Chapter 468
Two android guards glided toward Alex.
“Sir, you are requested to leave the store,” one said in its calm synthetic voice.
Alex turned slowly. “And what exactly is my mistake? I asked to check the ring before buying it. Is it wrong to make sure what I’m buying is real p>
The android paused, processing his words. Its eyes blinked once in rapid sequence. “Apologies, sir. There has been an error on our side. Please continue with your purchase p>
The guards stepped back to their post.
Alex glanced at Dorothea and smiled faintly. “Well, seems like even your guards agree with me p>
Dorothea’s face flushed red with anger. “Guards! Drag this man out of my store!” The androids turned again, but one of them hesitated.
“Supervisor Dorothea,” it said, “after reviewing the interaction, I find this man to be a polite and respectable customer. Please allow him to examine the ring. I believe this kind and handsome gentleman intends to make a purchase p>
Dorothea’s voice cracked with fury. “You stupid machine! What do you know about him? That man is Alex-the fool! Half-slave from Xia! What could he possibly afford? He owns nothing p>
The android’s internal system synced with the security database. Hidden within it was an encrypted tag-Alex Saint-Claire, reinstated heir of the Marquise Saint- Claire estate.
The android was forbidden to reveal personal data but flagged him internally as a high-priority client.
“Supervisor Dorothea,” the android warned, “you should mind your language in front of customers. This gentleman holds verified credentials and deserves respectful service. Any further misconduct will be reported to management p>
The entire store froze. Customers whispered, staff exchanged glances. No one had ever seen an android challenge a human supervisor before.
Dorothea’s pride shattered under the spotlight. Her voice rose to a shriek. “You malfunctioning tin can! Can’t you see who he is? You’re dumber than scrap metal! Get back to your post-now p>
The android nodded, protocol forcing obedience. But as it passed Alex, it stopped for a brief moment. Its digital voice lowered to a near-human murmur.
“Sir, please enjoy your visit. Don’t let Supervisor Dorothea’s attitude bother you.” It paused, then added quietly, “She’s just another bitch p>
Gasps rippled through the store. Dorothea’s eyes widened, her jaw dropped.
“Ouch one of the customers muttered, stunned by the android’s last remark.
Alex smirked. “Looks like we both agree on that p>
“Get out of this place!” Dorothea screamed, her voice cracking with fury. “Nothing will be sold to you! Not a single thing! Get out p>
Alex didn’t flinch. He tilted his head slightly, calm and almost amused. “Well, unless I’m mistaken, you’re just the supervisor here, not the owner. So tell me— what gives you the right to throw me out of someone else’s store p>
Dorothea’s face turned red. “I’ve been the supervisor here for ten years! That gives me the authority! Now get out p>
“Authority, huh?” Alex laughed softly, the sound edged with bitterness. “You must not know your history. This shop-Royal Prussia Fine Jewels-used to belong to the House of Saint-Claire. My family’s business. Until traitors destroyed everything we built… and vultures started stealing what was ours, including this place p>
Dorothea’s eyes narrowed, disbelief twisting her lips. “You? The fool of Saint- Claire? Don’t make me laugh. You’ve gone from dunce to daydreamer. This store belongs to the Lion of the Winchester now. You’re nothing. You own nothing. Go dream somewhere else p>
She turned sharply to her staff. “Listen to me, all of you! No one-no one-serves this man. If I see anyone speaking to him, you’re fired on the spot p>
The room went silent. And then-
A deep hum filled the air outside.
Five sleek black hovercars descended in front of Royal Prussia Fine Jewels, their engines whispering like restrained thunder.
The glass doors slid open, and ten bodyguards stepped out-real humans, not machines-dressed in sharp black suits, shoulders squared, faces carved in
stone.
Their eyes swept the area with lethal precision. The temperature seemed to drop instantly.
The customers froze. The staff stopped breathing. Every instinct screamed danger.
Dorothea’s jaw slackened. Her rage vanished, replaced by sudden confusion.
Who the hell are these people? she thought. Are they here to buy jewelry?
The lead car door opened. A woman stepped out-elegant, poised, radiant in a white suit that gleamed under the sunlight.
Countess Marlene Von Adler.
Dorothea’s mind blanked. She scrambled forward, bowing slightly, forcing a smile. “W-Welcome to Royal Prussia Fine Jewels, Madam Countess! You’ll find only the finest pieces here p>
Countess Marlene walked past Dorothea without a glance and went straight to Alex Saint-Claire.
