CHAPTER 105: CHAPTER 105 : SETTLING ON A WEDDING DATE

Alex stood in front of the massive floor-to-ceiling window, sipping the last of his lukewarm tea.

He let the ceramic cup hover mid-air with a casual flick of his finger, mana weaving around it like soft ribbons before it floated gently onto a nearby tray with a soft clink.

His gaze softened, absorbing the golden light of the setting sun as it stretched across the sprawling campus grounds of Zenith Academy.

Crimson rays painted the futuristic towers and cultivated greenery in hues of fire and calm.

Peace.

Finally.

His shoulders eased. A rare moment of quiet. Of stillness. Of being alone with his thoughts.

’What a beautiful evening,’ he mused. ’After such a troublesome day... it’s almost poetic how peaceful this is now. Maybe I’ll take a short nap. I hope no more trouble arises.’

Then came the soft chime.

{ Alex, someone is at the door. }

Zara’s calm, melodic voice echoed from the apartment’s audio nodes, shattering the silence like a thrown pebble across glassy water.

Alex blinked, pulled from the lull of tranquility. He tilted his head slightly. "Hmm? At this hour?"

He set the cup down fully now, turning toward the center console in the room’s sleek core. One eyebrow arched. "Zara, tell me who it is."

{ Analyzing... Match found in Zenith Academy caste registry. Visitor identified as Alicia von Crestvale. }

Alex froze mid-step.

"...Alicia?"

A cold ripple went down his spine, followed by a flush of mixed emotion—surprise, curiosity, and a healthy splash of dread.

’Why is she here?’

Their last encounter had been... memorable, to say the least. He’d danced dangerously close to her patience limit—flirting with the type of reckless charm only a man with no regard for personal safety could afford.

He’d taken her money, mocked her, and even pushed her dangerously close to committing murder.

’But well, it had been worth it,’ he thought with a smug grin.

Unless, of course, she’s come back to collect that debt... in blood.

He frowned. That was a possibility. But then, another memory surfaced—one more relevant.

That conversation. A rare one, where her tone had been more serious than sarcastic.

She’d mentioned someone.

Someone involved in abyss corruption research. Someone she’d promised to introduce him to.

"Next time, I’ll take you to meet him."

’So... this could be about that time too.’

It was the logical conclusion.

But then another, far less logical and far more terrifying thought wriggled into his brain like a cursed worm.

The picture.

Alex’s pupils shrank a fraction.

That picture.

The cursed, ill-fated joke he’d sent to Alden a few days ago—the one with extremely clear and utterly incriminating "brother-in-law" implications.

An image of Alex on his knees, kissing Alicia’s hand like a proper gentleman — in a position that made it look as though he were proposing to her.

He’d sent it just to annoy Alden. A harmless joke.

’Probably.’

’She wouldn’t come all the way here just for that, right?’

A bead of sweat slid down the side of his temple.

’But... what if that idiot actually showed her?’

His breath hitched slightly. ’No. Alden wouldn’t be that dumb.’

’...Would he?’

Alex stared blankly for a beat longer, then slowly backed up a step.

"Zara," he said calmly, "activate the two-way audio projection. And do not open the door unless I say so. I don’t care if she uses her position as the student council president, her sword, or sarcasm. Keep it locked."

{ Affirmative. Intercom link established. Door remains sealed. }

Outside, Alicia stood before the sleek, seamless door to Alex’s luxurious apartment, arms crossed like a queen expecting a tribute.

Her perfectly manicured foot tapped with an almost melodic rhythm of restrained impatience.

Then, suddenly, a voice crackled through the intercom system.

"Hello, Miss Alicia. What can I do for you?"

The tone was polite. Too polite.

Her brow twitched.

She narrowed her eyes at the sleek black panel beside the door.

’That smug bastard. He’s hiding behind his walls now?’

Still, she breathed in, gathering the royal patience expected of a Crestvale. Her lips curled into a smile—a sweet, practiced thing. But her eyes gleamed like twin swords.

’I’ll kill him after. Slowly. With flair. But not yet.’

"I’m here because," she began, her tone smooth as glass, "I promised to take you to someone researching abyssal corruption. I figured... now’s a good time."

Inside the room, Alex tapped a finger slowly against his crossed arm.

"Oh? I do remember that," he replied, tone measured.

"Good. Then open the door," Alicia replied. Her voice was silk drawn taut over iron. "I’ve been standing out here long enough."

But behind her graceful phrasing, her thoughts were spinning.

