PART 1

Within the walls of the King's castle in Academy City, a palpable tension hung in the air.

The bedroom of the King, with his large bed, seemed to lose their usual charm as the silence was broken.

“Tell me, Alex.”

Ashlyn's piercing gaze bore into Alex, her hands clutching her green bow with a white-knuckled grip as she leaned forward.

“Where does your loyalty lie?”

Her words were sharp, cutting at his consciousness as a human.

Alex felt the phantom pain of his lungs coming out his mouth as the truth he had been hiding the last dies came to light.

However, despite his inner turmoil, he managed to steady his breathing.

He raised his arms, palms open and bravely, ready to face her wrath.

“My loyalty.” He declared, his voice unwavering. “Is with my Kingdom, with my people.”

Ashlyn's eyes narrowed at his response, her teeth grinding together in frustration. She could feel the sincerity in his words, but the fire within her refused to extinguish.

It was not enough.

“Then why are you forming ties with the Keepers of the Flame?” She hissed, her voice trembling. “You're making people question your loyalty, jeopardizing our positions.”

Alex had his eyes widen, his mouth trembling as he struggled to form words.

“Wait…” He finally said, his voice shaking. “This is not about me having an affair?”

He could feel his common sense being tested by the Alien Elysian’s culture of this world.

Ashlyn's anger flared anew, her nostrils flaring as she pointed the bow at him with a trembling hand.

“It is!” She exclaimed with ferocity. “Since the day we married, I had hoped you wouldn't choose a worthless woman as a secondary lover.”

She paused, and a green light began to engulf her beautiful bow, brightening the room with its glow.

“And you chose to be with the most evil of the women!”

Ashlyn’s elemental power spread out of her in waves, causing her fiery-red hair to billow like a lion's mane. Her grip on the bow remained tense as she held her ground.

In response, Alex took a firm step forward, his eyes reflecting his longing for her.

After all, he had never stopped thinking of her, even when he was with Aria.

"Please, Ashlyn." He implored, his voice soft. “I know how much you care about us."

He reached out gently, his fingers brushed against hers, attempting to lower the bow.

“And I know you are afraid of losing what we've worked so hard to build.”

Ashlyn's grip on the bow loosened slightly, her anger giving way to a flicker of curiosity.

Her piercing blue eyes met his, searching for any sign of sincerity.

His excuses wouldn’t convince her as a woman, but as a leader, she wanted to believe.

“I understand why you're upset.” Alex continued, his tone firm.

“But I promise you, there's more to this than meets the eye. It’s true, I let my lust get the best of me this time... But that woman and the Keepers of the Flame are just another piece of the puzzle for the betterment of my Kingdom.”

He took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly as he tried to steady himself.

“She's a key, you see, a key to showing this world how they can be rewarded if they're willing to set aside their pride. I would never willingly jeopardize our positions or your trust. Please, Ashlyn, believe in me, in us."

Alex's heartfelt words began to chip away at the walls of Ashlyn's stormy heart. Her gaze softened, and she lowered the bow slightly, her emotions caught in a whirlwind of doubt and longing.

“I need you to trust me, even when it's difficult.” Alex added, his eyes locked onto hers with unwavering sincerity.

“I love our Kingdom more than words can express, and I'll do whatever it takes to see it prosper.”

With that last excuse delivered, he could only hope Ashlyn would forgive him. His understanding of Elysian culture was limited, and this was the best he could come up with.

Fortunately for him, Ashlyn's grip on the bow finally loosened, and it slipped from her fingers, clattering softly on the floor.

She surrendered to her emotions and fell into his embrace, her eyes closing as she buried her head against his chest.

“My foolish, clumsy King.” She nuzzled her nose against his nipple. “That ambition of yours… It's the reason I wanted to marry you.”

Alex held his breath, feeling that her next words might dictate his future nights sleeping on a couch.

In his mind, he feared not only for his poor back but also Pyra's mischievous pranks that could follow.

However, he had to take a great breath as Ashlyn bit into his nipple.

She then looked up at his face with a fierce gaze, her eyes reflecting a playful revenge.

“I can tolerate you having one or two lovers away from the public eye… But I deeply hate that woman. She abandoned many of my wounded friends during the start of the war!”

Alex winced, feeling his nipple palpitate in pain as her words hit home.

Being eaten alive was one of his worst fears, and she knew it all too well.

With a grimace twisting his face, he nodded.

