Alfred Kingston sat frozen in his office chair, staring at the nk screen in disbelief.

His ess to the Kingswell website had been denied-locked outpletely.

No matter how many times he refreshed, the result was the same. Every trace of his authority had vanished.

He had been expelled from the Kingswell organization, his authority stripped away as if the King himself had personally cast him aside.

Cold dread spread through his chest. He grabbed his phone and dialed his superior, his voice trembling when the line clicked.

"Sir... can you tell me what''s happened to my Kingswell ount? Is this some kind of backend error?"

"Alfred Kingston." The voice on the other end was heavy, deliberate, crushing.

"You should count yourself lucky. You''ve served His Majesty faithfully, and you''ve done well as governor. But what you''ve been doing with Kingswell''s authoritytely is uneptable."

Alfred swallowed hard. "What do you mean, Sir? I don''t understand."

"Kingswell was built to be the King''s eyes and hands," the superior said.

"To protect the people. To expose corrupt governors and crooked officials. But you... you''ve twisted it."

"You used Kingswell to dig into Sophia''s affairs. You spread lies to Paris State, smearing her name. Propaganda for your own gain. Using the King''s power like it''s your private weapon."

Sweat trickled down Alfred''s temples. He had never dreamed they''d uncover his

moves.

"Sir, I did this for the King-for a greater purpose."

"Really?" The superior''s voice carried a bitter edge of amusement. "How exactly is that?"

"Sophia isn''t fit to govern Paris," Alfred insisted, his voice rising with desperation.

"She has no experience, no real knowledge. She''ll bring ruin. I was doing my duty —making sure she didn''t create more trouble."

"Alfred," the man cut him off sharply, "do you take me for a fool? We know everything."

"You''ve been scheming with Logan Rothwell of Manhattan, trying to force your son into Paris State''s seat-believing he could seize Guise''s legacy by killing Alex. Don''t forget-nothing is hidden from the King''s eyes."

Alfred''s chest tightened. "Sir, I swear... I only wanted what''s best for the country."

A dryugh echoed through the line. "For the country? Don''t insult me. This isn''t patriotism. It''s greed-and it''s eating you alive. And you dare dress it up as service to the realm?"

Hisughter cut short, reced by a voice that chilled Alfred to the bone. "Pathetic."

"Does this mean..." Alfred hesitated, each word dragged out like lead, "the King has taken Sophia''s side in the Paris State case?"

"Listen carefully, Alfred. The King doesn''t care who governs as long as the people are cared for."

"But you twisted Kingswell''s power to strike at Sophia, and now the people believe the King stands behind your personal vendetta. That alone proves you unfit. And that is exactly why you''ve been stripped of Kingswell."

Alfred''s throat tightened. "Do you mean I must stop fighting Paris State? I believe my son, Charles, has the right to govern. Gilbert Guise''sst will promised that all -his legacy, even Paris itself-would go to the one who avenged him, to the one who killed his killer."

"Sir, Charles has been under my guidance since childhood. He''s stronger, sharper -far more worthy than Sophia to lead Paris State."

"Alfred, you must understand if you act within thew, if you have just cause to move against a state, even to ce your son over Paris, and it is done legally, the King will not interfere."

"You may im Paris State that is the natural order. But if you ignite a war without cause, especially while Charles has not yet secured Gilbert Guise''s legacy through blood, the King himself will intervene and crush you, because such recklessness endangers the safety of the country."

Alfred''s voice dropped to a whisper. "So... His Majesty has withdrawn his favor from me?"

"Yes." The final wordnded like a gavel. "But you''re fortunate. You''re still governor of Los Angeles. The people like you enough that the King allows you to remain for now."

Alfred clenched his jaw. "Very well. I will ept it." He ended the call with forced politeness.

Five secondster, rage consumed him.

He shoved his desk over with a violent crash, papers scattering across the floor.

He kicked the overturned table, his voice breaking into a raw scream.

"Damn that King! How dare he tear Kingswell from me and threaten my governorship! Who the hell does he think he is—God Himself, ruler of the heavens? I serve the people, not the King. You arrogant bastard!"

