Page 250 of The White King's Favorite

He had cut his white hair short!

“Ashen!” Cessilia exclaimed, shocked.

She walked up to him, completely taken by surprise. His long white hair was gone. He now had a sharp cut on the sides, and just a couple of inches of white hair on top and behind his head. Strangely, the simple but radical haircut changed his overall appearance drastically. He strangely somehow seemed taller, and even a bit younger. Cessilia caressed the side of his head, surprised that the short hair felt like a soft brush under her fingertips. She bit her lower lip, a bit excited. It was like discovering a new Ashen...

“Grandmother!” she exclaimed, turning to the old woman, a bit annoyed. “That’s too much!”

“What?” shrugged the lady. “I merely gave your man a couple of suggestions, I didn’t do anything!”

Cessilia kept glaring at her grandmother, annoyed. She could bet her grandmother’s suggestions had hit a nerve for Ashen to do such a thing... She turned back to him.

“I’m sorry,” she muttered.

“Don’t worry,” he laughed. “I’ll survive. Moreover, I do feel lighter. ...Do you like it?”

Cessilia blushed and nodded shyly. In fact, she was surprised by how much she liked it. She caressed his hair some more, pretending to play with the new length, well aware of Ashen’s amused eyes on her. He had clearly done this all by himself and quite quickly. Probably with a sharp blade from something like a dagger, judging by the slightly uneven length in some parts. Perhaps he’d let her even it out later... but she also liked it a bit messy.

“...I think I like it a lot,” she whispered.

He smiled and gently kissed her, Cessilia answering the quick kiss with delight. He had even shaved his beard, leaving his chin and cheeks completely smooth. There was a fresh thin cut on his chin already healing by itself.

“Children,” said Kareen, sounding a bit annoyed, “I’m still here. Literally, right here.”

“...Thank you for the suggestion, Grandmother,” chuckled Cessilia, slowly parting from him. “I like it.”

She took Ashen’s hand, while Kareen put on a little amused smile.

“See? Your grandmother’s always right.”

“From now on, I’d like it if you didn’t push your opinions on my love though, Grandmother,” Cessilia frowned.

Ashen chuckled, amused to hear Cessilia come to his defense, and put a quick kiss on her forehead.

“Where were you two headed?”

“The Cheshi Clan’s residence,” Cessilia explained, resuming their walk. “Apparently, Aglithia asked for me... I figured I’d bring Grandmother too.”

Ashen nodded and followed her. Cessilia wondered if it would be alright for him to visit his mother’s birth tribe. Despite knowing of her origins, he actually hadn’t been on good terms with the Cheshi for a long while now... This would be the first time he interacted so closely with that clan. They had remained out of sight when he was a child, and mostly ignored him as a King. For them to have changed their position for the war might not be enough to erase their difficult past with Ashen...

Still, he didn’t say anything for the whole trip, but didn’t look annoyed or reluctant to go either. Cessilia had become better at deciphering his expressions, and she could tell he was completely fine. If anything, he seemed happy to spend more time with her. Their fingers remained interlaced for the entire time they walked to the Cheshi residence.

When they finally got there, Lady Kareen frowned, and raised her eyes toward the door.

“...That’s it?” she asked.

Cessilia nodded, and before she could add anything, the doors slowly opened. Aglithia stepped out, and was surprised to see the two extra guests accompanying Cessilia. She quickly hid her surprise though and bowed politely to the two of them.

“Your Majesty, Lady Kareen, it’s an honor.”

“...You know who I am?” Kareen raised an eyebrow.

“Of course. We have eyes and ears everywhere.”

“Ha,” scoffed the older lady. “...My kind of people.”

Cessilia smiled. Indeed, it was exactly like her grandmother. Even years and years after the last battle in the Dragon Empire, she still had spies in every noble and Imperial residence, so that even while visiting once in a while, no one could hide anything from her. The Cheshi were probably no stranger to those kinds of practices either... Cessilia wouldn’t have even been surprised if they’d been followed all along.

“Please, do come in,” said Aglithia. “We have some tea ready. It’s a good thing you came, Your Majesty, we have already interrogated quite a number of prisoners.”

---