NARRATOR

"It looks like he's in love with Sigrid."

"Even worse, Alessandre—we have a walking time bomb. What will happen when she leaves for her world?"

They stared at each other in silence. The answer was obvious.

"For now, though, Sigrid has control over him, and we need more strong allies on our side. I think the smartest move is to use him, keep him close. That man must despise Lucrecia with every fiber of his being."

Alessandre calculated his next move, and Renata did the same.

If Alessandre presented Lucrecia Silver’s head to the Queen—if he became the hero who defeated the witches, controlled the vampires, and swore loyalty to the crown—then they might accept him as the next King and Renata’s husband.

"We can’t delay our plans. Sigrid could leave at any moment. I don’t even know if she’ll find the way…"

"Love," Alessandre interrupted, the decision already made in his mind. "Lucrecia invited me to one of her ‘private parties’ in a few days."

"Disgusting." Renata grimaced in dist