The Return of the Betrayed Heir

28

Early in the morning, Alex prepared his belongings with meticulous care. The time for his departure had finally arrived, and an uncontainable thrill coursed through him as he contemplated his next objective. Descending to the grand hall, he found the entire royal family gathered to bid him farewell—with one notable exception. Laena was nowhere to be seen. Although Alex feigned indifference, a small part of him had anticipated her presence.

Releasing a quiet breath, Alex stepped forward with a composed smile. Queen Mylia dabbed her tears with a silk handkerchief—a display of emotion that secretly bewildered Alex, though he maintained his stoic expression. Elrond cleared his throat, offering a hushed, overdue gesture: "Thank you for saving my life." Alex merely nodded in acknowledgement without dwelling on the matter.

King Zephyr approached him with grave dignity. "You have rendered great service to our realm during your stay. We extend our deepest gratitude."

"The honor was entirely mine, Your Majesty," Alex replied deferentially. "I am deeply indebted for your hospitality. Should I ever have caused any inconvenience, I ask for your leniency. When I eventually claim the Dragon Throne, I shall repay this debt in full."

The statement sent a ripple of astonishment through the room; Alex had never before voiced his ultimate ambition so openly.

"So your sights are set upon the Dragon Throne?" Zephyr remarked, eyes narrowing slightly. "Yet you have an elder brother ahead of you in succession."

Alex smiled with quiet confidence. "Inheritance remains open to competition, Your Majesty. Power, not birth order, determines the true ruler."

Zephyr found such cold conviction extraordinary for a nine-year-old, yet entirely consistent with the formidable capabilities Alex had demonstrated. After final exchanges of courtesy, Alex turned toward the shimmering portal. Waving a hand, he called out, "Until we meet again."

Before he could cross the threshold, a voice echoed behind him: "Ali!"

Turning back, Alex saw Laena running toward him, breathless. He smiled faintly. "You came."

Without hesitation, Laena threw her arms around him in a tight embrace. "I will be waiting for you at the Academy!"

Alex returned the embrace gently. "Do not worry, our reunion is inevitable. Simply await that day."

They locked eyes for a brief moment before Laena leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. Alex's eyes widened in rare surprise. Before he could speak, Laena turned and ran back toward the palace, her face flushed red. Touching his cheek, Alex stepped through the portal as Tessarion's booming laughter echoed in his mind.

*'How was your very first kiss?'* the Golden Dragon teased mercilessly.

Wiping his cheek immediately, Alex retorted mentally, *'A young girl just kissed me; is that considered a crime in this world?'*

Tessarion delivered a mental swat. *'You are a year younger than her, you absolute fool!'*

*'I was merely considering all possibilities,'* Alex replied, rubbing his head.

Stepping through to the other side of the portal, Alex arrived before the imposing gates of the Dragon Manor. Tessarion immediately manifested from his shadow, soaring upward toward the volcanic peaks of Dragon Mountain, his radiant scales gleaming like gold against the sky.

"Leaving so abruptly?!" Alex called out.

"Leave me be and head to your quarters," the dragon rumbled back.

Alex shrugged. "Suit yourself."

Carrying his travel bag, Alex entered the estate. The vast halls were eerily quiet until Helena, his personal maid, descended the main staircase. Spotting Alex, her eyes widened in utter shock before he offered a casual wave.

Helena sprinted down the remaining steps and threw her arms around him. "Young Master! You have finally returned..."

"Your grip is suffocating..." Alex managed to utter, gasping for air.

Helena pulled back hastily, coughing nervously. "Forgive me, Young Master."

Alex chuckled. "It is fine. I anticipated a warm welcome, though perhaps not quite so physical."

"I missed you terribly," Helena confessed. "The manor has been dreadfully quiet and hollow without your presence."

Looking around the vacant hall, Alex inquired, "Where is the rest of the family?"

Helena hesitated. "Have you not been informed, Young Master?"

"Informed of what?"

"The entire family has departed to attend your cousin Mysaria's birthday celebration."

Alex stroked his chin thoughtfully. *'Mysaria's birthday is today? Why was I never informed, let alone invited?'*

Helena braced herself for an outburst of anger, but Alex merely sighed with contentment. "That is actually ideal; I can enjoy some solitude."

Grabbing his bag, Alex headed toward his chamber. Helena stared after him in disbelief. *'Is he truly unaffected by this?'*

Following closely behind, she asked, "Young Master, shall I prepare a meal for you?"

"No need, I am not hungry," Alex replied over his shoulder. "I intend to focus on my training."

"Are you certain you require nothing else?"

"I am quite fine, Helena. Thank you for asking. Training uninterrupted before their return is the most productive use of my time."

Alex unpacked his belongings and began organizing his training equipment, with Helena stepping in to assist. Alex noted the subtle shadow of sorrow on her face; she was clearly pained by the family's blatant exclusion of him. Though Alex understood the political realities and welcomed the distance, he appreciated her genuine concern.

"Helena," Alex said, his tone turning serious. "You need not worry on my behalf. I am perfectly content as long as they do not interfere with my affairs. You and Tessarion are more than enough for me. Their indifference is of no consequence."

"But how will you claim the throne without their backing?" Helena asked quietly. "Who will stand behind you?"

Alex smiled with absolute self-assurance. "I am more than sufficient on my own."

Helena fell silent, unable to counter his resolve. Grabbing his gear, Alex stepped out of the room. "Prepare a suitable dinner for my return this evening."

"As you command, Young Master."

Leaving the estate behind, Alex ventured deep into the surrounding forest, directing his steps toward the hidden cavern where he had once met Osiris. Halting before the withered tree, he knelt and brushed his fingers against the soil.

"Ah..." he murmured quietly. "If only we had shared more time."

Rising, Alex pushed deeper into the dense woodland, observing the wildlife darting among the branches. Tossing his gear bag into the air, he leaped upward, snatching a squirrel off a high branch and landing gracefully before the bag even hit the ground.

Releasing the creature unharmed, Alex smiled faintly. "I am noticeably faster and stronger than before. My growth rate is ideal. Just wait for me, Baelon."

Drawing his three-eyed blade, Greed, Alex took a deep breath, dropped into a low stance, and began executing rapid sword maneuvers. His slashes carved through massive tree trunks with surgical precision, bisecting them into thousands of wooden fragments before they could collide with the earth.

Spotting a deer darting through the brush, Alex blurred forward, delivering a single decisive strike that brought the beast down instantly.

Clearing his blade, Alex asked mentally, "Are you hungry?"

"Extremely," Tessarion replied.

Alex's shadow expanded across the forest floor as the Golden Dragon's head emerged, snatching the carcass in its jaws before retreating into the shadows to consume it.

Resuming his workout, Alex initiated a high-intensity run to fortify his leg muscles and refine his mana circulation. By constantly channeling mana through every muscle fiber, he built exceptional physical endurance, drawing effortlessly upon his vast mana reserves.

He ran until the dense forest gave way to the coastline, where massive ocean waves crashed against the rugged cliffs. This remote shoreline had been his private sanctuary in his past life—a place where he used to spend hours watching the tide, known to no one except himself and his dragon.

Stripping off his garments, Alex plunged into the turbulent waters, diving deep beneath the surface and closing his eyes. Though he maintained an aura of total indifference before the world, the quiet ache of his family's abandonment lingered deep within his consciousness—a cold reality he had long accepted, yet could never entirely erase.