The Return of the Betrayed Heir

18

Alex entered the palace, where all members of the Arwen royal family were seated in the living room. Alex noticed them immediately, and the moment the servants caught sight of him with King Zephyr following close behind, they bowed in deference.

"I can take your luggage." One of the servants stepped forward, taking Alex’s bag.

"Before you head to your room, I want you to meet the rest of my family."

Alex nodded softly and glanced around. Lavish decorations filled every corner—sculpted statues, paintings adorning the walls, and staircase banisters crafted from fine wood. Turning to King Zephyr, Alex offered, "After you."

King Zephyr maintained his serene expression and began ascending the stairs. Alex followed close behind, while the servants remained in place until they disappeared above.

Upon reaching the upper floor, Alex was greeted by flowers blooming everywhere. Inside his mind, Tessarion burst into laughter; it was precisely as Alex had anticipated—the entire place was filled with flowers and insects.

Alex and Zephyr moved into the living room, which boasted a modern aesthetic. The furniture was noticeably high quality, complemented by a large horizontal mirror mounted on the wall, a grand dining table, and long green drapes hanging gracefully. The entire Arwen family was present. Having met them all in his past life, Alex knew each of them well.

A subtle smile touched Alex's lips as he thought to himself, *Just as I saw during the tournament, this woman never stops smiling.*

Mylia Arwen, the current Elf Queen, was renowned for her peaceful disposition and ever-welcoming smile. She possessed beautiful silver hair, striking blue eyes, and sharp, delicate features that always appeared radiant.

Standing right beside her was her son, Elrond Arwen, who wore a stern, serious expression mirroring King Zephyr's. Exceptionally strong for his age, Elrond had always maintained a cold indifference toward humans. Alex hadn't spoken to him much in the past, nor did he have any intention to do so now.

Directly behind Queen Mylia stood a sweet young girl, hiding behind her mother's skirt. The moment Alex set eyes on her, memories of her tragic fate in his past life resurfaced.

"Laena," Alex murmured under his breath.

Queen Mylia stepped forward. "Welcome among us. I am delighted to receive you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I am equally pleased to meet you. It is a true honor to be introduced to such a beautiful lady."

Mylia smiled warmly. "Both handsome and humble."

Alex offered a soft smile in return. Mylia gently reached for Laena and pulled her forward, but Laena kept her head lowered in shyness.

"This is my daughter, Laena. She is a bit timid. She has never met a human before, so it is quite natural for her to act this way."

Looking at her, Alex recalled the moments they had shared at the Academy. Laena was genuinely kind-hearted; even though Alex had brought her sorrow at every turn, she had always remained by his side.

Alex stepped closer with a warm expression and extended his hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I am glad there is someone here who will keep me from feeling lonely."

Laena’s pointed ears drooped slightly. Trembling, her fingers tentatively reached out to clasp Alex's hand.

"M-My... My name is Laena..." her voice barely rose above a whisper.

"I am Alex Dragonblood."

Unable to endure the interaction any longer, Laena quickly darted back to hide behind Queen Mylia. Knowing she was still just a child, Alex simply responded with a smile.

"Well then, Alex, do you know why you were brought here?" Zephyr inquired.

"As far as I am aware, I was merely exiled for my disrespect."

A faint smile broke across King Zephyr's face—the first time the marble-faced elf king’s expression had shifted since they met.

"Yes, that is part of it, but your father was far more concerned about keeping you in check. For some reason, he placed his trust in me. Normally, he would have sent you to the Avalon family, yet here you are."

*Avalon?* Alex thought to himself.

The Avalon family was one of the four noble houses, renowned as the Griffin Riders. Located in the Kingdom of Reinhard, they were celebrated for their fierce sense of justice and unwavering dedication to peace.

Realizing that his father had considered such an option left Alex even more bewildered, questioning the motives behind such a decision.

"So, the Griffin family..." Alex mused aloud.

King Zephyr nodded. "That was his initial choice, yet you ended up here. Which means someone else must have intervened."

Alex released a heavy sigh and leaned back onto the couch. "My mother."

The friendship between Reyla and Queen Mylia ran deep. Wanting her son to be somewhere safe, Reyla had ensured he was sent to the Elven Kingdom, allowing her mind to rest easy.

