Alexander sat in his study, leaning back into his slender chair as exhaustion weighed heavily on his shoulders. He ran his long, elegant hand through his disheveled hair and released a deep, tired sigh. The day had been far too long, and the night promised no relief.
He had returned to the palace earlier than expected from the market, and the moment he stepped inside, he had instructed a guard to continue the tour with Princess Amelia. Since then, he had been buried in paperwork he was determined to complete before retiring to bed.
A faint crease formed between his brows as he lifted one of the documents, his sharp eyes scanning the written reports. He barely acknowledged the soft click of the study door opening, nor did he bother to look up. Only one person dared to enter his study without waiting for permission.
"Any news of the rogues?" Alexander asked, keeping his gaze fixed on the paper in his hand.
Arthur stepped inside, his expression solemn. "Nothing for now, though Derrick is visiting the palace tomorrow. He mentioned he has something to discuss with you."
Alexander's jaw tightened slightly. Arthur could clearly see how tense the king was. The man had been working relentlessly, pushing himself past reasonable limits. Arthur, who hardly ever pitied anyone, was beginning to feel genuinely concerned for him. Alexander was trying to maintain balance between realms while facing threats that made even seasoned warriors uneasy.
Currently, there was no lead,no hint whatsoever on what was causing vampires to suddenly turn rogue. The worst part was that the rogues kept appearing out of nowhere, multiplying endlessly in alarming numbers. If this continued, the stability of Noct would crumble, and the fragile balance between the realms, one Alexander had fought relentlessly to preserve would shatter.
"And Marcus?" Alexander continued.
"He came back shortly after you and Amelia left for the market," Arthur replied immediately. "I wasn't able to reach him when you ordered me to. He wasn't at his manor. His butler said he only stopped by for thirty minutes before leaving again without disclosing his destination."
Alexander lowered the paper, finally revealing his face. Arthur noticed the subtle shift in the king's eye color, a sign of stress or irritation.
"Did you question him when he returned?"
"I did," Arthur answered. "He said he visited the brothel in the next village and wasn't interested in sharing the details of his personal life."
"Did you confirm it?" the king asked.
Arthur nodded and stepped closer. "The madam confirmed it. She even produced the register."
Though Arthur didn't want to believe Marcus was involved in anything suspicious, he also knew better than to jump to conclusions without proof. Still, the timing of Marcus's disappearance felt unsettling.
After a long silence, Alexander spoke again. "Keep an eye on him. And from now on, let's be careful with the information we share."
"Of course," Arthur replied with a small bow. Then, with a mischievous grin, he added, "So, Your Majesty… how was your visit to the market with the princess?"
Alexander's expression soured instantly at the mention of Amelia. "Let's resolve this rogue situation quickly so she can return to her father. I cannot wed her."
"And why is that?" Arthur teased. "From the looks of it, the wedding is practically certain. The princess seems to enjoy your company quite a lot." He knew he was pushing a very dangerous button there.
"Say that again and lose an arm," Alexander warned darkly, his voice cold enough to freeze stone.
Arthur flinched. "I was just joking. That gave me chills. How do you say that with a straight face…? My arm—"
"Try it," Alexander dared.
"No thank you," Arthur muttered quickly, clutching his arm protectively.
Alexander shifted the topic. "How did Serena do today?"
Arthur blinked, confused for the hundredth time about the king's interest in her. Just moments ago, Alexander's eyes were empty and emotionless. Now, curiosity gleamed within them. What was this girl to him? Surely the king hadn't developed feelings for her so quickly—impossible. Arthur wisely swallowed his questions.
"She did well today. Her lessons went smoothly. She's a fast learner i must add, a little suspicious. She also met the princess, and they spent the afternoon strolling through the garden and talking."
"Amethyst?" Alexander asked, genuinely surprised. Amethyst rarely tolerated others, especially women.
Arthur nodded. "Even I'm surprised. But it seems they're growing closer. It's good for Amethyst. She's always been alone, so having Serena as a friend might do her some good."
Alexander hummed in acknowledgment.
"Oh, one more thing," Arthur added. "She seemed a little distressed this morning. She couldn't focus at first. I think something is bothering her."
Alexander chuckled softly. "She's still thinking about last night. I must have frightened her."
Arthur let out a frustrated sigh. "You haven't changed that habit of yours. I don't know what you did to her, but it clearly affected her. Girls are sensitive to certain words and actions."
Alexander only leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Hmm."
Arthur opened the door. "Her room has been prepared, so she'll be sleeping there tonight. I'll take my leave." He bowed and stepped out, closing the door gently behind him.
When Alexander finally finished his work, Arthur's words replayed in his mind. He stood from his chair and decided to pay Serena a visit.
He opened her door without hesitation. Serena was sitting on her bed, staring deeply at a portrait of the sea.
"You have a strange habit of staring too deeply at things," Alexander remarked as he closed the door.
Serena snapped her head toward him and immediately stood, bowing her head. "Your Majesty."
He approached her slowly, ignoring the way she stepped back in fear. His gaze drifted to the portrait behind her.
"The sea… Do you like it?" he asked.
She nodded softly. "Yes. It's peaceful… and healing."
The glow in her eyes didn't escape him.
"You must like it a lot," he murmured.
"Your Majesty, about last night, I—"
She stopped when Alexander stepped closer. He gently took her wrist and fastened a bracelet around it. Serena's eyes widened, her heartbeat quickening. What was the meaning of this?
When he finished, he looked at her. "Forget about last night. And get some sleep."
"Your Majesty, I—"
"Join me for breakfast tomorrow," he said, cutting her off before walking out of the room.
Serena stared at the closed door, then at the bracelet. The stone embedded in it looked almost identical to the one on her necklace. It was beautiful… but confusing.
She pushed the thoughts aside, laid on her bed, and pulled the duvet over her. Her eyes grew heavy, and within moments, sleep claimed her.
But as she slept, her window slid open silently.
A hooded figure slipped inside, stepping toward her bed. The faintest smile curved its lips as it whispered something in a strange language. A red symbol flashed briefly on Serena's forehead before vanishing.
The figure turned, moved back toward the window, and disappeared into the night.