Chapter 126 An Unexpected Guest
As the night grew later, the guests gradually began to leave our wedding, and the staff started tidying up the decorations and equipment. Alex and Astrid returned home, and together with Lucia, their bond grew even closer deeper and more filled with love. To Alex, Astrid had become his place to return to… she was his home.
As the night went on and Lucia had already fallen asleep in her room, Alex and Astrid both knew what would come next. They felt a little awkward. Before, being intimate had felt natural for them as a couple but now that they were married, it somehow felt more sacred. The two of them lay side by side on the bed, simply staring at the ceiling, neither one daring to start a conversation.
Blushing deeply, Alex hesitated for a moment, his fingers twitching slightly against the sheets as he worked up the courage to speak. His eyes flickered toward Astrid, then quickly away again, his throat tightening before he finally forced the words out.
"Astrid-"
But at that exact same moment, Astrid turned her head toward him, her cheeks just as flushed, her fingers nervously gripping the edge of the blanket.
"Alex-"
They both froze.
For a brief second, silence hung in the air as their eyes met wide, surprised, and unmistakably shy. Then realization slowly dawned on them… they were both feeling the same thing. Now that they were officially husband and wife, something that once felt natural suddenly carried a new weight something deeper, more meaningful… almost sacred.
A soft, awkward pause lingered before it cracked.
"Heh… hehahaha…" Alex let out a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his neck as his shoulders relaxed.
Astrid covered her mouth lightly, her eyes curving as she laughed along with him, her body easing as the tension melted away. "Hehe… hahaha…"
Their laughter wasn't loud, but it was warm genuine. It filled the room, gently dissolving the stiffness between them, replacing it with a quiet comfort. They weren't alone in this feeling… and somehow, that made it easier.
After a moment, Astrid shifted slightly closer, her voice soft and a little hesitant, her gaze lowering before meeting his again.
"I don't know why…" she admitted, her fingers absentmindedly tracing small circles on the bed between them. "But after we got married… even thinking about being intimate like that makes me feel a little shy."
She paused, searching his face, her expression both embarrassed and tender.
"Do you feel the same?"
Alex looked at her for a moment, then his lips curved into a gentle, reassuring smile. His eyes softened, and he let out a quiet breath, as if relieved he didn't have to hide it.
"Yeah…" he said softly. "Me too."
Astrid then reached out and held Alex's hand, and Alex responded by squeezing her hand warmly.
Astrid then lay on her side, facing Alex. With one hand, she gently rested it against his chest, while her eyes locked onto his face filled with love, affection, and a quiet hint of desire. Slowly, she lifted her other hand to touch his cheek, her fingers soft against his skin as she leaned closer, her lips nearing his
Knock… knock… knock.
Both of them were slightly startled. "Huh?" Alex uttered in confusion.
"Who would come this late at night?" Astrid said, frowning.
Without wasting time, Alex and Astrid quickly changed out of their sleepwear into something more modest. Then, they went to open the door and there stood a figure, cloaked in worn, tattered robes, their face hidden from view.
Alex and Astrid exchanged confused glances. "Umm… is there something I can help you with?" Alex asked.
The mysterious man then removed his hood, revealing a man who appeared to be around fifty years old. At first glance, Alex still didn't recognize him.
"Ah, forgive me. I came like this to avoid drawing suspicion and the attention of other factions. My name is Titus Mede II, and I wish to speak with you briefly."
Alex and Astrid were both shocked upon hearing that.
"Y-Your Majesty… please, come in," Alex said quickly.
The Emperor stepped inside their home. Alex and Astrid then served tea to him and began their conversation.
Alex spoke first, "So… what is it that you wish to discuss, Your Majesty?"
The Emperor replied in a calm tone, though there was a hint of pleading in his voice. "I'll get straight to the point." He looked at both Alex and Astrid. "Can you help bring peace between the Empire and the Stormcloaks?"
Alex and Astrid were both taken aback by the Emperor's request.
The Emperor continued, "We all know this war serves no real purpose. It will only bring destruction to my people and to the citizens of Skyrim because of this meaningless conflict."
Astrid then spoke up, "But wasn't it Ulfric who killed the High King, which is what started this war?"
The Emperor let out a heavy sigh, his voice weighed down as he replied, "In truth… the death of the High King was part of a scheme orchestrated by the Thalmor."
The atmosphere grew even more shocking. Astrid and Alex fell silent, stunned though deep down, they could already imagine that something like this might have happened.
The Emperor continued, "During the duel, there was a moment when Ulfric… was no longer himself. It was as if he was being controlled hypnotized. His original intent was only to win the duel, not to kill."
He paused briefly before going on.
"But at the final moment, I saw a Thalmor cloaked in black murmuring some kind of spell. And in that instant, I could clearly see it… Ulfric's eyes, his pupils, turned a glowing blue."