"Indeed," Queen Mylia agreed. "That is why your mother shared your likes and dislikes with me, helping me learn quite a bit about you."

Queen Mylia cleared her throat gently before continuing. "I know you usually dine alone and prefer solitude, but we do not quite favor such habits here. Your mother described you as unsociable and shy, yet your behavior doesn't reflect that at all."

Alex maintained an unbothered, indifferent expression. Known for his usual aloof demeanor, he realized he wouldn't find effortless comfort even here.

"Well, your mother mentioned that as well—she doesn't care for that expression of yours in the slightest..."

Alex raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself, *For someone who never seemed to pay attention to me, she certainly knows a lot.*

Tessarion remarked mockingly inside his mind, *Do you truly believe Lady Reyla knows nothing about you?*

*Yes,* Alex shot back instantly.

The golden dragon sighed, folding his head over his wings to resume his sleep. Knowing his rider rarely looked beyond himself, he had come to accept Alex's blindness to such things as second nature.

"She mentioned that you frequently head into the forest," Mylia continued. "The woods here are typically home to monsters, but the forest surrounding the palace is safe."

"Ah, actually, I was meaning to ask you about that very matter," Alex interjected.

Zephyr raised a single eyebrow. "And what might that be?"

"I was wondering if I could hunt in the forest."

"At your age?" Prince Elrond interjected, his voice laced with skepticism.

"Yes, is there any issue?" Alex responded coolly. "I have absolute confidence in my abilities, and both my star rank and deep mana pool are more than capable of handling such minor tasks."

Of course, these were merely a fraction of what Alex truly possessed; his mastery over swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, and mana efficiency reached levels beyond anyone's imagination.

"Very well," King Zephyr stated. "However, I cannot allow you to go alone. At the very least, Elrond must accompany you."

Recalling Alex's past displays outside, Zephyr was genuinely curious to gauge his true strength, particularly under the watchful eye of a four-star warrior like Elrond.

"As you wish. It is your kingdom and your rules," Alex replied smoothly.

A faint smile hovered beneath Alex's lips; he saw right through Zephyr's intentions. He knew Elrond was tasked with keeping eyes on him and reporting back, but he had already devised a solution for that obstacle.

"Alright then, head to your room and rest; we will have dinner later. Tomorrow morning, you both can wake up and head to the forest together," King Zephyr concluded.

"Fine. Then we will wake up at six in the morning and head out," Alex stated.

"Six AM?!" Elrond reacted sharply.

"Yes. Waking up early keeps the body primed and disciplined, allowing for optimal physical growth," Alex explained.

"I have no reason to wake up at such an hour; my body can develop at any time," Elrond countered coldly.

"I think you could learn a thing or two from Alex, Elrond," Zephyr interjected sternly. "He is correct. No one wakes up as late as you do. Rising early for training always keeps the body sharp."

Upon hearing the King's words, Elrond glared bitterly at Alex, clenching his teeth in suppressed frustration. Alex ignored him completely, keeping his gaze forward before standing up and adjusting his attire.

"If you will excuse me, may I retire to rest for a bit?"

"Yes, of course," Mylia replied with a warm smile. "Laena, would you show our guest to his room?"

Laena emerged from her hiding spot and began walking at a quick pace. Alex followed close behind. Sensing him catching up, Laena hurried her steps, but since one stride from Alex equaled three of hers, he maintained her pace effortlessly despite her attempts to pull away.

Reaching the end of the corridor, they came across two facing rooms. Laena squeezed her eyes shut and gestured with her arm toward the right side.

"This one is yours!!" she squeaked.

Without losing a second, she slipped into the room on the left and slammed the door shut.

*Are our rooms directly across from each other?* Alex mused.

He walked over to his quarters, stepped inside, and closed the door behind him. Darkness had already fallen, and Alex knew dinner time was approaching. He planned to eat quickly and then return upstairs.

"Once night falls..."

The weapon *Greed* embedded in Alex's right arm reacted, its three crimson gems glowing softly as a sinister red aura leaked into the room.

With a dark, twisted smile, Alex gazed out the window.

"Let the hunt begin."