1 Aster Caesar - Reign

As the chopper started to soar across the azure blue sky, the visual of the fortress started to shrink, making it look a lot smaller and simpler than it has to be. The dense forest around it dominated the high walls of the castle and the dimensions of the huge fortress didn't look complex anymore.

Aster looked at the place that housed her for sixteen years and the mixed feelings swelled in her heart. Although the weather was beautiful and breathtaking with the early sunshine blending across the clouds, she was in no mood to enjoy the spectacular view in front of her eyes.

She couldn't take her eyes off from the fortress though it started to leave the range of her sight. Her mind and her heart are filled with the bittersweet memories this castle holds in her heart.

"Aster," a man from the pilot seat called, making Aster turn her head to look at him.

Noticing his worried expression, she casted a smile which didn't reach her eyes.

"Don't be tense, love. Your grandfather is not going to shoot me.", the man joked, understanding her unspoken concern.

"I doubt that.", Aster chuckled but the tension remained intact in her melodious voice.

"I am your fianće. He won't be killing his granddaughter's soon to be husband for taking his granddaughter for a few hours trip." the man told, smiling affectionately.

No grandfather would react like this if his granddaughter's fiance takes her for a few hours ride, but she is Aster Caesar - Reign, the only granddaughter of the General, the powerful military official who reigns the power of the whole country.

She has the rare bloodline that attracts the most powerful enemies one could only imagine.

And, she is the only family and the only direct heir of all his wealth, power and what not. His everything!

"My grandpa already told you not to take me anywhere outside the fortress till our marriage.", Aster said.

She didn't want to disobey her grandfather's words but at the same time, she wanted to get out of the castle she didn't leave for sixteen years.

Yes, sixteen years.

She didn't leave those walls for sixteen years except for once in a while. Probably, once every five years to see her mother's grave.

After she lost her parents and big brother, the General locked his five year old granddaughter in a secret castle that has the best security.

Her castle could be the world's most secured home, who knows??

"But, this is your brother's twentieth death anniversary, Aster. I promised to take you to meet him at least once in ten years.", her fiance said and his strom grey eyes couldn't hide the pain when he spoke about his fiance's deceased brother.

He was six years old and Aster was one year old when Aster's sixteen year old brother died. Before he took his last breath, he asked Victor Anderson this request.

The marriage between Aster and Victor was decided the day Aster was born, so the request was directed to Victor.

When Aster heard Victor's words, pain and distress marred her face.

She never got to spend with her big brother who, as said by others, used to care for her a lot. Three years after her brother's death, her father was killed as well.

After her father's death, her maternal grandfather, General Caesar took his only granddaughter Aster and her mother under his wing.

But he couldn't protect them well and not very long after that, his daughter, Aster's mother was murdered cold blooded. His only granddaughter, Aster was retrieved before she could enter the doors of death, a close call.

When her mother was on her deathbed, the General promised her to take care of Aster and protect her well.

That's why she was locked for sixteen years, an extreme act of protection but a necessary one.

"My men are not far away, Aster. We will be safe." Victor said and patted her head dotingly before he landed the chopper on the helipad of the cliff, the place where her brother was put to rest.

She visited this when she was eleven and this cliff is one of the few places she saw outside the castle.

"I trust you.", Aster said and Victor entwined their fingers as they walked to her brother's tomb which is facing the sea and the endless sky.

"Brother Al, I will protect Aster with my life. I will cherish her and I will make sure smile will never leave her lips after I marry her.", Victor said to the tomb as he placed flowers on the tomb.

He has to ask permission from his mentor, Aster's brother, to marry his sister Aster and that is one of the reasons he is here.

"I will take her around the world. We will explore the globe together.", Victor added, kissing the back of Aster's hand.

This is the wish his fiancee, Aster has asked on their engagement day. Now, he promised in front of her brother that he would keep his promise.

Aster doesn't know how or why but, according to her grandfather, she would be safe as long as she is married into the Anderson family.

That is why she is getting married as soon as she is of legal marriage age, twenty one.

Aster was about to say something to her brother but the sound of gunshot distracted them.