Chapter 396: Cleanup in the Gloom

Alexander looked down at the broken princess on the floor. Her eyes had lost their innocence, remaining hollow and devoid of life.

"I can’t let this past keep haunting my Liora," said Alexander in a soft voice. "Why don’t you step back and let me clean up this mess?"

Liora sobbed in silence, clutching her legs, but made no move to get up.

"Don’t worry..." whispered Alexander with mock sympathy. "I won’t leave. I won’t let anything happen to you."

Without wasting another second, Alexander stood up and walked toward Ibrahim’s cell. With a fluid motion, he activated [Storm Steel Claws Lvl 1]. His claws gleamed before slashing through the air, shattering the iron bars and locks.

The former king looked up, but had no time to utter a word. Alexander stopped in front of him, locking eyes with him without pity.

"Farewell," said Alexander.

A flash of steel split the gloom. Ibrahim’s head severed, rolling across the stone floor before his body slumped against the chains.

A surge of energy erupted from the corpse, channeling directly into Alexander’s chest. His passive ability, [Adaptive Body], processed the vital essence.

[Ability Detected] [Extracting Ability...] [Extraction Failed]

"A shame," muttered Alexander, flicking the blood off his claws.

He turned and moved toward the adjacent cells, ignoring the Fox Queen’s cell, who watched everything with ragged breath. The prisoners fell silent as they witnessed the execution. Seeing the hybrid approach with claws dripping in blood, a few believed he was coming to free them.

However, their hope twisted into panic as the blade fell upon them without discrimination. They were emaciated and dying, but to Alexander, their lives were a resource to harvest.

Screams of agony echoed through the gallery, snuffed out by the sound of steel rending flesh and bone.

Alexander walked over to Liora, who remained on her knees on the floor, staring into nothingness.

"I have ways to submit your mother, Liora," said Alexander. "Blood seals, servitude oaths, soul bindings... I can bend her will so she never strays or betrays us again. But it won’t be pretty to watch, nor pleasant to endure. Tell me... what do you want to do with her?"

Liora clenched her fists against her thighs. She stood up, her movements stiff. She walked toward the bars of her mother’s cell, stopping inches from the iron. The sovereign looked up, her yellow eyes revealing a hint of vulnerability beneath layers of pride.

"What do you want me to say, Liora?" spoke the Fox Queen, her voice raspy. "That I’m sorry? That I regret what I did? A true ruler does not apologize for the hard decisions made to keep her clan alive."

"You lied to all of us..." said Liora, her voice cold and flat. "You made me believe my father was a fallen hero. You raised me to worship a crown that was rotten. And all the while, you and my aunt were playing games of betrayal in the shadows."

"That man was no hero!" spat the sovereign, grinding her teeth as she rattled her chains. "Your father was a plague that destroyed everything he touched! I had to take control before he sold our people as slaves. Was I ruthless? Yes. Was I a tyrant? Perhaps. But the crown was never a privilege, Liora... it was a burden you never had the courage to bear."

"You’re right," replied Liora, looking her straight in the eyes without flinching. "I never wanted that crown. And I never wanted a crown stained with the blood of my family."

The Fox Queen let out a laugh, resting her head against the stone wall.

"Then kill me. Have your vampire lapdog slit my throat like he did to your father and the rest. If you leave me alive or subject me to his blood tricks, the moment I get a chance, I will drive a dagger through his heart... and reclaim my kingdom."

Liora stared at the chained queen before taking a step back and shaking her head.

"I never want to see her again," said Liora, her voice stripped of emotion. "But I can’t just have you kill her... Not like this."

Alexander raised his eyebrows with interest.

"I’ll try something different," said Alexander, positioning himself in front of the cell bars. A smirk formed on his face as he focused his mind on the sovereign.

"[Charm]," said Alexander.

As he activated the skill, the crimson of his eyes was replaced by a pink hue. The Fox Queen widened her eyes in disbelief. Her mind was ensnared by the technique, left mumbling incoherent nonsense, dazed by the wave of submission washing over her.

Liora stood up at the sight, stunned to witness her family’s signature skill manifested in the hands of a vampire.

Alexander let the glow in his eyes fade, turned toward Liora, and wore a smirk.

"It’s interesting, isn’t it?" said Alexander.

Liora took a step back, fixing her gaze on Alexander’s eyes, which held a faint pink glow. Panic surged across her face once more: seeing him command her bloodline’s secret skill, a doubt consumed her.

How long has he had that skill? Was this whole thing a scheme to strip my family, master the fox magic, and claim the kingdom for himself?

Alexander noticed the stiffness in Liora’s shoulders, her ragged breath, and the mistrust clouding her eyes. The smirk vanished from his face, replaced by a calm expression.

"If you want, I can leave," said Alexander in a quiet tone, taking a step back and raising his hands. "I don’t want you thinking I only came to take everything away from you."

Liora bit her lower lip so hard she nearly drew blood, staring at the floor as frustration and helplessness threatened to choke her. Deep down, she knew Alexander’s offer was nothing more than an illusion of choice; she had nowhere else to go, no troops to back her, and no family left to run to.

It’s already too late... Liora thought, clenching her fists at her sides. I can’t back out now. Whether I’m just his puppet or if he actually intends to help me, my only choice is to accept it and see how far this goes.

She lifted her head, her eyes still cold, and gave a silent nod, signaling for him to stay by her side.