A New Wave of training.

With Béatrice gone, Alexander was left alone with Louise.

He looked at her briefly, his eyes narrowed. He wondered if she knew what her mother had done, or if she even cared.

The answer was probably no, for both questions. Even if Louise knew what her mother had done, there was little she could do.

So Alexander decided to not bother her with his questions, instead he simply signed as climbed down from his chair.

Stepping out of the dining hall and into the hallway, Alexander's mind churned with thoughts. 

Most were hateful and surrounded Béatrice, thoughts of exposing her and making her pay for what she had done. 

Other thoughts though, ventured into insanity.

Things like suddenly gaining superpowers and going full supervillain, burning the Nova estate to the ground, and rolling in its ashes. 

Alexander let out a chuckle at such ridiculousness, an amused smile crossing his lips as his gaze fell. "If only." He whispered to himself.

Alexander was so lost in thought that he didn't realize Louise was following behind him, her quiet steps in line with his. 

Her expression was somewhat curious.

Upon reaching his room, Alexander opened the door with a heavy sigh. 

The click echoed through the corridor.

Pulling the door open Alexander was greeted with his room, which was untouched since his disappearance. Not that there was much to touch, as he had little possessions to his name.

Stepping inside his room Alexander attempted to pull his door shut but failed due to some kind of resistance.

"Huh?" Confused, Alexander turned around to see a small foot poking through the door, with a small hand on the door. "Who's there?" Alexander asked, skeptical.

The door slowly creaked open, revealing Louise standing there, her gaze steady. 

She didn't speak immediately, instead allowing the silence between them to permeate. 

"Louise?" Alexander called to her, stepping closer. "What are you doing here?"

Louise narrowed her eyes, her sharp gaze boring into him. "I could ask you the same, I was sure you died." She answered, stepping into his room as she brushed past him.

Alexander frowned at her sudden intrusion, annoyed at her unapologetic attitude. 

He closed the door behind himself as Louise stood in the center of the room, her arms crossed. 

Turning around, Alexander furrowed his brows. "I almost did." He replied bitterly, "The only reason I'm here is because of luck, which I don't have enough of."

Louise frowned, "But you survived, I want to know how and why." Her voice was demanding, like she owned the world.

"You have some nerve," Alexander said with a snarl and finger point, his patience waning. "I don't have to tell you anything, you prick."

Louise rolled her eyes as she scoffed, "insults, is that all you can say?" She had an expression of annoyance, "I asked you a question."

Alexander was irritated by Louise's sheer arrogance. "You know what, you can get the hell out of my room because the last thing I need is you grilling me about my survival!"

Louise let out a long breath as she averted her gaze. "Ugh, why must you be so difficult." She muttered.

I find it hard to believe this girl and Elizabeth are the same age.

Throwing an annoyed hand in the air, Alexander spoke. "Fine, you want an answer, first tell me why the hell you want to know?" He asked, stepping closer to her "Are you going to run and tell Béatrice everything, huh?"

Louise let out a cold laugh, "Don't be a fool, I dislike my mother as much as you do, but I'm not ignorant enough to challenge her… and live."

"Is that it?" Alexander asked. "You think I went against your mother and survived?" He frowned deeply, "Sorry to disappoint you, but I didn't go against your mother, she did that as some kind of test."

"A test?" Louise asked, a hint of disbelief flickering in her eyes, "No, she wouldn't risk so much for… a test." Her tone was rattled, as if her world was shifting beneath her feet.

Alexander let out a sharp sigh as he pushed past Louise to approach his bed. "Whatever," he replied, sitting down, "just know I didn't survive because I'm some kinda hero, it was luck and I barely had that."

Louise turned to face him, her eyes narrowing. "I don't like your tone," she said coldly, "you shouldn't take your frustration out on me."

"You can't be serious," Alexander replied, his expression aloof.

Louise's lips tightened, "I am, I came here to ask questions, not be insulted and screamed at," she replied, her tone icy, "but I suppose you're too ignorant to see that."

