Chapter 58

Alexis stared at the silent Alastair who, in turn, stared at his desk. He didn't glance at her at all and judging from his silence he wasn't happy.

When he finally moved his lips to speak he still wasn't staring at her.

"Dirt", Alexis frowned when she heard the nickname she thought was long gone. She thought the barrier between them had loosened, but it looked like Alastair was building it up again. He didn't want her to trespass further.

"Yes", she reluctantly replied.

"I remember telling you that you belonged to me, but the moment things work out your way you choose whoever's most convenient. This time it was Emilia, but who would it be next time", he finally lifted his head towards her, deep crimson eyes stared at her, guarded behind bars.

"I-I didn't do it for me… I did it for you" her words were shamefully spoken, she felt tears gather in her eyes at Alastair's cold look.

The idea of him hating her hurt. It hurt like a thousand needles pricked her heart at once.

"Ha" he scoffed, "you did it for me? Did you cook that up on the way here", he lifted his chin and stared down at her.

"I didn't. I wanted to help you"-

"I don't need your help!" He snapped.

"But- But the contract?"-.

"That's what this is really about, isn't it", he stared at her, confident in his own summary of why Alexis went to the mine, "you want to fulfil that contract because then you can leave. Just get up and go home, leave every mess you've made here in a dump".

"N-No! That's not why! I mean that's partly! But Alastair I- I-", she bit her lips knowing the words she wanted to say would cause an atrocious mess. One that couldn't be fixed.

"I'm done with this. This situation is ridiculous. Clear up those dungeons and after my birthday you can go home", he coldly said.

At his words it felt as though a thousand needles had pricked Alexis' heart. She stared desperately at Alastair who had turned away from her.

"If you want me to leave I will" her words muffled by her burning throat, "b-but just- don't treat me like you hate me…" the tears she tried to keep at bay fell, one by one.

Alastair laughed cruelly, turning to the girl. His laugh caught in his throat when he spotted the hurt expression on her face. His own feelings hurt at the sight of hers.

'I hate this feeling. Why do I have to feel like this!'

He wanted to scream at her, but he wanted to hold her and stop her from crying at the same time.

He hated this.

"W-Why are you doing this to me?" He suddenly spoke, Alexis couldn't see him well through her blurred vision, "is it fun? Is it fun playing with me like this? Answer me Alexis!"

He had appeared in front of her, his face not looking as angry as his voice. He wasn't angry, he was frustrated, he wanted an answer.

One answer.

"What about you?" She shot back, stepping closer to him, "you're the one playing with me! You treat me nicely and then you get all cold and mean, I don't understand you!" She glared at him, it wasn't harsh but soft.

She wanted answers too.

Alastair didn't say anything back to her. Her behaviour just as perplexing as his own.

'Should I just ignore her and wait for her to leave', he thought but then he recalled his brother and he shook his head.

They would've gotten answers if they both weren't so stubborn. If they both didn't find the other ones actions more unreasonable than their own.

But they did.

And so Alexis just sighed.

"I'm going to bed. You should too" and she turned around, Alastair grabbed her arm. He didn't mean to, he just did.

She didn't turn around.

"I don't want to fight with you. I hate fighting with you. So let's wake up tomorrow and pretend this never happened and just be the same as before", her words sounded attractive to Alastair.

"How could I?- Fine".

And that was it. That night they both glared stubbornly at their pillows.

'I've become an emotional wreckage after I met you' they both thought before finally sleeping. Well… Alexis slept, Alastair however, tossed and turned, until he couldn't take it and returned back to his office.

That strange empty feeling that would happen at random times, found it clever to come back now, of all times. He got through paper work, but as time went on it became more irritating and only one solution seemed to appeal to him.

But he couldn't.

It wasn't right.

And despite how delirious he became as the sun rose up in the sky he stayed seated. Not moving. Going through papers as if he was a stamping machine.

Agathus had even looked worriedly at him, knowing when his master got like this it was best to stay quiet, allowing for it pass, but when Alastair stared outside the window with a longing gaze in his eyes. Agathus realised there was only one way to help him.

One he didn't approve of, but if it was for Alastair, he'd do anything.

Agathus left the office, walking down the flight of stairs and making his way out to the gardens where a certain brunette trained with a beautiful elf woman. The girl looked gloomier than usual, but that didn't stop Darrons Harem of colourful haired women from staring at the spectacular array of elements before them.

They saw ice change to fire and then water and disappearing into the wind in a hurricane that sent differing petals flying in circular motion, circling Alexis whose hair flew around her. Her feet levitated off the ground for a sole second before she fell on her butt and the wind settled.

Agathus couldn't argue that it was a distracting sight. And for a minute he had also became enamoured by the show of colours.

"Miss Alexis", he called out to the girl who complained about how difficult it was to lift herself with wind magic, she stopped at the sound of his voice and waved to him.

"Please tell me you need me to do something", she spoke as she walked over to him, Emilia's sharp gaze trailing behind her.

"As a matter of fact, I do. Cheer up the Emperor", he stated it as if she was a therapeutic toy.

"What's this about Tairy?" Asked Emilia as she approached the two. "Is he okay?"

"He's in one of his moods Miss Emilia and I think sending Alexis to him might cheer him up", Again, at his words Alexis felt like a dog of some kind.

"Good idea!" Emilia's instant approval only solidified her thoughts.

"Why send me? Just send Emilia" she muttered turning away from them to stare at the figure of Dwayne who stood a ways off, admiring the show.

Agathus sighed at the oblivious girl.

"I think he wants to make up for your argument yesterday. This is your chance". Emilia said with a chuckle.

"How did you?"-

"It's written all over your face darling".

"Oh".

Alexis frowned for a minute, looking at where Alastair's office looked down on them.

'I do want to clear up what happened before'…