needed light to banish it. Ashton pulled out two quarts crushing them, they would temporarily impeded his sight of the others.
Ashton debated sneaking out... but then he really would be a prisoner when he was caught, and he would get caught. If he could find a couple of 3rd and 4th tier mana crystals, he could continue to fix his mana channels, and hopefully break into the fifth tier before they reached the capital.
Ashton sighed as he thought about the pain he'd have to go through. This was a lose lose situation, either he suffered now to be able to ignore the worst of the dragon blessing, or he'd have to endure the blessed at all hours of the day. Ashton sighed... if the dragon blessing was this strong at a Marquis manner... the capital could only be worse.
Ashton had to negotiate even a little time away from Lucian and Devlin, it would only take an hour or two tops for him to make the breakthrough then hide the evidence, but he'd be a vulnerable, pulsing beacon the entire time. Not to mention... he'd be in crippling pain for a good portion of those two hours. Ashton sat up, using three quartz he made a temporary rift in space to pull out a few bags. After he picked out two bags of quartz he started carving delicate, untraceable enchantments that could only be seen with his permission.
Leonard was surprised to learn Ashton had gone out to the garden first thing in the morning to do his own exercises. His guards had a training ground within sight of where Ashton was, he decided to go take a look and was thoroughly impressed.
Ashton had run 4 laps around the garden, making sure to stay in sight of the guards as he'd promised the maid who'd led him out. He also did frog jumps, back handsprings, double tucks, would walk back and forth on his hands, then lastly made sure to stretch for flexibility. Like mana, speed and reflexes often saved your life more than raw power.
Ashton exercised for a little over two hours after finishing his warmup runs. The maid was waiting for him with a warmed towel, since he was soaked through with sweat, he gratefully accepted as she started to lead him back to his room.
Leonard waited until Ashton was following the maid to call out, "You're up early young master Ashton, hopefully you rested well."
Ashton stopped to politely bow as Marquis Silas approached, "Morning my lord, I hope I didn't disturb your men." Ashton didn't comment on the sleep.
"Not at all, they were rather impressed, have you taken any sword lessons?" Leonard asked as he waved the maid away, for such a slender frame to run the same amount as his guards was a feat in itself.
Ashton deliberately eyed the Marquis, "No my lord, I haven't dared even imitate such training as a farmer."
"Ah, of course, perhaps you'd like to try? You may yet become a knight of the realm." Leonard offered with a slight smile. While Smyrna was a warring nation, any farmers or merchants had to get permission from their local lords to learn the sword. First, to keep track of talents, second so they could be drafted as needed. Lately though, most lists were being used to track rebel factions.
Ashton shook his head, "I was born a simple farmer, and I intend to follow in my father's footsteps." Ashton hinted as they ascended the stairs, he also caught the narrowing of Leonard's eyes... they should have done a full investigation on his family background... farmers or small stall owners for generations.
Leonard smiled brightly at Ashton's inquisitive glance, "Father's do tend to be very influential parts of our lives, blood is thicker than water after all."
Ashton raised an eye to Leonard, "Forgive my disrespect my lord, but blood isn't everything." Ashton was getting the sense they thought he was some hidden noble's son... which would make sense given his insight but surely the mages would have ruled out any hidden teachers or questionable visitors.
Leonard's gaze sharpened, "What do you mean by that young master Ashton?" Was he declaring even if his father was a prince he wouldn't be swayed?
Ashton gave a faint smile, "I merely meant genuine intentions and relationships are far more important than greedy relatives I've never met." He then gave a bow as he entered his room where a bathtub was needlessly being filled. Truly, a basin would have sufficed.
Leonard didn't follow Ashton in, he returned to his room to prepare for breakfast, which Ashton did attend but sat as at the furthest side seat. Leonard continued to ponder Ashton's possible meanings, really the meaning was simple, Ashton intended to be a farmer regardless of his parentage.
"He can't just run from his responsibilities." Bert snarled as they spoke in Leonard's study.
"Just wait, there might be more to the story. So far, we don't even know if he's really Alphonse's son. He could be a brother, or another unclaimed bastard of King Sherman." Leonard reasoned, Aaron nodded then turned to Bert.
"Everything is just hypothetical right now, first we need to make a suitable identity for Ashton, an honored guest of the Marquis would be best but even then, we need Ashton to cooperate. That means no orders, yesterday was a disaster so today we should see if he still wants to go to market and capitalize on any positive feelings." Aaron reminded sending a look to Lucian.
