It was already late at night when Alex was released.
"I will be visiting your shop tomorrow to formalize the contract. I'll see you then," Vanessa said as she guided him through the maze-like palace corridors.
"Is it really necessary?" Alex replied, dispirited.
"Completely. Remember, you're also my aide now, so you have to get used to the attention that comes with being around me," Vanessa added.
Alex looked at her oddly. First, she insisted on guiding him out when a guard could've done it just as well. Now, instead of him coming back to the palace tomorrow, she was planning to visit him. It was all… strange.
Then the realization hit him.
"Are you perhaps trying to avoid being in the palace?" Alex asked.
"What?! Me? Of course not," Vanessa replied immediately.
"So you are," Alex stated flatly.
"Well, I am. Any problem?" Vanessa admitted.
"No," Alex said.
With some light banter, the duo reached the palace's teleportation hall, and Alex teleported back to the capital once again.
It took him a while to reach home, and the moment he did, he collapsed face-first onto the bed.
He slept like he never had before. The next morning, he woke up and began his routine.
Entering his secret laboratory, he started sketching the piece of the map he remembered. If not for all the chaos lately, he would've finished it already.
He returned to the shop, which was already open, and walked inside.
"Alex, the princess is waiting for you upstairs. Did you really sign a contract with her? When?" Susan asked.
Almost an hour ago…
Susan was getting ready as usual when she heard Alex leave. He always went out early in the morning; sometimes he didn't even eat breakfast with her and Eve. He'd told her it was to "breathe some air."
As she finished tidying up, she went to open the shop. Mornings were usually slow, so she let Eve laze around for a bit—even though lately, the girl was obsessed with magic.
The moment Susan opened the door, the princess walked in, followed by her unpleasant guard.
"Hello, madam. Is Alex here?" Vanessa asked.
"Welcome, Princess. No, he always takes a walk in the morning—to breathe," Susan replied.
She was internally puzzled. Hadn't Alex rejected Vanessa's offer?
"May I wait for him upstairs? I brought the contract for him to sign. And please, call me Vanessa. We'll be seeing each other more frequently from now on," Vanessa said.
"What? Didn't he reject your offer yesterday?" Susan asked.
"Well, I'll let him explain that to you. In the meantime, may I head upstairs?" Vanessa asked again.
"Sure…" Susan said.
Back to the present…
"Well, things changed last night. I went for a walk and crossed paths with the princess. We talked again, and she explained the benefits of working with her—which includes complete protection for you and Eve," Alex said as he walked past Susan, then added:
"As I get stronger, there's no telling if my actions might bring danger to both of you. Since I can't always be here, having the palace protect you gives me peace of mind."
He gave his mother a gentle hug and walked upstairs.
Susan didn't comment, but internally she was proud. Her son had put his hatred of nobles aside to protect his family.
Opening the office door, Alex found Vanessa sitting on his desk.
"You have a really nice way of softening the truth, Alex," Vanessa said.
"Eavesdropping is unladylike," Alex replied.
"That's a fallacy. All ladies eavesdrop," Vanessa countered.
"I also checked your painting collection over there. You sure have a lot of pieces—mostly of the same guy. Were you two really that close?" she asked.
"I'm going to say this once: while I don't mind you coming here to avoid the castle, do not—and I emphasize, DO NOT—go through my things ever again. This isn't your house, and we are not friends," Alex said sternly.
Marina didn't say anything this time. Even she agreed that Vanessa was in the wrong.
"Sorry… I was curious," Vanessa said softly. She hadn't meant to offend him.
"Curiosity is fine, but remember: it kills more people than magic does," Alex said. "Next time, hold it back—or ask instead of snooping."
Seeing the remorse in her expression, he softened a little.
"And to answer your question—yes, we were close. Marc and I grew up in the same orphanage our whole lives, so he was basically my brother."
"You were an orphan?" Vanessa asked, surprised.
"Wasn't it obvious?" Alex replied.
"No, not at all. Then… that lady downstairs isn't your mom?" Vanessa asked again.
"Do you see me with purple hair?" Alex said.
"I thought maybe you took after your dad. Where is he, by the way? I haven't met him," Vanessa continued.
"Eve's dad died when she was born, in the same river Susan found me in—half-dead. Not long after that, she adopted me," Alex explained.
"I see… that's really sad," Vanessa said gently. "But anyway—that's the past. You have a contract to sign now, big man."
She shifted the topic before it grew too somber.
'I'll ask his mom later,' Vanessa thought. Alex would shut down if she pushed too far, but Susan seemed more open.
She handed him the contract. It was essentially the same as the magical one, minus the clauses about harm and betrayal. It defined his duties as her aide, his role as royal alchemist, and his authorization as an information broker.
Alex read it like someone reading a sentencing order.
"You know," Vanessa said, "you're the only person who reads a royal contract with a sad expression. Shouldn't you be happy? This is a step up in life!"
"To me, it feels like a prison sentence," Alex replied.
"Come on, it won't be that bad. Besides following me to an occasional noble party, you just have to make potions and let me know when a plea letter arrives. After that, you're free as a bird. The only downside is that you need to inform me beforehand if you want extended leave," Vanessa explained.
Alex sighed. 'Basically, my whole life is going to be monitored.'
Then a sudden thought hit him.
"Are you monitoring me?" he asked sharply.
"Not specifically, but you have a shadow guard as part of our magic contract. Why?" Vanessa asked.
"Well, tell them to leave me alone in the mornings. I like to take a walk, and I don't want to be followed," Alex said. He couldn't let her discover his basement.
"Do you have a secret girlfriend or something?" Vanessa asked.
"I don't—and it's none of your business. Promise?" Alex said.
"Okay, promise," Vanessa replied.
Alex signed the contract, officially becoming a royal aide.
"Happy to be working with you! Here—hang this at your door," Vanessa said, handing him a royal certification plaque.
'This will boost sales like crazy,' Alex thought.
And for the first time that morning… he didn't look miserable about something.