The air in the courtroom still hung heavy with heated murmurs as Alexander, with Lira by his side, walked toward the door. Hawke, standing in the audience, was fuming, his clenched fists shaking as he shouted out, "I protest! This is a conspiracy! His magic circuit should be destroyed!" Beside him, Raven sat stiffly, glaring at Alexander with undisguised resentment.
Ignoring the gloomy eyes behind him, with a soft chuckle, Alexander took Lira's hands, his fingers intertwining with hers. They spoke softly to each other, their laughter a gentle counterpoint to the chaos that surrounded them. With a calm and steady gait, they walked slowly towards the door, seemingly unaffected by the scornful eyes burning into their backs.
"Asshole!" Hawke shouted, his voice dripping with venom. "You're just a softie who hides behind a woman! Without the Valen family, you're nothing!" Hawke spat out, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he watched Alexander's retreating figure.
Alexander paused for a split second. The corners of his lips curled into a faint, almost mocking smile. He tilted his head ever so slightly, casting a sidelong glance toward Hawke and Raven, his expression cryptic and unreadable. Then, without a word, Alexander rolled his eyes and continued to walk away, as if Hawke's outburst wasn't worth a second of his time.
Once outside the courtroom, the weight of the day seemed to fall from Alexander's shoulders. He sighed in relief, feeling the tension in his muscles finally relax. Lira, always by his side, took his hand once more, her laughter light and teasing.
"Well, that went better than expected," she said with a smile.
As dusk began to settle over the academy, casting long shadows across the grounds, the two made their way back to Lira's private residence. The dormitory that Alexander had once stayed in was no longer an option. His escape from punishment had become a point of gossip among the students, and his former residence had now become somewhat of a landmark—a place where a civilian had defied the odds and eluded a fate that many thought inevitable.
When they arrived, Alexander's usual calm façade faltered as he slumped into one of Lira's plush chairs, his shoulders sagging with the weariness of the day. He grabbed the cup of coffee she had prepared for him earlier, downing it in a single gulp before releasing a heavy sigh.
"Fifty red crystals in three months... and on an ancient battlefield, no less. How am I going to manage that?" Alexander muttered, rubbing his temples.
Lira, having changed into her silk pajamas, emerged from the cloakroom, her hair cascading down her shoulders. She arched an eyebrow at Alexander's downtrodden demeanor, clearly amused by his exhaustion. "You think this is easy?" she teased. "Lucian Draven has been putting immense pressure, and those old antiques running the academy aren't making it any easier." At that moment, Lira was clad in a milky white vacuum nightgown, her hair cascading down her shoulders, her figure and skin glowing through the thin fabric under the soft light.
Hearing this, Alexander chuckled, his usual demeanor of calmness and light humor returning. "I suppose it did. I thought for sure I'd be in far more trouble." Alexander looked up at her with a grateful smile, stepping forward to wrap his arms around her. "But you, my love... You're the reason I'm still here. Your performance in court today—wow. It was incredible."
Lira blushed, a rare moment of shyness crossing her features as she avoided his gaze. "Good to know," she replied, her tone playful yet affectionate. She reached into her pocket and pulled out five shimmering red crystals, holding them out to him. "I've got five here. I'll see if I can get more from my family's reserves."
Alexander stared at the crystals in her hand, feeling a surge of gratitude well up inside him. He leaned down to kiss her, but Lira placed a finger on his lips, stopping him.
"I can't take these," he said softly, lowering his voice. "You've done too much for me already. I, Alexander, am destined to marry you... but some things I have to do on my own. Otherwise, I'll never be able to stand on equal footing with you and your family."
Lira's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Oh, my Alpha," she teased, her laughter bubbling out as her cheeks flushed red. "But I like that about you." She put the crystals away and wrapped her arms around him, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him softly. The kiss deepened, both of them lost in the moment as they held each other close.
After several long minutes, they broke apart, a string of saliva still connecting them briefly before Lira pulled away, her breath coming in soft gasps. "I suppose I'll have to respect that," she said with a coy smile. She turned and picked up a book from the table nearby before handing it to Alexander. "Here. This is a map of the ancient battlefield. It shows the settlements and ruins we know about so far. You can't refuse this, can you?" Lira handed the map to Alexander, her eyebrows raised in a playful challenge.
Alexander's mouth twitched, and he took the map from her hands, scanning its contents. "No, I won't refuse," he admitted with a sigh. "But I've been thinking about something else as well."
He hesitated before speaking again. "Lira... I've been thinking. I want to learn the magic that Roderick used during our duel."
Lira's expression shifted from amusement to confusion. "You mean Magic Workwear?" She tilted her head slightly, dismissing the idea with a wave of her hand. "That's just a cheap trick. Real magicians don't give others the chance to get close."
Alexander rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I know, but I was caught off guard last time. And who knows what I'll face in that ancient battlefield? I figured it wouldn't hurt to have more tools at my disposal."
Seeing the look on his face, Lira giggled, covering her mouth with one hand. Her eyes gleamed mischievously as she leaned in close, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "And how exactly are you planning to repay me for all this help?" she asked with a playful smirk.
Alexander's mood instantly lifted. With renewed energy, he scooped Lira into his arms and carried her toward the bed. "My queen," he said with mock formality, "allow me to show you my gratitude properly."
Lira laughed in surprise as Alexander carried her toward the bed. "You're such a charmer," she said between giggles, wrapping her arms around his neck as they tumbled onto the bed together, their laughter filling the room.
Later that evening, after the excitement had settled down and the room was quiet once more, Alexander lay beside Lira, staring up at the ceiling as he thought about the journey ahead. The ancient battlefield, the red crystals, and the looming threat of Lucian Draven weighed heavily on his mind, but for now, in this moment, he was content.
He turned to Lira, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice soft but sincere.
Lira, half-asleep, mumbled a sleepy reply, snuggling closer to him as she drifted off. Alexander smiled, feeling a warmth spread through his chest as he closed his eyes, allowing sleep to claim him.