Kapitel 14: Be My Boyfriend!

Alex's brows furrowed. The infamous villainess of the kingdom, a woman known for her fiery temper and sharp tongue, was slurring insults about the Duke in a seedy tavern. It was almost surreal.

But there was something about her—something raw and unguarded—that intrigued him.

"Why are you here?" he asked softly.

"To drink," Selena replied, her voice muffled against his chest. "To celebrate. To forget."

"Forget what?"

"Everything."

Alex sighed, his initial irritation softening into something akin to sympathy. He didn't know much about Selena beyond the rumors, but the woman in his arms didn't seem like the conniving villainess everyone described.

She seemed… lost.

"You shouldn't be here," he said finally. "This isn't a place for someone like you."

"Someone like me?" Selena echoed, pulling back slightly to glare at him. "I'm not a noble right now. I'm just… me."

Alex couldn't help but smirk at her defiance. "Well, 'just you,' let's get you out of here before you cause more trouble."

"I'm not causing trouble," Selena protested, though her words lacked conviction.

"You called me hot in front of half the tavern," Alex pointed out.

Selena flushed, though whether it was from embarrassment or alcohol, Alex couldn't tell.

No woman dared to talk like this to him. He was honestly intrigued.

"Think about it okay! I need a boyfriend, it's your lucky day, you met meeee." Her voice was slurring. She was incredibly tipsy! "I'll give you money, okay? Be mine."

"..."

He felt a headache coming on. He wanted to bring her out of the tavern before she caused trouble but she was rooted in place. Did he need to carry her out of here?!

She was looking at him expectantly, her blue eyes looked so innocent. Was she the villainess that everyone had been talking about? It just seemed too unlikely...

"What if I say no? Would you choose someone else?" Before he realised it, the words came out of his mouth. Why did he care? What was he doing?? Maybe I am just drunk. He tried to tell himself.

She vigorously shook her head to say no. Her nose rubbed against his chest while she did that turning it red. "It has to be you."

He was pleased with this answer. Very pleased. He was considering it. This would help him with his mission too, so why not?

Some drunk man tapped on his shoulder and spouted, "If you don't want her... I can take her."

Alex shot him a deathly glare that made him sober up instantly. He quickly backed away from the situation.

As Alex helped Selena to her feet, the door to the tavern swung open, and two armored knights entered. Their eyes scanned the room before landing on Selena.

"My lady!" one of them exclaimed, rushing over.

"Ugh, not them," Selena muttered, leaning heavily against Alex.

The knight shot Alex a suspicious glare. "Who are you, and why are you holding Lady Selena?"

"She got drunk and nearly passed out," Alex explained, his tone neutral. "I was just making sure she didn't fall off the stool."

The knight didn't seem convinced but refrained from drawing his weapon.

"My lady, we need to leave," the other knight said, his voice firm. "This is no place for someone of your station."

Selena groaned but allowed the knights to take her arms. Before they led her away, she glanced back at Alex.

"Think about it, okay?" She was referring to her proposal. Although he didn't understand what a boyfriend meant... He could infer the meaning.

One of her maids helped her keep steady, which made him feel relieved. She should be getting home safe now. Just what was the sister of a Duke doing in a commoner's tavern?

Alex returned to his seat, his drink untouched. The tavern resumed its lively chatter, but he couldn't shake the image of Selena's bright blue eyes and the vulnerability hidden beneath her bold facade.

Alex swirled the amber liquid in his glass, watching the way it caught the light of the dim tavern lanterns. His thoughts were heavy, and the warm, smoky drink couldn't quite ease the tension in his shoulders.

Her offer…

He sighed, running a hand through his wavy black hair. Becoming her companion wasn't the worst idea. In fact, it might be the best one he'd had in days.

But how had things come to this?

It had only been a week since Alex had set foot in Neora, the kingdom known for its vibrant courts and labyrinthine politics. In conclusion, for people who barely had any power... They took themselves too seriously.

Neora was very small compared to his Empire...

His father, the cunning and infuriating Emperor of Gelyra, had sent him here on a mission that made little sense.

"Go find the traitor," his father had ordered with a dismissive wave as if sending the Crown Prince of Gelyra to find some lowlife was the obvious solution.

"Wouldn't it be more effective to alert Neora's royal family and work with them?" Alex had asked, hoping for some semblance of logic.

"No," the Emperor had said, his tone final. "Neora's court is filled with opportunists. The moment they learn you're here, they'll either exploit you or tip off the traitor. This mission requires subtlety, Alex, something you'd do well to learn."

Subtlety. Right. Alex scowled at the memory. He didn't have time to arrange an identity for himself, his father wanted him out of there!

So here he was, stripped of his princely identity, forced to take on the guise of a nameless mercenary.

Adopting his new persona hadn't been easy. Mercenaries in Neora were a dime a dozen, and few were respected. Without proof of skill or a well-known reputation, Alex was just another foreigner with a sword.

He'd spent the past few days wandering through Neora's bustling streets and shadowy back alleys, gathering scraps of information...

From the palace to the streets... He understood that his father was testing him, he didn't agree with it though. It was a stupid test.