The Emperor's expression darkened as he recalled it.
"When the High King had already secured victory and was about to show mercy to Ulfric… suddenly, Ulfric used his Thu'um. It caught the High King off guard and in the very next moment… he drove his blade straight into the High King's heart."
Alex was shocked to hear this piece of lore. In the game, it was never clearly explained how High King Torygg died but after hearing the Emperor's story, everything started to make sense. Still, one question lingered in his mind.
Alex then asked, "Then why didn't Ulfric declare that the duel was unfair? Isn't he the type of person who values honor?"
The Emperor sighed softly before answering, "Hmm… I do not know for certain either. But I have a few suspicions based on his past." He paused, thinking carefully. "There are three possibilities."
"First, Ulfric may still have been under the Thalmor's control."
"Second, after being tortured by the Thalmor and later released, they may have planted deep hatred within him especially toward the Empire after it signed the Concordat."
He hesitated for a moment before continuing, his voice growing heavier.
"And the third… the one I truly hope is not the truth… is that Ulfric may have been working with the Thalmor from the very beginning."
Alex recalled that in the game, there was a report about Ulfric. He had been labeled as an "asset" by the Thalmor but the meaning of that was still unclear. Did it mean he was being controlled, or that he was willingly cooperating with them? It was all still a gray area.
However, that wasn't the main point of this discussion. What truly mattered was the civil war that was about to unfold.
Alex then spoke, "Even if we step in to try and stop the civil war… how are we supposed to do that? The two of us alone won't be enough to stop a war of that scale."
The Emperor then turned his gaze to Astrid and said, "With your status as Dragonborn… after I publicly announced at your wedding that you are the hero who slew Alduin, your words will not be taken lightly."
He continued, his tone steady but hopeful, "With your reputation rising like this, there is a strong chance that both sides will be willing to listen to you. In a way, they would also be repaying their debt to you for defeating Alduin."
He paused for a moment before adding, "And if this plan succeeds, we may be able to unite our strength… strike back against the Aldmeri Dominion, and drive them out of Skyrim."
Astrid then recalled the gift the Emperor had given them. "Ah… so that's why you gave us those gifts and announced that we were the ones who defeated Alduin?"
The Emperor smiled faintly. "The gifts were simply to leave you with a good impression of me. My true goal was to spread the word of you as heroes. And after what happened at your wedding, those rumors will spread even further."
He continued, "Like it or not, both Ulfric and General Tullius will eventually send you letters. The people's morale will naturally turn toward you and they won't be able to ignore that."
Alex's expression slowly darkened, the earlier warmth in his eyes fading into something more troubled. His brows drew together as he processed the weight of the Emperor's words, his jaw tightening slightly. He exhaled quietly, almost uneasily, before speaking.
"So…" he began, his voice lower, more serious now. His gaze dropped for a moment, then lifted back toward the Emperor. "If we had kept quiet about defeating Alduin… it could actually put Skyrim in danger?"
The Emperor met his eyes without hesitation and gave a firm, solemn nod. "That's correct."
A heavy silence followed.
Astrid's brows furrowed, her lips parting slightly as confusion crossed her face. She shifted where she stood, her arms instinctively folding loosely in front of her as she tried to piece it together.
"But… isn't the current truce only in place because Alduin is still a threat?" she asked, tilting her head slightly, her tone uncertain but thoughtful. "And once Alduin is defeated… wouldn't that truce no longer apply?"
The Emperor drew in a slow breath, his expression turning more serious, almost weary. His gaze drifted briefly to the side, as if weighing the harsh reality of the situation, before returning to them.
"Even while Alduin still lives and threatens Skyrim," he said calmly, though there was an unmistakable heaviness in his voice, "the Thalmor will not remain idle." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Sooner or later… that truce will not last."
The room fell quiet again, the gravity of his words settling over them.
After a moment, the Emperor placed both hands on the armrests of his chair and pushed himself up to stand. His movements were composed, but there was a subtle urgency in the way he straightened his posture.
"So," he continued, looking between Alex and Astrid, his tone firm yet carrying a hint of expectation, "your plan will be to invite both leaders once more… and remind them that the true threat lies with the Thalmor so they may set aside their past hatred."
He then reached for his cloak, lifting it and draping it over his shoulders with practiced ease. His hands moved quickly but deliberately as he fastened it, the fabric settling around him like a veil of anonymity.
"That is all I wished to say," he added, pulling the hood slightly forward, his voice lowering just a fraction. "I must return to my carriage quickly… before any watchful eyes notice that I came to see you, Dragonborn."
For a brief moment, he paused at the door, his presence still commanding despite the secrecy then the weight of his visit lingered in the air even before he took his leave.
He paused briefly before adding, "Farewell. I wish you the best for your marriage and may this plan proceed smoothly."