Inside a luxurious suite within Imperial Vale—the finest hotel in all of Valloria—two figures sat facing each other.

One, a boy with jet-black hair and crimson eyes.

The other, none other than Emperor Kaelith himself.

Alden had expected this meeting—Amyra had asked him to come for this very reason.

She'd been clear: her father wanted to speak with him.

Still, it seemed the duel had left a deeper impression on the Emperor than Alden anticipated.

From the moment he'd arrived, Kaelith hadn't said a word.

He'd simply sat there, studying Alden like he was some rare and unpredictable creature.

Alden sighed inwardly.

Just talk already and let me go.

"So," Kaelith said, his voice smooth, "Alden... What is your relationship with my daughter?"

He had a smile. Not a warm one. Not even neutral. It was the kind that could make even the dead shiver.

Alden stayed calm. He had expected this question.

"She's my friend, Your Majesty." Alden replied politely, keeping his voice steady.

Honestly he felt a bit awkward.

It wasn't like he'd taken any lessons on how to speak with emperors.

All this Your Majesty business? Yeah, it felt kind of weird.

But still… he played along.

The Emperor leaned back slightly, his fingers tapping his armrest.

"A friend, hmm?" he repeated, almost absentmindedly. "As I recall, friends don't usually go around kissing each other."

Alden flinched.

"....."

He didn't know what to say for a moment.

"It was an accident, Your Majesty." Still, he recovered quickly.

It was indeed just an accident, he wasn't even lying.

He didn't have any intention to kiss her at that time.

"Well, accidents do happen once I guess… but the same one happening twice with two different people. What should that be called?" The Emperor's voice was low but it echoed within the room.

"....."

Alden stayed silent.

He didn't trust himself to speak without saying something very un-Emperor-friendly.

Fuck.

This guy is definitely doing it on purpose.

He knew he looked very suspicious. First an accident with Nyx then with Amyra.

He couldn't even say it was a coincidence as both events happened right one after another.

He was sure some cosmic force was just messing with him… to make his life more miserable.

He didn't know if he was being paranoid… but he felt it.

Someone is writing his fate. And whoever they were, they clearly had a cruel sense of humor.

So, as always—he did what he could.

He cursed the author.

Fuck you, Author.

"Well, anyway, I'm not one of those old fogeys—and I've got no interest in meddling in the love lives of youngsters…"

The emperor continued. Cold. Measured.

"…but I do hope you know your limits."

Alden could feel the immense aura directed his way. A normal person might have been out of breath to even speak..

But he wasn't exactly normal. And honestly he didn't even feel anything.

"Yes, Your Majesty." He replied. "I know my limits."

He didn't really find anything wrong with the emperor saying it like that.

Most strong father figures had that protective vibe—he couldn't exactly expect the Emperor of Valloria to be free from that particular cliché.

"Good." The emperor replied.

The room was enveloped in an awkward silence once again.

Alden shifted in his place.

Can I leave now?

He wasn't sure. The Emperor just kept… staring.

"Uh—" Alden finally opened his mouth, about to ask if he could excuse himself—

But the Emperor spoke first.

"You can leave now."

Finally.

Alden sighed internally.

He got up from his seat and gave a polite, final bow.

Then, without waiting for another word from the Emperor, he turned around and walked out without any hesitation.

The moment that door closed behind him, he exhaled.

One emperor, two near-death stares and a question about his love life later…

Yep. He needed a damn nap.

_

Emperor Kaelith looked at the spot where the boy had stood moments ago, his gaze unreadable.

"Interesting kid, don't you think so too, Samuel?" he murmured softly.

The room appeared empty and silent.

But then—

The air shifted and from the corner of the room, a ripple spread outward.

A moment later, an elderly man with neatly combed grey hair and red eyes, stepped out of thin air. He held a cane in his hand.

"As reckless as he is composed," Samuel said with a faint smile. "Quite the paradox."

The man—Samuel walked forward before bowing in front of the Emperor.

"What are your instructions, Your Majesty?"

Kaelith let out a faint smile. "Leave the kids out… and handle the trouble with the Elven Empire. They must be pretty upset about their Prince losing to an imperial student."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Samuel nodded.

