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Chapter 164 - I can help.

Alexander accepted the book, his fingers tracing the outline as he pulled it closer. 

Its weight was heavy, both physically and symbolically. 

This was the start of his legacy—a real step down the hazy road before him. 

He glanced up at Louise, hoping to see a softening in her expression. 

But she wasn't even looking at him, already unpacking her lunch with a scowl.

Anna, sensing the tension, cleared her throat with a light laugh. 

"Well, this is certainly something. 

I have to hand it to you, Alexander, you made a major step in showing up today. I—"

Louise shot her friend with a pointed glare. 

Anna immediately went to unpack her lunch. 

Alexander sighed, cracking open the book tentatively. 

He flipped through the yellow pages, seeing illustrations of his homeland.

Political maps, cities, bloodlines, and regions…

He could already feel the headache building, but beneath it was the spark from last night. 

He had been so focused on learning foreign languages, combat, and the Pathfinder games.

That he forgot to look at where he came from. 

Louise showed him that.

He looked up again. 

"Thank you, Louise, for not walking out on me."

Louise didn't spare him a glance. "Read chapters one through three, and take notes."

She bit into her sandwich.

— — —

After lunch came the afternoon classes, and they rolled by as slowly as the morning ones.

During the fifth and sixth periods, Alexander talked with Karl. 

They didn't discuss much.

But Karl did mention Raphael had something "special" for him at practice. 

Karl meant it as a warning, but it served to add more to Alexander's plate. 

When the class came to an end Alexander made his way to seventh period.

Walking down the busy hall, Alexander spotted Elizabeth and Hinata.

They were standing near Professor Marceline's door, chatting quietly.

Elizabeth spotted Alexander approaching and waved him over.

"Alex," Elizabeth called, reaching out to grab his arm. 

"I was hoping we'd catch up, where were you?" 

Her fingers burrowed in his sleeve—Alexander shivered under her lingering touch.

"I had lunch with Louise," he answered, following Elizabeth as she led him into class.

Her hand slid down into his as they strolled to the back row. 

"…Louise?" Elizabeth's eyes flickered, "That's unexpected, may I ask why?" 

She turned to face him—her lips pressed.

Alexander reached for the back of his chair, chuckling nervously. 

"Oh, well she was helping me."

His voice lowered to a casual murmur as he slid into his seat.

His fingers were still interlocked with hers.

Elizabeth tilted her head, her hair cascading over her shoulder as she sat down. 

"Helping? Louise? Alex…"

Elizabeth's gaze was piercing, yet her tone held a tinge of amusement. 

"…that's something I never thought I'd hear."

She shook her head—a faint, playful smile on her lips. 

"I wonder why she's taken an interest all of a sudden? You know, because I don't remember a day you two didn't argue."

Alexander chuckled as he tried to hold her gaze. 

He understood her confusion completely. 

"Yeah, it's complicated." 

Alexander tapped a finger on the table. 

He glanced over at Hinata, who sat on the other side of Elizabeth. 

She returned his glance with a warm smile. 

"André convinced her to help me," he explained.

"I told him how I wanted to rebuild my house, and now she's helping me get started."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. 

"So André suggested to Louise, his niece, that she should help you?" 

She asked teasingly, leaning closer. 

Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper as her lips reached the tip of his ear. 

"Alex, did you just forget about me? I could have your house reinstated with the snap of my fingers."

Alexander's eyes widened, his grip on her hand tightening as he processed her words. 

The classroom buzzed with students entering, chatting, and settling into seats. 

"W-wait," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. 

His mind reeled at the offer.

What originally seemed like a journey of hard work and dedication, was just served up on a silver platter. 

Elizabeth smiled—patiently waiting as Alexander hacked through his racing thoughts.

"Y-you can just do that?"

 Alexander finally managed, searching her eyes.

"My house—it's been dissolved for years at this point, and the Fallen Kingdom is a mess of politics…"

Elizabeth brushed a stand of Alexander's hair behind his ear. 

Her touch was careful and lingering.

Alexander paused, his eyes locking with hers in a dance of entrancement. 

"Oh, Alex, I could do so much more."

She giggled softly, her hand cupping his cheek. 

The outside chatter faded—replaced by an intimate bubble. 

With Elizabeth as its center.

"But yes, Ambur has immense sway over the politics in your homeland. 

And as a princess, it'll only take a word."

Her thumb traced a slow circle along his jaw, sending a warm tingle through his skin. 

Alexander hesitated.

Before him was a shortcut to his dreams. 

Part of him wondered why she'd do this, but he knew the answer. 

Elizabeth liked him—he knew it.

And he liked her, but when it came to Elizabeth he was always hesitant. 

Alexander had no doubt she could do what she offered, the question was whether it'd be worth it.

Because of her title, anything he did with her would be swept up as royal affairs. 

That includes his house.

The moment he accepted her help, it would no longer be his legacy. 

It would be an extension of Ambur's. 

A puppet to the throne of a foreign kingdom, any achievement was swept away under handouts from the royals. 

Alexander pulled back slightly, reaching for her hand as the realization settled in. 

The classroom was filling up now, but Alexander still felt isolated. 

"Elizabeth," he began, "I appreciate the offer. But if you do that, it would defeat the purpose."

His voice was steady despite the turmoil inside. 

"I'm doing this to prove that I can, to rebuild what my father had."

He squeezed her hand.

"He didn't have the luxury of royal intervention. And neither should I, so… I can't accept your offer."

Elizabeth's smile softened—Alexander's words hanging in the air, heavy and final.

"Okay, Alex." She pulled back her hand, "I suppose there's nothing more to be said."

Alexander felt a tinge of panic. 

He could feel the distance she put between them—as if a subtle wall had risen between them.

He gripped her hand, keeping her close, his golden eyes shining with guilt. 

"Stop, don't pull away like that." 

He whispered, a pit opening in his stomach.

Elizabeth paused—her mask of composure slipping as she searched Alexander's face. 

"Alex," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the growing hum in the classroom. 

"I'm not pulling away. I just want to help you, that's all." 

Her fingers relaxed in his grip, intertwining once more. 

Alexander exhaled slowly, and the tension in his chest eased. 

He didn't know why, but just the thought of Elizabeth leaving opened up a void he wasn't ready to face. 

"You're already helping me, Elizabeth. Just being by my side—someone who gets me."

Elizabeth nodded, though her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. 

She leaned closer, her breath warm against his cheek. 

"I want more than that, but as long as you're happy…"

She pressed a featherlight kiss on his cheek, a tender, apologetic gesture. 

Alexander's breath caught as his eyes widened. 

A whirlwind of emotions clashed with a sudden and undeniable pull towards her.

Just as he opened his mouth to respond, the bell rang and Professor Marceline entered the room. 

"Silence yourselves, children, class is in session."

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