Hellbound Heart

Inside the king's study.

"Your Majesty, Mr. Haze's men are already searching through the entire palace." The servant reported. "He's on his way here too."

"How pathetic. He's free to search your palace even without the actual owner's permission? You are the king, but this Brandon guy acts like he owns this place." Alexander commented as he watched the ruckus down below. He was swirling his red wine in a tulip glass as he looked through the window overlooking the massive garden.

King Markus was on the couch, his head bowed down low. His shoulders were slumped and the entire aura around him seemed defeated, as though he had no authority as the ruler.

"Mr. Haze had been free to come and go within the palace for quite some time now. I was… forced to give him such authority." The king spoke through gritted teeth with forced restraint. At the same time, he looked visibly tense and was obviously scared of Brandon Haze. "I couldn't refuse him because he is this country's only hope. The country… needs him." King Markus' voice was strained and shaky as he spoke the last sentence. It was barely audible, but Alexander heard him, nonetheless.

Alexander released a soft snort as he rolled his eyes. "This country does not need him, Mr. Eves. You're the one who needed him."

King Markus lifted his head with a start. His face flushed as he looked at Alexander with a darkened gaze. But the instant their gazes met, the king felt that ridiculously intimidating feeling wash over him again. This Alexander was obviously not the king. But since the moment these two arrived, Markus felt like this man was actually the real king and King Rudy was just some kind of powerless mascot. It was ridiculous but his instincts were telling him otherwise! He could feel who the powerful people were but… how could this be explained? He shook his head, telling himself that he was just too stressed out and panicking right now. He firmly believed though that something was definitely strange with this Alexander guy! But then, he had felt the same overwhelming and powerful aura from Prince Sebastian. Only King Rudy felt normal…

A loud crash pulled King Markus out of his internal contemplation. His gaze flew to the door and there stood Brandon Haze. His face was twisted and dark as he stormed into the King's study as though he owned the place. There was not an ounce of respect in the way he behaved before the king.

"What is the meaning of this, Markus?! Where is the little girl! Where is she?!!" he bellowed.

"The little girl…" Alexander's lazy voice echoed, causing Brandon to snap his head over to Alexander's direction and threw him a death glare. But Alexander returned him the same gaze and all of a sudden, the air inside the room became charged. "As far as I know, there is no 'little girl' in this palace. A beautiful adult lady was here though. I think you are lost, Mister."

"You… you shut up! Speak once more and you're dead." Haze gritted his teeth before facing Markus once again. "Where is she!!! Bring the princess out now!"

"Ohh… so you're looking for Princess Izabelle, are you?" Alexander butted in again, shaking his head. "How could you refer to the adult princess as a 'little girl'? I think you are sick, Mister." He insulted the man, not caring if Haze got angrier.

Bang!

The gunshot echoed in the room. Markus stood up in shock as he looked at the gun that was in Haze's hand, pointed right at Alexander.

Slowly, Markus shifted his gaze to Alexander, a little scared that the man might be dead. But he was still there, standing as he was earlier, smiling as though there was no gun pointed at him. It seemed he had dodged the bullet.

Markus knew Haze was fond of guns and he was a sharpshooter. He had seen him shoot others many times before this way and none had survived it so far. But this Alexander…

"Oh… I must say that shot's pretty impressive." Alexander drawled lazily as he casually eyed the gun in Haze's hand when another gunshot echoed again in the room.

And again, Alexander dodged it. He stood there, still smiling mockingly. His eyes were taunting Haze, wordlessly saying that he was a bad shot.

Haze's face turned pale, and his eyes blazed with utter fury. But before he could pull the trigger another time, Alexander was suddenly standing before him. Haze had not noticed that Alexander had been moving closer and closer the two times he had fired his gun at him.

The cold barrel was now pressed against Haze's throat.

"What's wrong? Aren't you about to pull the trigger just now?" Alexander smirked.

"W-w-who the fuck are you?!" Haze stammered out weakly, his face now as white as sheet. His body was paralyzed as he realized how freaking strong this unknown man was. His hands on his was like a vice. "Don't you know who I am?"

Alexander tilted his head. "Hmm… your face doesn't ring a bell. So, I guess you aren't important enough for me to know?"

"Y-you're going to regret –" Haze spluttered out, enraged at how this man had looked down on him.

"Brandon! Mr. Reign. Please drop the gun." Markus butted in. Visibly anxious at what was going on.

"Okay," Alexander nonchalantly nodded, "but first, I'll have to tell this man here that Princess Izabelle has been taken away by her beloved. I guess I shall inform this man too on who dared took the beautiful princess away. She's taken away by my nephew, crown prince Sebastian of Viscarria, and they're going to get married soon." He moved and softly whispered to Haze. "If you value your life, give up the princess and don't do anything stupid. Now scram."

Alexander pushed Brandon away hard the man stumbled and nearly fell on his behind. When he whirled around as if to attack, a gunshot had him frozen. Alexander had shot on the ground right beside his feet.

"Leave." His low voice rumbled out and another bang echoed.

"You will pay for this!!!" Haze yelled as he ran towards the door.

"How pathetic." Alexander sighed before he leisurely sat on the couch and faced King Markus. "Alright, now let's get down to your political dilemma and get it settled, King Markus." He spoke as though all that hullaballoo did not just happen. And the king could only slowly sat down, utterly speechless.

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