The next morning came faster than Alexander would've liked.
He was awoken from his peaceful slumber by the sound of firm knocking on his door.
"My lord, are you awake?" The voice was familiar, though it had grown deeper in the past three years.
Alexander groaned, dragging himself out of bed while draped in his blanket. His Body, though healed from his injuries, still ached.
Reaching for the doorknob with a groggy yawn, Alexander opened the door and was greeted by no other than Ben.
Ben had a warm smile on his lips as he tilted his head. His hair was cut shorter and he had grown a beard, and his uniform was crisp.
He put on a little more weight becoming buff, a far cry from the lean twenty-year-old he was a few years ago.
"My lord, you look well," Ben said with a slight bow, a hand over his chest.
Alexander narrowed his eyes as he crossed his arms. "You got some nerve, Ben." He murmured, "Don't you come to me like everything is fine, you abandoned me!"
Ben let out his usual wry chuckle, "Heh, I tried to sneak you a snack that night, but I uh… you know:" Ben had a knowing look in his eyes, one Alexander was familiar with.
Antoinette was no doubt the person behind Ben's failure to sneak him food the other night.
He knew Ben and Antoinette barely had time together these past few years, especially with all the missions Béatrice had them running.
So he couldn't be too mad, but because of Ben's failure, Alexander didn't have the strength to be Béatrice.
Or so he believed.
Alexander let out a long sigh as he pouted. "Fine, what's this about anyway?" He asked curiously, uncrossing his arms.
Ben smirked, "Lady Béatrice has ordered you to clean yourself up, then I'll escort you to the dock." He answered.
Alexander frowned as he remembered yesterday afternoon.
He had to visit the capital today…
Alexander let out a long groan as he raised a hand to his face. "Should I pack anything?" He asked, not looking up from his hand.
Ben nodded, "anything you deem personal my lord, clothes, food, and other necessities will be provided by the Nova family in the capital as well as housing."
Alexander frowned as he raised his head from his hand, his expression confused. "Aren't we staying with the Nova's now?"
Ben nodded, "Yes, but this is a branch of the family, lady Béatrice's parents-in-law."
Alexander's eyes slowly widened.
"Wait, you mean Napoleon's parents?!"
Ben nodded, "Yes my lord, the very same."
Alexander couldn't believe it, he recalled what his father had said about them, the story he told about their strange antics.
Now not only would he be staying with Louise, but her strange grandparents as well?
"Goddess," Alexander muttered, dreading the future. "Give me an hour."
Ben let out a soft chuckle as he saluted with a hand to his chest. "Yes my lord, but be reminded that Lady Béatrice is waiting."
Alexander nodded, before shutting the door after Ben left.
A week surrounded by the world of dreadful people taking an exam for a school that was undoubtedly pretentious to its core.
Letting out another sigh as he approached his dresser, the only piece of furniture in his room aside from his bed.
Opening the first drawer, Alexander was greeted with dozens of letters from Elizabeth and the trinkets she had sent.
Most of the items were flowers or handmade gifts, but there was also jewelry and other items.
None of it was essential, but Alexander wanted to grab one thing from his stash, an earring. It was a long dangling piece with a small white diamond attached.
It was one of the first gifts Elizabeth sent, but. Whether it was a token of friendship or something more, he couldn't quite tell.
As he carefully fastened the earring, its gentle weight reminded him of Elizabeth's overbearing personality.
Something he had grown to appreciate in his times of trial by Béatrice.
With the piece in his ear, Alexander moved towards the second drawer, which held his ruined tunic from the demon continent and the knife the demons gifted to him.
He grabbed the weapon by its uneven handle, examining it closely. He hadn't used it since he came back to the Ambur kingdom, but it was still a sentimental piece so he decided to take it.
With the weapon in hand, Alexander then moved to grab some fresh clothes from the third drawer, alongside a satchel Ben had gifted him.
Inside the worn leather bag was nothing of note, just a journal, a pen, and a faded photo of his parents Ben had on his person after the war.
With the sentimental items aside, Alexander finished getting ready for the day.
Once he was washed, cleaned, and dressed, Alexander emerged in front of Ben with a small smile and arms wide. "How do I look?" He asked curiously.
Ben stepped back, rubbing a hand through his beard as he narrowed his eyes. "Hmm," Ben scrutinized Alexander from head to tone with an unreadable expression.
Alexander raised an eyebrow as he lowered his arms. "Uhm, something wrong?"
Ben let out a frustrated sigh, "I don't know, I mean you look so good, but Antoinette said I had poor taste in fashion."
Seriously that's it, you had me worried dude!
Alexander rolled his eyes as he threw a frustrated hand in the air. "To–"
Before Alexander could finish his word, a loud voice cut through the air with a shout. "Ben, Lord Alexander!"
Both men turned to look in the direction of the voice and were greeted by the sight of Antoinette storming through the front doors.
She was dressed in the same crisp red uniform as Ben and walked with a fire in her step.
"My lo– er Lieutenant!" Ben said with a salute, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead as he forced a smile.
Antoinette's sharp eyes darted between Ben and Alexander, her frown growing. "Ben what is this, you were supposed to be outside ten minutes ago, with lord Alexander."
Ben let out a sigh as he stepped forward, "I'm sorry my love, I got carried away, just a little." Ben raised a hand as he pinched two fingers together, leaving a small space between them.
Antoinette blushed, her cheeks turning red as her frown softened. "Well, whatever your reason for holding up the departure of the ship, we have to go, and now." Though her tone still held an edge it grew noticeably dull.
Ben nodded as he grabbed Alexander's hand. "Of course, lead the way, my love," Ben replied with a nod.
Antoinette's blush deepened as she glanced around the empty foyer. "I'll have you brought up on charges of insubordination you say that again." She threatened with a point.
Ben smirked as he walked towards the door, "my apologies lieutenant," he teased, "sometimes I forget where we are."
Antoinette was practically glowing as she followed behind Ben and Alexander, though she remained silent.
Alexander couldn't help be chuckle at the two pathfinders, their relationship was truly deep despite their duties.
As the group stepped outside to be greeted with the morning sun, Ben began heading down the stone path towards the docks.
(The secondary docks, behind the Nova estate, not the main port.)
As the group walked, Alexander could see the port alongside a massive steamboat rocking in the blue waters.
Alexander didn't know how, but somehow Béatrice had acquired this ship and about six others around a year after his return.
On the docks waiting near the ship were Béatrice and Louise, who stood in front of a woman in white robes.
As the group grew closer, Alexander recognized the woman as someone who visited the estate about a month after his return.
He never got a good look at her, but she was always present in the background.