’Open it, silver-hair. Open it once. I’ll drag you into the abyss myself, beat you up, and then blackmail you. I’ll bring you to the ball with a swollen face. Yes. One humiliation at a time.’

Alex’s eyes remained fixed on the small holo-projection of her standing outside. Every gesture, every twitch, every blink.

"Zara," he murmured, "focus on her facial features. Micro-expressions, voice changes. I’m about to drop a verbal bomb. If she reacts—even slightly—do not open that door."

{ Understood. Facial tracking set to max. Emotional variance filter active. }

He took a breath, bracing himself.

"Miss Alicia," he said with slow, cautious gravity, "is that really the only reason you’ve come here?"

There was a pause.

Alicia didn’t even flinch.

"What other reason could there be?" she asked smoothly. "Now open the door, Alex."

Inside, Alex squinted at the screen.

’Nothing? Seriously?’

"Zara. Report."

{ No micro-expressions detected. Vocal tones within baseline. No signs of hostility or deceit. }

He folded his arms.

’Too clean. Way too clean. Either she’s innocent... or a master assassin.’

Then again, this was Alicia von Crestvale.

"She’s too good..." he muttered, then louder, "Alright, Alicia. I’m opening the door."

He turned toward the entrance.

And with a devilish smirk creeping across his face, he added, "Alden’s brother-in-law, reporting for duty."

For a moment—dead silence.

Not even the hum of the corridor could be heard.

He glanced at the monitor. The image still showed her perfectly poised.

Then, without even turning toward the door, he spoke again.

"Zara. Now tell me. Did you notice anything?"

{ Still no change. No facial twitch. No emotional spike. }

Alex exhaled softly through his nose, smiling darkly.

’Oh, Alden... you absolute traitor.’

Because if there was no reaction to that line, then...

’She already knew.’

Which meant only one thing: Alden got caught and beaten up too.

And right on cue, her voice rang through the speakers—coated with sugar and sharpened steel.

"What... did you mean by that, Alex? Brother-in-law?"

Alex’s lips twitched.

’There it is. Rage, barely disguised behind polite concern. A classic noble special.’

He stared toward the doorway.

If he opened it now, he’d be airborne before he could say "It was just a misunderstanding."

So, naturally, he did the sensible thing.

"Give me... a few minutes to clean things up," he said, calm as moonlight.

Outside, Alicia’s smile brightened.

It was radiant.

Too radiant.

"Of course," she said smoothly. "Take your time."

Alex stared at her image on the monitor.

"Zara," he said flatly, "that smile is definitely fake."

{ Even I can tell, } Zara replied, sounding almost offended.

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Man... I might actually die today..."

---

A few minutes passed.

Alicia stood in perfect poise. Regal. Patient. Noble.

Except for the repeated cracking of her knuckles, which echoed like a metronome of murder.

Then—with a soft whoosh and a glow of ethereal blue—the door slid open.

And there stood Alex Dragonheart.

Silver-haired menace. Smug smile. Lazy stance. Arms outstretched like a game-show host.

"Welcome to my humble lair," he said cheerfully, as if nothing was wrong.

Alicia stepped forward slowly. Each click of her heels was a countdown to war.

Her lips curled into a devilish smile. Her fingers flexed with silent promise.

"Oh, darling," she cooed. "Have you settled on a wedding date?"

Her eyes shimmered with the dual intensity of mischief and manslaughter.

"Because things can get bloody if you didn’t. And if you’re calling yourself Alden’s brother-in-law... then you do understand the consequences, right?"

Alex rested his chin on one hand as if pondering the secrets of the universe.

"Whatever date you want, babe," he said smoothly. "Your wish is my command."

He leaned in just slightly, his grin turning dangerous. "But—I did have a few ideas for the perfect wedding day."

Alicia’s brow twitched.

"Oh, please, do tell," she replied sweetly.

She added, "But darling, I want our wedding to be truly unforgettable! Let’s pick a date no one will ever forget."

"Because who knows if you’ll still be conscious in a few seconds?"

Alex’s eyes gleamed with wicked confidence.

He stepped forward, one hand raised in solemn announcement.

"I’ve given it careful thought," he said gravely.

"A sacred decision, really."

A pause.

"After long, painstaking deliberation..."

He raised a finger.

"I’ve settled on the perfect wedding date."

He smirked.

"How about 30th February? That way, we’ll never have to worry about remembering our anniversary!"

He winked.

"Perfect, right?"

There was a beat of stunned silence.

Then—

"YOU BASTARD!" Alicia shrieked, lunging forward like a wolf with a vendetta.

-------

A/N:

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