Chapter 247

Ella POV

The news of Ironfang’s arrest tore through the kingdom like wildfire. Fear gripped the people as they learned the horrifying truth—powerful figures within their own government had been working with the North.

For years, the enemy had been closer than anyone had realized, pulling strings in the shadows, shaping the future of the South for their own benefit.

Panic threatened to spread, but the King acted swiftly. He released a statement ensuring the people that the corruption was being purged. He pointed to the arrests as proof that they were protected, that justice was being served.

He revealed some details about Archer and David’s betrayal, enough to solidify their guilt in the public eye, but he kept Alexander’s secrets buried. For now.

And then, the final announcement—one that changed everything.

The King of the South was officially supporting Alexander’s campaign to become king.

The weight of it settled over me as I stood on the rooftop of our building, watching the pink sunset begin to fade.

The city stretched out beneath us, a sea of twinkling lights, as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting to see what happened next. But my thoughts weren’t on the kingdom—not right now. They were on Alexander.

He leaned against the railing, his expression unreadable. The tension in his shoulders was obvious, and though he had healed from his injuries, exhaustion clung to him.

It had been a long few days, full of press coverage, statements, and closed-door meetings. He had been at the center of it all, bearing the weight of the future on his shoulders.

And yet, it was something else entirely that seemed to trouble him now.

“This is all happening too fast,” he murmured, his voice almost lost in the evening breeze. “It feels too… easy.”

I stepped closer, resting my hand on his arm. “You think this is easy?” I asked softly. “Because from where I’m standing, we’ve been through hell to get here.”

Alexander exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “That’s not what I mean. It’s just… things don’t work out for me like this. I spent my whole life fighting for control, for survival. Now, all of a sudden, I have the King’s backing? The people will trust me? That doesn’t feel real.”

He wasn’t wrong. The people’s acceptance had come faster than we could have imagined. But I knew why. It wasn’t just the King’s endorsement—it was Alexander himself. His actions had spoken louder than any official decree.

The people who paid attention to politics had noticed that he was involved in building the case against David and Archer. It was a well known secret that he had been aiding the king’s investigations.

Alexander was working behind the scenes to protect the kingdom all along, and now people were starting to realize it.

“You’ve earned this,” I told him. “Every step of the way, you’ve fought for this kingdom. For the people. And they see that now. Why is it so hard to believe that things might actually work out in your favor?”

He hesitated, his fingers tightening around the railing. “Because happy endings aren’t for people like me.”

The words sent a sharp pang through my chest. I reached for his hand, threading my fingers through his. “Then maybe it’s time to change that.”

He looked down at our joined hands, his thumb brushing lightly over my skin. Something in his expression softened, just a little. “Maybe you’re right,” he said quietly.

“I’m always right,” I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

He huffed a small laugh, shaking his head. “Now that’s debatable.”

Before I could respond, he wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me fully against him. The warmth of his body, the steady strength in his hold—it was enough to make me forget the worries of the world, just for a moment.

His strength had finally returned, but I was still hesitant to test his stamina not matter how much he reassured me that he was fine.

Still, just this touch was enough to send fire coursing through me.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen next,” Alexander admitted, his voice lower now, more intimate. “But if you’re by my side, I think I can handle it.”

My heart fluttered, and I reached up, brushing a strand of hair from his face. “You won’t have to handle it alone. Not anymore.”

He held my gaze for a long moment before finally leaning down, capturing my lips in a slow, deep kiss. It was a contrast to the heat I felt—not rushed, not desperate.

It was a promise. A promise that no matter what came next, we would face it together.

As the last light of the sunset faded into twilight, I allowed myself to believe, just for a little while, that a happy ending was truly within reach.

But deep down, I knew our challenges weren’t over.

I took Alexander’s hand and together we returned to our apartment. We spent the night tangled together, sharing a few moments of quiet warmth before the challenges of the election took over our lives.

The morning would bring a new set of problems that would demand our attention. Tonight was just for us.

With every kiss I hoped to show him that my heart was his, no matter what happened next. I knew that he felt the same from the firm, possessive grip he kept on me as he held me close.

We fell asleep in a tangle, our hears beating in time with one another.

The next morning, the world awoke to another headline. This time, it wasn’t about Ironfang or Archer or the Northern threat. It was about Alexander himself.

In the early hours of the morning, a quiet but powerful press release had gone out. Alexander had personally issued a statement revealing the existence of his daughter, Lexie.

He explained that he had only recently learned of her and that he was looking forward to stepping into his role as her father. He spoke about responsibility, about family, and about protecting what mattered most.

The public reaction was immediate and intense. Some saw it as a noble act—proof that Alexander was a man of honor.

Others were skeptical, wondering if he had known all along and only revealed the truth now to control the narrative. Political analysts debated whether this would strengthen or weaken his campaign for the throne.

I watched Alexander closely as he read through the online reactions. His expression remained unreadable, but I could see the tension in his posture, the way he gripped his phone just a little too tightly.

“This was the right move,” I said gently. “You took control of the story before anyone else could twist it.”

He nodded, but his eyes remained on the screen. “I just hope it’s enough.”

“It is,” I promised. “People will see the truth. And even if they don’t, you have us. You have Lexie. And you’re going to be an amazing father.”

He finally looked up at me, something unreadable flickering in his gaze. “You really believe that?”

“With everything in me.”

For the first time since the press release had gone out, I saw the faintest hint of relief in his eyes. He reached for me, pulling me into his arms, holding me like he never wanted to let go.

And as I held onto him, I silently vowed that I never would.