The bodyguards snapped into motion. Polite, mechanical, their voices smooth as silk: “Excuse us There’s an urgent private meeting at Royal Prussia Fine Jewels, We ask all customers to leave for ten minutes. You may return afterward p>
They funneled the crowd toward the door, calm but inexorable.
Dorothea barked, stunned and furious. “Hey! What do you think you’re doing? How dare you chase away our customers p>
The guards ignored her and kept shepherding people out. One bodyguard leaned toward the staff, voice low and cold. “This might get ugly. Please wait at the front of the shop p>
Some of the employees hesitated, eyes flicking to the guards’ broad shoulders and the way they moved. Fear convinced a few to step back.
They were paid to sell jewels, not to throw their lives away.
Dorothea flew into a new kind of rage. She slapped one of the guards across the face. “How dare you drive away our customers and scare my staff p>
The guard looked at her as if studying a curious insect. Then, with a single hard motion, he slammed a fist into her cheek.
Blood split her lip. Her face
crumpled, crimson seeping down.
Dorothed the floor, scrambled up,
and flung out threats like venom. “You’ve made a huge mistake. calling the police. I’ll call my bass-he’s a noble everyone m Winchester fears. He’ll come and tear you apart p>
“Really?” someone scoffed.
Dorothea spat the name like a curse. “You don’t know the Lion of Winchester? Baron Rainer König? When he comes, you’ll all regret it. He controls dangerous men-do you understand that p>
Before anyone could answer, two guards shoved a man through the front doors and into the store.
He was middle-aged, fat, his face a wreck-split lip, swollen brow, a few teeth gone. His shirt was soaked with dried blood. He staggered, clutching at his ribs like someone who’d been beaten for sport.
Countess Marlene tilted her head and sneered. “You mean this pig is the Lion of Winchester? Baron Rainer König p>
The overweight man dropped to his knees, trembling. “Countess von Adler… please, I beg you-accept my apology p>
“Apology?” Marlene’s tone cut like glass. “My superior, Marquis Saint-Claire, came here simply to buy a ring. And what happened? Your staff threw him out. Do you think this store belongs to you p>
“You stole it from the Saint-Claire family. My boss wasn’t even planning to reclaim it… but since your people refused to sell him a single ring, he’s taking back everything including Royal Prussia Fine Jewels p>
“Wait! Please_wait!” Baron Rainer stammered, voice cracking with panic. “Take
any ring you want. Take the whole collection! No payment necessary! But please, don’t take the store p>
He spun toward his terrified staff, eyes blazing. “Which idiot offended the von Adler master? Show yourself-now p>
Every clerk turned instantly toward Dorothea.
She froze. Her face went pale. But before she could move, Rainer lunged, grabbing her by the collar and slapping her across the face so hard the sound echoed through the room.
“You ignorant bitch!” he roared. “How dare you offend our von Adler patron? Are you blind? Stupid p>
Dorothea collapsed to her knees, sobbing. “Boss, I’m sorry! I’m sorry, I didn’t know—yes, I’m blind, I’m stupid! Please forgive me p>
“Forgive you?” Rainer’s face twisted with rage. He seized her by the hair, yanking her head back until she screamed. Then his fist came down once, twice, again. Each blow landed heavy and wet. Blood splattered across the marble floor. Dorothea’s cries broke into choking gasps as her face swelled and reddened under the relentless punches.
The room stood frozen-no one dared breathe. The sight of the once-arrogant supervisor reduced to a bleeding heap left every witness pale with horror. “Damn you, bitch! You want to drag me to hell, don’t you? Before you kill me, I’ll kill you first p>
Dorothea tasted metal and earth. Teeth flew from her mouth.
She fought like a cornered animal and tore free. Crawling, slick with blood, she reached Alex Saint-Claire and clung to his leg, keening “Mister Saint Claire, I’m so sorry please I’ll never judge anyone again. Forgive me, please p>
Alex looked down at her with ice. “Serves you right p>
The man barked for the android guards, voice flat and cruel. “Throw this bitch in the garbage dump down the alley p>
“Right away, boss.” The android guards hauled her up, blood leaving a trail across
the marble, and carried her out like refuse.
“Please, Countess Marlene-don’t take the store. I’ll give you any ring. Anything!” the chubby man begged, voice shaking.
“Too late.” Marlene’s words were cold as frost. “You accepted custody of this shop only while the Marquis Saint-Claire was absent. When the Saint-Claire line returns, the store returns with them. Stop stealing what isn’t yours p>