Chapter 31 - Loathsome Man (1/2)

The Lee Estate

King Alistair stood before the gold-plated wrought-iron railing on the second floor foyer and watched as Selena walked out of the mansion. He looked below at the mansion's main floor to check who she was eyeing just before she stepped out of the double doors. Regrettably, there were far too many visitors that the King could not point a finger who exactly that other person was. The way she stared at that guest sent goosebumps all over his body. Was she telling that person to seek revenge for her? He took one last sweeping eagle-eye look at the guests on the main floor but saw nobody peculiar.

The King took another sip of his alcohol to ease the bugging suspicion in his mind and just as he was about to leave and join the company of other guests, he saw Maxen out from the corner of his eye and matter-of-factly said, ”That's very unbecoming of you, Maxen.”

”Sorry to disappoint you, Your Majesty, but I don't tolerate assholes,” Maxen uttered under his breath. He stood beside his father, King Alistair, one hand dipped in his pants pocket while another held a new serving of champagne.

King Alistair subconsciously sniggered at his son's reply. He almost believed Maxen, but he's not ignorant to the truth that his son was out for blood the moment he met Lance Go in the flesh. ”Don't tolerate assholes or ex-fiancés? How disgraceful of you to make a scene because of a girl.”

”Relax, Your Majesty. Nobody is perfect. See? Even God took a break on the seventh day.”

Maxen pulled out his hand in his pocket and checked the time on his wristwatch which told him it's almost nine in the evening. He earned another snigger from King Alistair beside him. He realized that his father must have seen Olivia's photo because he was also holding his phone at that moment. Maxen took his chance and flaunted Olivia's photo to his father just to piss him off.

”Look how beautiful she is. Imagine how adorable your grandchildren will be,” Maxen giggled like a love-struck highschool boy as he teased King Alistair who maintained a poker face on.

”Hmp. Talk to me after you tell your best friend that you want to marry his sister,” King Alistair challenged his son. He didn't need to include Henry Lin in the list. That loathsome man never cared for Olivia anyway.

”I will,” Maxen softly replied. Sensing the lack of confidence in his son's words, King Alistair didn't press on because he knew all the secrets those two boys keep and how it will come and bite them or even tear their friendship apart one day… or maybe not. He clank his champagne flute with Maxen's, waking the little prince up from his stupor, clearly affected with what the King said.

Maxen faced his father and their clear blue eyes met. He squared his shoulders and repeated what he said, ”Ollie. Will. Give. Us. His. Consent.”

This time, the King smiled when he saw the lost fire being ignited in his son's eyes that his pupils looked like they were dilating like a wildfire. He took a sip of his champagne and savored every pop of the bubble in his throat followed by the soothing and tingling burn of alcohol. And when all the bubbles were gone, he let out a helpless sigh.

He remembered how this morning, for the first time in thirty-five years, he had an argument with his son because of a girl and tonight he saw him almost kill a bastard because of the same girl. The King knew in his mind that he used the crown as an excuse to keep his son safe and away from the Pyxis but his heart knew better.

Nothing kept King Alistair from falling in love with that Pyxis member decades ago and nothing stopped his brother Sebastian too who did his best to keep Amelia Lin by his side even if it was only as a friend. King Alistair swallowed what felt like a few remaining bubbles lodged in his throat as he came up to the conclusion:

Only death would stop the Little Prince from keeping his Rose.

And the one thing that King Alistair could do was to keep Maxen and Olivia safe for as long as he could.