"Yeah, I could've taken his oath then at least we wouldn't have wasted such a good opportunity," Devlin sighed, "to see if he was really a mage." He added seeing everyone glare at himself.
Lucian rubbed his face, "Fine, We'll let you negotiate with him." He agreed, Leonard immediately sent a servant to invite Ashton over.
Ashton was led to Marquis Silas study this time, Devlin, Aaron, Bert, and the emperor were already waiting, he gave a formal bow, "How might I be of service my lord?"
Leonard waved all the servants away again, then for Ashton to take a seat as he poured tea. "We've started on the wrong foot, several times and in many ways. Unfortunately, there are a few realities we must face and would like your cooperation. Please feel at ease since you currently hold all but a single card in your hand." Leonard decided to get straight to the point.
Ashton sat down, "Might I ask which is the only card I am not holding? Or what exactly which cards you believe me to have?" He asked raising a brow at the lemon tea with only a dash of honey, a favorite of his past self.
"Our only card is that his majesty is the emperor and to refuse his direct order is punishable by death of three generations." Aaron explained watching Ashton's gaze on the tea. He looked... almost nostalgic.
"And my cards?" he asked politely still looking at the tea, then taking a small sip. It was almost perfect, just a bit too sweet. Ashton focused his sight on one item at a time. His enchantment didn't have a suitable anchor so there was a bit of delay as he looked around. He'd need a more permanent solution if this was to continue.
"Your real identity, your cooperation, possibly the truth behind a political death, your real abilities, your ability to navigate political battlefields from hundreds of miles away. More I'm sure I'm not even aware of young master Ashton." Leonard offered also seeing the softening of his mood before he took a sip of the tea.
"Is my identity so important? Can a farmer's boy not be a little smarter? Many farmers have become great generals, strategists, even kings." He added making direct eye contact with Marquis Silas. "Surely I am not so unique."
Leonard gave a wry smile, "True enough, but I will be honest since we are asking much of you. We believe you to be son of the former crown prince Alphonse Luther Vi Siebel, and since his death has cast a dark shadow on his majesty's ascension, we thought you might help us lead to the true murder."
"If you can learn the truth behind his death, does that mean I can go home?" Ashton asked meeting Leonard's gaze. Everyone froze as/the pressure in the room seemed to condense.
Leonard took a deep breath, "Do you have evidence?"
Ashton took another sip of tea before answering, "You didn't answer my question." He reminded, Devlin pulled out four pre-enchanted mana stones, truth, oath, contract, and blood.
"Before we continue, we'll use the truth stone, it has roughly three hours of use." Devlin explained as he activated the crystal so the room was now in a blue mana sphere. He then added several other wards, anti-spying, anti-recording, and sound dissemination.
Ashton turned to Lucian, "if you learn the truth of Prince Alphonse's death, can I go home?" Ashton asked again.
Lucian debated his answer, the sphere and crystal would turn red depending on how strong the lie was, and he wanted Ashton to take Seibel's throne once the truth was known. "That depends on the circumstances of his death... and your relationship to him." Lucian added, Ashton visibly tensed, then met his gaze.
"If there is anything Prince Alphonse Siebel left for me, it was a simple truth. Find peace away from those who have betrayed or lied to me." Ashton announced almost in challenge. Lucian's eyes glowed with a fervor Ashton didn't like but refused to shy away from.
"Who are you to Alphonse?" Lucian demanded barely managing to stay seated. Not only had Ashton admitted to knowing Alphonse, he basically announced he knew who killed him.
"Alphonse did know of Ashton Black before he died." Ashton chose his words carefully. Everyone would know if he lied, but he didn't have to give the whole truth.
"Then how did you learn of such a last will from a prince of another nation?" Leonard asked before Lucian could do anything rash.
Ashton debated an answer, "The truth of his death and his last thoughts were recorded by an enchanted journal. I know where it was shortly after Alphonse passed." Even a moment after death was still after death.
Lucian tensed, his intensity could burn a man alive if he were a mage. The rest of the room was also tensed with the information.
"Where is that journal now?" Leonard questioned noting he had known its location over twelve years ago.
Ashton turned back to Lucian, "If you get the journal and can prove its authentic, am I free to return to my life with Thomas and Samantha?" his gaze didn't waver, this was the closest to the truth he was willing to get.
Lucian's enthusiasm damped, he wanted the truth, and to keep Ashton close, just in case Seibel needed a new monarch. Sherman was already over 70 and the new crown prince was an incomplete child puppet. "it still depends on the truth, you might end up a political hostage." Lucian added trying to find a reason, when the sphere vibrated with the slightest hint of red Ashton's eyes closed.
