CHAPTER 108: CHAPTER 108 : TWO GODLY BEAUTY’S

As both Alicia and Alex lay sprawled on the floor—like defeated soldiers—Alicia, cheeks flushed with a deep crimson, peeked up from beneath the stray strands of her snow-white hair.

Her usual haughty composure had vanished, replaced by an uncharacteristically vulnerable expression.

Her breathing was slightly uneven, her chest rising and falling, as if struggling to summon the courage for what came next.

With surprising intensity in her usually cool gaze, she blurted out,

"Alex... will you go to the ball with me?"

Alex blinked.

Once.

Twice.

His brain, normally the realm of lightning-fast sarcasm and backup plans, froze like a corrupted loading screen.

’Wait, what? Did she just...?’

Her gaze didn’t waver. Her face was redder than a maxed-out heat gauge, but she was completely serious.

That’s when the shockwave hit.

’Oh crap.’

Alex’s breath caught as he suddenly remembered a very important, very expensive fact.

The golden-haired girl.

The deal.

Thirty-five million credits.

His expression shifted from surprise to grim realization.

’That’s good money.’

’Would I abandon that? No way in the nine realms of Etheron.’

Steeling his expression, he met Alicia’s gaze and replied,

"Sorry, Alicia. But... I’ve already made a deal with someone else for the ball."

For a second, time paused.

Alicia’s flustered expression froze in place. She processed his words as if someone had just splashed freezing water on her face.

Her voice, now devoid of the shyness from earlier, cut through the air—sharp, focused, and just a little terrifying.

"...Did you just say no to me? Or am I hearing things?"

Her usual regal tone returned, but this time there was something else woven in—something dangerous.

Alex’s instincts kicked in like an overworked survival system.

He stood up in a flash.

Alicia followed, standing tall and composed, brushing dust from her outfit with methodical calm. But beneath her elegant exterior, a storm brewed.

Her eyes glinted—murderous and glacial—as she narrowed them at him.

"Who is she?" she asked flatly.

Alex, despite the very real sense of danger, couldn’t help but think,

’Another one falls for my god-tier beauty. Tsk tsk, truly a curse to be this perfect.’

Suppressing a chuckle, he shook his head in mock sorrow.

Then, smirking, he dropped the name like a bomb.

"Evelyn Williams."

The temperature in the room plummeted.

Alicia’s pupils shrank. Her breath hitched. Then, like a triggered trap, she surged forward and grabbed him by the collar.

"What did you just say?!" she demanded, shaking him like a vending machine that ate her credits.

Alex, dangling slightly, casually repeated, "Evelyn. Williams."

The reaction was immediate.

Shock.

Disbelief.

Alicia’s grip slackened slightly.

"Wait—Evelyn? The same Evelyn who’d rather set herself on fire than be the center of attention at an event like that Evelyn?!"

Alex, still smirking through the chaos, opened his mouth.

"Do you really wanna kn—"

WHAM.

A punch buried itself in his gut. His eyes nearly popped out.

He gasped, doubling over, arms wrapped around his stomach like he’d been stabbed by an ogre.

"Spill. Everything. Or. Die. Right. Here." Alicia growled, her face an image of terrifying composure and fury.

"Y-Yes ma’am!" Alex squeaked.

Straightening with difficulty, he held up a hand and said,

"Look, Evelyn was the one who asked me out. She saw this—" (he gestured at his face), "—divine masterpiece, and got mesmerized. Happens all the time."

Alicia narrowed her eyes. "You’re joking."

"I refused her at first," Alex continued with dramatic flair. "But then she... offered money."

Alicia crossed her arms.

"How much?"

Alex smirked. "Come again, Prez?"

She leaned in threateningly.

"How. Much. Did. She. Offer."

Alex stood straight and said proudly:

"Thirty-five million credits."

Alicia went dead silent.

Even the flickering lights above them seemed to dim.

She stared at him, then slowly stepped back, trying to process what she’d just heard.

Evelyn Williams, the idolized, aloof, untouchable apex of the third years of Zenith Academy—

Throwing that kind of money at Alex Dragonheart?

