Episode 20

Alexander

What just happened has completely surprised me, Aaron's sister is alive and not only that, she is the young woman who came with the Blacks.

Although she arrived with a different appearance than what I had seen before, the attire is the same, but she is hiding her appearance. The Blacks owe me a lot of explanations and answers, which they will give me once this ceremony is concluded.

We arrived at the mausoleum of my parents, paying our respects to them, as well as my sister. It is now the turn of the leaders of the races, each leaving a gift on their tombstones. We return to the reception hall, the first part has ended, it is time to thank the attendees and invite them to join us for the torch lighting at sunset.

I contacted Armand through the link - I need to speak with you and your wife, I will be waiting for you at my mansion in half an hour.

Armand - Understood, Your Majesty.

I sought out my sister and asked her to take charge of closing the ceremony and bidding farewell to the leaders, as I had to return to the mansion. She nervously responded to me.

Clarisa (Nervously) - Brother, I'm not sure if I am capable of doing that.

Vladimir Black approaches us and addresses me.

Vlad - Your Majesty, if you allow me, it would be an honor to assist Miss Clarisa in bidding farewell to the guests and then I can take her to the pack's mansion.

Alexander - I appreciate your help, Vladimir. I trust you and Clarisa to conclude the ceremony and bring her back home.

Vlad - You can count on me.

Without saying more, I bid farewell, leave the cemetery, get into my sports car, and return to the mansion.

While driving, the face of Aaron's sister comes to my mind. If I remember correctly, her name is Aria. Her warm gaze and a mane of black hair that made her eyes look beautiful despite being filled with tears suddenly fill my thoughts. Khan’s voice interrupts my reverie.

Khan - Alexander, have you noticed that Aria's hair is the same color as our Goddess of the Lake?

Alexander - Now that you mention it, you are right. But without sensing her scent, I can't be certain if she is the same person. We'll have to find another way to figure it out.

Khan - What do you have in mind to find out?

Alexander - I don't know yet, but we will have time to think about it. Right now, the most important thing is to speak with the Blacks and learn the details of Aria’s appearance.

I continue driving until I reach the mansion, park the car, and make my way to the study. I take off my jacket, leaving it on the hanger in the office. In one of the pockets, I tuck in the tie. I unbutton the collar of my shirt, feeling like I'm suffocating. I go to the small bar in front of my desk, pour myself a whisky, and down it in one gulp.

After a few minutes, there's a knock on the door. It's one of the staff members who announces that the Black couple has arrived. I instruct them to let them in.

I watch them enter through the door, which closes behind them. I invite them to take a seat while I sit in front of my desk. Addressing both of them, I say, "I suppose you already know the reason why I asked to speak with you, so I'm listening."

Armand - Yes, Your Majesty, and that's why we're here.

Alexander - Please, Armand, you know formalities are not necessary when we are alone.

Armand - Alexander, it would be incorrect to say that we found Aria, when it was she who found us. She arrived at the Black territory's gates approximately three months ago, in a very bad condition, on the brink of death.

Slowly, Armand narrates the story of Aria, from her memories of arriving in Sunshine with Alpha Markus, the mistreatment she endured from Solange, to when she arrived in their territory gravely injured from the impact of two aconite-coated arrows, with the clear intention to kill her.

Alexander, who remained in complete silence with a deadly glare for every word that came out of Armand's mouth about the terrible life Aria had to endure at Solange's hands, darkened his gaze when he heard that Aria's arrows were tainted with aconite.

R. Amaranth (Serious) - I see that you have realized that those who attempted on Aria's life may be the same ones involved in the death of the previous Kings.

Alexander - I assume you found out something about it?

Armand - Indeed, after the doctor who attended to Aria upon her arrival in Black territory informed us that the arrows contained aconite, I realized this couldn't be a mere coincidence. I personally followed the trail she left until reaching the River, where I found traces of a fight. It seems she defended herself. Not far from there, I came across her attackers, two Rogues. After apprehending them, I interrogated them to find out who had hired them. At first, they resisted, but I have some persuasive methods. Eventually, they spoke, saying a woman had hired them a few days prior to locate and eliminate her.

Amaranth - Those dogs. They didn't know the woman's name, but based on the given characteristics, we concluded it must be that bitch Solange Brown. The two also mentioned she had confirmed they had completed the job, all to ensure payment.

Up until that moment, we didn't know the identity of the young woman or her connection to that woman, until she woke up a month later and told us her terrible story.

That's when we understood that Markus and Solange Brown were involved in the attack that claimed the lives of Amadeus, Marian, Ariadne, and the disappearance of Aria.

When she learned about her true origin, she wanted to confront that bitch and demand answers. I convinced her to wait until she's trained, though.

Alexander (Sternly) - That's why she arrived here with a different appearance. Now it makes sense, but how does she manage to hide her scent?

Armand - After she woke up, we realized she not only needed to heal her physical wounds but also the ones in her soul. So, she needed to live a normal life, like any young person her age. We took advantage of the fact that the rogues had reported her dead to hide her. That's why we gave her a moon quartz medallion to change her appearance and conceal her scent. Thanks to that, she could leave Black territory and see a bit of the world she had been denied for all those years.

Alexander - I appreciate all the information you just provided. Now, I will take care of making Solange Brown pay for everything she has made Aria suffer. But first, I will find out what connection she has to the deaths of my parents and Aria's mother.

Armand - There's something else you must know. Aria's powers are growing very rapidly, and I'm afraid if she doesn't receive proper training, it can be very dangerous for her.

Alexander - Powers? What do you mean by that?

Amaranth - (looking at her husband) I think he doesn't know.

Alexander - What is it that I must know?

Armand - I'm sorry, Alexander. I think I let something slip, but it's not for me to talk about. You need to have that conversation with Albert.

Alexander - I understand. I appreciate your time and everything you've done for Albert and Aaron. They're like a father and brother to me.

Now, I won't take up any more of your time. See you later.

Armand - You have nothing to thank us for. They are part of our family, and we would do anything for them.

After those words, the Black couple nodded slightly and left the pack's mansion.

Alexander found himself in his study, immersed in his thoughts. There was a whirlwind within him. First, there was Aria, who had endured all that ordeal. His heart ached just imagining all the mistreatment she had gone through. Then, he felt the anger increasing as he remembered the instigator, Solange Brown. That damned woman would pay for every tear she made Aria shed. And if she had anything to do with the death of his parents, he wished he had never been born.

Then, there was what Armand had said about Aria's Gifts. What did he mean? He had to find a way to speak with Albert as soon as possible so he could explain the situation.

So many things had happened in one day. The emotional exhaustion was overwhelming. But there was still the Torch ceremony to attend. Alexander looked at his watch; less than two hours until sunset. He grabbed his coat and left his study, climbing the stairs to his room to take a shower, change his clothes, and head back to the pack's amphitheater for the second part of the ceremony.

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