The Extra Who Shouldn’t Exist

After hearing her mother's words, Alicia froze in disbelief.

Serena's casual tone still lingered in the air, but the meaning behind her words struck Alicia like a thunderbolt.

Silver-haired kid.

Alicia's eyes widened, her chest tightening. As far as she knew, there was only one silver-haired boy she had ever met. Only one person that description fit.

For a moment, her lips parted, but no words came out. She stood there, too stunned to speak, her mind racing at lightning speed.

Seeing her daughter's expression, Serena's lips curved into a victorious smile.

"What happened? Cat got your tongue?"

Alicia snapped out of her daze, her heartbeat accelerating. She stepped out from behind Reynard's tall figure, her voice trembling with urgency.

"Mom… are you talking about the one I think you're talking about?"

Serena tilted her head, her expression infuriatingly calm. Her lips curled into a playful smirk.

"That depends. Who do you think I'm talking about?"

Alicia's brows furrowed, her eyes narrowing.

"You already know who."

Serena's smirk widened.

"And who is that?"

Alicia's fists clenched in frustration, her patience thinning.

"Him."

Serena chuckled softly, pretending to be oblivious.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Why don't you say his name out loud? I think your father would also like to hear it."

Meanwhile, Reynard was silent, but his thoughts churned rapidly.

'Wait… my daughter seems to be showing interest in a boy? And not just any boy… but a commoner?'

His jaw tightened slightly, his eyes flickering between Serena and Alicia.

Alicia, now visibly frustrated, stamped her foot lightly against the polished floor.

"Fine! Don't tell me. I'll find out on my own!"

Her sapphire-green gaze shifted toward Elric, who had been standing quietly by the door the entire time.

Alicia had always seen him as more than just the head butler — to her, Elric was like a grandfather. He had spoiled her, scolded her, and cared for her since she was little.

Pouting, she tugged on his sleeve.

"Grandpa Elric… take me to the person she's talking about."

Elric couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips. Her expression — puffed cheeks and sparkling eyes — reminded him of when she was just a child sneaking sweets from the kitchen.

Glancing at Serena for confirmation, he received a subtle nod.

Elric smiled warmly and gestured toward the door.

"This way, My Lady."

Alicia's breath quickened with every step as she followed him through the quiet corridors of Crestvale Manor.

Her thoughts spiraled in a storm of disbelief and dread.

'It can't be him, right? Alden confirmed it himself… he said there was no way Alex could survive against a Grandmaster. Not alone. It should be impossible…'

Her heartbeat pounded in her ears as they stopped before a large, luxurious room.

Elric placed a hand on the ornate door handle and opened it with a respectful bow.

"This way, My Lady."

Alicia stepped inside, her breathing shallow. The room was filled with the steady hum of magical devices. Tubes glowed with faint mana, crystals flickered softly, and monitoring arrays projected readings in the air.

At the center of it all was a grand bed, surrounded by an array of intricate medical instruments.

Lying upon that bed… was a silver-haired boy.

Her eyes widened instantly.

The sight of him struck her harder than any blow could.

Alex Dragonheart.

The boy she knew all too well.

Her hands trembled at her sides, memories flooding in like an unstoppable tide.

The day she first heard the rumor about Evelyn and Alex sharing a kiss — she had been furious, angrier than she had ever been in her life.

That silver-haired bastard had dared to get close to Evelyn of all people.

She had been so pissed that she started actively looking for opportunities to make him suffer.

That was why, when Ethan came to her asking for permission to challenge Alex to a duel, she hadn't even hesitated.

She had given Ethan the green light without asking a single question.

But when Alden requested her permission to leave the Academy for a short trip — to visit Alex's sister on her birthday — she hadn't thought twice about approving it.

Because she knew.

She knew that Alex only had his sister. She was his one and only family.

And even that… she had tried to use as leverage to make Alex indebted to her.

---

But later that day, Alicia overheard the devastating news. Her brother, Alex, and the others had been kidnapped.

Her chest tightened as guilt wrapped around her like chains.

'I was the one who gave them permission to leave the Academy… without following the proper procedures…'

And when the official report arrived — declaring that Alex was dead — the weight of it crushed her completely.

She found herself unable to eat for days. Her nights were no better, plagued by nightmares where she saw Alex's body broken, lying helpless on the ground, calling for aid as everyone turned their backs on him.

She would jolt awake, drenched in cold sweat, her hands trembling.

