"Alex."

After the government meeting was over, a voice called out his name echoed in Alex's voice as he stepped out of the meeting room.

As Alex turned to the side where the voice came from, Sean walking towards him caught his eyes.

"Could you give me some time?"

Sean asked with a solemn expression.

"But we agreed to meet tomorrow so why are you suddenly in such a hurry?"

"Don't you know?"Sean glared at Alex.

Alex shrinks back pretending to not know what happened.

Sean moved ahead followed by Alex while dozens of knights followed them keeping some distance between them.

After the meeting was over, the noble who wanted to meet with Alex flinched upon receiving the fierce glares from the soldiers.

Sean instructed his men to stop anyone approaching them no matter the reason.

After leaving People's Palace, the people around him became less as Sean reached towards the carriage.

"Mind if we visit my palace?"

Alex shrugged his shoulders and got in the carriage.

"Honestly, do you know what you are doing?"Sean enquiries.

"Why??"

Sean was about to speak but stopped in the middle.

"Let's talk about this alone."

"By the way, is my Sister in Law in the Palace."

"Yess?"

"Nice, finally I am gonna meet her."Alex laughed, wondering about Sean's daughter and his niece.

Thinking about the cute child, Alex felt a bit out of place as he had already become an Uncle which made him remember his Uncle who treated him quite well. Sadly, he passed away in his 40s.

"We are here."

Alex looked at the rows of people standing near the gates to welcome him.

As the carriage stopped, Alex spotted a black haired beautiful lady with a child in her arms.

As Alex turned his head towards her, he could see the various emotions reflected in it.

Surprise, worry, fear and motherly love.

"Tsk!" Alex clicked his tongue as he moved towards her which startled Sean.

"Sister-in-law, I am Alex."

"Nice to meet you."

"I can tell that Brother Sean is not taking care of you properly and you have become so thin."

"Brother Sean, tell me the truth, did you mistreat her?"

"What the hell are you saying?"

"She is the apple of my eye," Sean spoke with a frown trying to deny the accusation."

"Sister-in-law, you did not need to fear him."

"I swear that I will address all your grievances. You might not know but I alone am capable enough to take them down with a single hand."

Sean's scale went numb and his lips twitched.

'Bro, you already have five devastating weapons so why are you trying to light a fire between a lovely couple like a jealous single?'

"Pfftt!"

Seeing Alex and Sean bickering, Helen burst into laughter.

"Brother-in-law, there is nothing like that."

"He treats me and my daughter very well."

"I am blessed to have a husband like him," Helen spoke with a soft smile.

"Let me take a look at my niece."

Alex raised his arms and held the baby in his arms.

She had beautiful golden hair like them and seeing Alex smile, a beautiful smile formed on her lips.

"She seems to like you."

"Hmmm!"

"What is her name?"

"Ellen...Ellen Von Stan," Helen replied.

"What a beautiful name!"

Alex handed her lovely niece back and after exchanging a few pleasantries, Sean pulled him into his room to chat on a very serious topic.

After taking their seat, Sean leaned forward.

"Alex, did you take into account that I am the Commander in the Northern region when you decided to agree to father's proposal?"

"No, I didn't think too far."

"I agree because I believe in myself. Moreover, I need to go there."

The Northern Part had been infested by Miasma

Everything there would serve as a nutrient to fuel Alex's growth.

"Listen, Alex, we are maintaining a delicate balance between Demons and Elves."

"If this is broken, a war would break out."

Alex pondered for a moment and asked"What are they waiting for?"

"Fall of Elves."

"Dark Elves have managed to bypass the barrier of Elves and have corrupted the World Tree."

"The Elves are giving their best to sustain the World Tree from wilting. If the World Tree is gone, Elves would lose a great amount of their power and the moment that happens, Demon and Dark Elves would devour them."

"In the worst scenarios, the Elves might be forced to become Dark Elves to protect their lives and then the next number is Kinley."

"It's alarming," Alex muttered.

"Have they tried their best?"

"Yes, they even asked the Saintess to take a look."

