Chapter 542
“Princess Sofina… are you all right p>
The voice cut through the fog in her head.
Sofina blinked hard. Her vision swam, then snapped into focus. An elderly man stood over her, tall and broad, his presence heavy and imposing.
“I’ve already administered the antidote,” he said calmly. “You should be regaining clarity by now p>
She flexed her fingers. Then her arms. The burning heat was gone. The overwhelming urge had vanished. Her body answered her again, fully under her control.
Her heart slammed as she turned her head.
Count Lorenz lay sprawled on the floor.
Blood pooled beneath him, dark and spreading. There was no movement. No breath.
He was unmistakably dead.
“Who are you?” Sofina asked, her voice tight.
The old man stepped back and bowed deeply. “Princess Sofina. You activated the emergency signal. I came immediately to secure your safety p>
“Emergency signal?” Her eyes dropped to the bracelet on her wrist.
She didn’t remember pressing anything.
But fragments rushed back—panic, raw fear, the drug blurring her thoughts. In that chaos, her hand could have activated it to save her life.
“I… I don’t think I did it consciously,” Sofina said slowly. “If it was a mistake, can I cancel it p>
The elder man straightened, his expression firm.
“Princess, once the signal is activated, it is recognized as a formal summons to return to the royal family. From this moment forward, you no longer act under your former surname. You resume the royal name p>
Her blood ran cold.
“But I pressed it while drugged,” Sofina said sharply. “That can’t represent my true decision. I never chose to return p>
She clenched her fists.
If her status as princess was officially reinstated, everything from her former life would be erased.
Everything.
Including her marriage to Alex.
The royal family would never allow her to remain with him. She would be turned into
a political asset—married off to whoever the King deemed useful.
Before the old man could respond-
A violent shock tore through the mansion.
The walls trembled. Dust rained from the ceiling. The floor shuddered beneath their feet.
“What was that?” Sofina demanded, panic surging as another impact rippled through the building.
The elder man’s eyes narrowed. “It appears your husband came here to rescue you. Unfortunately… this place was a trap p>
Her heart stopped.
“Three fighters from the Prussian Hundred-Rank have been deployed,” he
continued. “Their objective is to eliminate him p>
“What p>
Sofina spun and ran to the window.
Outside, the courtyard was chaos.
Alex was there.
Not fighting-being overwhelmed.
Blows crashed into him from all sides. His body staggered, blood spraying as he
was driven back again and again.
Her breath caught in her throat.
The elder man stepped up beside her, his gaze steady. “Your husband is formidable.
Few can last even seconds against Hundred-Rank fighters p>
His voice lowered.
“He’s holding his ground. Fighting on their level p>
Sofina’s hands pressed against the glass as her chest tightened.
Alex was out there.
Bleeding.
Alone.
And everything she feared was crashing down on her at once.
“But he’s facing three of them at once,” The old man sneered. “He’ll die p>
She could see it clearly now.
Alex was getting hit.
Blow after blow slammed into him. His body reeled. Blood flew. Each strike drove him closer to collapse.
“Stop them!” Sofina shouted.
“That depends,” the old man replied coolly. “You just stated that you activated the emergency signal while under the influence of drugs. That means you were not acting as a princess p>
His gaze hardened.
“And if you are not a princess, then I have no obligation to obey your command p>
Sofina turned to him, panic tearing through her chest.
“Please,” she said. “Help him p>
“No p>
The word was absolute.
“Unless,” the elder man continued, “you declare that you are ready to return as
Princess of the Royal Family. Only then will I follow your order p>
Sofina froze.
She understood the price instantly.
If she became a princess again, she would lose Alex.
There would be no marriage. No future. The royal family would erase her personal
life and use her as a political tool.
But outside-
Alex was struck again.
Three fighters. No mercy. His life was hanging by a thread.
“If your husband doesn’t die here,” the old man said coldly, “he has the potential to reach Hundred-Rank himself. It’s unfortunate. Truly. Dying in a place like this.” “Help him!” Sofina screamed.
“No p>
Her heart shattered.
“I command you,” Sofina roared, her voice breaking, “as Princess of the Royal
Family p>
She knew it the moment the words left her mouth.
This was the only way to save him.
“Yes, Princess,” the elder man answered immediately.
He drew a gun.
He fired.
The shot streaked toward Alex-
But it didn’t hit him.
Instead, a massive burst of energy exploded around Alex, forming a blazing plasma barrier just as the Fist King and the Lightning Kick closed in.
Their attacks slammed into the shield.
And stopped.
The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the courtyard.
“What is this?” the Fist King barked, turning sharply.
His eyes locked onto the elder man.
The old man touched his bracelet. A three-dimensional royal emblem unfolded in the air-brilliant, unmistakable.
“That man,” he said evenly, “is under the protection of Princess Sofina. For one
day p>
The Fist King and the Lightning Kick exchanged looks.
They understood immediately.
With the royal family involved, they could not kill Alex today.
But one day.
That meant tomorrow.
Still, the prey was right in front of them.
Letting go now felt like spitting out meat already in their mouths.
The Fist King stepped forward, fists clenched.
“We need to kill this man now,” he said coldly. “We hope you’re not planning to make
things difficult for us p>
The elder man laughed.
It was low. Mocking.
His hand slid to a small knife at his waist. With a lazy flick of his wrist, he sent it
flying.
“You’re nothing but a Hundred-Rank fighter,” he said coldly. “And you dare speak to me without showing respect p>
The Fist King felt something sharp-
Then it was too late.
Before he could dodge, his body split apart. Blood burst outward as his upper half
slid away from his lower body.
He died without even understanding how.
The Lightning Kick stared in horror.
He watched the Fist King collapse, dead before he could even react.
Fear punched the air out of his lungs.
He turned and ran.
He had never imagined there existed a man who could kill a Hundred-Rank fighter
with a single move.
Sofina rushed toward Alex, who lay unconscious inside the glowing energy barrier.
The elder man stepped in front of her and stopped her short.
“That shield will remain for several hours
he said calmly. It will
him from all harm
protect
you touch it,
you’ll be burned p>
Moments later, the sky roared.
A line of flying cars descended toward Count Lorenz’s mansion and landed in
perfect formation before Sofina.
The doors opened.
Ten soldiers in royal family uniforms stepped forward. In unison, they knelt.
“Princess Sofina,” they said solemnly, “welcome back to the royal family p>
Sofina understood then.
Her life would never be the same again.
She looked at Alex.
From this moment on, he would become her past.
Alex was unconscious.
But somewhere deep inside, one truth settled into him.
He had spent too long believing he was unbeatable in Estoria.
Maybe he ruled the Prussian underground.
But against true Prussian ranker power-he was still far from the top.
There was always another sky above the sky.
When Alex finally woke up, white light blinded him.
The smell of disinfectant filled his lungs.
He was in a hospital bed.
Countess Marlena von Adler sat beside him.
“Where am I?” Alex asked hoarsely.
“Winchester Prime Hospital,” Marlena said calmly. “VIP ward. Your
body needs several days to recover. Multiple broken bones, The doctors were shocked you were still alive p>
Alex fell silent, trying to piece together what had happened.
“Sire Alex,” Marlena said softly, “there’s something you need to hear p>
“What is it?” he asked.
“Estoria has officially declared war on Prussia,” she said. “They’re not waiting a year p>
Her eyes hardened.
“They’re moving now. Because of you p>