Chapter 295: Chapter 295 : Forsight and Desire

Alex immediately thought, ’Wait… I know this feeling.’

A bead of sweat slid down his temple as he slowly raised his head toward the source of the soft voice.

Above him stood a woman with golden hair cascading down her shoulders, and deep sapphire-blue eyes that held both warmth and sharp insight. Alex recognized her instantly—there was no way he could forget the person who had once helped him when he was broke, hungry, and one mistake away from being arrested as a bandit.

Sonia Starlight.

Seraphina Starlight’s mother.

Sonia looked down at him, cheeks flushed red.

Alex’s face heated up too. “M-Miss Sonia… long time no see.”

Sonia gave a strained smile. “Alex, I’m also glad to see you again. Truly. But maybe… could you move your hand away from my breast?”

Alex froze.

He slowly looked down.

His right hand was planted firmly on her chest.

’So that’s why it felt so familiar… She really is Seraphina’s mother…’

Before he could move, a small voice shrieked from the side, high and scandalized. “Kyaaaa! Mr. Wagonheart is groping momma!”

Alex jerked back so fast he nearly dislocated something, scrambling off Sonia as he waved his hands frantically. “I-It was an accident! Honest mistake! I just fell—!”

He turned toward the voice.

A small girl with the same blond hair and sapphire eyes as Sonia stood there, pointing at him with wide, accusing eyes.

Sophia Starlight.

And they weren’t alone. As Alex’s awareness returned, he realized the room was full of familiar faces:

Serena von Crestvale.

Alicia von Crestvale.

Alden von Crestvale.

Sonia and little Sophia.

Every single one of them had seen everything.

A sharp crack cut through the awkward silence.

Alex turned and saw that the tray Alicia had been holding was now snapped cleanly in half.

He swallowed hard. ’She looks pissed…’

Serena tried and failed to stifle a laugh behind her hand.

Sonia stood up, dusting off her dress. “Well, Alex… that was a rather intense way to say hello, even for you.”

Alex’s face burned. “It’s not what it looks like, I swear.”

Sonia suddenly chuckled, her expression softening. “Relax. I’m just teasing. I know it was an accident.”

Before he could reply, something small slammed into his leg and clung tightly.

A muffled voice came from around his knee. “Prince Wagonheart! I finally found you again—let’s get married!”

Alex choked on his own breath. “H-Huh?!”

Inside his head, the system chimed in dryly.

[ Lolicon. ]

Alex screamed inwardly, ’You bastard, she’s just a child!’

[ And what about Roselia? You seemed to enjoy patting her head quite a lot. ]

Alex opened his mouth to argue, then sighed instead. ’You know what? I’m too tired to fight with you. Think whatever you want. I’ll curse you later.’

Ignoring the system, Alex gently patted Sophia’s head.

“Little lady,” he said softly, “long time no see.”

Sophia looked up at him with sparkling eyes, then puffed out her tiny chest confidently. She turned to Sonia and declared proudly, “See, mom? Mr. Wagonheart likes me now! We can get married like you said! He even called me his lady once!”

Alex’s mouth twitched. ’I really need to watch what I say around kids…’

The entire room started laughing. Serena, Alden, even Sonia couldn’t hold it in.

Serena eventually stepped forward and hugged Alex tightly. “I’m so glad you’re all right,” she said, voice trembling. “I was so worried.”

Alex returned the embrace, letting the warmth sink into his tired bones.

When things had calmed slightly, Alex pulled back. “How long… was I gone from this room?”

Alicia answered, “Not long. About ten minutes.”

Alex muttered under his breath, “…That’s nothing compared to how long I spent in the Underworld.”

Serena’s expression turned serious. She exchanged a look with Sonia, then said, “Alex, sit down. Sonia came to tell you something very important. You need to hear it.”

Alex’s eyes sharpened. He sat on the bed again; Alicia settled on one side, Alden on the other.

Sophia suddenly bounced and launched herself onto Alex’s lap, landing with a satisfied little hop. She smirked triumphantly at Alicia as if claiming territory.

Alicia’s mouth twitched, but then she smiled, ruffling Sophia’s hair and pinching her cheek gently. “You little devil… trying to compete with me, huh?”

Sophia instantly turned teary-eyed and buried her face into Alex’s chest. “Mr. Wagonheart, save me…!”

Alicia laughed. “Try and save her, Mr. Wagonheart.”

Alden couldn’t hold back anymore. He burst out laughing. “Seriously… Why didn’t I think of that nickname earlier? Mr. Balax Wagonheart suits you perfectly!”

Alex drove his elbow into Alden’s side. Alden wheezed mid-laugh. “You… bastard…!”

“Alright, enough playing around,” Serena said, clapping her hands softly. “Listen carefully to what Sonia has to say.”

Everyone quieted. All eyes turned to Sonia.

She took a deep breath. “What I’m about to tell you is something only I, my husband Liam, and the late King Edward knew. It’s highly classified. If it spreads, my family will be targeted. That’s why we’ve kept it hidden.”

She stepped closer to Sophia, gently patting the girl’s head. Sophia leaned into her touch, content.

