The morning sunlight streamed through the blue ice carved lattice window, scattering patches of light and shadow across the floor.
"Sister, why aren't you up yet? Father said the speech is about to begin!" A clear and anxious voice came from outside the door, breaking the quiet atmosphere like a sudden gust of wind.
Alvin had just finished allocating his points when this familiar voice reached his ears. Without thinking he already knew it was Aili.
However, Queen Ella on the bed showed no sign of waking.
She lay quietly with soft breathing, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows over her eyelids.
Alvin gently patted Ella.
At that moment, Queen Ella's brows furrowed slightly and her pink lips subconsciously released a soft murmur, like sleep talking or unconscious resistance.
"Wake up. Your sister is calling you," Alvin said as he leaned closer, bringing his face near Ella's ear.
His warm breath brushed against her delicate ear, sending a faint tingling sensation through her.
Ella slowly opened her eyes.
Her ice blue pupils were still hazy at first, like a lake covered in morning mist.
Gradually her gaze focused. When she clearly saw Alvin's face, the last traces of sleepiness slowly faded.
"So sleepy… what time is it?" Ella asked while closing her eyes again.
"Sister, what are you saying? Who are you talking to?" Outside the door, Aili's voice sounded confused. She tilted her head slightly, unable to understand who her sister inside the room was speaking with.
This time Ella woke up completely.
Her already rosy cheeks suddenly turned even hotter when she heard Aili's voice, as if a flame had been lit beneath her skin.
Aili still had no idea about what happened between her and Alvin.
"It's all your fault! Look what time it is now!" Ella glared at Alvin with a mixture of embarrassment and anger, though hidden within it was an unmistakable hint of coquettish complaint.
"Ahem… well, you should get up quickly. I'll lie down a little longer," Alvin said, coughing lightly as he slowly withdrew the arm that had been wrapped around Ella.
Ella shot him a fierce glare, her expression full of helplessness and blame.
She quickly threw aside the covers and got out of bed, her movements hurried and flustered.
But when her eyes swept across the several pieces of messy Queen's clothing scattered on the floor, her cheeks instantly flushed again, red like ripe apples.
Feeling Alvin's gaze coming from the bed behind her, Ella's face burned with embarrassment. She hurriedly began putting on her clothes, unwilling to remain in those so called "Emperor's New Clothes" for even another moment.
Once she was fully dressed, Queen Ella quickly regained the dignity and imposing aura she usually carried as a ruler.
She looked down at Alvin with disdain.
"Hmph. You shameless man. I'll let you off this time. When I return, I will definitely show you my true capabilities."
After saying that, she did not dare look at him again. She walked quickly toward the door as if escaping, opened it, and left the room.
Alvin almost laughed at her stubborn appearance, but considering Aili was still outside, he decided to preserve a bit of the Queen's dignity.
"Sister, what happened just now? Did something occur?" Aili asked suspiciously after seeing Ella step out, her eyes glancing curiously toward the room.
"Nothing. Let's go. The speech is important," Ella replied quickly, her cheeks flushing again as she pulled Aili away.
What could she possibly say?
That she had been thoroughly conquered last night?
She might allow herself to lose control in front of Alvin, but in front of others, especially her own family, she still needed to maintain her dignity as Queen.
---
After Queen Ella left.
Alvin took a deep breath of the lingering fragrance she had left in the bedding.
Wrapped in that familiar scent, he slowly drifted back into sleep.
The warm sun rose higher in the sky.
Close to noon, Alvin finally woke up. He got out of bed and left the room, intending to head to the bathhouse for a proper wash to clear away the remaining drowsiness.
Just as he stepped outside the room, he noticed a rather beautiful woman waiting quietly nearby.
The woman wore a light blue dress that outlined her graceful figure. Her eyes were gentle and soft.
"Lord Alvin, I am the maid Linna. Queen Ella instructed me to attend to you," Linna said softly. Her cheeks flushed slightly with shyness.
Then she walked gracefully toward Alvin.
"Uh… hello, Linna. I was just about to take a bath, and you…" Alvin said, momentarily surprised.
"Then I will guide you to the bath. After that, I will accompany you to lunch," Linna replied in a gentle voice filled with obedience and respect.
"In that case… thank you, Linna," Alvin said after only a brief hesitation, accepting the attentive service.
Inside the bathhouse, steam rose into the air and warm vapor filled the room.
An entire hour passed quietly within this comfortable atmosphere.
Afterward, Linna led Alvin to the dining room.
Soft sunlight poured through the windows and illuminated the long table, revealing a wide spread of delicacies unique to the Floran Kingdom. The rich aroma filled the room.
Under Linna's careful service, Alvin enjoyed the meal bite by bite. Linna's eyes carried gentle warmth as she attended to him, every movement thoughtful and attentive.
However, this peaceful atmosphere did not last long.
Suddenly the dining room doors were pushed open with force, and Queen Ella rushed inside.
Her steps were hurried and her hair slightly disordered, completely breaking the calm atmosphere of the room.
"Queen Ella!" Linna and the other servants were startled and immediately bowed.
"You may all leave first," Ella said quickly. Seeing so many people present, she quickly regained her composure and returned to her usual cold demeanor.
"Yes, Queen Ella."
Linna and the other maids quietly withdrew from the dining room.
Alvin noticed the newspaper in Ella's hand and immediately guessed the reason.
"Don't tell me this is news about me defeating Hanafuda?"
"That is exactly it. But I did not expect that you already had such a notorious reputation across the seas," Ella replied.
"West Sea's Ultimate Evil, Red Hawk Alvin.
But your reputation has grown even greater now. See for yourself."
She handed the newspaper to Alvin.
Alvin casually took it and scanned the article.
The contents were similar to previous reports, portraying him as a terrifying criminal that could not be forgiven.
However, what surprised him was that the newspaper did not mention anything about Hanafuda joining forces with Oro to attack the Floran Royal Family.
Seeing Alvin's puzzled expression, Ella quickly understood what he was thinking.
"I reached an agreement with the World Government," she explained.
"They agreed to waive the Floran Kingdom's Heavenly Tribute for seven years and compensate us with 1.5 billion Berries, in exchange for me not revealing this incident to the public."
Alvin thought about it for a moment and slowly nodded.
This was indeed a reasonable outcome. If the incident had spread further, the Floran Kingdom would have faced even greater trouble.
"And this," Ella continued as she handed him another paper.
"Your new wanted poster."
"Your bounty has been raised to 500 million Berries."
Five hundred million.
That was Alvin's first thought.
But then another idea appeared in his mind.
After all, he had defeated Hanafuda. His reputation across the seas should now be comparable to that of one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, right?
...
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