It was absurd.

’But...’

Alicia knew Evelyn since childhood.

Evelyn hated public events. Hated attention.

’Yet—’

She looked at Alex.

The man was annoyingly confident, charming when he wanted to be, a certified trouble magnet, and... just maybe, charismatic enough to pull something that insane off.

Still skeptical, she asked,

"...Are you really telling the truth?"

Alex raised an eyebrow. "What reason would I have to lie?"

Alicia rolled her eyes, crossing her arms again and pouting.

"Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because you just don’t want to go with me?"

That pout—so out of character for the icy goddess persona she usually wore—hit Alex like a stray charm spell.

He paused, watching her.

’...She’s so damn cute when she sulks.’

Gone was the intimidating noble from the entrance ceremony when he first saw her.

In front of him was just a girl—honest, emotional, proud... and kind of terrifying in a lovely way.

He sighed, cleared his throat, and stepped forward.

Gently, he reached out and grabbed her hand.

She blinked in surprise.

He looked into her eyes and said,

"Listen, Alicia. It’s not like that. I mean, sure—I have a face that makes even the gods weep with envy—"

"Humble much," she muttered under her breath.

"—But I try to be someone who’s honest when it matters. And I want to be clear about this, because it does matter."

He paused.

Then said with quiet sincerity,

"You’re one of the most beautiful girls I’ve ever met in my life."

Alicia’s face went red. Not just red—beet red. Even her ears and the back of her neck flushed.

She stared at him like he’d just cast a forbidden charm spell.

Alex, sensing victory, couldn’t help it. He chuckled, ruining the serious mood in an instant. "Of course, that was a lie. You or Evelyn in front of me—both of you are just... mediocre at best."

Alicia’s expression froze. She looked at him like he’d grown a second head—or more accurately, like he was the court jester who’d just tripped over his own punchline.

"Are you serious?" she muttered, disbelief plastered on her face.

Grinning like the devil himself, Alex let go of her hand and casually stretched. "Honestly, I would have chosen you, but only if you’re willing to pay me fifty million credits."

Alicia blinked. "Come again?"

"If you’re willing to pay up, I’ll change sides instantly," Alex said, his voice mockingly businesslike.

"I just gave you twenty million credits!" Alicia exclaimed, almost offended.

Alex held up a finger and gently pressed it against her lips, silencing her mid-sentence.

"Darling," he whispered, eyes gleaming mischievously, "you forgot the domestic abuse you inflicted on me. That was compensation. And the twenty mil? Dowry. For the wedding date I just set for us."

Her foot came flying up toward his face, but this time, Alex caught it mid-air. With a smooth movement, he stepped in closer, holding her leg in a firm yet careful grip, his other hand brushing her waist for balance. They were now close—too close—faces only inches apart.

Alicia didn’t pull away. She didn’t blush. She just looked at him, lips tight, expression unreadable.

Alex smirked, leaning in a fraction closer. "So? Fifty million. Deal?"

Inside, Alicia was screaming. ’If I falter here, this narcissistic bastard will always think of me as a walking credit vault and never take me seriously. No way I can’t allow that.’

So she steeled her expression and replied flatly,

"No."

Alex’s smirk faltered. His grip loosened, and he released her foot, letting her back down. She nearly stumbled but caught herself just in time.

"Too bad, darling," Alex said with a light sigh.

"Then I’ll have to refuse as well."

Alicia dusted off her skirt and turned to leave. "Fine. Then you can also forget about the person I mentioned who’s been researching abyss corruption."

Alex froze mid-step. His pupils shrank. "You... you promised, Prez. You can’t go back on that!"

She looked over her shoulder with an impassive stare. "Oh, don’t start with that. You’ve been getting too greedy lately. I’ve fulfilled your every whim. All that for a measly ’duel’ where you got your ass handed to you and ended up in a three-week coma."

The words struck him like arrows. He stood there, stunned, her voice echoing in his mind.

’Is she right...?’

He quickly shook the thought away. ’No, no, no. I wasn’t that bad. Was I?’