This girl is just as stuck up as her mother.

"I don't care." Alexander replied, his tone just as icy, "Now get out before I force you."

Louise scoffed as she looked away. "Fine, I couldn't care less for your attitude or your survival." She jabbed, before stepping out of his room with an unapologetic stride.

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Alexander alone in his room.

"Worthless prick," Alexander murmured under his breath. "She's worse than her mother."

He couldn't believe her, pushing into his room and bossing him about, then having the nerve to call him rude. "This entire family is insufferable."

Little did Alexander know, Louise had heard his last remarks, as she stood outside his door with her ear close to it. 

She said nothing, but her expression revealed a saddened expression. 

Like she was disappointed to hear Alexander say such things.

— — — 

The next day Alexander found himself sitting across from Béatrice in her study. 

The sun was just barely rising and before him sat a bowl of fruit and porridge brought in by a maid. 

Béatrice meanwhile sipped on tea, her expression calm as she studied Alexander. "So," she began, her tone emotionless, "you've survived the demon continent, and you're no worse for wear." 

Alexander frowned as he looked up from his steaming bowl of porridge. 

Tightening his jaw as thoughts of hatred flooded his mind. "I don't like what you did." He stated, keeping his words short and simple to withhold his simmering anger.

Béatrice gave a slow nod as she crossed her legs. "I understand," she replied, "but I assure you, what happened to you was a mistake, a betrayal beyond my knowledge."

"Bétrayal?" Alexander echoed with a sigh, "How could someone betray you when it was you who knocked me out." He asked, his tone skeptical.

Béatrice took another sip of her tears as she trained her attention on the window. "I'll admit it was I who initially knocked you unconscious, and it was my people who transported you to the demon continent." She said with an affirmative nod, "But… as to how you ended up lost and making camp with demons, was because my men were betrayed by an unknown enemy."

Alexander scoffed, his skepticism evident. "I'm not stupid." He replied, "This is probably more of your test isn't it, to trick me?"

Béatrice let out a low bitter chuckle as she gently set down her teacup. "You're young, so I don't expect you to understand everything I say." Her tone was measured but laced with pity. 

"However, I do not need your understanding nor your forgiveness, I only intended for this to be an explanation, understand?"

So that's it, no apologies, no flattery, just a cryptic explanation of an unknown enemy?

Alexander had a sneaking suspicion that this "unknown enemy" was basic empathy.

After all this time and all he fought for, he was rewarded with a shitty explanation and a cooked meal.

If Alexander had any significant backing or was just a little more independent, he'd have flown off the rails right about now.

But, it was pointless to fight for a better answer, as Béatrice showed no interest in clearing the air. 

So, with a long sigh, Alexander nodded, "understood." He replied, leaning back in his seat. 

"Good," Béatrice replied with a faint smile, "I believe training you will be quite effective, you know your place, you do as you're told, and you don't ask questions."

"Because I'm not stupid." Alexander replied, "You don't like me, and I have nothing against you."

"Excellent assessment," Béatrice replied.

Alexander remained silent.

Béatrice stood from her seat in a fluid motion, "I suppose that's enough chatter," she said, stretching out her arms. "Now," she continued, her tone commanding, "finish your breakfast and meet me in the courtyard in ten minutes." 

"Yes ma'am," Alexander replied, his tone flat and gaze averted. He had done this deliberately, to hide his irritation.

Béatrice let off a small smirk before turning away and approaching the exit. As she walked, her stride slow and confident, one thought crossed her mind.

The Queen may have been on to something after all, as Alexander was truly extraordinary.

With Béatrice gone, Alexander was left alone with his thoughts and porridge. There was so much he wanted to do at that moment, but all of it would lead to his demise. 

And so he decided to do as he was told, grabbing the spoon from the table and stabbing it into his porridge with unnecessary force. 

"Soon…" he muttered under his breath.