The massive dining hall was bathed in the soft glow of candlelight. Outside, the Russian blizzard lashed against the mountains, but inside was a strange silence and nobility. Alexander and Alia were eating at a long table sitting opposite each other.
Alia appeared in a completely different light tonight. She wore an incredibly thin and beautiful night dress made of fine silk. The fabric was so sheer that it accentuated her silhouette, creating a look where her body was visible The In-Yang tattoo on her back peeked through the gaps of the dress occasionally.
The special meal arranged on the table was unique. Alexander himself had overseen the preparation.
Alia: (Looking at the food) "The aroma of today's meal is wonderful. What is the name of this dish, Alexander?"
Alexander: (Staring deeply into Alia's eyes) "It is called 'Julian Style Tardus'. It's a royal recipe from the time of our ancestors. The spices used in it were brought directly from Arabia."
Alia took a spoonful of the food and smiled faintly. Alexander, holding a glass of expensive red wine, watched her every move. His blue eyes held a mix of admiration and a predator's satisfaction.
Alexander: "In this night dress, you look exactly like Isrovona. Eight hundred years ago, she probably sat before Alexander just like this."
Alia didn't reply; she only gave a mysterious smile. She knew what deadly weapon she was plotting behind this beauty. The glint of the silver cutlery on the table and the enchantment in Alia's eyes all together, that dinner wasn't just a meal; it was the start of a new conspiracy. The quiet atmosphere of the dinner table suddenly grew heavy with Alexander's question. Alexander set his wine glass down and looked at Alia with a very sharp gaze.
Alexander: (In a low and grave voice) "How is Viktor ? Does he still believe he has you locked in his cage?"
Alia adjusted the sleeve of her night dress. For a brief second, the image of Viktor's cruel blue eyes flashed in her mind, but her mysterious smile returned instantly.
Alia: "Viktor is doing well. He is celebrating his victory. He thinks he won by carving his mark onto my body. He doesn't even know that the clock of his defeat started ticking a long time ago."
Alexander gave a crooked smile. His blonde hair shimmered in the candlelight.
Alexander: "He will soon realize the consequences of laying a hand on something that belongs to Alexander. When you sit beside me like this, I only think one thing Viktor has made the biggest mistake of his life."
Alia took a sip of wine and looked at Alexander
Alia: "Viktor is not just my enemy; he is a mere part of my plan. When we have that weapon in our hands, Viktor won't even know at whose feet he will collapse. But yes... he will 'miss' you, Alexander, when he sees a power greater than his own rising in his own country."
In the vast silence of the dining hall, Alexander's blue eyes seemed to ignite. The moment Viktor's name was mentioned, the romantic aura of the room instantly transformed into a blueprint for a terrifying war. Alexander leaned back in his chair, a deep curiosity flickering in his blue eyes. He toyed with the knife on the table as if trying to solve an old puzzle in his mind.
Alexander: "Tell me something... what was the name of that ancestor of Viktor's? The boy who established his dominance in these very mountains 800 years ago?"
Alia took a small sip of her wine and looked directly into Alexander's eyes. Her mysterious smile was even more pronounced now.
Alia: "His name was also AlexanderHearing this, Alexander froze for a moment. This strange coincidence with his own name seemed to plunge him into deep thought.
Alia: (In a steady voice) "Viktor believes he is the successor of that great Alexander, which is why he considers himself the king of this snowy land. But he has forgotten that a name isn't everything; the one in whose veins the fire and blood of Alexander flow will be the true victor."
Alexander muttered his own name in a low voice. In the candlelight, his blonde hair glowed with a sinister nobility.
Alexander: "So history hasn't just returned; it is repeating itself. Viktor would be making a mistake by thinking he is that Alexander, because this time, the real Alexander is me." Seeing Alexander's solemn face, Alia burst into a fit of giggles. Her mysterious smile now held a hint of mischief. She looked into Alexander's eyes and gave a playful, crooked grin.
Alia: (Teasingly) "Why you? The real Alexander is actually Viktor!"
Hearing this, the strong and confident Alexander suddenly shrank. A strange awkwardness and shyness appeared in his blue eyes. The gravity he had maintained, thinking he was someone grand, shattered instantly at Alia's little joke.
Alexander: (Lowering his head, slightly flustered) "I... I thought you were being serious. Was there a need to tease me like that?"
Alia stood up from her chair. Her silk nightdress clung to her body, creating a magical aura in the night air. She walked slowly toward Alexander. While he was looking away, flushed with embarrassment, Alia suddenly sat on his lap
Alexander forgot to breathe for a second. The warmth of Alia's body and the strong scent of her perfume made the air in the room heavy. Alia reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck
Alia: (Whispering near Alexander's ear) "You get shy far too easily. I was just joking Alexander is the one who stands by me and destroys my enemies. And that place belongs only to you."
Alexander placed his hands on Alia's waist, pulling her even closer. The shyness in his blue eyes had now transformed into a deep sense of satisfaction. Outside, the Russian snow was still swirling in the storm, but inside the palace, a new warmth was brewing one that served as a dire warning for Viktor.It's 1 AM. Alexander's private swimming pool is surrounded by glass walls, through which the massive ice mountains outside are visible, glowing under the moonlight. Alexander was swimming alone, his muscles rippling under the water.
