I was a knight in the Middle Ages

Castelbel deliberately moved closer to Frena, his hair brushing against the pearl tassels on her shoulder. "The development plan for the mining city is my decision."

Alpha suddenly chuckled softly, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the knight's crest on his palm: "I see. Then, could you, on behalf of the Thames family, provide five thousand goblin mining machines? And could the Montgomery Merchant Guild supply three hundred tons of mithril monthly?"

Alpha lightly tapped the table with his fingers, each tap feeling like a blow to Castelbel's nerves. Oh, and there was also the crucial element—100,000 Tier 3 magic crystals.

Absurd! Castelbel's sword was almost drawn, its clang piercing the stagnant air.

This is blatant obstruction! The entire empire's annual production of magic crystals is less than that! Castelbel's crimson eyes blazed with rage, but he didn't notice that Frena had already frowned.

Suddenly, the man beside him, Baigalwinster, gripped the hilt of Castelbel's sword. As he took a half-step forward, his wide sleeve slipped down, revealing a darkly patterned bandage wrapped around his wrist: Alpha Knight, regarding the need for magic crystals...

Baikal ran his fingertip over the densely packed list on the parchment. "Could we use magic crystal cores instead?" "We can provide an improved charging device that will be just as effective."

Alpha's gaze swept over the other's deliberately concealed wrist, recalling the rumors that Baigalwinster had been injured in a magic crystal mine disaster, yet here he was talking about charging technology.

Alpha gave a meaningful smile: "Of course. However, if we use a substitute for the magic crystal, then I'm afraid you won't be able to obtain the magic crystal product until it achieves its intended effect."

"Enough!" Frena suddenly snapped her folding fan shut, the clanging of the fan ribs startling the owls outside the window.

That's enough for today. Caster, Baikal, let's go. As Frena turned, her skirt swept the mineral distribution map off the table, and moonlight shone through the cracks in the map, casting spiderweb-like shadows on the ground.

The night wind fluttered the flags on the walls of the mining town.

Alpha stood by the window, watching Frena and her convoy drive away, his brow furrowed.

Under the moonlight, the iris emblem on Castelbel's silver armor shimmered with an eerie light, seemingly identical to the dark patterns of the Pirate Alliance in Alpha's memory.

"Mashu." Alpha summoned his personal guard, his voice low and cold, "Keep a close eye on those two men, especially Castelbel. What he said is no exaggeration."

Alpha gripped the sword at his waist tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

The image of cooperating with General Philos flashed through my mind. They had no written agreement, and very few people knew about it. It was probably the pirate alliance that deliberately leaked the information.

Meanwhile, Frena's carriage was bumping along the road back to the city.

Castelbel reclined on the velvet cushions, his ruby ​​ring tapping against the car window with an irritating sound: That Alpha was nothing but a pretentious bum! If we had been any tougher, the keys to the mining town would probably be in the princess's hands by now.

Frena toyed with the gilded folding fan in her hand, a cold smile curving her lips: "Since you're so confident, I'll leave the next negotiation entirely to you, Caster."

A fierce glint flashed in Frena's eyes, as if she could already see the mining city falling into her hands, or Caster being severely punished.

Castelbel laughed triumphantly, his silver armor gleaming coldly in the moonlight: "The Allison and Orff families will arrive tomorrow. It'll be three against three. Once that brat Alpha leaves, the mining city will be ours!"

Castor's laughter was filled with greed and ambition, completely oblivious to the fleeting contempt in Frena's eyes.

After the carriage came to a stop, Castelbel hurriedly left, his figure quickly disappearing into the night.

As Frena gazed in the direction he had gone, she suddenly spoke: "Baikal, you chose them too?"

Baigalwinster smoothed her silver hair, which had been ruffled by the night wind, and the luminous pearl on her earring glowed faintly in the darkness: "Princess, in this chaotic world, we only follow in the footsteps of the victors."

Baikal's voice was calm and composed, yet it concealed a sharp edge.

Moonlight streamed through the car window, illuminating Baikal's bandaged wrist. The subtle patterns peeking through the bandages echoed the iris emblem on Castelbel's body.

Frena chuckled softly and reopened her folding fan to cover half her face.

In the shadows, the scheming and conspiracy in Frena's eyes were like the flicking tongue of a viper, foreshadowing an even greater storm about to descend upon the mining city.

The night was as dark as thick ink seeping through the windowpanes. In front of the dressing mirror, Frena slowly and meticulously tidied the stray hairs behind her ears.

The cold light reflected from the silver hairpin shone in her eyes, giving off a subtle chill.

The mirror reflected Baikal standing by the door; the tall man was nervously twisting his fingers, his Adam's apple bobbing uneasily.

I'll be sleeping alone tonight, so you don't need to come over. Frena suddenly spoke, her voice like an icy dagger, tracing a chilling arc in the silent room.

