Chapter 544
When Alex heard that his enemy might be the king himself, his heart went ice-cold. “Countess Marlene,” Alex asked suddenly. “How long have I been here p>
“About twenty three hours since we found you,” Marlene replied.
“Listen to me,” Alex said quickly. “I guess, the only reason I’m still alive is because Sofina, as a princess, demanded my protection. The king may agree-but only for one day. Twenty-four hours p>
He tried to stand, then staggered as his legs failed him.
“After those twenty-four hours,” Alex continued, forcing herself upright, “he’ll send people to kill me again p>
A sharp, brutal pain exploded inside his body. Alex froze. In that instant, He understood.
The king had spared his life-but not his power.
His inner core was gone. Destroyed. Completely erased. The force he had cultivated for years was empty, hollowed out like a burned-out star. Damn it p>
Alex hurriedly pulled on his clothes, his movements stiff and uneven.
“Marlene, I need to leave Prussia. Now. If the king unleashes his full force, I won’t make it out of this country alive p>
“Are you sure he’ll go that far?” Marlene asked, her brows tightening.
Alex let out a bitter laugh. “King Wilhelm Augustus is the type who uses a nuclear strike to kill a rat. He never holds back when it comes to eliminating his enemies p>
He started toward the door, pain tearing through his with every step.
“Marlene,” Alex said sharply, her face pale, “call our fastest, most secure aircraft. I need to get out of Prussia immediately p>
For the first time, Marlene saw real panic in Alex’s eyes.
“Yes, sir,” she said quickly. “The aircraft will arrive in three minutes. We need to reach the hospital rooftop. Now p>
“Fine p>
Alex walked out of the room in a hospital gown, her body screaming in protest. Each step felt like broken glass grinding inside him.
“Give me a secure bracelet,” Alex said. “I need to make contact p>
All his instincts were screaming.
If he made one wrong move now-
He would die.
Marlene pulled out a small black box and opened it. Inside was a thin, transparent band.
“Sir, this is a secured nanobot communication device,” Marlene explained. “It can connect you directly to Gaia. Completely untraceable. Nano-grade communication— the latest technology we developed a decade ahead of Prussia p>
Alex took the transparent band and lifted it to the back of his ear.
The moment it touched his skin, it dissolved-breaking down into countless
nanobots that slipped beneath the surface and vanished into his flesh.
A screen flickered to life directly in front of Alex’s eyes-projected inside his vision,
wired straight to his brain. Completely invisible. Completely untraceable.
Alex connected instantly.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Logan answered.
“Logan,” Alex said urgently while moving. “The one who murdered your family is King Wilhelm Augustus p>
“What?” Logan gasped.
“Listen carefully,” Alex said. “Tell everyone in Estoria this: I, the King of Estoria, have ordered that we will not go to war until victory is absolutely certain. No less than five years p>
“Your Majesty,” Logan replied, forcing himself to stay calm, “according to Bella’s calculations, we only need one year to guarantee victory against Prussia p>
“That’s exactly the problem,” Alex said coldly. “We could win in one year if we attack from both inside and outside. But the situation has changed p>
“How has it changed?” Logan asked.
“That King Wilhelm Augustus controls every stream of information in Prussia,” Alex said. “If he’s targeting me, there’s a ninety-percent chance my identity as a spy— and as the founder of Eden Group—is already exposed. He knows everything p>
“Yes-ninety percent he already sees me as a threat with the power I have right now,” Alex said. “I’m on my way back to Estoria. The king tried to kill me yesterday, and I’m certain he’ll try again. We need to be ready p>
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Logan said immediately.
By then, Alex had reached the hospital rooftop. The massive aircraft was already descending, engines roaring as it prepared to take him and Marlene aboard.
“Listen to me, Logan,” Alex said as he moved toward the aircraft. “I will return to Estoria—but I’ll pass through Xia first. I’ll act as a decoy. Prussia must not attack Estoria. They may know I’m a spy, but they don’t know I belong to Estoria. They’ll assume I’m from Xia p>
Alex stepped into the aircraft.
“If something happens to me,” he continued, his voice steady but heavy, “you will pretend that the King of Estoria is still alive for at least five years. Make sure Prussia never learns the truth. After those five years—if I haven’t returned-you can do whatever you want. Take the throne if you must p>
He paused.
“But make sure Estoria is strong enough to stand against Prussia in five years.” “Your Majesty,” Logan said softly.
