Chapter 188: Queen Lysandra’s Joy
{Third Person}
By the time Alexander returned to his residence, the night had grown quiet.
The palace corridors were calm, and most of the servants had already withdrawn to their respective quarters.
Alexander walked straight to his bedroom without stopping, his expression unreadable. Still, there was no regret in his heart.
He had already made his decision.
Just as he stepped fully into his bedroom, a gentle knock sounded on the door. Alexander did not need to guess who it was before giving his approval.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Barron walked in.
One look at Barron’s face was enough to tell Alexander that his cousin had been waiting for him to return. There was obvious curiosity in his expression, though he tried not to look too eager.
Barron closed the door behind him before walking further inside. "So," he began, taking a seat as though he owned the place, "how was dinner?"
Alexander gave him a flat look. Barron ignored it and got straight to the point. "More importantly, did you finally tell His Majesty about your decision?"
Alexander walked toward a chair and sat down before answering. "Yes."
Barron’s eyes immediately lit up. His interest sharpened. "Well?" He leaned forward slightly. "How did he react?"
There was no need to ask what he meant. Barron was clearly asking about Sebastian.
"He wasn’t happy," came Alexander’s response.
Barron nodded slowly. That much had been expected.
Alexander continued with a steady voice, "In the end, he neither said yes nor no."
Barron frowned slightly; that answer surprised him.
Alexander’s gaze remained distant. "But it doesn’t matter. His opinion won’t change my decision."
Barron stared at him for a few moments. Then the faint smile on his face slowly disappeared, replaced by something much more genuine.
Pride.
There was quiet pride in his eyes.
For all the years he had known Alexander, Barron understood better than most what this decision meant. This was not simply about leaving the palace. This was Alexander choosing himself for once.
And Barron could not deny how happy that made him.
This time, a softer, more sincere smile returned to his face. "I’m proud of you." Then he leaned back in his seat as Alexander’s stare hit him.
"I mean it." There was no teasing in his voice now. "You’re finally taking back your freedom." He smiled. "You will finally get to live how you want."
Alexander said nothing. Still, the slight shift in his expression suggested he had heard every word.
After a while, Barron spoke again. "Did His Majesty say anything about your title?"
Alexander understood the real meaning behind the question immediately.
Barron was asking whether his father intended to strip him of the Alpha Prince title once he left the palace.
Alexander leaned back slightly. "From the look of things, he won’t let me drop the title." He continued calmly, "But the Queen and the court officials will pressure him for it."
That much was obvious.
Lysandra would never miss such an opportunity. Neither would the nobles who supported Zarek.
Barron, however, looked completely unconcerned. He casually waved a hand. "It’s not like they can succeed if His Majesty remains adamant."
There was confidence in his voice.
Everyone in the palace knew one thing. King Sebastian’s weakness was Alexander. And as long as the King stood firmly behind him, neither the Queen nor the court officials would have much room to act.
Alexander remained silent, but inwardly, he knew Barron was right. The real problem was not whether they would pressure Sebastian.
The real problem was how far they were willing to go once he officially moved out of the palace.
That, however, was a matter for another day.
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The next morning, news spread through the royal palace faster than expected. By midday, word about Alexander leaving the palace had reached Queen Lysandra.
At first, she refused to believe it. The news sounded absurd and made no sense.
Immediately, she ordered her maid-in-waiting to verify the information.
The maid left at once. When she returned not long after, the confirmation was clear. The news was true.
Alexander intended to leave the royal palace in a few days.
For several moments, Lysandra simply sat there in silence, then something shifted in her expression. Disbelief gave way to realization, and Realization quickly gave way to pure joy.
She could not hide it.
A smile slowly spread across her face until she was openly smiling. The joy in her heart was impossible to contain.
"Well." She leaned back against her seat. "What took him so long?" Her tone carried unmistakable satisfaction.
She gave a soft laugh. "So, he finally realized he does not belong here."
The more she thought about it, the happier she became. Alexander leaving the palace changed everything. The largest obstacle standing in Zarek’s path was finally moving aside.
Her precious son would finally have room to breathe, to rise and to take what should rightfully be his.
Lysandra immediately called for a private celebration. A fine bottle of wine was brought in and opened. One of her servants carefully poured wine into her glass.
She accepted it with a pleased smile and took a slow sip. The wine tasted wonderful, but not nearly as sweet as the news she had just received.
As she sat in her private sitting area with the glass in hand, satisfaction filled every part of her.
Alexander. That cursed child was finally getting out of the way.
Her fingers curled lightly around the glass, and a thoughtful look entered her eyes. "When exactly is he leaving?"
None of the servants answered immediately. Finally, one bowed and said, "We are unsure, Your Majesty."
Lysandra frowned slightly. "And that frail human bride?" Her voice sharpened faintly. "Is he taking her with him?"
Again, the servants hesitated. Then came the same answer. "We do not know, Your Majesty."
Lysandra clicked her tongue softly. The lack of information annoyed her slightly, but not enough to ruin her mood.
She took another sip of wine. Even with those unanswered questions, her joy remained untouched.
Lysandra was still celebrating when her maid-in-waiting suddenly spoke. "Your Majesty."
The Queen looked up.
"Shouldn’t you visit His Majesty?" The maid bowed respectfully and continued carefully, "His Majesty must be unhappy about this news."
Slowly, a wide grin spread across Lysandra’s face as a smug satisfaction shone in her eyes.
Next, she handed her half-finished glass of wine to a nearby servant, then she rose gracefully from the couch.
There was elegance in every movement.
She adjusted her robes lightly before speaking. "Indeed. My beloved husband must need a shoulder to cry on."
Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"And if it isn’t mine..." A soft chuckle escaped her. "Then whose?"
She laughed quietly to herself. Then, with a heart overflowing with joy, she led the way out of her chambers.