"Then I don't really have a reason to help you." Ashton hadn't realized he'd held even the slightest expectation. If the journal wasn't enough... then Lucian wanted him for other reasons. He was sure he wasn't misunderstanding their prior meetings, political enemies to be respected but not trusted. Even if Lucian was blamed for his death... this level of obsession just didn't make sense.
Leonard tried to take over the conversation, "Our intension was to push for a monarch we wanted on the Seibel throne, when Alphonse died many of our plans were prematurely ended. As we have never cared for Theodore, not to mention the new crown prince is little more than a child, those plans are still pending."
Ashton gave a wry smile, "Lord Silas, I am only a year older than Prince Terrence. Besides, Alphonse Luther Vi Seibel is not my father." Ashton announced calmly. He almost smiled at the way the room seemed to plunge into ice water.
Aaron looked at Ashton in disbelief, "We can do another blood test when we reach the capital." He reminded also glancing at the blood red mana stone.
Ashton shrugged, "Makes no difference, but I still don't want to go to capital, or will I be a prisoner?" He returned to wearing his polite smile.
Leonard returned Ashton's smile, "Only if you attempt to escape, we were rather hoping you would arrive as my honored guest and advisor. This would also make you entitled to a 100-gold stipend every month, and any bonus from your contributions."
Ashton sipped his too sweet tea before responding, "A fine bait I will make for not only your political rivals, but for his Majesty's as well. Truly, either I go in cuffs to be locked away, or paraded around as a live target."
"We would ensure your safety, as well as recommend you serve his majesty directly. No one would dare to target you with such protection." Leonard countered also sipping his tea.
"Only his Majesty has unknown intensions he will not even admit to. For all I know upon my arrival I will be drawn and quartered or sent off to conquer some barbarian camp to the north. Even after more than two weeks of travel together simply entering either of his carriage was enough to have me mutilated." Ashton sighed as if he were truly at a loss.
"What are you talking about! We bought that second carriage just for you!" Devlin accused, clearly the boy was trying to turn black white.
Ashton gave an overly cheerful smile, "Mage Devlin, surely as a court mage of the highest order... you are aware a commoner even touching an item with his majesty's insignia could be seen a treason? You also personally engraved no less than three insignias on the second carriage? How could any commoner even dare dream of such insolence?"
Everyone paled and Leonard looked at the retinue in disbelief... were they truly so... ignorant? Even Aaron looked ready to slap himself. Unfortunately, Ashton continued.
"Either the second carriage was a trap so I could be charged a criminal who coveted his Majesty's belongings, his majesty was deliberately taunting a lowly commoner, or even less believable, my existence was so insignificant, no one bothered to confirm what was available for my survival. As this is my first trip more than half a day from Palmer town, I could only make plans in regard to what his majesty so graciously informed my family. Yet I am to trust the same people who did not prepare rations, supplies, quarters, or even a horse are to ensure my safety?" Ashton asked letting his scathing disbelief out.
Leonard rubbed his face, "Your majesty?" He had not taken a good look at the second carriage believing everyone when they said Ashton had just been stubborn. Clearly, he should have not only trusted, but verified all accounts.
Bert was red in the face, "You bought your own horse," he bit out through gritted teeth.
Ashton turned his smile to Bert, "Well, two days prior to my one-month deadline to prepare there were still no signs of any supplies or means of travel. I may be a hearty commoner, but I doubt I would have been able to survive days of travel on foot, in the snow, without rations. I also dared not slow his majesty's return because the idea of being bound by the neck and dragged behind the carriage, which your men threatened on more than one occasion, was not something I was willing to chance." Ashton reminded with another sip of tea.
Bert felt as if he were going to be sliced in two by Lucian and Leonard, he wanted to retort... but he couldn't change the past. David had been forced to leave because of his actions, who knew what words had actually been spoken. Not to mention... the truth spell authenticated Ashton's accusations.
Ashton smiled, "So, at least as an obvious prisoner, your political rivals would be more likely to rescue me for information."
Leonard sighed, "To have you agree to act as an honored guest, is there anything?" Clearly he needed to reevaluate the facts before they continued this conversation. A pity for the truth stone, or perhaps not.
"My only desire is to return home." Ashton reiterated trying to keep calm. This was the emperor?! Did he have rocks in his head? If this much was missed for weeks... he could only imagine how bad court politics really were... especially after a near three-month absence. He didn't want to waste time here, didn't want to go to the capital, didn't want to see familiar strangers, to be bait, or a pet.