Chapter 458: That One Doesn’t Count ’Just what kind of memory did she see earlier?’ Alex thought but didn’t ask, simply allowing Evangeline to hug him tightly. Her pale face soon regained its color, and her breath started to calm. The two spent a few more minutes hugging each other, broken only when Evangeline reluctantly pulled back to look at Alex’s face. Suddenly, the young lady wrapped his hands around his neck, stood on tiptoe, and gave his lips a quick peck. Perhaps one wasn’t enough, so she kissed him again two more times before resting her head on his shoulder. "Alex, I still don’t understand many things. But from what I’ve seen... you already died once, right?" Evangeline said softly. She was still resting her head on Alex’s shoulder, and her eyes were closed as if making sure that she had seen everything properly. "Truth be told, I’m still trying to verify some facts about myself," Alex answered. "I don’t remember much about my childhood as Prince Aetherius. However, I recently recalled a memory where the Paragon of Ice froze me. After that, I fell off a cliff, and my memory ended there." Evangeline hugged Alex tighter. She also saw that memory, making her hate the Paragon of Ice with a vengeance. If not for the fact that the Paragon of Ice was confirmed dead, she might have started scheming on how to kill that bastard with her own hands. "Are you close with the girl named Noelle?" Evangeline asked. "She’s my Guildmaster," Alex replied. "Both of us played a game called E#d*e*s L**e%#g O*$i@e." "Huh? Did you say something?" Evangeline felt like she had heard something, but these words were gibberish and escaped her memory as if it didn’t belong there. Alex blinked. "I said, we both played a game called E#d*e*s L**e%#g O*$i@e." Evangeline frowned. By the looks of it, some kind of interference prevented her from understanding what the young man was talking about. Alex also realized that Evangeline seemed to fall into a trance every time he said the words "Endless Leveling Online". Since both of them couldn’t do anything about it, they decided to set aside this matter for now. Just as the young lady was about to continue talking, she suddenly remembered a memory that made her face turn beet red. "I understand that you and Noelle have a close relationship," Evangeline said as a blush crept on her face. "But to think that the two of you have... have done that." Alex blinked once then twice before finally understanding what Evangeline was talking about. He had wanted to make an excuse that both of them got drunk after going to the karaoke bar one time, which left Noelle no other choice but to spend the night with Alex. Both of them were young, healthy, and secretly had feelings for each other. One thing led to another, and before the two knew it, they had both crossed the line that shouldn’t be crossed. Back then, Noelle didn’t ask Alex to take responsibility since both of them were drunk at that time. A week later, she pretended that it didn’t happen. As usual, she visited Alex, helped him clean his house, and cooked for him. Alex had already decided to take responsibility for his actions, even declaring it directly to Noelle. But she only smiled at him and said that she would think about it. A month after that, Alex cleared Charles Lambert’s tutorial quest and was sent to Arcana, unable to even say goodbye to the lady who held a place in his heart. "That one doesn’t count." Evangeline lightly patted Alex’s chest. "You were drunk, and she seduced you." "She didn’t need to seduce me," Alex replied before heaving a sigh. "Let’s not talk about this now. She and I are far apart, never to cross again. The only time I get to see her is in my dreams." "Don’t worry. I’ll make you forget about her," Evangeline said with confidence. Alex was leaning on the wall, and she moved closer to him, pinning him there. Without any warning, her lips pressed over his, as if trying to overwrite that memory that she had seen a few minutes ago. Alex didn’t resist and allowed Evangeline to do what she wanted. He had already accepted her, and not only because she was Prince Aetherius’ childhood friend. The memory of her Bad End in the game made him understand that Evangeline fought an Empire to avenge him. His heart wasn’t made of stone. After realizing why the young lady had become a cold and indifferent person in the game, going as far as to raze an entire Kingdom to the ground just to avenge him, his view of her changed. He also felt very sad when Evangeline took her own life at the end of her storyline, just to be with the person whom she loved dearly. She had fought for his sake, so how could he possibly not develop feelings for her? Alex already made a promise that he would not allow