The final whistle blew, with a score of 4-1.
François victory.
The crowd erupted into cheers as red and gray confetti rained from cannons.
Alexander stood in the center of the arena, a hand to his chest as he panted.
They'd advanced to the nationals, a surge of triumph swelling in his chest.
His teammates swarmed around him, slapping his back and shouting in celebration.
Even Raphael gave him a nod of approval, in his own way.
"Try not to let this be your peak, little brother."
He winked, before walking off the field.
Alexander smirked, his gaze drifting towards the royal booth, where he and Elizabeth locked eyes.
She smiled warmly while waving.
He waved back with a warmth in his chest, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
Then he caught Louise's gaze, her arms crossed and expression unreadable. She wasn't cheering, unlike Anna and André.
Alexander couldn't help but chuckle, even sticking out his tongue before walking off the field.
— — —
A few hours later Alexander found himself sitting on a campus bench, drinking a bottle of cider.
He chuckled as the cool fizzled against his tongue.
The sweet tang of cider is a refreshing pull from the adrenaline of the match.
He reclined on the bench, tilting his head towards the starry sky.
It was quiet now, the post-game celebrations dying down as students headed towards their dorms.
Alexander allowed his mind to wander, replaying the match, Louise's lessons, and Elizabeth's touch.
He sighed, taking another sip.
A soft crunch of snow pulled him from his thoughts.
He glanced over to see Hinata approaching.
Without Elizabeth.
Alexander raised an eyebrow as he took another sip of cider.
Hinata stopped a few steps away, her posture as poised as ever.
Her expression was calm and her eyes were warm.
"Hey."
Alexander was the first to speak.
"Hello, Alexander."
Alexander slowly set his bottle of cider aside, leaning forward.
"So, what brings you here, without Elizabeth?"
Hinata clasped her hands behind her back, her gaze shifting towards the dorms briefly.
"Curiosity, mostly," she answered, her tone calm and measured.
"You've gotten closer with her Highness, which is strange given your ambitions."
Alexander tilted his head.
"Oh yeah?"
He picked up his bottle, taking another sip.
Hinata smirked, stepping forward and taking Alexander's bottle.
Alexander raised an eyebrow as she examined the bottle.
She then took a sip.
"It's Sweet."
She commented, licking her lips as she handed the bottle back.
Alexander hesitated. "Uh yeah, it's apple cider. Do you like it?"
His voice came out a bit awkward, he was completely caught off guard.
"I do," Hinata answered, stepping closer. "But what I like more are answers, like why are you interested in her Highness?"
Alexander scratched his cheek, "Because, she makes me happy?"
"Happy enough to abandon your goals?"
"No." Alexander quickly answered, "W-wait no, I mean…"
Alexander swallowed hard, his mind racing as the cold wood creaked underneath his weight.
"…what kind of question is that?" Alexander finished, narrowing his eyes. "Elizabeth has nothing to do with my goals."
Hinata regarded him for a moment, her form like a statue.
She then took a step forward, leaning closer.
"But she does, what happens when your path drags you back to the chaos of your home?
Because Ambition like yours does not align with the expectations of royalty.
And while it's clear you care about Elizabeth, I fear that care has blinded you from reality."
Alexander blinked, leaning back as if her words had hit him.
"W-what do you mean?"
Hinata sighed, her breath cold and sweet.
"I mean, you're using her as a comfort to escape the struggles of your path.
You haven't once thought of your future with Elizabeth.
Are you willing to drag her into the danger of your homeland?
The same place that destroyed your family?"
Alexander tightened his grip around the neck of his bottle. "…no, no I don't think I would."
Hinata shook her head.
"Then you'd abandon her?"
Alexander tensed, "hrk–" he choked on his words, like a noose had tightened around his neck.
Of all the warnings he's gotten about Elizabeth, he felt the weight of this one.
Hinata straightened.
"The truth is either you become strong enough to take her with you, or strong enough to leave her behind."
