While Eleanor clung to Asher’s arm, she completely went into a daze. It was like she was trapped in some awful memory Stephen’s words had dragged her back into.Morgana who was by the door like a guard dog didn’t take her eyes off Stephen as he left. Her fingers twitched near the hilt of her sword as she asked, itchy for permission, “Want me to go after him, General?”Asher opened his mouth to answer, but before he could speak, a weak, raspy voice broke through the thick silence.“…Did they come back… to torment her again?”The room froze. Slowly, all of them turned their eyes toward the bed where the sound had come from. There lay Thomas, Asher’s father, frail, pale, and sickly, but his half-lidded eyes were open now, and though his voice was weak, it carried a heavy weight. He wasn’t asking for no reason… he knew.At the sound of his voice, Eleanor suddenly snapped out of her daze. She straightened in Asher’s hold, hurriedly wiped her face and fixed her expression like nothing had h

The moment Eleanor revealed what she had been hiding all this time, she suddenly felt exposed. It was as if she had mentioned something she shouldn't have. Feeling disturbed and overwhelmed, she suddenly snapped,“Asher!”But Asher didn’t flinch. Instead, he turned towards her and returned the yell. “Mother! What do you think you’re doing?!” he barked.“Asher, please…” she choked out, but Asher wasn’t done. His chest rose and fell heavily as the fury inside him was refusing to be caged any longer.“No, Mother. I won’t stand for this.” He straightened. “I am General Asher Blackmoor, the only general who’s never lost a battle for Drakmont. Through blood and sweat, I fought day and night, every single day. I’ve faced horrors on the warfront, nightmares that haunt me still. But I came back to this city, this city of rotten civilians I’ve been protecting, only to find them hurting my own mother.”His voice thundered and was full of rage and disbelief.All this time, Thomas remained silent,