When Alexander held Alia back, that signature mysterious smile appeared on her lips. Alexander (Viktor in disguise) looked into Alia's eyes and said in a deep voice
Alexander: "We should capture this moment. Come, let's take some pics Alia thought for a moment. She knew Viktor might want these photos for his collection.
Alia: (With a smirk) "Alright I have no objection. But the photos must be as perfect as our nobility."
Just then, their personal cameraman entered the hall. The scene looked like a movie set. The cameraman himself arrived wearing such a dress as if he were a royal servant from a court 800 years ago.
The camera flashes began to go off. The cameraman kept taking picturesfrom various angles.
The scene formed exactly like the image you provided:
Alia, in her pure white royal attire, leaned against Alexander's (Viktor's) chest. Alexander, with his silver-white long hair, looked like a mystical deity, yet the staff in his hand and the crown on his head signaled his absolute power. Most mysterious of all were the blindfolds on their eyes—as if they were experiencing each other not through sight, but through their souls.
Below them, their loyal handmaidens bowed in prayer, giving the atmosphere a spiritual and ancient feel. The crimson sun or eclipse in the background seemed to signal that this photo wasn't just of a beautiful moment, but a witness to a terrifying fate.
Alia: (Whispering) "Why are our eyes covered in the photo, Alexander? Do you not want me to see your true form?"
Alexander: (Hugging her tightly) "Anyone can see with open eyes, Alia. I want you to learn to recognize me even in the dark."
Alia smiled to herself, for even without the blindfold, she had already recognized the Viktor hiding inside Alexander. Right, I got a bit carried away with the visual description! Let's get back to the heart of the story.
Amidst the camera flashes and that mysterious setup, a strange silence fell over the hall as Alia leaned against Alexander's (Viktor's) chest. The cameraman, dressed in his peculiar outfit, kept clicking away like a robot.
Alia could sense the familiar scent on Alexander's body. Despite the different hair and skin tone, her intuition screamed—this isn't Alexander; this is Viktor. She tilted her head slightly toward Alexander's ear.
Alia: (Whispering) "The photos are being taken. But why are our eyes covered? Are you afraid, Alexander? If I look into your eyes, will you no longer be able to hide the truth?"
Alexander's staff thudded against the floor. He tightened his grip on Alia's waist.
Alexander: "Truth is relative, Alia. I want this photo to capture our bodies, not our identities. Besides, in this game of darkness, it's better not to have eyes."
The handmaidens sitting below began chanting a strange, ancient melody, as if performing a ritual of sacrifice. Alia noticed that with every flash of the camera, the tattoo on Alexander's neck glowed faintly.
Suddenly, Alia pushed Alexander's hand away and stepped back. She let her white fur coat slide off her shoulders, hitting the carpet.
Alia: "Enough with the photos. Let's get to business. Alexander, you promised to show me the 'weapon' tonight—the technology I'm willing to spend billions on. Where is it?"
Alexander smiled, but it was a cold, cruel smile. He signaled the cameraman to leave. One by one, the massive candles in the hall began to extinguish.
Alexander: "The weapon is standing right in front of you, Alia. Have you still not recognized it? Or has Viktor's shadow blinded you so much that you can't see the real power?"
Alia was now certain. Viktor had disguised himself as Alexander to set this deadly trap. But Alia wasn't about to back down. She placed her hand on the small remote hidden inside her nightdress.
Alia: "Viktor... not a bad performance. But when I spend a billion dollars, I know exactly what I'm buying."
The snowfall outside seemed to stop abruptly. A terrifying silence enveloped the palace. Now, it remains to be seen who makes the final move in this game of shadows. The harshness that had momentarily crept into Alia's voice vanished into thin air. She burst into laughter as if mentioning Viktor's name was nothing more than a big joke. She looked at Alexander's stunned face and gently brushed his chin.
Alia: (Laughing) "Oh, you actually got scared! I was just joking Alexander. I just wanted to tease you by bringing up Viktor. Did you really think I mistook you for him?"
At Alia's words, the tension in Alexander's (Viktor's disguise) body relaxed instantly. He let out a long sigh of relief, as if a massive weight had been lifted off his chest. Alexander truly breathed a sigh of relief Viktor thought to himself, "Thank god she took it as a joke! Otherwise, my entire plan would have been ruined." He forced a fake, relieved smile onto his face.
Alexander: (Taking a deep breath) "The kind of jokes you play, Alia! My heart almost stopped. Never mention that man's name in this palace again. I don't want our beautiful moments ruined by an enemy's name."
Alia looked at him with an enchanting smile, but deep in her mind, the suspicion remained anchored. She knew Alexander breathed that sigh of relief because he was terrified of being caught.
Alia: "Alright, I won't scare you anymore. Now come, it's late. We have to finalize the deal for that weapon tomorrow morning."
Alexander gave Alia a soft kiss on her forehead. There was no longer any doubt in his blue eyes; instead, his confidence of winning had returned. But Alia knew that the man who had turned pale with fear moments ago wasn't a tiger, but a predator in a tiger's skin who would soon be caught in his own trap.
