The princess' birthday ended beautifully.
'I guess the saying that don't be too much happy, it can bring you pain.. is real." Ashleah thought as she got down the Imperial Carriage and was welcomed by 5 servants of the Deoncan's Mansion.
2 days after the grand celebration of Ashleah's 16th birthday, the Duke Deoncan fell terribly ill that made Nash and Ashleah shock. Is he going to die earlier than the past?
"Her Imperial Highness, Princess of Genry. Greetings." Servants greeted her with a sad look plastered on their faces. The Duke may not be in good terms with some nobles but he did treat every one respectfully.
"Please do bring me to Duke Deoncan." Ashleah said, trying to hide the pain she felt as she imagined how sad Nash would be. The Duke's Death should've happen after Nash's 17th birthday, but right now.. he was 6 months earlier.. 6 months earlier to his death.
The servant knocked on the massive door right in front of them. The door opened, revealing the butler. "Her Imperial Highness, Princess of Genry. Greetings." He said bowing before opening the door fully.
As her eyes landed on the man trying to sit up straight from his bed, Nash beside him. "Her Imperial Highness, Princess of Genry. Greetings." The Duke said, he was really trying hard to look like he was okay.
"It's fine if you didn't greet me." She smiled started to walk her way to them. The duke chuckled and shook his head, finally giving up that he can't even sit up straight.
"Thank you for coming here today your highness.." Nash said, without even a single energy. He didn't even dare to look at Ashleah.
Ashleah was about to say something, but her eyes landed on the necklace that Nash was wearing. It was red. Her heart dropped for she knew what will happen next.
"Did his Majesty told you to check on me?" He chuckled, and after coughed for a few times. "My, it's quiet embarassing that you're seeing me like this."
"Don't be. Father wanted to check on you but he's too busy to do so." Ashleah smiled, trying to forget about Nash's necklace.
"My, the princess is so sweet. Right Nash?" He glanced at his only son, and lost his smile. Nash was still looking down but he was now holding the necklace tightly. The Duke cleared his throat and chuckled. "Your highness, I've heard about the success of your mission."
"You did? Well, Nash did great too!" Ashleah excitedly blurted out. The Duke smiled and nodded his head.
"The future of the empire are in great hands. You used to be that little girl, you were even scared of me and my son, Nash!" He said, obviously trying to hold his laughter.
"I can't recall those kind of memories." Ashleah said trying to refrain herself from laughing. 'My, my this is embarassing.' the girl thought.
"Oh dear, can the two of you please.go out for now? I want to rest." He said smiling, as he looked and Nash, nodding his head. The man sighed and tiredly smiled back to his Father.
Closing the door, Ashleah quickly gripped on Nash's necklace and gritted her teeth. How can they forget about this mission too?!
"is it him, Nash?" She asked, Nash pulled the necklace away and avoided eye contact. "Answer me. Is it him?"
The princess heard how he cursed under his breath. "Yes, it is him. What am I supposed to do huh?" He said, completely losing it.
"Calm down, maybe it's somebody else—"
"Ashleah. Stop it, I was there when he fainted and the necklace popped out of nowhere again!" He gritted his teeth and quickly walked away from his Father's room.
Ashleah scoffed and walked behind him, whispering every curse word she can think of. Both were pissed of with the situation.
"Then what now? Are you going to run away Nash!?" She half shouted and whispered at him. She saw how his hands ruffled his neat looking hair.
"I am not running away. Seeing my father on his death bed hurts Ashleah." He said, finally turning around and facing her. No one was even batting an eye.
"This.. wait no— things are changing and they are happening to quickly Nash! And we're not even prepared for it." She blurted out because of stres, but suddenly Nash disappeared in thin air.
Ashleah was in a complete state of panic, not until she heard servants screaming that the Duke is going to die. Dang! The princess didn't care if she was wearing a floor length dress, she scooped some up and ran as fast as she can.
The door was opened, as she slowly walked inside. Her trembling hands started to cover her lips as she saw how Nash's eyes were glowing bright red and the necklace too.
This time she wasn't scared, she knew that she was the only that was seeing Nash. The other servants were looking for him.
Nash wasn't scary and terrifying at all. His eyes held sadness and pain as he saw the white glow going inside his bright red colored necklace.
As he slowly saw how he took his Father soul, how he took his Father's life. He blinked and finally, the red glow inside his eyes and he came back to the place where they were talking.
Nash ran, he quickly ran back to his Father's room. Only seeing Ashleah crying beside his Father's dead body. The princess looked back and pursed her lips as she tightly hugged Nash.
"Fck." He cursed out, finally tears dripped one by one. He couldn't lift his arms to hug Ashleah back. He was lifeless.
"My husband!" The Duchess came running in, she hugged the dead body of Nash's father. The woman cried out.
"I-It's going to okay.." Ashleah whispered, trying her best to calm Nash down, unfortunately it didn't work. Nash took his own Father's soul for his mission, and he can't even say no to it.
'Just how cruel is this curse?!' She tought, finally he moved away and slowly held his Father's hand. He smiled and also held the necklace.
It was just them that understood what it meant. Ashleah was now refraining herself from sobbing loudly.
"I'm going to protect you." He said and hid the necklace, but what made every one stop was when the Duchess started to shout at Nash.
"It was all your fault! You! The only one to blame here is you!" She cried out, pointing at the man. "I-If he didn't care that much, he wouldn't overwork.. It was because of you!"
The woman slowly kneeled down the floor, loosing all her hope. "It was no one's fault Duchess." The princess blurted out.
"Do you really think your husband will be happy when he finds out you're blaming his son for his death?" She continued while wiping the tears away from her cheeks.
"Your highness." Nash held her shoulder and shook his head, stopping her from saying anything. The princess sighed, nodding her head.
The day ended with this, as Nash was walking beside Ashleah, no one dared to talk. Not until the princess cleared her throat.
"So for the past few years, you've been seeing every single one of them die?" She said in a whispering tone.
"Yes, I've even tried killing people. I thought that when I kill them, I'd get their souls. I was wrong." He said, making Ashleah gasp.
"You tried killing them?"
"I was so lost Ashleah. I was only 19 years old that time." He said and ruffled his hair, trying to stop his tears.
"I'm sorry.." She looked down and started fidgeting her fingers.
"Don't be. I already accepted the fact that I'll only stop seeing their deaths when I complete this mission. That's why I'm giving it my best."
"Nash, I don't believe it when you call yourself death."
"Ashleah, I am death. Because there was something you didn't see when I took my Father's soul." He gave her the saddest smile ever before walking a little faster than her.