Ascension of the Master Assassin

Although their marriage was arranged by their families as part of a political alliance between the two powerful families, he was fine with it. It could even be said that he was elated when he heard about the news from his father. 

Ever since his childhood, he was always fond of the little girl that was constantly following him around everywhere he went. And when he saw how beautiful the little girl of the Shuten family had grown to become, he became mesmerised with her.

Her long eyelashes; her beautiful horns; her angelic face; her prideful twin peaks. Every part of Ysera is a work of art to him; a miracle that only the Gods could create.

To have the Shuten family's approval to have her hand in marriage was a dream come true to him. But annoyingly, their marriage kept getting postponed because of the intrusion of the goblins. Furthermore, it was delayed even further when Ysera's father perished in the punitive expedition against the pesky goblins.

Though the goblins had proved to be a serious threat to the Oni Clan, he had thought little of it. With his strength and the power that his family holds, he was confident to win against the goblins and marry Ysera at the end of the whole thing.

"Just eight more days." General Brugvun mentally thought as his gaze roamed all over Ysera's elegant figure. To reach their goal and to prevent anything unexpected from happening, the elders of his family had organised a war meeting with all the elders of the other families. By pressuring them to agree in launching an all out attack on the goblins' lair eight days later, Ysera's excuse of delaying the wedding with him would turn invalid as well.

With the death of Ysera's father - the patriarch, the power balance of the political scene in the Oni Clan had shifted advantageously to their side. Now, by marrying Ysera, the elders in his family would be in even greater delight as it would give them a great excuse. Devouring the Shuten family would be a piece of cake to them after the assault on the goblins where they would dispose of them once and for all.

He initially thought they would have to lay low for the time being when the news of Blood Serpents' envoy arriving to the clan had reached his ears. However, he threw all caution to the wind when he saw just how weak Venn looked. 

He wasn't exactly hopeful that the Blood Serpents would answer the patriarch's call for help, so he was surprised that they would send someone as reinforcement. But after confirming that the Blood Serpents did not care much about the Oni Clan by sending someone as weak as Venn over, he was assured.

The relationship between the Oni Clan and the Blood Serpents was just of a vessel clan that pays its tributes for protection. Blood Serpents had no say in their clan structure and how their clan operates. Thus, regardless of which family will lead the Oni Clan, it would not matter to them as long as tributes are dutifully paid.

Brushing all his non-consequential thoughts aside and holding back his disgust of Venn, he greeted the approaching Ysera politely. His burly body trembled with excitement when he heard her sweet voice as he began to imagine the adorable Ysera who had always been following him around since childhood, would soon become his wife once the whole thing blows over. He had always wondered how soft her body would feel.

"Princess, the elders are all present in the war tent awaiting your arrival. With the death of the patriarch, your presence is greatly needed to guide our clan in the oncoming war against the goblins. Please allow me to escort you to the war meeting." General Brugvun said with a stern voice.

Watching Brugvun's hypocritical act, Ysera's heart sank. She knew what the Brugvun family was planning but she was not in a position to stop it. Her fate was no longer in her control on the day that she found out that her father, the strongest warrior, had died in a battle.

The burden of the Shuten family was suddenly placed upon her shoulders and she had to step up. In this hopeless situation of hers where she had become a mere puppet to the other families, she had to find a way out even if it meant grasping at straws.

Glancing at Venn who was still sitting down, her teeth gritted. Though it was despicable of her to pull Venn into the internal struggles of the Oni Clan, she had no choice.

"I know the way there. You do not have to escort me, general. I will be at the war tent after a change of attire. Please escort Lord Venn to the tent instead. He is employed to be my advisor for the upcoming battle with the goblins and I trust that he will prove his worth." Ysera replied coldly.

"The outsider? What does the outsider know about us and the situation we are in? What can he even do with his feeble body? Brugvun mocked Venn without a care that Venn was right in front of him. The thought that an outsider would interfere with the clan's affairs angered him.

"Watch your tone, general. Lord Venn is a precious guest of mine, and I will bear animosity towards you if you continue to be rude to him." Ysera raised her voice towards Brugvun, and after which, she made a signal to Venn with a blink of her eyes.

Venn immediately understood the princess's intention behind her gesture. It was important for him to attend the aforementioned war meeting. Even though he had no idea the specifics of what were to be discussed in the meeting, he knew that it would be regarding the goblins.

Shooting up from his seat in an instant, he approached General Brugvun with smiley eyes whilst constantly rubbing his hands.