Chapter 530
“What the hell are you doing?!” Kaltmann roared, his voice cracking with rage. “I’m calling the police p>
Alex knew exactly what that meant. If this reached the authorities, there would be sanctions—serious ones. His status, his citizenship—everything he had spent three brutal years fighting to obtain—could be erased in a single decision.
He turned sharply to Leonora.
“Miss Silberkreuz,” Alex said, “I slapped and kicked this man under your authority. Do you want me to kill him too p>
Leonora froze. For a split second, even she looked shaken. Alex had just dumped every risk straight into her hands without hesitation.
“That’s a lie!” Kaltmann shouted, staggering upright. His finger shook as he pointed at Alex, fury trembling through his arm.
“Miss Silberkreuz never ordered you to touch me! How dare you hit me-kick me! You’ll pay for this p>
Alex stepped forward.
In one brutal motion, he grabbed Kaltmann by the collar and smashed his fist into the old man’s face-once, then again.
“Miss Silberkreuz told me to hit you,” Alex snarled between blows.
“She told you to stay home. You still showed up. Do you have any idea what that means?” He yanked the collar tighter. “You’re already trying to make her your enemy-by defying her order p>
“And why shouldn’t the duke’s granddaughter strike you? Who do you think you are?” Another punch whipped Kaltmann’s head sideways. “A duke? A count?” A blow sent him reeling. “You’re nothing-just a nobody p>
Kaltmann’s face had swollen into a grotesque mask, bruises blooming dark and ugly as blood pooled at the corner of his mouth. Still, Alex didn’t let go. He never let a threat slide—especially not from someone who had already shown open hatred and clear killing intent.
“Stop-please-stop Kaltmann sobbed, his voice collapsing. “Miss… Miss Silberkreuz… please p>
Alex finally paused. He turned his head slightly, eyes never leaving Kaltmann. “Miss Silberkreuz,” he asked again. “Do you want me to kill him… or forgive him p>
Leonora watched the old man shake at Alex’s hand. Years of resentment burned quietly in her chest. Seeing him broken like this brought an unexpected release. “Well,” she said at last, “let’s forgive him p>
Alex answered with one last slap that echoed through the room.
“You’re forgiven,” he said coldly. “So shut your mouth and never question Miss Silberkreuz again—unless you’re tired of breathing p>
He released Kaltmann and shoved him forward. The old man collapsed at Anton’s feet like discarded trash.
“Good. Very good,” Anton laughed, clapping slowly. “Seems your people are becoming more and more unbearable p>
Alex straightened and turned to face him.
“Miss Silberkreuz,” Alex said evenly, “may I hit this man? I believe I can kill him with a single blow p>
Leonora laughed, amused now.
“Tempting,” she said. “If he keeps showing off that arrogance, you may give him one hit.” Her eyes gleamed. “Tell him it’s from me p>
“How dare you!” Anton Dunkel shouted.
At the exact same moment, Alex’s hand came down.
Slap.
The sound cracked through the hall.
Anton was struck square across the face, right in front of everyone.
The room froze.
Gasps rippled outward. Even Leonora stiffened in shock.
Alex didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to.
“My miss told you to shut your mouth,” he said calmly. “Can you do it yourself, or do you need my miss to help you shut it p>
He looked at Anton Dunkel the way a dignified man looks at vermin—without anger, without fear, only contempt.
Anton Dunkel was a marquis of the Dunkel family. In his entire life, no one had ever laid a hand on him.
His face burned red with rage. “You’ll regret this. Do you know who I am p>
Alex nodded calmly. “Yes p>
Anton sneered. “Then why did you hit me p>
Alex tilted his head. “Because knowing who you are didn’t make you sound smarter p>
Leonora coughed softly.
Anton pointed at Alex, shaking. “I am a marquis p>
Alex shrugged. “Then congratulations. You’re officially the highest-ranking man I’ve slapped today p>
Alex answered with another slap.
Harder.
Anton clutched his face, stunned.
“You- you just hit me again p>
Alex nodded. “Yes p>
“In public p>
“Yes p>
“After you know who I am!” Anton shouted, disbelief twisting his face. His voice rose, sharp with fury. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done p>
Alex glanced at Leonora. “Miss Silberkreuz, does he always repeat obvious things, or is this stress-related p>
Leonora bit her lip, barely holding back laughter.
“This insult will not go unanswered.” Anton roared.
Alex leaned closer. “That sounds threatening p>
“It is threatening p>
Alex frowned slightly. “Ah. Then you should try saying it with fewer tears in your
eyes p>
Anton’s jaw tightened. “I will remember this p>
Alex smiled faintly. “Good. Most people don’t remember the hand that teaches them manners p>
Alex’s hand moved again.
Slap.
The sound cracked through the hall.
“How dare a mere marquis get slapped by the daughter of a duke and still complain?” Alex said coldly. “You should feel honored. You should bow your head and accept it p>
The hall erupted into stunned silence.
No one had ever seen anything like this-someone so brutally direct, so utterly unconcerned with status or etiquette, striking nobles as if titles meant nothing at all.
A barbarian.
A madman.
Or something far worse.
“You-” Anton tried to shout again.
But Alex’s hand lifted slightly.
That was all it took.
Anton’s face drained of color. His courage collapsed. He clenched his jaw, turned on
his heel, and walked away without another word.
Alex returned to Leonora’s side.
She stared at him, eyes wide.
“I didn’t know you were this bold,” she said slowly. “You dared to strike a marquis in
front of everyone p>
Alex smiled faintly.
“Well,” he said, “technically, it wasn’t me hitting them.” He glanced at her. “It was you, Miss Silberkreuz p>
Leonora blinked. “You used my name like a weapon p>
He met her gaze. “Because no one fears a blade without an owner p>
Leonora’s jaw tightened. “And if they come after me because of this p>
Alex didn’t hesitate. “Then they’re challenging the Prussian system itself touching
lehe duke’s
granddaughter is an open challenge
to Prussia’s authority. You won’t be harmed p>
His voice dropped, cold and certain. “But they will learn-painfully—from what I
teach them p>
She looked at him, eyes sharp. “You’re teaching them that I’m dangerous p>
Alex corrected her. “I’m teaching them you’re untouchable p>
“Why would you do that to me?” she asked.
Alex’s expression sharpened.
“Yesterday, I saw your guards ignore your orders,” he said. “They didn’t respect you. Today, your own subordinate looked down on you. And now a marquis from another. duchy dares to shove you.
His gaze held hers, unwavering.
“Do you really want the world to think you’re someone they can push around p>
Leonora said nothing.
“You need to put people like them in their place,” Alex continued. “You need to show
them that you stand above them p>
“That isn’t ethical,” Leonora said.
Alex’s eyes narrowed. “A woman
who lies to herself loses all
respect for herself and for others His voice was calm but cutting. “Don’t pretend you enjoy being
swmvel.n
looked down on And don’t pretend
you didn’t feel a sense
of
relief-maybe even satisfaction-when I put
them back
where they belong p>
Leonora stared at him, eyes wide and unblinking. She had never met anyone like
him so direct, so fearless, so dangerously convincing.
It was the kind of danger that pulled a good girl toward a bad man in all the wrong
ways.
She took a slow, steady breath.
“Next time, Alex,” she said quietly, “just break their bones.” A faint smile touched her
lips. “I’ll happily say it was all my order p>
Before Alex could reply, a voice cut through the tension.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the host announced, stepping into the center of the hall. “Please take your seats. The auction will begin shortly. VIP guests, please proceed to the front p>