Chapter 4 Part 3

She was startled and inadvertently raised her voice.

Alexander tilted his head with a gentle smile.

“Have you already forgotten my name?”

Unable to say his name in such a situation, she fell silent.

Unaware of the strange atmosphere, Franz was too focused on the possibility of Melissa being suspected.

“…My goodness! Did you even interrogate the poachers?”

Franz exclaimed nervously, knowing that Alexander had killed them all.

“Yes. They died during interrogation.”

Alexander lied nonchalantly.

But there was no one here to challenge his lie.

“I don’t think sister-in-law would have done such a thing either. But given the timing, we must look into it carefully.”

“Franz.”

Unable to let him fall deeper into trouble, Melissa called him.

Although the capital residence was also under Alexander’s control, half of its power belonged to Bright.

It meant that Franz could act more freely there.

However, Tavalon was a space entirely under Alexander’s control.

If Franz made a wrong move in his castle, Melissa wouldn’t be able to escape the consequences either.

And if Melissa couldn’t avoid punishment, her grandfather would also be in danger.

“I’m sure even the six apostles of Haisha know I’m innocent. And Lord, you too…”

Thunk, crack.

The sound of a knife piercing through the steak and breaking the plate resounded loudly.

It was Alexander.

He was smiling brightly, but his eyes were sharp.

“Is my name so difficult, sister-in-law?”

Silence fell over the dining table.

The servants bowed their heads and exchanged glances.

Franz also seemed to finally sense the strange atmosphere.

Melissa regained her composure just in time amidst her astonishment.

She must not show her panic in such a situation.

“No, I’m sorry, Alexander.”

She gave a faint smile to Franz.

“Alexander told me to call him by his name comfortably, since he will be family soon. I’ll be your wife, after all.”

Franz furrowed his brows, seemingly convinced yet still suspicious.

Melissa felt cold sweat trickle down as she continued speaking.

“…Anyway, once Alexander is sure I’m innocent, I’m sure he’ll escort me to the mansion.”

She slightly bowed her head, unable to look directly at Alexander, and spoke across the table.

“Isn’t that right… Alexander?”

Alexander’s mood, already soured by the earlier unpleasantness on the mountain, grew darker.

She knew Franz had tried to kill him.

Even now, Franz couldn’t break his old habits and had even tried to strike her.

Did she really believe that just because he had acted a little tenderly for a moment, he would make a good husband?

He could easily reveal that the poachers had named Franz as the instigator and cut off his head right here.

And he could then take his cousin’s fiancé, a woman too embarrassing to call a bride, for himself.

However, what Alexander truly desired was not that.

He intended to show the Bergritz family, step by step, how he would strip them of everything they possessed.

That was why he had formed an alliance with that damn king, why he had attempted to attune with the dragon, and why he had come this far.

‘Is it still not enough?’

Alexander, his lips still curled into a faint smile, absentmindedly lifted a wine glass filled with red wine.

Was it still not enough that she called Franz’s name so freely, yet refused to call his until he pointed it out?

Was it because what he possessed was still too insubstantial that she trembled at Franz’s slightest word and fled at his few remarks?

“Yes.”

Alexander broke the long silence.

The red wine stained his lips, gleaming like blood.

“If my sister-in-law is truly innocent, I will send her away intact.”

Someone let out a sigh of relief.

Franz, who had been holding his breath in the oppressive atmosphere, did the same.

“Alexander, I’d like to share a room with my fiancé. Could you prepare one for us?”

Franz spoke with a forced brightness, as if trying to lighten the mood or hasten the end of this gathering.

“We’ve been apart for a while, and I’ve accumulated so much to talk about.”

“Sure.”

Alexander leaned back against the chair and gave a casual nod.

“I’ll make the arrangements.”

***

After the dinner, Melissa’s room was not relocated.

Alexander had arranged for Franz to stay with her in the inner chamber of the study where she originally resided.

In fact, he had cleared out the entire floor of the study for them, removing all documents, books, and weapons, leaving only the luxurious furniture behind.

Franz, inspecting the room, scowled and let out a derisive laugh.

“Really, this is infuriating.”

He believed Alexander was flaunting his position by preparing the space this way, and his temper flared as he fumed.

Once left alone with Melissa, the pretense he had worn earlier vanished.

He glanced around the room, then sneered.

“Did you do something to piss that bastard off?”

Melissa, who had been standing still in the middle of the room, widened her eyes as if asking what he was talking about.

Franz nervously rubbed his dry lips.

“Alexander seems to find you unbearably annoying.”

Melissa sighed, relieved that he wasn’t misunderstanding it in a more dangerous direction.

“I was just hesitant to call him by name.”

“When he tells you to call him, you should just do it. Why do you keep refusing?”

Franz stamped his foot irritably.

“Just listen when you’re told to. Got it?”

His pride seemed bruised, his expression twisting.

After messing up his own hair, he tried to calm himself with a few deep breaths and then leaned against the balcony railing.

“Come here.”

Melissa forced herself to move her reluctant feet and stood next to him.

He glanced around briefly and then spoke in a low voice.

“Are you doing what Mother ordered properly?”

“…I need to open a gate to the other world. I have a rough idea of how to open it, but there are spatial constraints. It’s impossible to do it in this mansion.”

