CHAPTER 62: DESTINY OR FATE?

Theo is in the air, flying toward the meeting point, already starting to regret his decision to go all the way there. He has overestimated Thea’s body’s strength and underestimated the lack of mana in this world.

It’s like trying to breathe at high altitude. He struggles to keep flying while maintaining both his shield and his Aldriana’s appearance. He realizes he has to choose one between those three. In his current condition, he can only do one.

He groans in frustration. Fine! He decides, drops the shield and illusion, speeding up.

------------------------------

While Theo is struggling, Julian updates Arthur about what Liam had said about Aldriana and their conversation.

"She really said that? She chose Thea to come forward?"

Julian nods. "That’s what Liam said. And I highly doubt he was lying." He takes a deep breath and continues, "Art, if Aldriana can do all the things Liam said, then she’s extremely powerful. Having her in our corner would help tremendously."

"But why did she choose Thea?" Arthur is still thinking. He doesn’t like it when he doesn’t know all the pieces.

"I think it’s because she’s the most logical next person. Liam did say in his press conference that he wasn’t the one. It was a woman. Thea is a woman, and she was found clutching that Azure Heartstone." Julian shrugs.

"Jules, no media will believe that Thea can kill a Dungeon King." Arthur looks at him deadpanned.

"That’s one. Two, if Thea does come forward, everyone will come for her." He frowns. "Although I understand the situation. Aldriana doesn’t want to come forward, and we have no means to force her. Liam cannot retract his statement. That leaves Thea."

He looks at his brother. "If Thea agrees to do this, we must protect her."

"Well, that goes without saying. And the media? Let them spin the stories however they want. It’s kind of a win-win situation, don’t you think? The media get what they want, we get what we want, and Aldriana gets what she wants. Besides, the media already call Thea the Azure Princess anyway. They’ll believe it."

"But what about what Thea wants?"

Julian nods slowly. "I get your point. Then we’ll ask her first. We still need to tell our parents. That will be harder than asking Thea."

Arthur replies, "Mom and Dad will agree as long as we are clear about Thea’s security."

"And," Julian adds, "if Thea herself says that she wants to do this."

-------------------------

Meanwhile, Liam is having a crisis. The building—the meeting point, the one that he had asked Aldriana to meet him—is in a sorry state. He has completely forgotten that he bought an abandoned building. It is very inappropriate for meeting potentially the most powerful person in Altheon.

"Argh! How can I forget?! Now what?!" Liam yells in frustration. He looks at his watch, and it’s about ten minutes before the meeting time.

He starts to pace again. He’s been doing this ever since he arrived about thirty minutes ago.

"Maybe I can suggest that we talk in my car." Liam is thinking out loud.

"Agree." A woman’s voice is heard behind him.

Liam whips around and sees Aldriana wearing all black, standing about ten steps away from him.

"You’re here!"

"We did agree to meet here, right?" She looks around and nods. "It’s quiet and away from the main road. Nice location." She closes her eyes as a wave of dizziness hits her. Shit! I can’t pass out here! She takes a few slow, deep breaths.

Liam notices this. He immediately approaches her but doesn’t touch her. "Are you okay? What happened? Did someone attack you?"

Aldriana chuckles. "No. This is your first lesson. Never use energy that exceeds your limit too often."

Liam is stunned. "My first lesson? You mean... you’re saying that you’ll do it?"

Aldriana looks at him. "I have a few conditions."

"Say it. I’ll try to fulfill them as much as I can," Liam says enthusiastically.

"One, I will never come forward. You can say whatever you want to the media and public, but I will not come forward."

Liam nods. "Got it. I’ll make sure you stay out of the spotlight."

"Two." She makes a ’two’ sign with her fingers. "I want to go into the dungeons. I want to fight haelions."

Liam grins. "That’s actually better. The mortality rate will drop significantly with your presence."

"Three. You can’t contact me directly, and I will not contact you directly. Whenever you want to message me, you leave your messages with Thea Montrose. She will be my only contact with you. To the outside world, you’ll be my contact. I will not speak to anyone but you. But in reality, you can only speak to me through Thea."

Liam is baffled. "Why? I mean, why involve Thea Montrose?"

"I’ve decided to stay close to her. I have my reasons. But also, when she comes forward to claim the mining right, every shark will come for her. Me, being close to her, can protect her. However, I may not always be able to protect her. That’s when you come in."

