Chapter 534
Alex was at home when Oskar called.
“Sir,” Oskar said. “How do you want to proceed with Anton Dunkel p>
Alex lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. He thought for a moment. “He wanted me dead over a cheap money scam involving Leonora,” he said flatly. “But we’re not going to kill him over something that small, are we p>
“No, sir,” Oskar replied. “We’ll drain him dry. Every last cent. Then we take over all his land p>
Alex’s expression hardened. “Marquis Anton Dunkel controls a major state. It borders Xia territory. Do you really think we can handle it p>
“Of course we can,” Oskar said without hesitation. “Our underground network includes many Xia people who are still deeply connected to Xia p>
“They’re ready to take any position we give them. They know the terrain, the systems, and the routes. Their big families are there-and to them, family is everything. They’ll handle it perfectly p>
Alex fell silent. He had money-more than enough—but in Prussia, money alone didn’t equal power.
Taking Anton Dunkel’s land would be difficult. Still, he could seize pieces of it. A slice here, a corridor there. Control would start small, then spread. Power always did.
“What about Gaia’s prediction?” Alex asked.
Oskar smiled, calm and confident. “Sir, Gaia predicts an eighty-five percent chance we can absorb all of Marquis Dunkel’s land within three months—and a ninety-nine percent chance within one year p>
Alex smiled, “Then start devouring everything p>
Conquering Prussia was never easy. But when artificial intelligence controlled logistics, modeled human behavior, and calculated outcomes down to the smallest variable, time became the only real requirement.
Given enough time, victory was inevitable.
A knock sounded at Alex’s bedroom door. He ended the call.
“Enter,” Alex said, too lazy to get out of bed.
Pauline stepped inside and glanced around the room. “Where’s Sofina p>
“She’s busy,” Alex replied. “Probably coming back late. If you need her, wait until morning. She’ll be exhausted tonight p>
Pauline bit her lip. “Alex… when are you going to buy me a car p>
“Never,” Alex said without blinking.
She suddenly closed the door and turned the lock, then glanced back at it.
“You know,” she said softly, “I can give you the first service now. You can pay me later p>
She began to open her clothes.
Alex’s eyes widened.
Sofina was beautiful. Pauline was beautiful too. They shared the same blood, and their mother’s looks had blessed them both.
But Pauline had something else youth. A raw, careless confidence. She was a high school girl, still glowing with that unspent energy.
Her body was flawless. Young. Perfect.
And for a brief moment, the room felt tighter, heavier, charged with something dangerous.
On the other side of the city, Renata walked out of the hospital doors with anger burning in her chest.
Winchester felt cold to her. Empty. She had no real friends here, no one she could truly rely on. The realization made her mood even darker.
After being discharged from the hospital, she wanted a celebration. A party. A strong drink.
She craved good food at a famous restaurant-somewhere loud, vibrant, alive- anything that could drown out the frustration pounding in her head and mark her return to freedom.
Without thinking twice, she called Sofina, hoping she would come with her.
But Sofina was buried in work and could only meet very late at night.
Renata couldn’t wait that long.
She considered calling Alex. The thought lingered for a second-then she dismissed it. It would feel wrong. Wrong to Sofina. Wrong to herself. And to make it worse, she had already sent Alex several messages earlier.
That asshole hadn’t even bothered to reply.
A perfect asshole, she thought coldly. I’m the Duke’s daughter-someone every man is lining up to chase—and this so-called Marquis from a fallen family dares to reject me?
Did that jerk have any idea how many people were desperate to win her hand? They would line up for miles.
Renata let out a long, tired sigh, her shoulders slumping as disappointment settled
in.
Then she heard a voice.
“Renata p>
She looked up and saw Gerhard Wolfsbane-Sofina’s cousin grinning widely and waving at her, as if he had been waiting for this very moment.
“Renata, I heard you’re being discharged today,” he said cheerfully as he approached. “How about I accompany you to a restaurant? What do you think p>
Renata stared at him, her eyes cold.
She had never liked Gerhard. Not once. She could see through him too easily. Every word, every smile was polished and calculated.
He didn’t care about her recovery. He cared about her title. About getting close to
her, winning her favor, and eventually becoming the Duke’s son-in-law.
The thought alone made her skin crawl.
She had rejected him many times before. Firmly. Clearly.
Yet Gerhard never learned when to stop.
Normally, she would turn him down again without hesitation. But today was different. She was exhausted, angry, lonely-and painfully aware of how desperate she felt.
The Duke’s daughter… without a single companion.
Gerhard seized the moment.
“Renata, you’ve been in Winchester for quite some time, but we rarely meet,” he
said smoothly.
“I’m also very sorry about the unfortunate incident at the Imperial
Amber House the other day. To 1.
express my apology I’d like to invite
you to dinner tonient
He paused, then added warmly, “Besides, today is a joyful day. You’re finally discharged from the hospital. That deserves a celebration. What do you say p>
Renata frowned. “Not today, Gerhard. I’m not fit to do much yet p>
Gerhard didn’t back down. He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. “Renata, your discharge is today. If we don’t celebrate while it’s fresh, the joy will fade by tomorrow And honestly you don’t have many friends here in Winchester
The words stung more than she expected.
“I’ve already booked a table,” he continued. “Just the two of us. Somewhere quiet. A
small celebration. Nothing tiring. What do you think p>
Renata hesitated.
Gerhard smiled, sensing the crack.
“You looked like the city abandoned you,” he said gently.
Renata’s voice stayed sharp. “Don’t flatter yourself. I don’t need rescuing p>
“Of course not,” he replied smoothly. “You’re the Duke’s daughter. You stand alone
by choice p>
Her jaw tightened. “You don’t know anything about my choices p>
He stepped closer. “I know you’re tired of pretending you’re fine p>
Silence stretched.
Renata exhaled slowly. “I don’t like you, Gerhard p>
He nodded, unfazed. “I didn’t ask you to p>
She looked away, anger flickering with something weaker. “Then why won’t you
leave me alone p>
“Because today,” he said softly, “you looked like someone who didn’t want to go home alone p>
For the first time, something in her expression softened. Honestly, she wanted to celebrate her discharge with anyone at all.
Gerhard was already here. Two people were better than one. Loneliness didn’t spare anyone-not even kings and queens-and tonight, it had found her.
Gerhard had arrived at the exact right moment.
Renata crossed her arms. “You’re enjoying this too much p>
Gerhard chuckled. “Enjoying what p>
“My weakness,” she snapped.
His smile faded just slightly. “If you were weak, you wouldn’t still be standing p>
She laughed bitterly. “You think flattery works on me p>
“No,” he said calmly. “Timing does p>
That hit harder than she expected.
“You planned this,” she accused.
“I hoped,” he corrected. “You’d finally be human for one evening p>
Her eyes flashed. “Careful. You’re not my savior p>
“I know,” he replied. “I’m just the man who answered when no one else did p>
Renata’s shoulders sagged.
Gerhard smiled again—but this time, it was slower. Hungrier.
“You won’t regret it p>
Renata sighed
“Better with someone than alone,
Even if that someone is wrong p>