So now, as she stood in front of his bed, seeing him breathing peacefully — alive — a wave of relief washed over her entire being.

Her knees weakened as if a burden she hadn't even realized she carried had finally been lifted.

Her sapphire-green eyes softened, and a single tear slid down her cheek. Slowly, she reached out, her delicate fingers brushing against his face. His skin was warm. Real.

Elric, noticing the emotion in her gaze, gave a small, knowing smile. Without saying a word, he quietly exited the room, leaving her alone with Alex.

Alicia pulled a chair close and sat beside him.

For a long moment, she simply watched him sleep, her tears flowing silently. After a few minutes, she managed to steady her breathing and wipe her eyes.

In a trembling voice, she whispered:

"I'm… so glad you're alive."

---

Meanwhile, in another chamber within Crestvale Manor — a surveillance room — Serena and Reynard were observing everything through a glowing holographic screen that displayed the scene inside Alex's room.

Serena folded her arms, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Look, Rey. She looks quite happy, doesn't she? We haven't seen her this happy around any boy until now. Don't you agree?"

Reynard's face, however, was grim. His sharp gaze pierced the screen like daggers, directed squarely at the silver-haired boy sleeping so peacefully.

"I won't approve of him," Reynard said coldly. "Not until I've spent some time with him myself… and tested him."

Serena smirked knowingly, her eyes glinting.

"Okay, okay. You can test the kid. But from what I've seen, you're going to be baffled. Just wait and watch."

---

Inside the quiet room, Alicia absentmindedly began playing with Alex's hair, twirling strands of silver silk between her fingers.

Her eyes wandered across his features, and when they landed on his lips, her breath caught.

'They're… beautiful. Ravishing.'

But then, unbidden, another image flashed in her mind — Evelyn's lips pressed against Alex's.

Her stomach twisted with jealousy. Her expression soured. Without thinking, she slapped his cheek.

Smack!

A red mark bloomed on Alex's face.

Realizing what she had just done, Alicia's eyes widened in horror.

"O-Oh no…" she muttered, guilt rising instantly.

She leaned closer, pouting as she whispered accusingly:

"It's all your fault… How could you let her kiss you out of nowhere?"

Her gaze lingered on his lips again, and her cheeks turned crimson. She glanced around the room, activating her perception, making sure no one was snooping around.

Once she was certain they were alone, her heart raced in her chest. She hesitated for a moment, biting her lip.

Then, gathering courage, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his — a deep, trembling kiss.

At that very moment, Alex stirred. His consciousness swam back into reality, his eyelashes fluttering as his eyes opened slowly.

He couldn't breathe properly — something was blocking his air. His vision was blurred, strands of pale white filling his view.

'Wh-What's happening…? Am I… dreaming?'

As his sight cleared, his blue eyes locked onto emerald green.

Alicia's eyes.

For one stunned heartbeat, the world seemed to freeze. Both were wide-eyed, realizing what had just happened.

Then Alicia's face turned scarlet. She jolted back, her voice exploding into a shriek.

"Kyaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!"

Her embarrassment and panic surged uncontrollably.

Before Alex could process a single thought, her fist shot forward — Bam! — punching him squarely in the face.

His head snapped back against the pillow, and darkness consumed him again.

---

In the surveillance chamber, Serena clutched her stomach, rolling with laughter.

"Pff—Hahahahahahaha! Did you see that? Oh, gods, I can't breathe!"

Reynard, on the other hand, looked like he was about to explode. His knuckles whitened as he gripped the table, veins bulging on his forehead.

"That damn… silver-haired brat!" he growled, barely holding himself back from storming into the room.

Even Serena, seeing him like this, didn't understand what Alex's fault in all of this was.

---

An hour later, Alex's consciousness drifted back once again. His eyes fluttered open weakly and for some reason his cheek felt sore and his head was also aching.

And then… a voice echoed inside his head came.

[Congratulations, Host… pfft… you've finally woken up. Hahaha—ah, forgive me. I really shouldn't laugh… but… snrk… I just keep remembering that scene.]

For some reason, it felt like it was trying to suppress its laughter.

The voice struggled, barely holding back its mirth.

[Welcome back, Host.]

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A/N:

So how was the chapter? Tell me in the comments!

Thanks for the golden tickets:

@BluuuuTea, @supersan, @Stefans1977,

@EventfullMars, @capnmoonfire,

@dean_otsuka, @DaoistOzuvZx,

@Bjarne_H,

I really appreciate the support, guys. 😊

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