A week on the sea had passed, and now Alexander was in the port city of Foca.
He remembered this place, though it looked different four years ago.
The barricades and soldiers were gone—replaced by civilians and carriages.
The buildings were mostly intact.
Though in the distance Alexander could see scaffolding climbing the sides of skyscrapers.
"Damn," Alexander muttered, "I guess they reached the city…"
"Who?" Elizabeth asked, tilting her head curiously.
Alexander glanced at her while following Raphael and the team off the docks.
"Uh, the empire."
Alexander answered, "Remember? That's why I came to Ambur in the first place."
Elizabeth's expression softened.
"Oh, I remember. I'm sorry if it's difficult for you."
She slipped her hand into his, "but now we're here together, so that counts for something, right?"
Alexander smirked, squeezing her hand.
"More than you know." He winked, before planting a kiss on her cheek.
Karl and Jules, who walked ahead of Alexander, chuckled.
"I want to be like Alexander when I grow up." Karl joked, shaking his head.
Jules leaned his head back with a tremble in his shoulders.
"He's certainly grown, I remember when he couldn't glance at Elizabeth without stammering."
Karl nodded, "You know, Anna told Alexander to commit."
Jules raised an eyebrow, "You mean your girlfriend, I thought she would've supported Louise."
"Me too, but she said Louise wasn't compatible with Alexander."
Jules frowned. "Mhm, and do you think that's true?"
Karl walked in silence for a moment—then sighed deeply.
"Yeah, but only because Elizabeth is more his speed. Louise is… intense."
— — —
The group rode by train, reserved by the Academy to make the journey towards the capital short but tense.
The train rattled along the tracks, cutting through the rolling hills of the Fallen Kingdom.
The scenery blurred past, a patchwork of golden fields, forests, and villages.
It was strange being home, the familiarity tugging at his chest.
Elizabeth rested her head against his shoulder—sitting next to the window.
Alexander glanced over to see her folding a piece of paper.
"What's that?" Alexander asked with a point.
Elizabeth glanced up, then smiled slowly.
"I don't know." She whispered, "It could be anything."
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Elizabeth pocketed the paper, before pressing herself against Alexander.
"It means something I won't explain."
Alexander chuckled, "You and your riddles."
The train's whistle blew, signaling the approach to the capital.
Alexander's smirk faded as he glanced out the window at the skyline of Stuttgart.
The capital of the Fallen Kingdom.
It wasn't a rival to Ambur's capital, not nearly as many skyscrapers or zeppelins.
But what it lacked in grandeur it made up for in charm. Buildings were small and nestled close together.
The sky wasn't as smoky and the populace wasn't as rushed.
As the train pulled into the station, Raphael was the first to stand.
His voice echoed through the car.
"We have a tight schedule, and I'd hate to waste time searching for you when we need to be resting, okay?!"
A wave of mumbled replies filled the car.
Raphael grinned.
"Follow me."
— — —
"They're here."
Clara said, rushing back into her shared dorm with M.
"The François team, they're here."
M looked up from a slightly charred diary.
"Where?"
She asked, her eyes glowing with anticipation behind her mask.
"The Frankfurt Tower," Clara answered.
M effortlessly rose from her bed, snapping her diary shut.
"Let's go."
Clara hesitantly followed after her, "Are you sure about this, M? We've never met the François team outside of the match."
"Because we've never had a reason to," M responded, her voice calm but urgent.
"Besides, if everything goes as planned, Alexander is coming with me tonight."
Clara sighed, "I don't know," she muttered, quickly stepping down the hallway.
"Princess Elizabeth seemed pretty close to him."
M shrugged, keeping her swift pace as she rounded a corner.
"Elizabeth is only a distraction."
— — —
M had made her way to the towering concrete structure.
Once inside, she headed straight towards the receptionist's desk.
"Alexander."
She pressed a hand on the desk, startling the receptionist.
"I need to know what room Alexander is in."
The receptionist—a young woman with a tight bun and nervous smile—shook her head.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but I can't just give out guest information without—"
M leaned forward, "I'm not asking, tell me where he is."
The woman hesitated, her fingers nervously tapping against the desk.
"He's in room 112," She finally blurted out, "the seventh floor!"