Sonia’s expression turned grave. “My daughter Sophia has a special ability known as Future Sight. Her eyes… are unique.”

Alex’s gaze deepened, but he didn’t interrupt.

“She can’t control it,” Sonia continued. “But from time to time, she sees visions of the future. They come at random, with no pattern. We told King Edward, and only him. If others learned of it, Sophia’s life would be in danger.”

She paused, then went on quietly, “Thanks to her visions, Liam and King Edward were able to prevent several disasters in the last few years. But… she didn’t see anything about what was going to happen to Selena. Or to King Edward.”

The atmosphere grew heavy. Even Alicia lowered her eyes for a moment.

Alex thought to himself, ’Nothing new. I already knew she had visions. Just never cared much—since they’re random and this world is already spiraling because of… me.’

The system spoke in his mind.

[ You knew about that? ]

’Yeah,’ Alex replied silently. ’Didn’t give it much importance. The world’s already off the rails. One more disaster doesn’t change the trend.’

Sonia’s voice pulled him back. “Recently, Sophia saw another vision. And this one… was worse than anything before.”

Alex’s attention sharpened fully. He looked at Sophia, who was still smiling softly in his lap.

“In that vision,” Sonia continued, “the world was nothing but ruins. Corpses everywhere, beasts eating their bodies like meat. The sky was…”

She paused, swallowing, then finished. “Filled with people with wings. And flying lizards—”

“Big lizards,” Sophia corrected gently. “Flying in the air.”

Sonia nodded. “Yes. I believe they were dragons. In that vision… the entire Avaloria Empire was destroyed.”

Alex’s heart stopped for a moment.

He turned to Sophia, managing a gentle smile. “Sophia, can you tell brother Alex what you saw in your dream?”

Sophia nodded, serious now. “Big lizards flying in the air… People were sleeping on the ground.” Her little brow furrowed. “Some dogs were turning into people… and people were turning into dogs…”

Alex’s expression grew stiff. ’Monsters or new species… dragons…’

“Anything else?” he asked softly.

Sophia brightened for a moment. “Yes! There was a really beautiful lady with purple hair. She was sooo pretty.”

Alex went quiet. His mind spun at lightning speed, connecting dots, weighing possibilities.

He looked back toward Sonia. “Why tell me all this?”

Sonia met his gaze. “Are you really asking me that? After everything you’ve done?”

Alex exhaled slowly. “I appreciate how you think of me, Miss Sonia. I do. But I need to make something clear: I’m not a hero. Whatever I did back then… was for my own revenge. Not some grand ideal.”

Sonia still smiled softly. “Maybe that’s what you believe. But from where I stand, this world won’t survive without your help.”

Serena nodded. “I agree. Whether you like it or not, Alex, you’ve become vital to this world’s survival.”

Alicia frowned. “Hasn’t he been through enough already, mom? Now you’re throwing more weight onto his shoulders when he never asked for it.”

Serena looked at her daughter. “I know. But with my brother gone, it’s my responsibility to protect this nation now. And I can’t ignore what Sonia just told us.”

Alex thought, ’It doesn’t matter if I want to be involved. Everyone I care about is in danger if that future comes true.’

There was only one path forward in his mind. ’We all need to get stronger. Not just me—everyone I can bring along. And there’s only one place for that now: the Tower of Ascension.’

He turned to Alden. “Prepare yourself. You’re coming with me to a very special place… once I settle things here.”

A chill ran down Alden’s spine. “Wh-what are you planning…?”

—

At Crestvale Manor…

Charlotte finally stepped out of her room, moving slowly down the staircase. Her usually elegant face was ruined by streaks of dried tears, her eyes red and swollen.

As she reached the landing, a soft, melodious voice whispered directly into her mind.

{ Why are you struggling so much, Charlotte? }

Her steps halted.

{ Just say yes. You’ll have your revenge for your father’s death. I will make you queen. Let the darkness in your heart free… and everything you desire will be yours. }

Charlotte grasped the railing, trembling. “Stop… stop it. I don’t want anything from you. Nothing.”

The voice only chuckled.

{ Are you sure? Do you think your dream of becoming queen will ever come true easily? You want revenge? Simple. Just kill your brothers first… and take the crown. }

Charlotte squeezed her eyes shut. “Go away! Whoever you are—leave me alone!”

The laugh echoed again, colder this time.

{ I’m you. You just don’t realize it yet. }

Charlotte’s breath caught. Her will—battered these past three months—wavered dangerously.

This voice had been whispering to her for weeks, always tempting, always there when her guard was lowest. And now, after everything, she was at the edge.

Her etherPad suddenly buzzed.

She glanced down.

A message. From Alex.

[ Where are you? ]

For a moment, her gaze softened… then darkened. Old wounds reopened—Edward’s death, the chaos, the looming threats.

She whispered, barely audible as she looked at alex name, “If I listen to you… will I really be able to have everything?”

{ Yes. }

The answer came instantly.

A broken smile tugged at Charlotte’s lips. She didn’t notice as the very tips of her hair shifted from white fading into a faint, ominous purple.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep