CH345 Be Careful What You Wish For

***

Alex returned to his quarters at the Enclave, completely unaware of the tangled web of schemes already closing in around him and his father.

He had expected to find both his fiancées there, but only Eleanor was present. She stood quietly at the window, her expression distant, lost in thought. She didn't even notice him enter.

She had already removed her jacket, and the curve of her figure was accentuated in a way that tested his self-control. For a fleeting moment, he was tempted to walk up behind her and wrap his arms around her waist — but he forced the impulse down.

'Control yourself, Alex. We're almost at the goalpost. Don't lose focus now.'

He slipped off his own suit jacket and hung it neatly on the coat hook by the door, then rolled up his sleeves.

"What's got you thinking so deeply?" he asked, his tone light, as he walked over and sank into the sofa with an easy, casual air.

He sprawled across the seat, tugging his tie loose with one hand while resting the other along the backrest.

"Where's Zora?" he asked, glancing around.

"She went back to the Tower Master's office," Eleanor replied, finally turning toward him. "Something came up that she had to deal with."

'Something came up, huh...' Alex smirked inwardly.

"How was your meeting with His Excellency Archilles and His Highness Caesar?" Eleanor asked, moving to sit beside him.

"Good… I think," Alex replied.

She frowned. "What do you mean, you think? It was either good or bad. Which is it?"

"Well," he said with a faint grin, "Archilles invited me to join the Order of Valour — and I turned him down. Then we ended up drinking and bantering for the rest of the time."

He shrugged. "So, I'm not entirely sure whether that counts as good or bad."

Eleanor blinked. "You turned down a Legend to his face?"

"Of course," Alex said with a chuckle. "What's he going to do — force me to join the Order of Valour?"

That laugh sent a faint chill through Eleanor. She could almost imagine what would've happened if Archilles had tried to force him.

'Like father, like son. Unpredictable, both of them,' she thought.

"Well, all things considered," Alex said suddenly, smiling like a mischievous cat, "since I managed to get his Phone ID as well, I'd say it turned out pretty well."

Eleanor rolled her eyes. "It's my fault for worrying about you."

Alex threw his head back and laughed heartily.

"Thanks," Alex said suddenly.

Eleanor blinked. "For what?"

"For putting in a good word with Prince Caesar," he replied, glancing at her with a knowing look. "I'm sure he only came to see me because you mentioned something about me."

"I didn't do anything special," she said, shaking her head lightly. "Prince Caesar was already interested in you before I did anything."

She shifted slightly on the sofa and explained, "I had to inform the Imperial Chamberlain of Rites about our… arrangement. If I didn't, the Imperial Clan wouldn't have allowed our relationship to be recognised. Because of that, Prince Caesar found out about us. He helped smooth things over with the Chamberlain and the Clan. In return, he asked me to tell him more about you — and to arrange a meeting."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "And what did you tell him?"

"That you're too honest for your own good, annoyingly straightforward, and only mature when the situation demands it," she said with a small smile.

"Really? That's the impression you wanted to leave him with?"

"Yes," Eleanor said matter-of-factly, "because that's almost exactly the kind of person he is. I figured he'd find you interesting because of it. Seems I was right."

"I see…" Alex murmured, leaning back as understanding dawned on him. "That explains a lot."

He turned to her again. "So? What were you thinking about so deeply earlier? I doubt you were that concerned about my little chat with the princes."

Eleanor didn't answer immediately.

Alex studied her for a moment, watching the subtle tension in her shoulders, the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

"Judging by your expression, you're curious about something — but hesitant to ask," he said with a soft smile. "That usually means whatever you want to know is outside the bounds of our current… agreement, isn't it?"

Eleanor's glare snapped to him.

"I really hate when you do that," she said flatly.

"Do what?" he asked innocently.

"Read me like a book."

"I apologise…?" he offered uncertainly, though his tone carried more amusement than remorse. "In my defence, you make it very easy. It's actually harder not to notice than to notice."

Her glare deepened, but Alex's grin only widened.

"So, I take it I'm right," he said.

Eleanor hesitated, then nodded. "I'm curious about your connection to the Golden Palace."

Alex's playful expression vanished instantly. His entire bearing shifted — calm amusement replaced by cold, commanding authority.

"Are you sure you want to know?" he asked quietly.

"Yes." Eleanor nodded without hesitation.

The air changed.

[Regality]! [Dominion]! [Dominance]! [Subjugation]! [Limitless]!

One by one, the concepts bound to Alex's Velkerosolmir True Name surged outward, pressing against Eleanor like an invisible storm.

In her eyes, the mischievous young man before her was gone.

What stood in his place was an indomitable, absolute ruler.

Her Fey Monarch Bloodline also carried ruler traits, and it instinctively tried to resist. Unfortunately for her, Alex wasn't relying solely on his fused bloodline—he was invoking his True Name. That was a power Eleanor, who had yet to awaken hers, simply could not withstand.

"Are you sure you want to know?" Alex's voice deepened, echoing with command. "Once you do, there's no turning back. This ship will become a pirate ship you can never disembark. So, I'll ask you one last time—

"Are. You. Sure?"

His words didn't just resound in her ears—they thundered in her mind.

Yes, she was intimidated. Terrified even. But Alex had forgotten one crucial thing: the power of a True Name also revealed one's nature.

Because her Fey Monarch Bloodline shared similarities with his—and because it was known for its peerless sensory abilities—Eleanor could perceive more than just Alex's authority. She could feel his essence bleeding through the veil of his conceptual pressure.

That was the true terror of the Fey Monarch Bloodline.

So while Alex's display certainly frightened her, he had also, unknowingly, exposed a hidden part of himself.

Grand Mage Taman Lancaster's words echoed in her mind:

"He will either be the most dangerous person you'll ever meet… or the safest."

And in that instant, she understood.

"I'm sure," Eleanor said softly. To Alex's surprise, she was smiling—brightly and fearlessly.

The pressure from his True Name—once suffocating—seemed to dissolve around her. What had been intimidation moments ago now felt almost… warm.

"Very well." Alex nodded, withdrawing his True Name's power. "I suppose I'll tell you, then."

"That's it?" Eleanor blinked. "You're not going to ask me to prove it?"

"I already did."

"How? I was expecting a soul contract… or maybe a magical oath?" she said, frowning in confusion.

"That's… wow." Alex looked at her, dumbfounded. "At most, I might've asked for a kiss to seal the deal—but you really aim high."

"Hey! You're the one who made it sound like some grand, life-altering secret! Of course I'd think of something dramatic—ugh!" Eleanor groaned in frustration, glaring at his teasing grin.

She wanted to punch him.

"Alright, alright. Keep glaring at me like that, and I might just decide not to tell you anything," Alex chuckled.

"Let's see… the relationship between the Golden Palace and myself is—"

"Wait!" Eleanor interrupted. "That's it? That's all it takes for you to tell me? Aren't you even worried I might betray you?"

'Woman, do you want me to tell you or not?!' Alex thought, exasperated.

***

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