As Alexander stood at the edge of the pool, Alia came from behind and hugged himHer touch sent a shiver through his wet skin. But at that exact moment, Alia's eyes fell on a specific spot on his chest and back.
There was an Owl tattoo and a faint black mark beneath it.
Alia's breath hitched for a second. This tattoo, this mark... she knew them! Viktor had the exact same mark in the exact same place. A terrifying realization struck her. She understood that this is actually Viktor
Those blue eyes, that nobility, and now this physical mark everything screamed that Alexander is Viktor himself in disguise. Perhaps he took on this blonde persona to test Alia or to uncover her secret plans.
But Alia composed herself. She is incredibly sharp; though a storm raged in her mind, her face showed no trace of fear. She said nothing She kept her face buried against his chest, acting as if she suspected nothing.
Alia thought to herself, "If you can play this game by posing as Alexander, Viktor, then I will be the one to make the final move."
Amidst the sound of the pool water and the silence of the ice outside, a dangerous mystery began to thicken. Seeing Alia's silence, Alexander or rather, Viktor in disguise paused. Droplets of water were sliding down his body. He took Alia's hands in his and turned slightly to face her. His blue eyes sparkled like diamonds in the dark.
Alexander: (In a low, suspicious voice) "What happened? Why did you suddenly go quiet? Are you thinking about something?"
Alia knew that even a second of hesitation could be fatal. She realized that the man standing before her was Viktor, but she chose not to reveal that truth yet. Instead, she decided to trap this cunning predator in his own game.
Alia didn't say a word. She looked directly into Alexander's eyes those deep blue eyes that were now filled with questions. She reached out, brushed back his wet hair, and without a word, leaned in and kissed him on the lips This lip kiss was Alia's ultimate move. All of Alexander's (Viktor's) doubts and questions seemed to vanish instantly in that touch. Viktor was stunned; he perhaps hadn't expected Alia to approach him so intimately. Alia's alluring gesture momentarily paralyzed his clever mind.
When Alia broke the kiss, a magical and mysterious smile played on her lips.
Alia: (Whispering) "Nothing's wrong. I was just wondering... will this man named Alexander always stay as Alexander to me? Or will he disappear midway, turning into someone else?"
Hearing her words, Viktor (Alexander) shuddered for a brief second. Had she figured it out? Or was this just Alia's affection? Viktor pulled Alia even closer to his chest. Between the silence of the ice lands outside and the heat inside, a dangerous world of illusion was created where the identities of the hunter and the hunted had now blurred into one. The mysterious atmosphere of the night grew even deeper. Alexander (Viktor) brought over an extremely expensive wine bottle from the poolside. The glass walls reflected the moonlight on the snow outside.
Alexander: "Do you drink wine?"
Alia: (Smiling faintly) "Not much, I drink very little Alexander poured the wine into Alia's glass. Just as she was about to drink itshe noticed something peculiar about Alexander's behavior.
He didn't take any wine for himself. Instead, he pulled a thick cigarette from his pocket and lit it. After blowing out a puff of smoke, he suddenly dropped the burning cigarette into the wine bottle and quickly closed the capAlia froze like a statue at the sight. She remembered the old days—Viktor used to do exactly this, drowning a lit cigarette in expensive wine and sealing the bottle. It was Viktor's unique signature style, something no one else in the world did.
The last bit of fog in Alia's mind cleared instantly. There was no more doubt. She was certain that this blonde Alexander was none other than Viktor himself. All her doubts vanished as she realized that while Viktor had changed his appearance, he couldn't change his terrifying habits.
Holding the wine glass, Alia smiled to herself. She now knew exactly who she was dealing with.
Alia: (In a grave voice) "Your style of drinking wine is quite strange, Alexander! Is this an old Russian tradition, or your personal signature?"
Viktor (Alexander) looked at Alia for a moment. There was a mysterious glint in his blue eyes. Did he realize she had recognized him? Or did he think his disguise was still perfect?As Alia slowly stepped out of the pool, her silk nightdress was drenched and clung to her body, making her underwear clearly visible. This sight ignited a deep thirst and intoxication in Alexander's (Viktor's) eyes. Without a word, Alia picked up her expensive white coat from the poolside, which was adorned with jewelry and furWrapping the coat around her, she didn't look back for even a second and started walking toward her room (Room). Water from her damp hair dripped onto the carpet.
Just as Alia reached the door, Alexander quickly came from behind and grabbed her hand firmly The night has only just begun. Are you going to leave me alone like this on a frozen night?"
Alia didn't flinch at all. She turned around slowly. The faint red hue of the wine in her glass shimmered in the room's light. She looked into Alexander's (Viktor's) eyes and gave that mysterious smile.
Alia: "The night is getting deeper, Alexander. And it's not wise to stay in wet clothes in this cold for too long. I'm going to my room in search of some warmth. Are you coming, or will you spend the night with these ice mountains?"
Viktor (Alexander) didn't loosen his grip on Alia's hand. He realized Alia was enticing him, and he was unwittingly stepping into her trap. Alia's regal manner and confidence left Viktor in a dilemma is she acting while knowing everything, or has she truly fallen for Alexander?