that Bad Ending to happen to Evangeline. He would do his best to live a long life and use his second life to the fullest. A few minutes later, the two finally stopped kissing as Evangeline gasped for breath. She apologetically healed the small wound that she had accidentally inflicted on Alex’s lips, drawing his blood as they kissed each other. "Are you feeling better now?" Alex looked at the young lady, whose eyes were glowing crimson. "Yes," Evangeline replied. "I’m sorry for everything." "Silly girl, why are you apologizing?" Alex patted her head. He then took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat on her forehead, then the faint traces of blood on the corner of her lips. Evangeline did the same. The scene of the pair wiping each other’s faces with their handkerchiefs might have made Eleanora roll her eyes had she been around to witness it. Fortunately, she wasn’t there. Else, she might have also puked sugar on the spot. After both of them looked more presentable, they walked hand in hand down the stairs and left the Old Library together. Eleanora glanced at her Mistress and noticed that her cheeks had become very rosy. Evangeline looked like a maiden who had fallen in love for the first time in her life, and it made Eleanora’s teeth itch. "Looks like both of you had some good time together," Eleanora said, making an effort to hide her contempt for Alex. For Eleanora, her Mistress was too good for the bastard who was only talented at attracting trouble left and right. Alex pretended not to notice the hostility in the young lady’s eyes. Anyway, as long as Evangeline was on his side, Eleanora couldn’t do anything to him. The two teenagers continued to hold each others’ hands, only letting go when they needed to part ways to go to their respective dormitories. Evangeline still hadn’t fully digested all of Alex’s memories, and she needed a quiet, relaxing place to do that. Alex had nowhere to go at the moment, so he decided to look for Dim Dim in Fran’s farm. He subconsciously ruled out going to the clock tower. It wouldn’t be a great idea, considering that Latifa and her two Alters had superhuman senses that might let them sense the scent of blood still lingering on his body. But, just as he was about to turn to the corner of the hallway, he saw an old man wearing Dim Dim’s gangster sunglasses, leaning against the wall as if waiting for someone. Naturally, that someone was none other than him, so Alex did what he needed to do and... pretended that he didn’t see Lex and tried to walk past him. "Hold it right there, young man," Lex reached out to grab Alex’s shoulder, holding him in place. "You have some explaining to do." "Explaining?" Alex blinked. "Explain what?" "You didn’t tell me that you and little Eva have reunited," Lex replied. "Isn’t that something that you should report to me as soon as possible?" "Sir Lex, I think you’re misunderstanding something." Alex faced the old man, who admittedly looked cool while wearing the gangster sunglasses. "My relationship with Eva is our business. I am not obligated to tell you anything." "Fair enough." Lex smirked. "But there is one matter that we should be discussing together." "And that is?" Alex arched an eyebrow. "Your trip to Solara," Lex stated. "I’m going with you." The young man almost forgot about their trip to Solara after everything that happened with Evangeline. What Lex didn’t know was that Alex already planned to invite him to accompany him during their trip. The incident that happened during his date with Evangeline in the city had made him understand how serious the Demon Worshipers were about collecting the bounty on his head. If the Guardian of the North was with him, he wouldn’t have to worry about facing stronger members of the organization who thought that they could earn easy money by eliminating him. "Very well. You can come with me," Alex said. "However, you need to listen to my instructions." Alex told his Guardian about the disguise he planned to take during the escort mission. Lex thought that it was a brilliant idea. "Help me talk to Princess Xenia," Lex stated. "That way, I can also sneak into your group without drawing too much attention." "I think you’ll draw attention just fine." Alex smiled faintly. "An old man wearing gangster sunglasses would stand out anywhere, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing." That way, Alex would be able to carry out his disguise as a butler in training, allowing him to evade the eyes of the Demon Worshipers, who were currently strategizing on how to capture him, dead or alive. —--- A/N: A fire broke out near our home, and I’m still shaken by what happened. I’ll only write one Chapter today, and resume regular Chapters tomorrow.