"The Saintess tried to purify the World Tree; however, the only thing she could do was to delay the inevitable."

Alex did not know what method the other side used but if it is like the Seed Of darkness, it means it can not be purified.

It's like a parasite that will eat you from the inside until you find a way to get rid of it.

"However, even if it looks calm, there have been many undercurrents. We have been reported that many of our soldiers are going missing now and then."

"It's not a big deal if this happens once but if this is carried on, we will suffer a great loss. Unlike them, we could not seek their territories without proper preparation due to miasma."

"Do you understand?"

"Yes, that's where I came to play."

"I can go into their territory and have some fun which may deter them."

"It will serve them as a warning," Sean nodded.

"Father had a knack to see things far off. If only, he would handle the administration instead of cooping inside his room."

"Old man like him needs rest," Alex said.

"That's why I wanted to free him as soon as possible."

"By the way, I wanted to ask for your help."

"What are you going to do now?"

"I will tell you about it after meeting Ivine and Shion?"

"Huh!"

Sean was startled and asked Alex what he meant but Alex just sat there with an insidious smile.

......

In one of the Palace.

"What are you thinking this time?"Ivine muttered with a dazed expression.

"He is going to die there."

"Why are you so worried?"Shion grumbled.

"I have not seen any movements on his side. He just visited Sean yesterday and everything is quiet till now."

As her doubt deepens, a servant's voice came from outside.

"Your Highness, we have a guest."

"Guests? Who?"

"This Prince Alex."

"..."

Ivine eyes widened.

Ivine's expressions were distorted and he tried to contain her urge to throw Alex out.

"Shion."

"Yes, Sister."

"Leave!"

"What! Why?"

"Let me handle this. You are too immature."Shion grumbled and left reluctantly.

"Tell him to come in."

Contrary to her surprised expression, Ivine spoke calmly while sitting down on the chair and crossed her legs.

Slowly the door opened and Alex walked in.

She did not understand how a person's mood could change so much.

"If you are asking me for a drink, you can give me either tea or coffee; however, please make it extra sweet."

As soon as he sat down, Ivine gave him a bewildered look and gestured to her servant to do what he asked and spoke to Alex.

"We don't have any affection for each other so let's get straight to the point."

"Why are you here?"

Alex scanned the surroundings and replied.

"Fair enough."

After that Alex looked into her eyes and spoke.

"I am going to hit Hex."

A calm tone as if he is going for a walk in the evening.

Ivine became speechless for a moment and asked again.

"I beg your pardon? Hitting means??"

"Do you want to become my ally to deal with him?"

"Yes, I want your help to kill him."

Ivine coughed and gave Alex an absurd look.

"Have you gone mad?"

"Your words do not make any sense."

"See, you know Hex is the biggest contender beside me."

"I will go to the Northern region and Sean might accompany me there and who knows what will happen."

"So if we deal with Hex now, aren't you the one who will get the most out of this?"

"Haaaa..."

Big laughter erupted from her mouth.

After laughing for a moment, she looked at Alex with stillness.

"If this is a joke, it was quite funny."

"If you are serious then tell me, why do I have to lend my powers to you who could deal with Hex alone? Am I not taking a great risk?"

"What would I gain?"

In her eyes, a cold aura erupted however it was suppressed as soon as it met with Alex.

"What..."

Ivine felt an instinctive fear of the black stars in Alex's eyes.

"You don't have to go out on your own. You just have to lend me the Raizarford corps."

Alex muttered softly as if Ivine had already agreed.

"Let me ask you one last thing."

"Why do you want to hit him?"

A question came out from her lips.

"Because I hate him the most."

"Just for this reason," Ivine spoke curiously.

"And because he is involved in doing something taboo that will tarnish the name of the Royal family."

"...."

Alex got up seat with a grin.

"Moreover, has your family not been hit by the Hex Magic corps before?"

"So is this not enough?"

There was no need to list every other reason.

Because he knew.

This was enough, because for a greedy person like her, she needed to bite the bait for her to succeed.