Prologue
Born as a noble, raised as a noble, feed like a noble and treated as a noble. Being born as a noble is the dream of almost every commoner in the Empire of Theonao. I, on the other hand, deem that it is a ridiculous idea what they wish for. Why would they of all people want a life so obnoxious and unpleasant? Is it because of the reverie of desiring to wear great sophisticated dresses in their everyday life or maybe because of the glorious food they would always fantasize about tasting? Perhaps, in a lifetime. Well, in my case, if I had a choice I'd rather be the son of a dog than be the son of a noble.
I am Asher Valentina-Smith the firstborn son to the House of Rosengan, one of the most potent residences in the Empire of Theonao. Nobility is everything in my world, from states to countries everything is dignity. Well, what the hell is dignity anyways? Being the firstborn is always a despondency.
My father, Duke Pierce Darlington-Whit of the House of Rosengan and my mother, Madam Vivienne Fitzcharles of the House of Rosengan were the pair influential people I venerated and looked up to. They loved me, oh yes they did but then the birth of my younger brother emerged in the house which changes everything. I once thought it was a blessing to have a baby brother but who would've thought it would be both a curse and a blessing. I was only twelve when my parents stopped loving me.
My parents were everything to me. They were the reason why I started changing so much over the past years when they were absent from my life. When I reached the age of nineteen, I had my first taste of alcohol. It had a rather pleasant and mild taste to it. I made two friends during my lonely days as trash. Friends I felt comfortable and felt safe with. They were the most closes friends to me. My foolishness took over me which led me to trust people I should have never trusted or granted. I was a foolish and selfish bastard, wasn't I? That's why people called me a 'troublemaker' or an 'impudent fool' or 'insolent bastard'. I was rather famous for being trash throughout the reign. I was also a big disappointment to both my parents and the house of Rosengan.
For seven years, my parents paid no attention to me. For seven years they did not care for me. For seven years, they shunned me. And after all the trouble I caused by creating huge controversies in taverns to sleeping with any pretty girl I chose. You'd say I was a really possessive alcoholic and player. After all the disputes I've caused in almost every township, I've finally got their attention. But the attention I got from them was a mixture of disappointment and disapprobation. I was insignificantly hurt with the words they said to me that day, but I determined not to take it to heart, but I should've.
'Asher you've gone too far!' - Father slammed his hand on his study desk. I could only playfully stare and not take any of his concerns to heart.
'Father, don't you think you're hurting the poor desk with your fist?' - I giggled as I slumped back onto the sofa of my father's study room.
'Asher! Your father is being serious here! Stop playing around and listen!' - I threw my head back and glared at their staring faces.
'And why would I care?' - I can comprehend that father's face has become red from the anger he was overwhelmed with but I still chose to ignore my father's purposes.
'Asher, don't you realized what you have done?! You r***d a fourteen-year-old girl! What were you thinking?!' - I sighed in boredom as I stood up from the sofa.
'Where do you think your going young man? Get back here! Your father hasn't finished talking to you!' - I stopped in my tracks and turned at both my mother and father boredly.
'But I think he's done talking though.' - I smirk as I examined my father's veins display on his face. I giggled as I turned around and started towards the door when my father along with my mother spat out the five words that would haunt me in my dreams that day.
'I'm very disappointed in you, Asher Valentina-Smith.'
'I'm disappointed in you too, Asher.'
I stomped out of my father's study that day with anger as I replayed their responses in my head. It became a nightmare in my life. That day I came across my seven-year-old brother in the great hallway looking up at me with inquisitive eyes. At first, I felt like teaching him a lesson of respect but his face displayed my own.
'Big brother Asher, what's wrong?' - I gritted my teeth as I turned away from him and continued down the hallway. That day I didn't take anybody's advice to heart and continued with my own action that would cost me my own status as a noble.
'Lord Asher Valentina-Smith, firstborn of the House of Rosengan is accused of the murderer of the second daughter of the House of Pemberton, Lady Claire Winstanley.' - Two palace guards are both hand-in-hand holding me down in front of the Gate of House Rosengan.
'Let go of me! I didn't do anything! Let me go, you impudent jerks! Let me go at once! Don't you know who I am?' - I looked behind me to see both my father and mother gazing away from me.
'Mother! Father! Tell them to let me go!' - I can only try gasp for air as one of the guards headlock me down to the ground. As I was striving to gasp for oxygen a small slight figure hung on one of the guards arms.
'Let go of him! Let go of my big brother! Please let go of him! He didn't do anything wrong! Please.' - His sudden reaction shocked me down to the core. I pushed the guard from behind me and grasp my little brother's arms.