Aldriana looks at Liam straight in the eyes. "Theodora Montrose must be protected at all costs."

Theo is not delusional. He requests this because he knows and understands that he cannot do this alone. Once his body’s identity, Thea Montrose, comes forward and claims the mining right, her face and name will be plastered on every newspaper, on every digital headline across multiple countries in Altheon.

Paparazzi will start following her everywhere. And Theo is right in the middle of it all. If living inside somebody else’s body for the past two months has taught him anything, it’s that he cannot stop living as Theo. He cannot give up his identity and fully live as Thea.

This feeling is so strong that he cannot ignore it. It doesn’t matter what his outer appearance looks like – inside, he is still who he was.

If Theo could fix anything, it would be Aldriana’s gender. If he had known it would come to this in the mutated dungeon, he would have appeared as a male. But it’s water under the bridge.

He can’t fix it, but he can do the next best thing: adapt to the best of his abilities. To do that, he needs help from his allies: Arthur, Julian, and now Liam. And appointing Thea as Aldriana’s sole contact will make it easier for him to control the information.

He won’t need to think about what he said to whom. Everything will be under his control. Hopefully. Fingers crossed.

Liam exhales loudly. "It’s going to be hard."

Aldriana sighs. "I know. You can loop in the Montrose brothers into this. They’ll meddle anyway. They won’t stand down when it comes to protecting Thea."

"But wouldn’t that make Thea lose her freedom even more? And... does she know?" Liam can’t believe he’s talking to Aldriana so casually. In his mind, someone as powerful as her would be distant, cold, arrogant. Yet she’s anything but that.

Even though this is his first time speaking with her, he can already feel her sincerity. Every word she’s said tonight feels genuine, human. That realization shifts Liam’s awe into respect.

"She will." I have no choice. If I want to keep living, I’ll need to adapt. I’m sorry, Thea. I don’t know if this is what you would’ve wanted, but I can’t throw away who I am.

Aldriana closes her eyes. The fatigue hits her hard. Flying here and maintaining the illusion before meeting Liam has drained her completely. I need to rest soon. Can I even make it back to the Estate?

She opens her eyes again and sees Liam watching her closely.

"Your second lesson, close your eyes and feel your surroundings."

Liam frowns. "Feel my surroundings for what?"

She grins faintly. "That’s your first assignment."

------------------------------

"It’s been three days, Linus. And Liam still hasn’t found Aldriana. Today’s the last day. Don’t you think you’re giving him too little time?" Miranda asks, concern clear in her voice.

"He’s an adult, you know. If he wants to be independent, he’ll need to face deadlines and pressure like this." Linus replies calmly.

Miranda sighs. "I know. I’m trying to let him go. But he’ll always be my boy, no matter how old he is. I’m still his mother."

Linus kisses the side of her head. "No one’s saying you’re not, baby." He removes his suit jacket and starts unbuttoning his shirt.

"You said he was meeting Thea?" Linus asks, partly to distract his wife.

Miranda immediately lights up. "Yes! They met by chance today! Can you imagine that? By chance! Of all the places and people, they happened to be at the same place at the same time. Isn’t that destiny?"

She frowns. "Or is it fate?"

Then she brightens again. "Anyway, they met. And he called me! I guess he knows how much I want this. But I want him to want it too. Am I asking too much, Linus?"

Linus is relieved to see his wife no longer worried. "No, you’re not asking too much."

She squints at him. "You agree, right? That they’re perfect for each other?"

Linus chuckles. "I do. And you’re right, they are perfect for each other. But I see it from a family point of view, not from a man and woman point of view. Do you understand?"

Miranda rolls her eyes, slightly annoyed. "Yes, yes. From the Monfort and Montrose perspective. All the benefits and alliances. You are so not romantic."

Linus smiles faintly. "If I’m not romantic, would I give you this?" He pulls something from his suit pocket and shows it to her.

Miranda gasps. "Linus! Tickets to Starlight in Your Heart! You got them?" She clutches the tickets like they’re treasure. "Aw! I’ve been wanting to watch this!"

She looks up at her husband, eyes sparkling with adoration. "You are romantic!"

Then she tiptoes, kisses him on the lips, turns around, and says cheerfully, "I’ll take Claudia with me. She’ll be thrilled!"

Linus stands there, watching her back as she walks away. He mutters, "I thought you were going to take me," and shakes his head.