Alexander's grip on the bottle nearly slipped—her words hung in the air like a dense fog.
She was right, he hadn't thought that far.
At the moment Elizabeth was just too convenient.
Far more than a friend or lover, she was his anchor.
The thought of dragging her into the same situation that destroyed his family felt deeply unsettling.
Yet abandoning her seemed equally impossible.
"…I… how do I choose between those options?"
Alexander finally managed, his cracking in the crisp night.
Hinata shrugged, "Only you can answer that, Alexander. But I warn you, if anything happens to Elizabeth, you'll become a target."
She stepped back, "and if you try to leave her, well… let's just say it's easier to pry a tooth from a dragon's maw."
Alexander sighed, dropping his head.
"Damn it… one step forward, two steps back," he muttered.
"I'm not saying this to scare you," Hinata's voice softened as she took another step back.
"But her Highness is passionate, her love consumes her.
And passion like that leads to grim consequences when it's threatened."
"Yeah," was all that Alexander could manage as a response.
Hinata nodded. "I'll leave you to your thoughts, congratulations on your win, by the way."
She turned to leave, "Oh, and her Highness is waiting for you, don't keep her waiting."
Alexander sat there for a minute longer, taking a large swig of cider.
Hinata's words echoed in his mind like a distant storm.
He fished the last of his cider, before standing up and brushing off his coat.
"Great," he grumbled, "just when I thought it couldn't get any worse."
— — —
Alexander pushed open the door to Elizabeth's dorm, and the scent of chocolate and vanilla wafted in the air.
The room was dimly illuminated, with only a lamp sitting on her desk.
Elizabeth sat on the edge of her bed, wrapped in silk with her hair flowing down.
Her pink eyes lit up the moment she saw him, "Alex," she purred, standing up. "Are you ready for our cuddle session?" She teased.
Alexander quietly closed the door behind himself, "Elizabeth," he began, his voice hesitant.
"If I told you I couldn't be with you, as in me leaving you in Ambur, what would you do?"
Alexander stood frozen near the door as the words rolled out, his eyes locked on her as he braced for impact.
Elizabeth paused mid-step, tilting her head as her eyes narrowed.
"What a silly notion, Alex, you can't leave me."
She then smiled, her voice light—almost playful.
"I won't let you."
Alexander blinked, he had expected a far larger reaction.
A fight even.
"No, no, I'm serious Elizabeth, if my journey ever takes me away from Ambur—if I had to leave you behind."
Alexander's heart thumped as his words tumbled out.
He wasn't sure if Elizabeth just wasn't understanding… or if she just didn't care.
Elizabeth's smile didn't falter, but her gaze did darken.
She took a slow step forward, her presence like a weight against Alexander's chest.
"Leave me?"
She repeated, like it was a joke.
She reached out, her fingers trailing his jawline.
"Alex, there is nothing in this world that can keep us apart. You aren't going anywhere without me."
Alexander swallowed, his resolve faltering under her touch as whispers.
"Elizabeth, it's not that simple…" he explained, "my path will lead me back home, the same place that took my family. It's dangerous, and I can't—"
Elizabeth giggled, cutting him off as she massaged his chin.
Her nails grazed just enough to send a shiver down his spine.
"Danger? Oh, Alex don't be ridiculous, there is nothing that can tear us apart."
Alexander reached for her wrist, then raised his hand to intertwine their fingers.
"Elizabeth, please listen to me, this isn't just about staying together. It's your life, I can't drag you home, it's not a place for you."
Elizabeth's smirk faded.
Like she was debating whether to hold on or claw in.
"No, Alex. I won't let you throw me away because of some distant danger.
Any obstacle we come across is just a bridge to be burned, enemies, kingdoms, empires… nothing will stop me, stop us."
She pressed herself closer, her words hanging in the tense atmosphere.
"You're mine, and I'm yours. That's the end of it."
Alexander sighed as he pressed his forehead against hers.
"Okay."