'Levi, you can't!' - I tried to separate my little brother Levi Garbert-Smithe from myself as he clung onto my arms while crying out loud.
'But you didn't do anything! You didn't!' - I looked behind my little brother to see my parents hurrying towards us. I painfully looked down at my crying little brother with pity. Afterwards, I felt a strong firm hand knock me down to the floor. People from nearby started gathering around the front gate in curiosity but once their glance landed on the criminal their questioning faces turned to disgust.
'It's that trash!'
'A murder!'
'A fool!'
All I could hear was the hatred they were pouring out at me. I felt blood running down my head, but the pain felt numb as all I could think of that day as my own parents have disowned me. I've been abandon for good. I remember being thrown in a dirty smelly wagon. Maybe somehow it is filled with germs and bacteria. The motion of the wagon can only send bad airs down to the core which caused me to puke all over the place.
All the bad feelings came to a stop when the cabinet suddenly stopped. I can hear one of the guards closes to the wagon talk.
'Sir, his inside.' - I gazed behind me sharply as the back door burst open. Two arms grabbed me by the arms while yanking me outside. All I could do was yell as I attempted to pull myself free.
'Let me go! Ah!' - I cried out loud as one of the guards stepped me down. I glanced around to realize that it is now night time and we've stopped in one part of the forest near the River of Fate. Moreover, in front of me stood a tall slender figure.
'Well look who we have here. If it isn't it Ash, it's been a while.' - I looked up to see the face of someone I trusted hovering upfront of me.
'Dixon? What the hell are you doing here?' - I gazed behind me to see the palace guards who obtained me set off with the wagon. In confusion, I looked up at him upsetting.
'What the f**k is going on, Dixon?! What else did you do?! What-' - Before I even finished my sentence he kicked me by the ribs that I started coughing out blood.
'You talk a lot for a trash don't you think?' - In dismay I notice another tall figure approaching from behind a tree in the dark.
'Charles.' - I spat out his name in disgust. His smile turned into one of the most sinful smirks I've never seen plastered on his face before.
'Asher, Asher, Oh Ash. You were always a big disappointment, don't you think? You r***d a 14-year-old girl. You even set that famous tavern on fire. And don't forget the other crimes that are not mentioned yet. Tell me, does trash like you deserve to live?' - I sent him a death glare in respond which made Dixon kick me again on the exact spot causing me to stumble back onto the ground.
'I said tell me does a fucken trash like you deserve to live?' - I painfully stood my ground as I lifted my head to meet his green bright eyes.
'You both are the fucken trashes who should just die! Framing me! By taking the life of a noble! What were you two fucken thinking?! What-' - One hard punch sent me off slamming into one of the trees behind me. I remembered the pain I was feeling that night. The punches slashed onto my skin like knives. The punching and the kicking from Dixon came non-stop. From behind Charles only grin in amusement which exasperates me.
'What's with the face? The cat got your tongue?' - I can only silently stare at the ground when a hand grabbed me by the neck bringing me up to the air. This time two pair of bright blue eyes are now staring me down with hatred.
'Dixon, you slut.' - His eyes flickered like a flame as he threw me on the ground. I smirk as I glared at both of them.
'Why not just kill me now?' - Charles started laughing which frustrated me more.
'Did you think we'd sent you off without a gift? Dixon, bring it out.' - Dixon walked off to one of the trees from behind to get something. All I could think of was, 'What the f**k is it?' When Dixon returned, the 'thing' they were talking about was my little brother, Levi.
'Levi!' - I shouted in pain as his little body stumbles on the ground in front of me now covered in cuts and blood.
'What, what did you do?! What did you fucken do to him?! Charles, I'm going to fucken kill you!!' - I grabbed my little brother's now cold body in grief. Charles only laughed in amusement as he stared at the scene. Dixon only stood silently staring. I used my last strength of energy to run. I ran my hardest towards the river. I knew they'll both follow me from behind but the only task in my head at that time was to safe the little boy in my arms. The cold body I once felt was now with a little bit of warm. I reached the river in exhausting. I scooped some of the water as I helped Levi gulped it down. The river helps heal wounds and derive poison. After a few seconds of gulping down the water, Levi's eyes fluttered open.
'B-big brother?' - I softly smiled as the moonlight reflected his face. He fell into a hug which made giggle but then I heard running footsteps approaching from behind. I grabbed Levi by the shoulders as I pushed him away.
's**t. Levi, you need to get away from here. You have to go now!' - Levi started crying but I can't have any more weakness. I pushed him again as I softly whispered to him to run.