Alfred''s secretary burst into the office, breathless. "Sir, I heardmotion-did something happen?"

"Nothing," Alfred snapped, his voice sharp. "Get out."

"Yes, sir..." She hesitated, eyes darting nervously, then blurted, "But-sir, I just received a report. Kelly Kingston has been removed from Vermont. Jericho Kane has been reinstated as governor."

"What?" Alfred''s face twisted with fury, his eyes zing red.

The secretary froze, terrified by the look in his eyes. Without another word, she backed out and shut the door behind her.

Alfred''s fury erupted. He mmed his boot into the overturned desk, shattering wood and splintering drawers, the wrecked table crashing violently across the floor.

His voice shook with venom. "Damn you, King! You dare do this to me? If you want an enemy, then congrattions-you''ve made one!"

"I will remember this cut until myst breath."

Across the city, in a hidden chamber, Alex watched Alfred''s outburst on a live

feed. Samuel stood beside him, silent until the curses ended.

"My King," Samuel said atst, his voice steady butced with contempt, "what do we do about him that ungrateful bastardl remember when he was nothing more than governor of a starving wastnd like Vancouver.  s

"You raised him up, gave him Los Angeles State, let Jasmine Kingston keep Vancouver, and even allowed Kelly Kingston to hold Vermont. And now he dares spit in your face."

"That''s the reason, Samuel," Alex

said, his gaze fixed coldly on the screen gave him too much. Fed

his greed until loyalty vanished and

gratitude was forgotten. In the end!

created my own enemy."

belongs to s

Samuel''s jaw tightened. "I knew him when he was humble. But power and money changed him. Now he''s hungry for more-his eyes are fixed on Paris State."

"Do you want me to crush him?" Samuel asked bluntly.

"Not yet." Alex shook his head slowly. "He may be ungrateful, but he''s still a

capable governor. Men like him aren''t easy to find."

"Then what do you want from me?"

"Keep him in check," Alex ordered.

His gaze flicked back to the screen, watching Alfred pace like a caged beast.

"Make sure his ambition doesn''t bleed into other states."fnbd4a Original content can be found at ?ovelFind/fnbd4a

"I followed yourmand," Samuel replied.

"Now tell me what about Kelly?"

"As youmanded, she wasn''t killed. She''s recovering now at Los Angeles

Hospital."

"Good," Alex nodded. "As for

you-your body is still broken. With

your nerves damaged, you won''t reach Level 100 for at least ten

years But onceplete the

Miracle Rill, you''ll recover and you'' have another chance to break

through.”  s

Samuel bowed his head, gratitude sharp in his voice. "Thank you for giving me

that chance, my King."

"Remember," Alex warned, "the elixir needed for the breakthrough isn''t cheap.

You''ll have to find it yourself."

"I understand, sir."

"Excellent." Alex rose, cloak swirling as heunched into the night sky. The city lights blurred beneath him as he flew, his thoughts dark.

''If loyalty can''t be trusted, then I will rule with power and fear. That is the only way

to hold the states together.''

Within minutes, he reached the hospital. Slipping through an open window, he entered a private ward.

Therey Kelly, unconscious on the bed, her face pale and bruised.

For a long moment, Alex just stared. Memories flooded back—the girl who once shielded him like a brother, the woman who had once shared moments with him like a wife.

Now, they were enemies. She hated him for what he had done to Sophia, hated him enough to try to kill Sophia herself.

And yet... Alex couldn''t bring himself to hate her.

Not fully. His hand moved almost on its own, brushing gently against her cheek,

as if trying to revive the fragments of what they once were.

There was still love in him. More than he wanted to admit.

''Yet, each man kills the thing he loves.''

Kelly''s eyes snapped open, startling him. Her voice was hoarse but sharp as a

de. “If you think you can have both me and Sophia in your bed... in some filthy

threesome... you''re dead wrong."

Alex froze, stunned into silence.

"That will never happen," Kelly spat. "Not in this life."

And Kelly''s words were the dagger Alex could not parry.