Chapter 321: Bringing Ho the Princess II
CH321 Bringing Ho the Princess II
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Alex took another sip from his cup, then placed it down carefully on the saucer resting atop the table.
"I can see what you’re worried about," he said calmly. "I can even understand it. But still—my question stands. What makes you think that just because I maintain a good reputation with people—and sotis call upon their help—that I’m not a genuinely reputable person?"
"I don’t know," Eleanor admitted after a pause.
Alex nodded slowly. "I won’t claim to be a good person. To be honest, even I’m not sure at tis. But I do believe humans are social creatures. As such, we’ll always need one another—whether for a small favour or sothing life-changing.
"So, for that day... for that need... I try, as much as possible, to maintain a good reputation with everyone I et, regardless of who they are. Does that make
a good person? I wouldn’t go that far. Does it stop
from being a bad person? Most likely not.
"However," he continued, his tone firm but even, "whether good or bad, it’s still . I don’t pretend to like people I dislike. I might tolerate them, but I won’t lie about my feelings. That’s where I draw the line.
"The person sitting before you right now—this is the real . I may have many shades to myself, but every one of them is still ."
He paused, eting Eleanor’s gaze directly. His expression was open, steady—inviting her to look and find no falsehood in his eyes.
"That said," he went on, "though I understand your reservations, I think you’re overthinking this. Asking around for opinions about
won’t help you resolve your doubts. The only way to know is to take the risk yourself.
"What you should be asking now isn’t whether I’m a good or bad person based on rumours... but whether you’re willing to take the risk to find out if I’m the right person for you."
Eleanor sighed softly, lowering her gaze. "He was right after all," she muttered.
"Sorry?" Alex tilted his head. "Who was right?"
"Soone once told
you’re either going to beco a dangerous person... or the safest person to be around," Eleanor said quietly.
Alex blinked in surprise. Then, after a mont, he chuckled and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"That’s... actually a very apt way to describe ," he admitted.
"That wasn’t—" Eleanor started, then stopped herself midway. She shook her head wryly. "Never mind. I suppose what you said about being too honest for your own good is true."
Alex grinned. "See? You’re already starting to get to know ."
Eleanor suddenly dropped her princessly deanour. She rested her left elbow on the table and propped her chin against the back of her hand.
The change made her seem less like a saintly princess and more like a roguish rchant weighing a deal.
"If I’m overthinking this," she said with a teasing glint, "then tell , in your sagacious wisdom, how do you think I should approach it?"
Alex mirrored her posture, leaning slightly over the table. "Well, you just have to answer a few questions."
"Go on."
"First," Alex began, "do I pique your interest?"
"You do."
"Can you stand my personality?"
"Tolerable."
"Can you see yourself spending long hours in my company?"
"In what capacity?"
"Any."
"I suppose so."
"Do you feel any sense of hope, benefit, or security from ?"
"I believe so."
"Lastly," Alex said with a faint smile, "do you find my appearance tolerable for a partner?"
This ti, Eleanor hesitated. Her eyes swept over his face and figure, lingering for a heartbeat longer than necessary.
"Passable," she said at last, lips curling into a small, amused smile.
"Only passable?" Alex raised a brow. Then he chuckled. "Well, it’s a good thing I don’t make a living off my looks."
That caught her off guard—Eleanor let out an involuntary laugh before covering her mouth.
"With these questions answered," Alex said, still smiling, "I think you already know whether it’s worth the risk—to find out if I’m the right partner for you or not."
Eleanor t his eyes thoughtfully, then nodded.
"I think... for a start, we should work together on sothing. Maybe that’ll show you what kind of partner I’d be." Alex suggested
"That sounds reasonable." Eleanor agreed easily.
"So, do you have anything in mind we could work on?" He asked.
"Shouldn’t you be the one making the suggestion?" she asked with a faint smirk.
"I don’t know yet." Alex shrugged.
Eleanor’s smirk turned into a glare. "Then why did you make it sound like you already had sothing planned."
"I don’t know. Maybe it’s my confidence." Alex grinned. "It makes people assu I always have a plan."
"Or maybe it’s your track record of sches," Eleanor retorted.
"I take offence to that, Lady Eleanor. I am an upstanding citizen of the Empire. I don’t sche—I simply plan ticulously toward a goal."
"That’s the sa thing."
"No, no—it’s completely different. Calling it a sche gives it a bad connotation."
"I’ll take your word for it," she said, rolling her eyes.
To her surprise, Eleanor realised she was actually enjoying herself. She felt strangely at ease with him—smiling, laughing, and letting her guard slip far more than she’d intended.
But then sothing crossed her mind—sothing that darkened her expression.
Alex, ever observant, caught the change instantly.
"Lady Eleanor," he asked gently, "is sothing the matter?"
Eleanor’s gaze flicked to him, uncertainty shadowing her eyes.
"Can I trust you?" she asked quietly.
Alex was stunned by the solemnness behind her question. He imdiately set aside his playful tone and grew equally solemn—if not more so.
"Yes." He replied simply.
But before Eleanor could speak, he added, "But don’t take my word for it. You can stay guarded around . It’ll be up to
to convince you otherwise."
Eleanor blinked, taken slightly aback by his response.
"Tell
honestly," she said. "Is it my bloodline you’re after? I can sense that you also carry a Light-Fire hybrid bloodline. However, yours isn’t the sa as the Imperial bloodline. Yours has a Solar attribute—much like my Fey Monarch Bloodline. In truth, it might even be a better genetic match for the Eugenics Program than the Royal Gryphon line."
She exhaled slowly, her voice tightening. "I want to know... no, I need to know if my bloodline is what you’re after."
"And if it is?" Alex asked quietly.
"I’ll cooperate with you," she said flatly, "and I’ll bear your child. But anything beyond that is off the table."
"I see... I understand now."
A brief, sad smile flickered across Alex’s face. He t her gaze with a rare, quiet sincerity.
"What I said at our last eting still stands," he said. "I care little for your lineage or your bloodline. What I want is you—Eleanor the Alchemist, the Healer, the Businesswoman... but most importantly, simply you."
Eleanor held his gaze, as though trying to discern whether his words were truth or calculated charm.
Eventually, a soft smile curved her lips once more.
"I’ll do as you said. I’ll keep my guard up and wait for you to prove that I can trust you." Her tone steadied. "But trust goes both ways. I expect you to do the sa."
She extended her hand across the table.
"Deal?"
Alex smiled back. "Deal."
They shook on it.
Afterwards, they talked a little longer before Eleanor finally rose to leave.
She pressed her bracelet, and her appearance shimred back into that of Navia Almion.
"I’ll be waiting for you to co up with a plan for our first collaboration," she said.
"Let
know if you have any ideas too," Alex replied.
"Will do." She nodded before heading out.
As soon as the door closed behind her, a wide grin broke across Alex’s face.
He activated his Beta Bracer and sent a ssage to Zora:
"Milady Queen, as ordered, your humble servant has brought ho the Princess."
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