''That's good, let's talk with others once we get back. I believe that together we can perfect this plan. I hope you were not thinking that you should do this alone, you alone would dirty your hands?'' Sakuya asked this with her eyes narrowed trying to read him and as expected he didn't dare to look her in the eyes prompting the girl to heave a sigh.
''I knew it but you better stop this crooked mindset that you should do dirty things alone, we are family for better and worse, so naturally, we ought to share everything equally. There is no dirty group or bright group, we should stick together, and only like this, we will be a real family. Did you understand my point?" She asked with a serious face and he could not help but nod vigorously.
''Clearly!'' He voiced his acknowledgment, he knew he had misspoken, so naturally, he accepted and vowed to correct this mindset in the future. He couldn't be blamed he was trying to protect them as he thought that dirty things should be left to him to carry not to have them regret later, however, now that Sakuya had harshly rebuked him and told him that there was no need to think like that, it had opened his eyes.
''It is good that you understand, never forget this,'' Sakuya said with a smile, she was happy that Alex truly accepted and didn't argue with her, it shows that he would consider their opinion which was a good thing.
''Let's head back.'' She said and Alex nodded. The couple disappeared shortly later, joining Maria and the others waiting for them at home.
That night the atmosphere was joyous as they talked and played all together, Alex vowed to make everything possible to protect this peace and this joy.
Everyone was there except for Incursio who excused herself during the evening saying she had something to take care of, she would join them later. Maria and the others were not against Alex's idea to get rid of Leonardo and his crew, together they started planning how to carry this mission.
Artemia even proposed to call her sister and inform her about what they wanted to do, at first the others were vehemently against this idea fearing that Katherine might refuse or else leak their plan but Alex and Artemia reassured them, the former because he had noticed that the second princess was not fond of Leonardo, she even planned to deal with him using her methods, meanwhile, for Artemia, she proposed this idea because she understood her sister better than anybody present here, getting rid of Leonardo and his group would be in fact helping her sister as it would mean getting rid of the stain on her side and most importantly by informing her, they would be implicating her and as future empress (probably) they could use her to clean up any mess that might pop out once people know it was Alex's group doing.
Finally, after explaining the logic behind her proposal, Maria and the others nodded, they even sucked mouthfuls of air because they hadn't thought that far.
Alex was impressed as it never occurred to him to do that.
'As expected they are exceptional each one of them, capable of filling the gap I can't. It's a blessing to be surrounded by talented people.' He thought with a smile and as if she could read through his thoughts at the moment Silveria's voice rang inside his head.
〖Each one of them is unique, it's a blessing that you crossed paths with them and you become connected in some way another. Please cherish this, we will do our best to protect this.〗
Alex was shocked by this but soon he recovered and corrected her.
'Thank you but you're also included as well, you and Nyx, you're my important person, I'll protect you all.'
It was Silveria's turn to be stunned she even mumbled one word as if trying to etch it deeper into her soul.
〖Family? Huh! I guess we are one. Thank you as well for considering us as one of you Alexander.〗
Alex nodded as if it was a matter of fact.
The rest of the night was uneventful as they casually chatted until late in the night, Alex slept alone, and Kuina wanted to sleep with him but got dragged away by Sera and Artemia. The trio slept together, Gracier slept together with Saeko as usual while Maria, Luna, and Sakuya shared one bed.
The night quickly passed.
The curtains add an orange glow to the morning light, every morning a perfect sunrise. It reminds Alex of the times he slept in a beach hut, watching the ocean emerge under the golden shimmer. For a moment his mind conjures the rhythmic waves, soft on the sandy shore, and feels his heartbeat to the same slow pace. He breathed in deeply. A new day had begun. He reached his hand out to the fabric, noticing how up close the light pours through every open space between fibers, no different from how it once came through the beach-hut walls, illuminating like brilliant fireflies each dawn. The material is warm beneath his fingers, and when the sun floods the room, painting the colors anew, he felt a little of those golden rays soak into his skin. For some reason, he felt like today would be filled with fun, probably because the empress, his mother-in-law had asked to meet him.
After freshening up Alex joined the others where they took breakfast together and after spending two hours with them, it was time for him to leave.
''I'm leaving.'' He said after kissing them, his lovers were kissed on the lips whereas he kissed Gracier received a kiss on her cheek, she pouted but quickly hide it so nobody noticed except for Silveria, she thought Gracier was pouting because her brother was heading out to have fun, she would have loved to tag along.
Soon Alex disappeared and Kuina suggested.
''Let's have an only-girl barbecue party near the pool.
Maria and Luna exchanged a look before the Ice empress stepped forward as the other's representative.
''Sure why not but let's add a ping pong table there.''
Kuina nodded.
°°°°°°°
Meanwhile, Alex arrived at the palace thinking that the empress would want to talk there but instead she instead on him accompanying her out to play, naturally she could not go out in her real appearance so she had to disguise herself. It was how their journey began.
Alex and the disguised empress visited many places before stopping in a park they talked about trivial things.
"Alright!,"
Finally, Alex stood up and stretched his body, "I know you want to come out to relax so let's continue to shop."
Kuina's mother smiled. She linked arms with Alex which made Alex freeze.
''What are you thinking you're doing?" He asked with a frown but the empress chuckled and offered an explanation.
''We look like a couple trying to have fun, besides I'm disguised so there's no problem.''
'Of course, there is, you're my fucking mother-in-law, so behave.' Alex almost shouted but he felt like he would be handing her the knife to finish him.
''Or are perhaps shy? Or harboring any wild thoughts? It's just a play for the sake of fun.''
''Whatever.'' Alex said, too lazy to rebuke the fox, she was doing this on purpose and he didn't want to stay here and have an argument he was sure not to win.
Seeing Alex obediently playing around she smiled, she smiled, and the duo excitedly visited multiple shops.
Half a day passed by as they shopped.
Night time arrived and they went to a restaurant near the shopping mall. It was a perfect time for them to have dinner together.
Right after they ordered a few dishes, she suddenly suggested, "Let's have some drinks. It's cold outside so it's perfect to have some alcohol."
Alex wondered what trick this fox was trying to pull, but decided not to refuse her invitation, she seemed genuinely happy during their day, spending time like this must have done her good. So, he decided to let her have some fun.
He ordered the strongest alcohol the restaurant have.
Unexpectedly the empress wasn't used to drinking such strong alcohol but she didn't want to change it. She kept eating a few bites of food with every sip, like a cat who is eating hot food.
Alex smiled, "Stop drinking if you aren't used to it. Your face is flushed."
The empress knew Alex was using this opportunity to get back at her, still, she smiled and licked her lips and furrowed her brows, "I usually only drink wine and light alcohol, it's quite interesting to drink something strong occasionally. It's fine, you can send me home if I get drunk anyways. I don't need to be afraid of bad guys."
Alex shook his head, feeling speechless. He almost shouted that nobody would dare to do anything to her considering her strength and even if she wished she could remove all the alcohol in her blood in an instant.
After some time, Alex was about to stop her from drinking when a lady walked into the restaurant him looked over with a puzzled expression at first before a smile appeared on her ordinary face
''Eleanor?"
Alex was bewildered to see her. He hadn't seen her in a long time and had never expected would see her in this form.
Meanwhile, the empress glanced over but she didn't know this ordinary-looking girl so she kept drinking quietly.
Finally, she arrived before them and with a smile she said.
''Long time no see Team leader, you wouldn't blame me for interrupting your meal with this beauty right?"
Follow current nov𝒆ls on freew(𝒆)bnov𝒆l.(c)om