Chapter 5 Episode 5

• Astrid let out a terrified scream, and in that instant, Axelrod reached out his long arms, grabbed her cloak, and yanked her back.
• She suddenly fell against him, but his chest felt as hard as stone, almost like hitting a block of ice. When she looked up, she found herself staring into his dark eyes, which seemed as deep as an endless ocean.
• That icy stare sent chills down Astrid's spine.
• Axelrod held her gaze and spoke in a low, serious tone: "Do you believe I will be a harsh and tyrannical Alpha?"
• His hand was gripping her cloak right near her neck, making Astrid feel like he was choking her. She found it hard to speak or even breathe.
• She managed to struggle out, "Your Highness."
• Axelrod's eyes, still like that cold, deep pool, remained fixed on her. Yet, within that coldness, there seemed to be a tiny flicker of warmth, almost unnoticeable.
• He asked again, "Will I be a cruel and harsh ruler?"
• It was clear he was really focused on this question.
• Suddenly, a thought sparked in Astrid's mind. Just before she felt like she might pass out, she finally managed to say, "Whether Your Highness is cruel or not depends on your actions."
• She hesitated for a moment and then added, "If Your Highness thinks I'm wrong, you can kill me."
• She knew she was pushing her luck.
• "But no matter how many people you eliminate, you can't erase a bad reputation!"
• After saying this, she glanced at her supposed mate, trembling a bit.
• Deep down, she knew she might have crossed a line.
• With a heavy heart, she closed her eyes, almost resigned to her fate, waiting for the blow to come.
• In her mind, it felt better to die by his hand than to face the harsh truth of her husband's son being her mate.
• But instead of the expected sword, she felt his grip loosen, and the pressure around her neck eased. Astrid shivered and slowly opened her eyes.
• Those dark, intense eyes stared at her without a single blink.
• Astrid wasn't sure if it was the heavy stare that made it hard for her to breathe or if it was because he finally let go of her, but suddenly, she felt her chest loosen up. A rush of cold air filled her lungs, and she started coughing right away.
• She couldn't stop. The coughing was so intense that she hunched over, her cheeks turning bright red. It took a while for her to ease the tightness in her chest. When she finally looked up, she found Axelrod's icy gaze fixed on her.
• He said, "Okay!"
• Without even glancing away, he commanded, "Take these people away and lock them up."
• The guards were a bit taken aback. They never thought His Highness would actually let them go, but they didn’t hesitate and quickly led the terrified people away.
• As they turned to leave, a soft laugh echoed in the night.
• “Fascinating, fascinating.”
• The people who had just faced a terrifying life-or-death moment suddenly snapped back to reality when they heard a soft chuckle.
• Even though the laughter seemed a bit casual, it brought an unexpected warmth, like a gentle spring breeze that melted the coldness in their hearts.
• Everyone quickly turned to see where the sound was coming from.
• Astrid couldn't help but glance over and noticed a tall, slender figure making his way up the stairs.
• The man wore a black robe, and in the flickering firelight, his sleeves seemed to dance in the wind, making it hard to tell where he ended and the night began. He looked like he was made from the darkness itself. However, his skin was strikingly pale, unlike Astrid's fair complexion; it was as if he hadn’t seen sunlight in ages.
• As he approached, everyone could finally see his face.
• He was very young, probably in his twenties, tall, and quite handsome, with a striking appearance. His expression was cool and a bit haughty, but his eyes were gentle, filled with kindness and understanding for everything around him. They shone brightly, unlike Axelrod's sharp gaze; his eyes seemed to light up even the darkest places.
• What really caught Astrid's attention was his outfit, made of deep black royal fabric.
• Could he be related to the Alpha king?
• Astrid wasn’t the only one surprised; the palace maids, who had just escaped a near disaster, stared at him in disbelief. Everyone was curious about his arrival. Just then, Axelrod spoke up, "Sebastian, what are you doing here?"
• The young man, Sebastian, smiled and replied, "I came back today and was planning to surprise you tomorrow, but when I heard about the fire in the palace, I got worried about your safety and came to check on you."
• After saying that, he turned to Astrid and remarked, "I didn't think I'd meet someone so fascinating right after I got here."
• He raised his hand in a salute to her, saying, "Miss, I pay my respects to you."
• This guy was not only incredibly good-looking but also had excellent manners. He bowed just the right amount, held his hands at a perfect distance, and his clothes swayed gracefully as he moved.
• Astrid hesitated for a moment before returning his bow.
• She started to regain her composure. This young man was someone very close to Prince Axelrod.
• In fact, their relationship seemed quite strong.
• While other warriors were nervous around Prince Axelrod, he spoke and acted with complete ease.
• As Astrid was still trying to figure out who he was and how to reply, she heard him say, "Young lady, you are truly remarkable. You know, very few people can survive the sword of His Royal Highness."
• Axelrod let out a cold snort.
• Astrid felt a bitter smile forming inside her.
• She never thought she had actually survived Prince Axelrod's sword. Now that she had calmed down and reflected on her earlier actions and words, she wanted to smack herself!
• What was she thinking?
• She was certain that Prince Axelrod would want revenge, not caring at all that she was supposed to be his mate.