The aircraft door opened.
“I’ve sent the recording to the others. They’ll understand,” Alex said as he cut the call. He turned to Marlene, his expression hard. “You’re not coming with me. Stay here. We’ll talk by secure call p>
“But, sir-” Marlene started.
“Don’t argue,” Alex snapped, then looked toward the cockpit. “Everyone out of this aircraft. I’ll fly it alone p>
Marlene understood instantly. Alex wasn’t being reckless he was protecting them. The two human pilots hesitated, confused. Then they looked at Marlene. She gave a single, firm nod.
They said nothing more. They turned and walked back toward the hospital rooftop. Moments later, Alex took full control of the aircraft. He sealed the cabin, set the autopilot for Xia, and pushed the engines to their absolute limit.
As the aircraft tore through the sky, Alex activated his communicator.
He connected to Eve.
Inside the Prussian capital, deep within the castle’s changing room, Sofina sat quietly, her posture rigid, her eyes dull with exhaustion.
Eve—the egg-shaped robot she carried with her—suddenly spoke.
“Miss Sofina. Sir Alex is requesting a call. Do you wish to accept p>
“Yes,” Sofina answered immediately.
Lately, all her communications had been restricted. She knew nothing about Alex.
They had told her she must sever all contact with her former life.
The three-dimensional screen lit up.
Alex’s face appeared.
“Alex,” Sofina said softly, relief breaking through her restraint. “Are you okay p>
“For now, I am,” Alex replied. Then his eyes sharpened. “Sofina… you really are a princess p>
“I’m sorry I hid it from you,” Sofina said, guilt flooding her voice.
“No need,” Alex said, smiling faintly. “It suits you. Perfectly.” Then his tone shifted. “And Sofina-I need your help. Right now p>
“Anything,” Sofina said without hesitation. “What do you need p>
“Do you know Eden Group?” Alex asked.
“Of course,” Sofina replied. “Its founder is the richest man in Prussia p>
“Good,” Alex said calmly. “That’s me p>
“I’ve just transferred all Eden Group assets and funds into your account,” Alex
continued. “Accept it p>
“What?” Sofina gasped.
The thought was absurd. Alex-the man with no official title, no visible power-was
the owner of Eden Group? It sounded like a cruel joke.
Then she opened her bracelet.
Her breath stopped.
Transfer documents. Ownership records. Authorization codes. And beneath them—
an amount of money so vast it made her hands tremble.
“Alex p>
“Listen to me. I don’t have much time,” Alex said urgently. On his end, warning alerts
flashed as five aircraft locked onto his position.
“You now control Eden Group-and
the entire Prussian underground,” Alex continued. “I want you to let Countess Marlena and all the leaders continue their work exactly as planned. Their mission stays the same p>
He looked straight at Sofina through the screen.
“To make you the Queen of Prussia. You will defeat your brothers. You will become
the sole ruler of Prussia p>
“Alex-what are you saying?” Sofina said, shaken. “I don’t want the throne. I don’t want to be queen p>
“Sofina,” Alex said quietly, his voice heavy, “your father-King Wilhelm Augustus tried to kill me. I am the last descendant of the Saint-Claire family don’t want to hurt you don’t want to hurt your father. But he wants my entire bloodline erased p>
He drew a slow breath.
“I have to run now. The only time I can stand before you again… is when you
become Queen. When your father’s judgment can no longer reach me p>
The screen suddenly shook.
An explosion flared behind Alex’s aircraft.
“Sofina,” Alex said quickly, the image flickering, “your father has sent people to kill
me. I’m heading to Xia. Please become Queen. When the time is right… I’ll come
back p>
He drew a sharp breath and continued, urgency cutting into every word.
“For now, do one thing for me. Make an official public announcement that you are the founder of Eden Group Put it in the open. Lock it under、 public scrutiny. Once the world is
watching, your father won’t be able to secretly confiscate or touch
our people p>
Another violent explosion tore across the feed.
The screen went black.
A second later, Eve spoke, her tone steady but urgent.
“Miss Sofina. The connection has been lost. Sir Alex’s aircraft communication
antenna appears to have been hit p>
Before Sofina could react, a new projection filled the air.
Countess Marlene. Count Oskar. Five other leaders.
All of them appeared at once.
They knelt.
“We bow to our leader,” Marlene said solemnly. “Princess Sofina Augustus. From
this moment on, we are your followers. Please give us your command p>