The Next Day
"It was short, but having you as my guest was an honor," Lucan said warmly, resting a hand on Alex's shoulder.
Alex let out a small sigh. "I would've stayed longer, but I already have sothing planned." Well, planning might not be the right word. It was more of a promise—to spend his vacation with his lovers.
Still, if there had been a real reason to stay, he might have considered it. But after seeing that the three warriors needed ti to change their way of thinking and accept that they had to work as a team, Alex decided it was fine to leave the realm for now.
Lucan gave a slow nod. "I understand, warrior. But if you have ti, please co back and help those knuckleheads realize how important this trial is."
His voice carried a weight of concern, and Alex couldn't bla him. As an elder who had seen countless battles, Lucan knew this challenge wasn't just another test. It was more significant than anything he had faced before.
The most ancient being on Nebula, the Vampire Monarch, was preparing for the disaster ahead. That alone left Lucan with no room for doubt. He had to take this seriously and prepare the beast warriors as best as he could.
Alex t his gaze and spoke with quiet resolve. "Don't worry, sir. I can't promise victory, but as a team, we'll all give it our best."
Lucan blinked, surprised for a mont, before letting out a tired chuckle. "Haa... Maybe my age has made overthink things too much."
Before long, it was ti to leave. As Alex stepped toward the carriage, a familiar voice called out—breathless and urgent.
"Wait!"
He turned to see Valarie hurrying toward him, her red hair bouncing with each step.
"Hmm? Did you co to say goodbye too?" he asked with a teasing smirk.
She grumbled, crossing her arms. "Who would bother saying goodbye to you?"
Classic tsundere. Alex chuckled to himself.
Then, with an awkward huff, Valarie thrust a small wrapped box into his hands. Her ears, now as red as her hair, gave her away.
"I made extra breakfast," she muttered, looking anywhere but at him. "I figured I'd give it to you instead of throwing it away."
Alex blinked in surprise. "You can cook—" He stopped short when he noticed faint cuts on her fingers. Those weren't just any marks—they were from a kitchen knife.
Realization hit him, and his expression softened.
Valarie's blush deepened. "D-Don't overthink it! It's not like I made it for you as a thank-you gift or anything. Hmph!" She shoved the box into his hands and turned on her heel, walking away with stiff, hurried steps.
Alex smiled. "Thanks… I'll eat it while rembering your face~"
She stumbled mid-step, even though the ground was perfectly smooth.
Chuckling, Alex turned toward the carriage, but the mont he looked inside, his whole body froze.
Four pairs of eyes locked onto him, filled with a quiet but unmistakable bloodlust. Even Professor Jullie's gaze had a dangerous glint.
Alex swallowed hard. "I-I was just teasing her." He cautiously stepped inside.
Sarah's cold voice cut through the air. "Teasing… or seducing?"
His eyes widened. "How rude. I don't just go around seducing won."
Celestria let out a laugh, but it wasn't amused—it was sharp. "Look inside the carriage, Alex."
Alex gulped.
…He might need to be a little more careful.
As the carriage rolled toward the border, Alex felt a quiet gaze on him. He glanced down to find Alice staring at the box in his hands, her eyes filled with curiosity.
With a soft smile, he asked, "Want so?"
Her eyes sparkled just a little, giving away her answer before she could even nod.
"Then co here first," Alex said warmly.
Without hesitation, she wriggled out of Natasha's arms—much to the Vampire Princess' dismay—and made her way toward him with small, determined steps.
Alex chuckled, lifting the tiny girl and settling her comfortably in his lap.
"Do you want to eat so?" he asked gently. "Then first, tell your na."
Natasha frowned, her lips parting in protest. She didn't want Alex to push Alice too soon.
But before she could say anything, Sarah t her gaze, her eyes filled with quiet reassurance. Trust him.
Natasha bit her lip and held back, though her concern didn't fade.
Alice, anwhile, looked troubled. Her large eyes turned glassy as she t Alex's patient gaze.