“Fine, I’ll find a way to break up with her without turning the Keeper of the Flame into our enemies.”

Ashlyn, seemingly satisfied by his response, slowly separated from him, her figure turning around as she made her way toward the exit of their bedroom.

A faint blush colored her cheeks, and her eyes held a glimmer of contentment.

Of course, she wouldn’t show her happy face in front of him.

He didn’t deserve such a view.

Yet, just before leaving, she left one last warning hanging in the air.

“Or perhaps.” She teased. "I might lead the Boys in a quick raid on their base!”

Alex could only shake his head as he watched her retreating back disappearing into the castle's corridors.

His life would never be as easy as he hoped.

PART 2

“There, your suit is almost perfect.”

Aqua was pleased with her own work on Alex’s suit.

Her soft metallic voice filled with pride entered Alex’s ears, while her fingers moved expertly, smoothing out the wrinkles on his suit.

She scrunched her pretty blue face, a touch of humor in her expression as she regarded him.

“I can’t believe Ashlyn can come up with this public display of unity just a few hours after your discussion.” She chided Alex. “If it were me in her position, I'd have spent weeks kicking your cheating ass.”

Alex just glanced around, trying hard to not think how he was about to undergo another interview.

Aqua's small, satisfied smile remained as she patted off the last of the wrinkles.

“There, you're all set.” She said.

With her characteristic care, she moved behind him, her palms gently pushing Alex to step forward.

“Now, don't keep everyone waiting.” She encouraged him. “You're going to do great out there.”

Alex steeled himself, drawing a deep breath to calm his nerves.

Under Aqua's red eyes and with her support, he walked out of the room and into a grand plaza filled with a large crowd.

There were nobles from all over the planet, from his father-in-law's imposing presence to the gruff Lord Syrup, who cradled a pair of pink twins in his arms.

There were also teachers and students of Academy City forming most of the crowd.

The anticipation in the air was palpable, almost to the point Alex could feel his throat go dry.

After a second of brief hesitation, he made his way to the center of the circular plaza, passing through the tense crowd quickly.

The autonomous cameras whirred to life and focused on him, capturing every step with their unnerving click as they adjusted their lenses.

His heart pounded in his chest, but his face remained passive, fitting to his position.

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Finally, he walked up to his red-haired wife's side, Ashlyn, who awaited him with a confident smile.

She extended her left arm.

He took it in his right arm and hand, interlocking their fingers.

They faced the crowd directly, displaying a content smile.

“We can begin the interview!”

At Ashlyn's announcement, the clicking of the cameras sounded out as some of them captured the moment.

The crowd's murmurs transformed into animated chatter.

And a pair of interviewers got onto the stage with thin microphones.

It was a blue haired man and a green haired woman, both sporting the slightly tanned skin common among the Elysians.

They bowed profoundly before them before flashing matching, toothy grins.

“It's an absolute honor to be here today, Your Majesty and Your Highness!”

Their voices echoed in perfect synchrony, setting the stage for a grand introduction.

“Good morning, Kingdom.”

Of course, the ever awkward Alex had to strain the moment with his clumsy greeting.

“Good morning, Kingdom.”

The grip of Ashlyn in his hand tightened in response, but she held her smile as she repeated his greeting.

The presenter, Jaustin, ignored the awkward moment and with a professional face chose to breeze past the hiccup without missing a beat.

“Many things have been happening in our Kingdom lately, my King” He continued. “From the birth of pink-skinned twins for the first time since the war to a series of protests led by the veterans.”

Upon hearing the opening, Alex couldn't help but recall the information he had hastily reviewed with Astra just an hour prior.

His once-confident smile turned serious as he answered.

“Yes, indeed.” Alex began, his tone tinged with a hint of gravity. “Time doesn't wait for anyone”

He glanced at Ashlyn, who mirrored his expression.

“But, fortunately.” Alex continued, his eyes fixed on his wife. “We have capable individuals like my wife here to come to the rescue.”

He turned to face her, Ashlyn doing the same.

“I’m happy to announce that my wife managed to reach a... mutually beneficial agreement with the veterans after some... productive discussions.”

Those discussions involving a fair share of punches and elemental arrows was left unsaid.

No one wanted to get on the wrong side of Ashlyn, even on her happiest day.

Regardless of their opinions, the red-haired Queen took the lead as Alex nodded to her.