Frena stared at Baikal's suddenly tense shoulders in the mirror, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Baikal stood frozen in place, a flicker of panic crossing his emerald eyes.

As a spy planted by the Winster family within Florina's inner circle, he was responsible for protecting Florina and also served as her male lover to monitor her.

But in the empty room, Baikal suddenly realized that he was nothing more than a helpless pawn.

Baikal knew better than anyone how ruthless Frena was hidden beneath her seemingly delicate appearance.

She understood even more clearly that in this manor, if she were to confront the old butler who always leaned on his sandalwood cane, she would have no chance of winning.

Watching Baikal turn and leave, Flena took out a dark-patterned ring from the depths of the drawer and put it on the ring finger of her left hand.

The iris pattern inlaid with gemstones shimmered with an eerie red light under the candlelight. Florina gently tapped the ring three times, and several dark shadows immediately flashed through the sycamore trees outside the window.

"What a pity, such handsome men." Florina murmured softly to the empty room, her fingertips tracing the gilded dagger on the dressing table. "If they don't even know how to be sensible, then don't blame me for being impolite."

As night completely enveloped the castle, Frena extinguished the last candle.

In the darkness, moonlight streamed in through the carved window lattice, casting a long, elongated silhouette of Frena on the wall, like a demonic shape.

……

Meanwhile, in Alpha's personal office in the East City, Mashu reported the latest intelligence to Alpha: "Lord Alpha, that pretty boy from Castelbel has quietly entered the North City, and we've seen him make contact with the enemy."

Alpha, who was wiping his sword, sneered upon hearing this. The blade sliced ​​through the candlelight, sending sparks flying. "Ignore them for now. We'll launch the final attack the day after tomorrow. These clowns can't cause any trouble."

Alpha turned to look out the window. In the distance, the castle resembled a lurking beast in the night, with occasional glimmers of light flashing across its dark outline.

Just then, a clear announcement came from outside the door: "Lord Alpha, Princess Frena has come to visit."

Alpha raised an eyebrow and looked out the window, where he saw a carriage without any markings approaching from the direction of the castle.

The moment the car door opened, a figure shrouded in a black cloak floated down like a ghost, the gold iris pattern embroidered on the edge of the cloak faintly visible.

The man was wrapped up tightly, revealing only a pair of amber eyes that gleamed with a cunning light in the darkness.

"Please let Princess Frena in." Alpha stroked the hilt of his sword, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

Alpha knew that this long-planned game was finally about to enter its most exciting finale.

The crystal chandelier cast shimmering light on the rim of the whiskey glass. Alpha's slender fingers held the stem of the glass and gently swirled it, causing ripples to spread across the amber liquid inside.

Alpha leaned back on the leather sofa, his gaze lazily sweeping over Frena as she pushed open the door and entered, watching her black cloak flutter behind her like a night owl spreading its wings.

Princess Frenella, what brings you here so late? Alpha brought the glass to his lips, the distinctive smoky flavor of whiskey mingling with the aroma of cedar spreading between his teeth.

Alpha was answered by a sudden, warm breath.

Frena straddled Alpha's lap, her cloak embroidered with irises slipping off her shoulders, revealing a faint rose tattoo on her collarbone.

Frena hooked her fingertips around the silver chain around Alpha's neck, her nails gently rubbing his Adam's apple: Alpha, do me a favor.

Alpha raised an eyebrow at the stunning face so close to his, and chuckled softly: "Those two pretty boys aren't enough for you? You need my help."

Even so, when Alpha recalled the image of Frena and Baikal walking side by side, his fingers still unconsciously tightened around the wine glass, and tiny droplets of water condensed on the glass.

"Them?" Frena scoffed, her hot breath brushing against his ear.

They're just empty shells, ten of them combined wouldn't be worth a single one of your fingers. Before she finished speaking, Frena had already unbuttoned Alpha's shirt.

His fingernails traced across his well-defined chest, leaving faint red marks on his wheat-colored skin.

Alpha maintained his ambiguous smile until Frena's hand suddenly slipped into his belt.

Are you jealous? Frena tilted her head back, her amber eyes reflecting his taut jawline, her fingertips deliberately lingering on his sensitive spots.

Actually, they were spies for the Allison family, and they came to take my life. Frena also had her own difficulties.

As she spoke, Frena's silk nightgown had somehow slipped down to her waist, and moonlight streamed through the gauze curtains onto her fair shoulders and back.

Alpha's gaze lingered on Frena's body for a moment before he suddenly flipped her over and pinned her against the sofa armrest. The crisp sound of the metal zipper snapping open was particularly clear in the silence.

"You don't regret killing them?" Alpha bit down on Flint's earlobe, his voice low and booming like a roar from the depths of his chest.

Fingertips caressed the soft skin of Frena's waist, yet with an irresistible force.