Melissa answered earnestly, even though she knew he barely understood her words.

“Sir Boris is watching me under the guise of escorting, so it’s hard to leave the mansion or find time alone.”

“So?”

“I’m aiming for the hunting event. If I open the gate then, I should be able to reach the place where the dragon is…”

“So in the end, you’ve done nothing, haven’t you?”

Franz exploded, trying to regain his composure but failing.

“I knew it. All you can do is stand there like an idiot and smile. You should have just died.”

“…So it was true that you used the wraiths to try to kill me.”

“Why? Did Alexander tell you that?”

He sneered and took out a cigarette from his pocket.

Unlike the mild cigars Alexander smoked, the smoke Franz exhaled was acrid and stung the nose.

“Mother said there’s something you need to accomplish here. But I’m sick and tired of listening to her too. I’m not some kid anymore.”

He rubbed her forehead. Knowing that he needed her, Franz had planned to find a way to take her without his mother’s help. But to think Alexander would react like that. He realized too late that sending the hunters had been a mistake. Well, everyone makes mistakes. Franz brushed it off lightly.

“As soon as we return, we’ll get married. Your power will be used as if it were my own. Keep that in mind. Watch what you say.”

“…If I marry you..”

Melissa, who had been listening quietly, looked up at him with reddened eyes.

Franz’s brow twisted in displeasure.

“Then I’m no longer a hostage. Treat me as a member of the Bergritz family, just like yourself.”

Melissa herself didn’t know where this defiance was coming from. But what was certain was that Alexander’s words had been a catalyst for her courage at this very moment.

‘The power you hold is anything but insignificant. And the courage to leap into danger to save those seed carriers—it’s not some cheap pretense.’

At least Alexander had recognized and valued her power and actions. Unlike Franz.

“Is she really out of her mind?” Franz sneered, but his irritation was obvious as he raised his hand. Melissa stared him down without flinching.

“Don’t touch me.”

“……”

“Think about who’s really desperate here.”

Melissa’s hand was trembling violently, but her gaze remained steady and unwavering.

Franz clenched his teeth, glaring at her, and then as if something occurred to him, he pulled out a scroll from his pocket. It was from Bright.

Melissa’s eyes flickered faintly.

From the scroll fell a tightly rolled slip of paper and the decorative handle of a staff. She knew the owner of that gold wolf-head insignia. It was Cliff Gallandiar, her grandfather.

Melissa’s defiance wavered.

Franz, noticing this keenly, bared his teeth in a grin.

“You’d better remember who’s really desperate here. Your grandfather’s life is in my hands.”

He grabbed her by the collar.

“You’re just Gallandiar’s bastard and Bergritz’s hostage.”

Franz roughly let go of her collar, straightened his own, and left the room.

Left alone, Melissa couldn’t control her tears. With trembling hands, she unrolled the tightly rolled slip of paper. Inside was a single sprig of purple jasmine.

She immediately understood the message.

“The Keep.”

It referred to the cluster of purple jasmines blooming beneath the Tavalon Keep. It meant to go there once the matter was done.

Her mind raced. Though Alexander was the current master of Bergritz, there were plenty of retainers who harbored discontent toward him. The reason was simple. He was an illegitimate child of uncertain origin. Thus, a number of retainers were still loyal to Bright.

Faint, but unmistakable, there were forces still loyal to her, too. Could she not have agents of her own in Tavalon?

According to the note, if she went to the area beneath the keep where the jasmine bloomed, she would find Bright’s people.

Anxiety began to tighten her chest. It was highly likely that Bright already knew of the strange atmosphere between her and Alexander. After all, he had made no move to quell the swirling rumors.

Resolving to carry out Bright’s orders faithfully despite her wretchedness, she was startled by a sound from the open doorway.

Turning her head, she saw a footstep breaking through the slanting shadows of the night.

She tried to speak without sobbing.

“Franz, sir.”

She meant to say she understood the will of him and his mother.

But before she could, her waist was seized.

A figure emerged from the shadows, pulling her close and pinning her against the wall.

A startled breath was muffled by a large palm. The man supported her hips with one arm, as if to steady her, and then slowly removed his hand from her mouth as if to calm her.

Moonlight gradually illuminated his face — a sharply chiseled jaw, smooth lips, a sharp nose, and eyes.

“Alexander?”

Her voice cracked and broke.

At the sound of his name, he bared his white teeth in a smile.

Realizing it was Alexander, Melissa felt a strange measure of fear ebbing away. She found it odd herself.

“…Let me go.”

“Sister-in-law. Can’t you hear it?”

Alexander didn’t let go—instead, he pressed even closer. His body leaned into her between her legs, and he nuzzled his nose and jaw against her cheek and chin. He deeply inhaled her wildflower-like scent.

“What sound?”

Watching her obediently listen to his words in this situation, Alexander’s insides twisted with a mix of feelings. He smiled sweetly.

“The sound of my brother having s*x with his mistress.”

Melissa remained silent. Just as he said, faint moans, the sound of flesh colliding, and muted laughter filtered through the wall. The next room was Alexander’s office. Even though he had cleared out an entire floor, how could this be…?