He did a mental count. ’Let’s see. Today’s twenty mil. The card before with the thirty-million credit limit. That’s already fifty million...’

He rubbed his chin. ’Is that too much? Sure, I could buy a couple mansions, a private jet, and cover Lily’s medical expenses. But for someone as amazing as me? Not even close.’

Just then, a voice chimed in his head.

[Host, you really are a greedy bastard. And the saddest part? You don’t even realize it.]

Alex’s mouth twitched. ’Did this useless system just curse me?’

[Correction: stated a fact.]

’Okay, fine, maybe I was a tiiiny, tiny bit greedy,’ he grumbled mentally. ’But you don’t get to lecture me.’

He was still bickering with his system when Alicia’s voice snapped him out of his daze.

"So here’s the deal," she said, her tone firm. "Come to the ball with me... or you can forget about that last condition of the promise."

Alex’s eyebrows rose. He went still. She wasn’t bluffing. He could tell from the look in her eyes—calm, serious, determined.

He crossed his arms, voice lowered. "Why are you so hell-bent on going with me? Don’t tell me... you like me or something, Prez?"

Alicia’s face exploded into crimson again. "W-what?! Who would like you, you bastard?! It’s because—ugh!" She looked away, flustered.

"My mom saw that stupid picture you took. She assumed we were a thing. And when I told her we weren’t, she immediately arranged blind dates to ’correct’ my life."

Alex blinked. "So this is your great plan to avoid blind dates?"

"I panicked, okay?! I told her I was going to the ball with you," she scowled.

He tried to stifle a grin. "But why me? You’re gorgeous—you could go with anyone. Sure, their beauty is not as godly as mine, but still..."

Alicia flinched slightly at being called gorgeous but quickly recovered. "Even I don’t know that. You’d have to ask my mom."

He nodded, pretending to understand while clearly savoring every second of her frustration. "What about Ethan? He’s a walking package deal. Handsome, smart, strong, kind."

Alicia wrinkled her nose. "He’s like my little brother. I’ve seen him grow up. Besides, I’m not normal like the girls who’d fawn over him."

She looked away again, biting her lip.

’I think I know why Mom chose you, but there’s no way in hell I’m telling this narcissistic peacock and feeding his ego.’

Alex rubbed the back of his neck. "Alright, I get it. But what about Evelyn and my 35 million credits?"

"That’s an important issue," she said, pausing. Alicia considered Evelyn carefully. "She’s not the type to fall for looks..."

She turned to Alex and said, "Uncuff me from these anti-mana bands. I’ll talk to her privately, with a sound barrier."

Alex stepped back. "Do I look stupid? You’ll pummel me into next week!"

"I promise I won’t touch a single strand of your hair," she said sweetly.

He hesitated. "Alright... but you better keep that promise or... or... or... well, there’s nothing I can do."

He sighed and released the anti-mana restraints.

Immediately, her mana surged. The room thickened with pressure, her aura flaring like a beast unchained.

Alex swallowed hard. "Y-you promised..."

She smiled devilishly and cracked her knuckles. "You’re so cute, Mr. Godly Beauty." Then, just as her fist shot toward his face, she stopped—mere inches away. Alex flinched but didn’t feel the blow.

Opening one eye cautiously, he saw her chuckling.

"Scared?" she teased.

"Terrified," he whispered.

Then she pulled out her EtherPad and dialed Evelyn. A soft blue dome of energy expanded around her, forming a complete sound barrier.

Alex could only wait outside, fidgeting like a nervous student awaiting exam results.

Minutes passed. When the barrier dropped, Alicia stepped out, arms folded, a wicked glint in her eyes.

Alex perked up. "So? What did you two decide?"

She walked past him slowly, voice calm but ominous. "Congratulations, Mr. Alex Dragonheart."

He narrowed his eyes. "...Congratulations for what?"

Alicia turned her head, smiled, and declared:

"Be honored. You now get to attend the ball with not just one—but two godly beauties."

Alex’s soul left his body.

"What."

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A/N:

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