Frena hooked her arms around his neck and chuckled softly between passionate kisses: What's the point of keeping a disobedient pawn?

Frena tilted her head back, her swan-like neck gleaming like pearls in the moonlight.

But you have to promise me—until everything is resolved, I belong only to you. Alpha's response was an even fiercer kiss.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, dark clouds obscured the last ray of moonlight, completely swallowing the entangled figures into darkness.

The leather sofa collided with the wooden floor, producing a dull sound that mingled with the rich aroma of whiskey, filling the air like a wildfire about to spread.

On this sleepless night, long-dormant desires and conspiracies were ignited.

"You mean the families who have sided with you are basically all sent by the Allison family, and they're trying to use handsome men and immense wealth to turn you into their spokespeople?" Alpha's voice suddenly turned cold.

Alpha propped himself up, wisps of hair falling across his forehead, his eyes now filled with wariness instead of lust.

His fingertips were still resting on Frena's waist, but they felt as tense as if they had touched a red-hot iron.

Frena leaned lazily against the velvet cushions, her hair disheveled over her shoulders, and a blush of ambiguity still lingering on her lips.

Frina slowly picked up the pearl earring that had rolled to the ground, turned it in the moonlight, and the reflected light dappled Alpha's tense jaw: "An informant for the Allison family. The batch of equipment that was delivered last month had the Bell family crest on the surface, but the inside was made to Allison's special specifications."

A sudden clap of thunder boomed outside the window, and the sound of raindrops hitting the glass instantly drowned out the silence inside.

Alpha grabbed the shirt he'd tossed on the carpet, buttons still undone, and strode toward the liquor cabinet, his movements as he poured wine carrying a hint of ruthlessness: "You knew all along?"

"What else?" Frena walked barefoot across the cold floor, wrapped her arms around Alpha's lean waist from behind, and pressed her cheek against the back of his neck.

“It’s just a matter of each taking what they want. I want them to give me everything I have, and they want to control me.” Frena bit down on the protruding knuckles on Alpha’s nape, her voice filled with a seductive laugh. “After it’s all over, I’ll be yours forever.”

The whiskey rippled in the crystal glass, and Alpha stared at its reflection. The families that had been lurking in the shadows for years seemed to have transformed into distorted faces in the liquor.

Alpha grabbed Frena's wrist and slammed her against the wine cabinet, the sandalwood door slamming shut with a thud: "Then you'd better manage the mining city well, and I'll take Fatalia for you."

Since ancient times, even heroes have found it hard to resist the charms of beautiful women, and Alpha is no exception.

Frena looked up at the turbulent undercurrent in Alpha's eyes, then suddenly burst into laughter, a laugh tinged with a desperate madness: "Deal."

The lightning outside the window illuminated her watery eyes, making them appear, for a fleeting moment, like burning amber. "But before that..."

Frena slowly crouched down, her tongue sweeping across Alpha's body, downwards...

“We have some more important things to do personally,” Alpha said, enjoying the other party’s service.

The darkness before dawn was as thick as ink, and dew condensed into beads on the windowpanes, winding its way down the carved glass.

Frenda leaned against the door frame, her fingertips gripping the brass handle, the burning pain in her body making her almost unable to stand.

The silk nightgown had its shoulder straps torn at some point, revealing large patches of reddened skin, and the bite marks on her collarbone gleamed bluish-purple in the dim morning light.

Frena's trembling legs, the aggressive kisses and irresistible force that Alpha had used to pin her against the bookshelf, now transformed into a fine, dull pain that coursed through her bones.

The sound of a night watchman's clapper came from the end of the corridor, and the first crowing of chickens could be faintly heard from the henhouse in the distance. Frena took a deep breath, tucked her stray hair behind her ear, and tried to tidy her disheveled clothes.

The high heels made a soft, clattering sound on the marble floor, each step feeling as unsteady and weak as walking on cotton.

As she passed through the long corridor adorned with famous paintings, Frena caught a glimpse of her disheveled appearance in the mirror.

Her usually exquisite makeup had long since turned into mottled patches of color, and the winding red marks on her neck resembled a spider web, turning her from a noble princess back into a prisoner of lust.

As dawn broke in the east, Frena finally reached the side gate of the garden.

The morning breeze, carrying dew, brushed against her burning skin. Frena leaned against the wrought iron railing, panting heavily, watching the distant horizon turn blood red.

Last night's madness and conspiracy flashed through her mind, and the hot breath of Alpha when he pressed against Frena's back and said, "I want Alison to disappear completely," still echoed in her ears.

The last rooster crow pierced the thin mist, and Frena straightened her back, tightly wrapping her wounded body in a black cloak.

As the first rays of sunlight pierced the clouds, Frena disappeared into the morning mist with swaying steps.

Only the faint scent of rose perfume lingered on the corridor carpet, telling the story of this mad night intertwined with power and desire.