He was the Chief Imperial Advisor of the Empire—known to the world as the man who handled diplomacy, politics and the day-to-day functioning of Valloria's external affairs.

But that was only one side of him.

What most didn't know—what most weren't allowed to know—was his true identity.

Samuel was the leader of the Shadow Crown Knight Order.

An invisible force that operated in the dark, answering only to the Emperor. Their existence was not written in any record, and their duties didn't involve honor or glory.

They did the Empire's dirty work.

The kind of work that left no witnesses.

But what even the Emperor didn't know was this—

Samuel wasn't just the leader of the Shadow Crown Knight Order. He was also one of the current ten leaders of the Luminous Accord.

"Anything else, Your Majesty?" Samuel asked again, voice steady.

Kaelith leaned back slightly, his gaze sharp as ever. "How's the investigation on Jeremy?"

Samuel's expression didn't change. "I have sent many knights to investigate, but there are still no results."

Kaelith didn't say anything for a moment.

Then he added,

"Increase the surveillance on him." His expression turned serious. "I want to know about his every move."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After discussing a few more matters, Samuel bowed once again and quietly left the room, leaving Kaelith alone with his thoughts.

Jeremy… that snake—what is he planning?

Kaelith didn't know why but his instinct screamed that something was coming.

He didn't know what but every bone in his body told him it had something to do with Jeremy.

He never trusted Jeremy. Unlike other Overlord Rankers of the Empire, Jeremy was from an unknown background.

Nobody knew where he appeared from or when he became so strong.

Which is why he had spies tracking Jeremy's movements ever since.

And lately… things had changed.

He–who never took any disciples took not only one but two disciples.

Not only that… his second disciple—Nyx Ravenscar—had a past just as mysterious as Jeremy himself.

Even Kaelith's most skilled intelligence division couldn't find anything on her.

Kaelith's fingers tapped slowly against his throne.

Something's wrong.

Terribly wrong.

__

Meanwhile, unaware of the many eyes on him… Alden walked across the hallway. His expression is calm… if not slightly lazy.

The interaction with the Emperor had tired him out.

Just as he exited the hallway, he saw a beautiful girl waiting for him near the lift.

Amyra.

Her expressions were slightly different than before.

Huh?

Why does she look sad?

"Hey Amyra." He greeted her.

He didn't have any intention to ask why she was sad.

Everyone has their secrets I guess.

As soon as she heard his voice, her expression shifted… into a smile. But it wasn't a usual warm one.

It was a tired smile.

Alden noticed the change again.

She is acting a bit differently.

Did something happen?

"Hey Alden," She greeted him back.

Her voice was steady but not quite as lively as usual.

He walked beside her in silence as they entered the lift.

The soft chime of the doors closing echoed faintly behind them.

_

"By the way, Amyra, do you know how I got to the balcony? I can't seem to remember getting there." Alden asked, breaking the awkward silence.

Amyra looked at him quietly. For a moment… just for a single moment she couldn't hold it in.

Her fingers clenched the hem of her dress.

She turned her head sharply before he could notice anything wrong.

So, you don't remember…

The thought broke her more than it had right to.

She would've preferred he forgot her entirely—clean and painless, like tearing a page out.

But this?

This fragile hope…

This almost?

It was unbearable.

How much longer do I have to wait?

She was tired. Tired of seeing him act like a stranger with her.

Tired of having to act like a stranger with him.

And yet—

She smiled.

Because that's what she was supposed to do.

She quickly got hold of herself.

"You just walked out in the middle of the dance." She replied, trying her best to keep her voice steady.

Alden just nodded absentmindedly. "I see."

Before he could say anything more… the lift door opened with a soft chime.

Amyra stepped out quickly—almost too quickly.

"You can go back now… I'll talk to you tomorrow," she said, keeping her gaze ahead. "I need to meet my father."

It was a lie. She just didn't want to be with him… right now… She wasn't confident in keeping her emotions in check.

Alden blinked. "Oh, alright…"

____

Author's Note:

So…

Do you guys think there's actually some cosmic force out there messing with Alden's life?

Or is the poor guy just terminally unlucky?

Drop your conspiracy theories below

P.S. — For those who forgot:

The Luminous Accord is the mysterious organization that Cipher is part of.

Just something to keep in mind...

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