Scarlet's Awakening

Anselme followed after his master and mistress to the palace gardens after making her shadow guard sleep as per his master's instructions, leaving his unconscious body in the meeting room.

When Anselme arrived at the gardens, he found his master, standing in the middle of the rose garden. His back was facing him and in his arms, an unconscious Scarlet Rose lay. Sleeping.

Anselme approached them and kneeled to salute his lord and master. Afterwards, he pressed his fist to his heart and greeted him;

"This subordinate greets, your majesty."

"Hmn." Jasper's cold emotionless face didn't twitch a single muscle. He simply nodded his head and hummed in response, not even giving Anselme a side long glance to acknowledge his presence.

Anselme wasn't bothered by his master's lack of response. He was already used to it. His master's attitude towards him has always been cold.

On Jasper's end, he didn't need bother. Anselme's presence wasn't worth acknowledging anyway. The man has been following him like a shadow when he was still a little boy. So, he's used to seeing Anselme by his side.

A strong gust of wind shook the roses in the garden, shedding it's petals as it gets caught in the wind, flying. Jasper stood in the middle of it all- mesmerising to the eyes. A person wouldn't be able to look away. His appearance was already back to what it was before. That time when Scarlet found him in the cave- asleep and irresistibly handsome.

With a single glance, Scarlet will surely be able to recognize his handsome face. She's been wanting to see him again ever since.

Anselme glanced at his master for a split second and said: "Congratulations to your marriage, your majesty. I pray that the goddess Mellias will bless your union with prosperity and happiness for thousands of years."

As always, there was no change in Jasper's stone cold face. But still he replied, "Thank you." surprising Anselme a little. His master never says thank you. This is a first.

There was silence in the garden once again. Jasper's eyes didn't leave Scarlet's face- memorising every inch of her features like it was the first time he ever saw it.

Jasper's face may be cold and unfeeling on the outside. But it was the face that made thousands of women throw themselves to his feet.

And It was not an exaggeration for Anselme.

His master was the most eligible bachelor among the realms! He was handsome, talented and very powerful that he almost conquered the realms before he was imprisoned.

However, his master didn't take interest in women. He's not gay. But he never talks to them and he never, ever let's them touch him or his clothes.

Those who try their luck to talk to him finds themselves getting their tongue cut of- or worse, killed.

There was also a time when a palace maid accidentally touched the hem of his clothes and his master was really disgusted that he ordered for his clothes to be burned and both of the maid's hands was cut off before banishing her from the palace. He was ruthless to those he didn't like. No one in the right mind would try to cross him or even gain his favour. At first Anselme didn't understand why. Why his master didn't like to talk or to be touched by other people, especially by women. But later then he discovered that it was master's way of keeping his chastity intact for his fated person.

Speaking of fated person, Anselme's eyes went to Scarlet and said; "This humble subordinate didn't know the quickest way for his majesty to recover his powers... was to complete the marriage ceremony."

The cold look on Jasper's face softened.

"You're not the only one surprised here, Anselme. The effects of completing the spousal ceremony wasn't part of my expectations as well." he softly said, c.a.r.e.s.sing Scarlet's cheeks with his thumb. "It just happened."

Anselme nodded solemnly.

He knew during his master's birth, he was cursed by the notorious white witch. Cursed that he will be incapable of feeling love or even marry a women his whole life. He will only feel love towards a single person- a woman, and when she dies, he will incapable of feeling anything, ever again. In simple words, he will lose his five senses.

Now, that his master has found his prophesied bride and married her using the unbreakable bond of Mellias. She... was his weakness now. His only weakness.

"Has this happened before, sire? In the history of the royal family?" Anselme asked. He already read some books and annals regarding the royal family- legends and many others and the source materials did not mention anything about regaining powers to their full strength, or something similar to it.

Being the knowledgeable one present- Jasper shook his head.

"No, this hasn't happened before. This is the first time... however this is a good thing. My original estimation for my powers to return was a week or two but this is better than I had anticipated. The earlier I regain my powers, the safer she is with me."

Anselme nodded in agreement.

A soft breeze went by and it gently blew Jasper's crimson long robe. The soft breeze made his entire image look ethereal and otherworldly. And his handsome features added arrogance and strength to his appearance. The mischievous glint in his eyes couldn't be ignored as well, making him look like the Demon Lord himself.

Noticing his wife was having a hard time sleeping while standing up, Jasper leaned down to scoop her on her feet; snaking his arms behind her knees and the spot between her neck and back, he easily lifting her up in the air, carrying her.

"Ummm." Scarlet g.r.o.a.n.e.d in his embrace and quickly shifted her body to a much more comfortable position before she slept again.

After a while, Anselme spoke;

"So, what are you intending to do now, sire? Everyone is waiting for you to come back. The empirial throne has been left empty for too long."

Jasper's eyebrows immediately furrowed, seemingly displeased that he was being pressured to return.

"The throne can wait, Anselme." he answered in irritation. "... I'm not coming back yet."

"But your majesty, now that you're married there's a lot of things you have take care of in the-"

"I'm aware of that!" Jasper snapped, his voice cold as glaziers and his eyes making the 'don't remind me look' making Anselme shiver on his feet. "But my decision is final and no one can change it... Not even my mother."

Anselme closed his eyes and sighed, "This subordinate understands."

Jasper hummed and didn't wait a second to bark his orders; "Send Aidan a message. Tell him to continue doing my work for me until I come back... with Scarlet." he said, making Anselme nod to his commands- as always.

"Very well, your majesty, I'll tell my brother your message this instant... I'll be back in a few minutes." Anselme bowed his head before his figure disappeared like smoke, leaving Jasper and his unconscious wife to themselves.