M nodded curtly, pulling her hand away as she strode towards the elevator.
Patrons stumbled out of the path, mumbling under their breath about the masked empress.
"Goddess, she's more terrifying in person."
The iron gates slid open and two patrons rushed out, nearly stumbling over each other.
M stepped into the elevator, jamming a finger against the metallic button of the seventh floor.
The gates closed with a soft whine.
Rattling sounds filled the air as the elevator rose.
M stood perfectly still, her mask reflecting the faint glow of the overhead light.
Clara shifted awkwardly beside her.
The elevator groaned to a stop, its iron gates cracking open.
M and Clara stepped forward.
The hallway was dim, lined with lamps and a long decorative carpet.
"112…"
Clara muttered, her eyes darting nervously between the numbered plaques on the doors.
M walked with deliberate steps.
The tension was almost suffocating.
Until finally, they reached room 112.
M lifted her hand.
"Don't."
A voice called from behind Clara and M.
M turned with a knife pulled from her sleeve.
She pointed at the woman behind her.
But the woman didn't flinch.
"Who are you?"
M demanded with a hiss.
"D'élite Hinata, Guardian of her Highness."
Clara hitched her breath, hiding behind M.
M didn't flinch.
"D'élite huh? Well, I'm not here for your princess, I'm here for Alex."
"And I'm here for her highness. As long as she is with him I can't let you get close."
M's hand twitched, the knife glinting in the lamplight.
Hinata's gaze remained unchanged.
Her posture relaxed yet ready.
Clara swallowed hard, tapping M's shoulder.
"Maybe we should reconsider," she whispered.
M didn't respond, her focus was locked on Hinata.
A fight seemed inevitable.
Until the tension was broken by the click of a door.
The door to room 112.
The three women turned to see Elizabeth standing in the doorway, her eyes low from sleep.
"What's with this commotion?"
Hinata's expression darkened as her shoulders tensed.
"You should return to your room, your highness."
Elizabeth's drowsiness faded as her gaze sharpened.
She noted Hinata's words.
Then locked eyes with M,
"Who are you?"
She asked, her brow furrowed.
M tilted her head.
Then, she responded coldly.
"I don't answer to the likes of you, bring me Alex."
Elizabeth moved to block the doorway.
"Absolutely not, whatever your business is you can discuss it with me."
Hinata stepped forward, her voice stern.
"Please return to your room, highness, this girl is dangerous."
Elizabeth's lips thinned.
"Which is exactly why I'm not leaving."
M hummed a curious sound and shifted to the left.
Clara's eyes widened like saucers.
"M, don't!" She urged.
Before any other action could be taken, Hinata had drawn her pistol within the blink of an eye.
And aimed it squarely between the eyes of M's mask.
"Choose your next move wisely."
M didn't flinch.
If anything, she leaned closer.
"You're no better than the imperials, you feel safe behind your guns."
She huffed, "But everyone blinks, even you."
Hinata's finger tightened on the trigger until her knuckles blanched.
She was trained for situations such as these.
And defused worse.
But something about the look I'm M's eyes made her hesitant.
She wasn't afraid she'd lose, but of what she'd do to win.
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms.
"This ends now, either you leave or you'll be charged."
Clara whimpered.
Her grip on M's sleeve was too tight.
"M, the last thing you need is to become a fugitive."
She whispered, her voice breaking.
"You'll see Alexander at the match, right?"
The silence stretched.
No one moved a muscle.
And for the briefest of moments, there were a thousand possible endings.
"Fine."
M said softly, retracting her knife.
"But don't think for a second that this is over."
She shifted her weight, pushing past Hinata who stepped back.
M moved silently, her steps like ghosts.
Clara huddled close behind her as the duo stepped into the elevator.
M turned to face Hinata and Elizabeth one last time.
"I'll see him again, and next time, he's coming home."
The gates closed with a click, and the elevator descended.
Hinata sighed, holstering her pistol.
"The masked empress, she truly lives up to the name."
Elizabeth clenched her jaw.
"I want to know everything about her connection to Alex," she demanded, turning to enter her room.
She paused, standing at the door.
"And never let her get this close again."
Hinata bowed deeply.
"Of course, your highness."