“That’s right.” She affirmed, returning his nod with a determined gaze. “After careful consideration, we've reached a decision. Any veteran struggling with reintegrating into civilian life is welcome to join the Kingdom's navy.”

At that declaration, a massive blue holographic emblem materialized above them.

It depicted two horizontal stripes beneath a cheerful, big-eyed fish that resembled a Boy.

“And anyone willing can join in our future campaigns to expand our borders.”

That got a bunch of students skipping into their places.

“But that's not all.”

She did a dramatic pause, her piercing blue eyes reflecting a whirlwind of emotions that resonated with everyone present.

“Never forget.” She asserted, her voice carrying a fervent conviction. “We were once weak, and in this vast universe, the weak are prey!”

The crowd erupted into cheers.

Some of the veterans couldn't contain their emotions, their tears of gratitude falling down on the ground.

No one was against strengthening their military forces, everyone wanted to be prepared in case an alien enemy attacked them again.

They would never forget what the invading Gemcrabs had done to them. How much they had lost due to them.

“Thank you.. thank you.”

The presenter, overwhelmed by the emotional weight of the moment, found himself shedding tears as he shouted his gratitude to the sky where the Astraliths’ mothership remained.

However, the festive atmosphere couldn’t last forever as the next part of the interview, the part that Ashlyn dreaded, was coming upon them.

As a signal, Jaustin stepped a bit back to allow his companion to take the stage.

The second presenter, Marita, beamed a smile at the crowd before turning her attention to Alex.

“My King.” She winked at him playfully. “Rumors have been swirling that you've been spending time with Saint Aria.”

A hushed murmur swept through the audience as worried expressions appeared on their faces at the mention of Saint Aria.

“Many have concerns that the treacherous Keepers of the Flame might take advantage of your kindness.”

She concluded her statement with a sigh, her eyes filled with sadness as she gazed up at Alex.

Alex steady his feet, his braces helping him maintain his balance as his legs tried to shake from his nervousness.

His hand gripped Ashlyn with more strength as he answered.

“Well, this is a bit embarrassing to declare.” He declared with a light chuckle. “With permission of my wife, I have been trying to establish an imperial harem.”

Seeing his nervousness, Ashlyn interjected with a strained smile.

“We are seeking to make the structure of the kingdom more solid by gaining support from a diverse range of factions.”

Marita, perhaps feeling the heat of the moment, playfully fanned herself with her hand, feigning discomfort.

“Well, you know, many of us feel pretty uncomfortable with that particular religion.”

To that, Alex gave a half-step forward. A brave, roguish smile on his face.

“I know that.” He admitted without blinking. “But I believe that in order to forge a new, united Kingdom, we must leave the past behind. Including all the groups is part of that process.”

Marita's eyes widened in surprise, her lips forming a surprised "O" shape.

“That actually sounds reassuring.”

With Marita's approval, the tension that had briefly hung in the air began to dissipate.

The crowd, having witnessed this unexpected exchange, erupted into a mix of applause and murmurs.

Ashlyn and Alex exchanged a quick, knowing glance. They turned towards the crowd one last time, their expressions united in determination.

“Thank you, everyone, for your support.” Ashlyn addressed the gathering, her voice carrying with it a sense of resolution. “We will continue to work tirelessly to forge a new future for our Kingdom.”

Alex nodded in agreement, his roguish smile returning. “And as always, we're open to hearing your concerns and suggestions. Together, we will build a brighter future.”

With those words, they exited the stage, leaving behind a crowd buzzing with excitement and anticipation for the Kingdom's future.

PART 3

Hidden deep within the streets of Academy city, concealed amidst the countless scholar dormitories, stood an unassuming, dilapidated two-story house.

A little place that the patrols of the Kingdom usually ignored.

Of course, the little white house was not important. What was important laid underneath it.

Hidden beneath it, like a coiled serpent preparing to strike, lay the resistance headquarters.

And the walls of such a secret base were right now suffering the brunt of Ethan’s frustrations.

With a sharp, precise strike, he sent his clenched fist crashing into the stone wall. The resounding thud echoed through the small chamber.

Before him, capturing the attention of his reddened eyes was a little round screen displaying the news of the world.

The image on the screen showed the arrogant figure of King Alexander, holding the hand of his boss, queen Ashlyn, something that grated on Ethan's every nerve.

The veterans’ protests had taken an unexpected turn, and it was clear that things were not going as Ethan had hoped.