In that vast palace, the echo of Alia's mysterious laughter resonated louder than the sound of the blizzard outside. The story shifted back to the enchantment of the photographs. When Alexander (Viktor) breathed that sigh of relief, he felt he should capitalize on Alia's romantic mood to capture more memories.
Alexander: (Placing his hand on Alia's waist) "Alia, let's take another pickThis moment needs to be truly royal."
Alia raised her eyebrows in surprise.
Alia: (Softly) "What Another photo? In the middle of the night?"
But she had to give in to Alexander's persistence. In moments, Alia changed her white coat for a vibrant red dress As the long veil of the red outfit flowed around her, Alexander signaled to turn on the large palace fans. In the artificial breeze, Alia's veil was flying in the wind like flickering flames.
In the next scene, Alia moved very close to Alexander. She was holding Alexander's cheekwith her soft hand. Her eyes held a strange enchantment looking at that magical gazeanyone would think she was madly in love with Alexander. But inside Alia's mind, the blueprint to unmask Viktor was being drawn.
The cameraman kept taking pictures? My body can't take it anymore, Alexander."
But Alexander didn't reply. He said nothingHe just stared blankly at Alia's magical face. His blue eyes held the satisfaction of a victor. He perhaps thought Alia was trapped in the web of his charm, unaware that behind her enchanting gaze lay a deadly weapon.
The 'click' sounds of the cameraman echoed through the desolate palace like a strange rhythm.In the morning, the faint Russian sunlight pierced through the heavy curtains into the vast bedroom. Alia was still deep in sleep wrapped in royal sheets. The exhaustion from last night's long photoshoot and mental warfare weighed heavily on her.
Alexander (Viktor in disguise) was perhaps having a nightmare or fighting a battle in his subconscious mind. Suddenly, in his sleep, he swung his hand and mistakenly slapped Alia quite hard.
The sound of the slap and the sharp pain shattered Alia's sleep instantly. She jolted to the corner of the bed. The red marks of Alexander's fingers were etched onto her fair cheek. Tears welled up in her eyes, but her shock was greater than the pain.
Alexander himself woke up with a start from the force of his own movement. When he saw the mark on Alia's cheek and the tears in her eyes, he froze in realization of his mistake.
Alexander: (In a desperate and panicked voice) "Alia! Oh god, I... I am so sorry. I don't know what I was dreaming about. Please, forgive me!"
Alia didn't say a word. She held her cheek and looked directly into Alexander's (Viktor's) eyes. Her magical eyes were now filled with sparks of fire. That slap had brought her back to a different reality.
Alia thought to herself, "Viktor, even in your sleep, your violence reveals itself. No matter how much you pretend to be calm as Alexander, the monster inside you comes out whenever it gets a chance."
Alia stood up from the bed. Alexander reached for her hand, but she brushed it away with a jerk.
Alia: (In a very cold and calm voice) "What a person does in their sleep is their true character, Alexander. I will remember this morning exactly like this."
Alia walked slowly toward the mirror. Looking at her reddened cheek in the reflection, she gave a mysterious smile. This single slap had cleared all her doubts it was time to end this game of disguises. When Alexander saw Alia moving away from him, he momentarily lost control over himself. Guilt and fear consumed him if Alia developed hatred for him over this simple mistake, his long-crafted plans would crumble into dust.
As Alia stood before the mirror examining her reddened cheek, Alexander rushed to her and hugged her from behind (Jorie dhore). His strong arms formed a tight embrace around her waist. He buried his face near Alia's shoulder.
Alexander: (In a desperate tone) "Please Alia, don't walk away like that. I know I've done wrong, but it was unintentional. You don't know how terrified I am of losing you. Even in my sleep, I must have been dreaming of losing you."
Alia didn't respond to his touch. She stood still. In the mirror, she could see Alexander's (Viktor's) familiar facial expression, now filled with remorse. But Alia knew this embrace wasn't just for forgiveness; it was a clever tactic to keep his cover.
Alia: (Looking at the mirror, in a calm voice) "Why so much fear, Alexander? You are powerful; you hold the royal staff, this palace moves at your command. So why are you breaking down over a simple slap?"
Alexander hugged her even tighter, as if he wanted to meld her body with his own.
Alexander: "Because you are my only weakness. What Viktor lost, I do not want to lose a second time."
Alia smiled to herself. Viktor was admitting his own truth, even if he was speaking in metaphors. Alia wasn't wearing her velvet white coat; now it was just her thin nightdress and the warmth of Viktor's body. Alia steadily placed her hand over Alexander's.
Alia: "Alright, I told you before I love to joke, but not to get slapped. I forgive you for today, but remember... I haven't given anyone the right to lay a hand on me a second time."
Alexander let out a long sigh, resting his head on Alia's shoulder. The snowfall outside had started again, but the silent embrace inside the room was a forecast of a new storm.