Asbel finally decided it was high time he made his appearance. He was fairly well known by the guards as being the lord of Lahnt, so he knew he needed to somehow make a more discreet entrance. He headed for the secret entrance through the catacombs to make his way into the castle. This place was not very pleasant to travel through. He found himself a bit unsettled by the unpleasant memories he and his friend shared here. He made haste to the best of his ability, having to lay low and hide when monsters were in his path. He had left his sword behind in Lahnt. It was interesting to experience life as a civilian for once, but as a queen, he assumed he would not have to bother with any of this.
He made it into the castle through the secret entrance and walked towards the throne room. He tried his best to stay confident and walk with an air of nobility about him. "I am a noble" he thought to himself. "This shouldn't be so hard for me," he was already becoming frustrated with himself, but luckily, he was graceful enough to not arouse immediate suspicion from the guard at the door.
"Ma'am state your business with his highness," the guard insisted.
He held his head high and simply raised his hand up to show the ring on his finger. The guard opened the door and stepped aside, immediately recognizing it as Richard's.
Asbel walked in and waited for the door to close behind him before walking quickly down the carpeted path to Richard.
Richard looked up from his book at the sound of footsteps. He squinted a bit, attempting to see who could have ended up in his chamber. He had no appointments with anyone, let alone a woman. Before he could ask the stranger to state her business though, Sophie hopped up and rushed over to meet Asbel halfway. She did not have to say anything for Richard to know what that meant. He rushed out of his throne and ran along with her, and they both practically tackled Asbel to hug him
"Asbel!" Sophie smiled and held onto him.
"I'm so relieved you're alive Asbel" Richard insisted and held him tight, quietly crying into him.
Asbel held onto both of them, trembling a bit "I'm so sorry I worried you".
Richard shook his head "What matters now is that you're ok," he insisted "We have to tell everyone." he insisted.
Asbel frowned and shook his head "Before we do that, I need to tell you everything." he insisted softly.
Richard was a bit taken aback by his words. He nodded and pulled away "… Explain away. I hope this will also reveal why you are wearing such a hideous dress." he chuckled and gave him a wink.
Asbel nodded and couldn't help but chuckle "Right…. I don't think it's that bad though," he frowned a bit. "I guess I could start with why I'm like. Not dead. I. well. You see," he fumbled around for a bit before quickly spitting it out "I-faked-my-death-to-get-out-of-marrying-Cheria" he blurted out.
Richard frowned a bit "A-Asbel that's terrible!" he insisted "That's just horribly irresponsible. You had everyone worried" he insisted.
Sophie spoke up "I wasn't worried" she insisted.
Richard sighed a bit "Yes, Sophie wasn't worried. But I for one was devastated!" he argued "We were all beside ourselves with grief! Cheria is only pushing herself so hard to ensure your mother's care. Lady Kerri is bedridden with her depression, Pascal has hardly spoken, Hubert-"he managed before Asbel cut him off.
"I'm sorry," he insisted "but. I need you to hear me out Richard. I had a reason for doing all of this." he assured him.
"Well explain away." He huffed "I'm only hearing you out for my own sake," he insisted "I don't want to believe a man I respect so much would do something so immature and horrible to those he claimed to love the most" he insisted.
Asbel nodded and smiled a bit. That was a good sign. Richard wanted to forgive him. He was not so sure of the others, but he knew he could live with his choices so long as Richard and Sophie didn't hate him.
"Richard I… I chose to marry Cheria because I wanted what was best for Sophie. I couldn't go through with it though because, I wanted someone else." he muttered, knowing this was definitely the hard part. It had to be said, and it had needed to be said for years now. "I want to spend my life with you instead Richard."
Richard was a little bit shaken by what Asbel had said. He did not want to jump to conclusions based on his own wishes though. "I-Is this about wanting to be a knight again Asbel?" he laughed weakly "C-cause I'm sure you didn't have to die to get Hubert to take over Lahnt for you. I'm s-sure Cheria wouldn't have minded being the wife of a knight." he insisted, trying to choke back tears.
Asbel sighed and shook his head before opening his mouth to clarify "Asbel Lahnt had to be dead for me to be able to be your Queen Richard." he insisted.
Richard could not help but chuckle, letting his tears fall as he did so. "Y-you really thought Richard Windor would marry a woman with such horrid fashion sense?" he teased and stepped in closer to hug Asbel close.
Asbel burned bright red and reached his arms up to hold onto Richard. "I apologize for my garish dress your highness." he insisted.
Richard held him for a moment longer before he slowly let him go, pulling away to hold his chin, tilting his face up to force eye contact, "Asbel. Are you genuinely serious about these feelings you claim to have for me?" he asked softly. Part of him wanted to ask Sophie to step out of the room but he had a feeling she would refuse anyways.
Asbel felt a bit flustered but he spoke up quickly "Y-yes. I'm in love with you Richard!" he insisted
Richard nodded before leaning in to softly kiss his lips. The first kiss they shared was gentle and slow, and only lasted a few seconds. Still, the both of them felt something in what they shared that could never be replicated with anyone else. The first kiss between soulmates is always more of an emotional experience than a physical one.
Just as he was the one who led the kiss, Richard was also the one to break the kiss. "Your lips are as soft as I'd expect from a queen" he chuckled softly.
Asbel did not know how to respond to such a comment. "S-so does that mean you aren't going to tell the others?" he asked nervously.
Richard furrowed his brows a bit and shook his head "I will be summoning them here so you can tell them yourself" he asserted.
Asbel frowned "R-Richard why? Don't you see this was the only way-"he managed before he was interrupted again.
"Sophie. What kind of person is the Asbel you know?" Richard huffed.
Sophie perked up "Asbel? He's loyal, kind, protective, noble, brave, stubborn, a really good friend, and really good at naming." she insisted.
Richard nodded "Precisely. I won't allow a man I admire so strongly to disgrace himself." he asserted "I will not enable the fall of my beloved from grace." He huffed.
Asbel frowned "… So you don't want to be with me?" he sighed softly.
Richard shook his head "Oh no sir. Asbel will stay dead, and we will find a way to make your silly queen plan work. All of that does seem believable," he nodded "Besides, you're too stubborn to let me ruin your hard work," he chuckled. "But the Asbel I know wouldn't lie to and hurt his friends like this. And he would certainly have the decency to break up with a girl rather than run away from his problems like this." he asserted.
Asbel frowned and sighed softly "Richard. This is a little more delicate than a breakup," he insisted "How would you feel if you were a girl and a guy left you for a man?" he groaned.
Richard nodded "She will be devastated but it's cowardly not to face your problems head on regardless. And the Asbel I love would know that." he asserted.
Asbel sighed and nodded "…. Fine. I'll tell them." he agreed reluctantly.
Richard nodded. "I'll send for them immediately. And in the meantime we'll make sure our new queen is all dolled up and ready for her big debut." he proclaimed excitedly.
Asbel nodded and was quiet for a moment before he really absorbed what Richard said "W-wait what?"