They had betrayed him and went against everything their people hoped for.

"Damn it.” he muttered under his breath, his dark blue hair tousled from the stress of the situation.

His piercing gaze bore into the screen as if trying to pierce through the distance that separated them.

How he yearned to wrap his hands around that round-eared man's throat and squeeze the life out of him.

He leaned back in his worn leather chair, his muscled form radiating a restless energy.

Despite his rugged appearance, he had managed to infiltrate as a guard within the imperial castle.

“Why did they call it an imperial castle when they were a little kingdom?” He mused out loud.

Although Ethan didn’t know, he just chalked it as another arrogant move of that useless human.

Still, it hurt his pride to be just another dog under his rule.

“Ethan Blackthorn, the savior of his people.” He scoffed bitterly, his voice filled with a mixture of frustration and determination. "How did it come to this? This supposed peace is nothing more than a facade."

Ethan's keen mind raced to find a solution.

He knew he couldn't let his people down, even if it meant swallowing his pride in front of Ashlyn Ashborn, the traitor.

There had to be something he could do.

In that moment, as the transmission continued to play out before him, his mind was already churning with ideas, a plan forming in the depths of his mind.

He could see victory ahead, he just needed more firepower to turn around the situation.

Something the Astralith had in espades while his people's most powerful fighters were no on his side.

Ethan would stop at nothing to ensure the success of his mission and the freedom of his people from the foreign invaders.

“Thud!”

However, his planning was cut short as the door to his office opened, breaking his focus.

A bearded face peered his head hesitantly to take a look inside.

“What’s the matter, Joras?”

Ethan lifted his gaze to look at him.

His piercing dark blue eyes made Joras shrink his head back.

Beads of sweat formed on Joras's forehead as his gaze darted around, avoiding direct eye contact.

“I have something to tell you…” He paused, his hand trembling. “I’m planning to join the navy.”

Hearing his words, Ethan had his fist form a ball, his knuckles cracking.

It was another desertor.

“Joras.” His voice rumbled with a dark edge. “You know how important the work we do is for the future of our people!”

He couldn’t lose another man, otherwise his movement would weaken further.

“Of course I know…”

The man attempted to explain, however he was interrupted by the strident shout of Ethan.

“Then why are you betraying us? Does your loyalty matter so little to you?”

Ethan's face got darker, his brow furrowed tightly. The intensity of his gaze was so palpable that Joras could almost swear he saw steam escaping from Ethan's clenched jaw.

The mere mention of betrayal sent a painful jolt coursing through Joras's chest.

Yet, despite his trembling body, he squared his shoulders and decided to declare with resolve.

“I'm a soldier.” Joras explained, his voice tinged with both desperation and anguish. “I was born to protect our world, and the Mutilated King has never treated us wrong. He brought justice to our people.”

With each word spilled from the deserter's lips, the shroud of elemental energy enveloping Ethan intensified.

“I can’t believe I accepted such a spineless coward into my ranks!”

He bellowed out in fury, his spittle raining all over the man.

“Get out of my sight before I commit a mistake!”

Joras stood stunned for a second until his brain seemed to process his words.

Slowly, his trembling legs carried him away, and as he turned, his tear-filled eyes bore the weight of the betrayal he had committed.

Ethan just watched his retreating back get further away with each beat of his heart.

The pain of betrayal reverberating through his own heart, a wound inflicted by a comrade.

It was not until the traitor was out of sight that Ethan surveyed outside his private chamber.

His eyes bore into each of the rebellion members as they awkwardly avoided meeting his gaze.

The place was filled with a tense silence as his figure radiated his powerful presence.

“If any of you hold the same sentiments as Joras, you can leave now!”

At his strident declaration, most of them just shook their heads, grasping their spy devices they had been handling and acting like they were deep at job.

The glow of holographic displays danced across their faces, but their eyes remained fixed on their tasks.

However, at the far end of the chamber, three figures rose from their seats.

They were grizzled veterans, with more than a century of battle experience.

Slowly, they gathered everything in their workstations until they had little left.

Each item was handled with an almost ritualistic care, as if they were saying goodbye to a part of their lives. Weapons, communication devices, and personal effects were stowed away in bags and pouches.

Not even once did they raise their heads as they left the base behind under the harsh gaze of Ethan.

The harsh lights above cast long shadows as they departed, leaving a palpable sense of loss in their wake.