He softly patted her head. "No rush," he murmured. "Just try to say anything. Don't force it. Let it co naturally."
The warmth of his touch, the softness in his voice—it all soothed her pounding heart.
She took a shaky breath, her tiny fists clenched close to her chest.
She could speak now. She knew that. The problem wasn't her voice—it was the fear that had latched onto her, refusing to let go.
Back in captivity, every ti she made a sound—whether a sob or a word—her teeth and tongue were torn from her mouth. She had learned to cry in silence, to endure in silence.
But the people around her now weren't like him.
They showered her with warmth and kindness. They reminded her, again and again, that she was safe.
And because of that, she didn't want to hold herself back anymore.
"A—"
The faintest whisper slipped past her lips, yet it made the air in the carriage still.
Everyone held their breath, their eyes filled with quiet anticipation.
Alice squeezed her fists tighter and tried again.
"Alif…"
Maybe she had bitten her tongue in her rush because her eyes imdiately welled up with tears.
Alex let out a soft chuckle, pulling her into a gentle embrace. He stroked her hair with quiet pride. "Ahaha… You did great, Alice. I'm so proud of you."
Alice blinked up at him. She didn't know why, but even though she had failed to say her full na, his warmth, his words—it made her chest feel full.
Alex kept his promise. He opened the lunch box, revealing neatly arranged rice, vegetables, at, eggs, and a separate compartnt for dessert.
Alice's gaze drifted over the food before she reached for the bean rice cake, her small hands clutching the sweet treat as she happily took a bite.
Alex smiled at the sight, then turned to the others. "Anyone else wants so?"
Celestria and Sarah each took a small portion, and the rest was quickly finished by Alex.
As the carriage continued its journey, a peaceful air settled over them.
Alice, still curled up in his lap, let out a small yawn.
For the first ti in a long ti… she felt safe.
Seeing her sleep, every woman in the carriage had the sa thought.
They wanted to beco a mother.
"Haah...I really wish that she would recover from her trauma." Alex sighed weakly. He has read her mories, thanks to the connection she has with the Curse. That's why, he always remained quite worried for the girl.
No one should go through sothing like that. She was held captive only to be torn apart ti after ti, then allowed to be regenerated so she could be devoured again.
Truly sick.
"It will take so ti but I know she will recover." Rebecca voiced, her warm smile directed at the softball resting on Alex's lap.
"Fortunately, no one showed up from his family yesterday," Jullie added. As Quinton inford the bastard who held Alice captive ca from an influential family and was a relative of an Elder. That's why she feared that last night would get ssy.
Alex scoffed, "They surely must not have recovered that bastard's body until now."
"Don't curse around her, Alex." Sarah chided softly as she took out a blanket and draped it over Alice.
"By the way," After a brief pause, Natasha said, "If you are visiting the academy, I would go stay sowhere else with Alice."
Naturally, Natasha would feel uncomfortable in that place. Not only because she wasn't a student of the Soulforge Academy but also because she was a noble vampire.
Things would get awkward in no ti.
Alex was about to say sothing when suddenly, Rebecca interjected, "How about Your Highness co with to my ho? I will also be going there and Alex would later join ."
Natasha humd in contemplation as they crossed the border in silence.
They didn't get bothered about the identity certificate or the permission, mainly because Lucan had already contacted border security.
"Haah...we are finally back." Celestria smiled in elation as they entered the human's domain after so long.
However, that smile faded away soon when her eyes caught a row of soldiers standing not so far away.
"A-Alex?!"
"I know," Alex said in a serious tone as he handed Alice to Sarah and jumped out of the carriage.
His eyes widened when he noticed that more than a thousand soldiers stood there, all lined up and having their weapons ready to pierce their enemy.
'What the...'
Alex couldn't understand why such a big army of beasts was here in the human domain.
Amidst his shock, a certain hyena stepped forward before announcing, "You will pay with your life for killing my son."
Alex slapped his forehead...why must he go through this arc?
°°°°°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading. More EXP for Alex.
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