'Run if you must. You need to get back home safely. Please do this for me. You need to! Now go! Go!' - Levi wavered as he ran. I sighed as I waited for the two peasants to advance.
'Ash, I didn't know you ran so fast. I could even catch my breath.' - Dixon, on the other hand, started examining the river when his gaze landed on me with a glare.
'Where is the boy?!' - I smirked as I thought of Levi running to safety.
'Tell me, why do you hate nobles? Is it because your commoners?' - Both men in front of me pierced with hatred.
'That is something you don't deserve to know rather you deserve something else. Dixon.' - Before I could even react a hard firm kick landed on my ribs which caused me to cough more blood.
'Why the f**k are you doing this Charles? And you Dixon, are some kind of dog?' - I stammer as I lift my body shakingly. Then again, I felt a punch landed on my right cheek which caused me to lose balance. I coughed through the pain as I glared up at both men.
'Why the f**k are you both doing this to me?! Why?! Tell me why!' - Here I am shouting at the top of my lungs trying to get answers as to why have they ruined my life.
'Why? 'Why' you ask? Hehe. Asher, were you really that stupid? To think two commoner boys would take pity over a noble boy with a funny girly name?' - Charles gawked down at with the most disgusting grin cemented on his face. I could only stare in disgust as he caresses my bloody cheek.
'Asher, you were always useless. You always were and will always will.' - His statement burned me down to the core which made me fling up at him but another punch landed on my right cheek. I groaned out in pain as I tried to track myself towards the river. But then a heavy muddy boot stomped on my right wounded hand which caused me to let out a painful cry. I looked up in tears to see Charles disgusting grin as he licked some of the blood he caressed from my cheek.
'Your blood tastes pure but your attitudes rather not.' - I squeaked my eyes shut as I wished this was only a dream but the pressure of the boot on my right hand just keeps getting heavy and heavier. I gritted my teeth as I sought to endure the torture.
'Tell me, Asher. Where's the boy?' - I glared up at him with hostility as he bends down to my level glaring down at me with temptation.
'And why on earth, should I tell you?' - I spat at his face as he closed his eyes in dismay.
'Dixon.' - Ere I could react again a sharp painful object stabbed me down by the heart. I stared in shock to see Charles smirk and mouthed.
'You're done. For good, dear friend. Might as well finish up your family.' - I disgustedly stutter as I tried to regain myself. The last thing I saw was my little brother choking through tears behind one of the trees from behind Charles. And all I could do was pray that Charles or Dixon will notice him in the dark.
'If there really is a God,' - I thought. 'Please guide my little brother home safely.' Then that's when my world fell dark.
It was the ending of my life or so I thought. I woke up to sudden bright lights. I shielded my eyes from the lights when a voice called out my full name along with my parent's names.
'Asher Valentina-Smith the firstborn son of Pierce Darlington-Whit and Vivienne Fitzcharles of the House of Rosengan.' - I turned about slowly to meet gorgeous rich golden eyes glancing down at me with the countless angelic smile I've ever witnessed in my lifetime. For a moment I was dazzled by the beauty manifested in front of me when I realize I don't even know the person.
'Who are you?' - I started back as I looked at her doubtfully. She smiled as she flowed through mid-air which sort of terrified me for a moment. But her smile was so warm that it took my doubts away.
'I am Armali Archangel, the guardian of life. You are here today because you lived and died an unfair life. Asher Valentina-Smith, the son of Pierce Darlington-Whit and Vivienne Fitzcharles of the House of Rosengan. I take pity on you and so is the other guardians of the heavens. Therefore you are granted a second chance to live. But you must amends with the people you wronged and you must change. Asher Valentina-Smith of the House of Rosengan, do you acquire this proposition?' - I can only feel the tingle of excitement as I heard this proposal. I smiled as I stared at her hand reaching out towards me. I sighed as I gasp her warm hands and peered up at her.
'I accept the compromise.' - The last thing I remembered ere everything befell darkened anew was the guardian of life granting me one last smile before murmuring her blessings to me as I fainted into mid-air.
**************************************
It wasn't the ending of my life though. The guardian of life took pity on my unfair life which did not concern me at all. The guardian of life felt pity towards me and so she granted me the second chance to live my life but only if I change for the better. So I thought to myself, why not take this surpassing opportunity, eh. Because having a second chance in life is not so easier invested, right. And so a new beginning starts. It'll be fun to do some changes but who the f**k needs changes? It's time to see a change in the future of me, don't you think?
This is where everything started anew.