The Cursed King

"What do you mean?" Alexei asked. Elise's words just made him more curious about what made her change her mind and approach him in the first place.

Elise glanced over their shoulders and then gave him a look. "Do you think this is the proper place to have a conversation, Alexei?"

The way that Elise treated Alexei like this reminded him of someone who was strangely comfortable with him despite the fact that they didn't know each other that well. He sighed in amusement but then nodded.

"Alright, let's go somewhere else." Alexei nodded and then led the way.

Truth be told, Alexei didn't know when his guardian could visit him so Elise's decision to bring her things was the right decision. The young man glanced over his shoulders and then at their current surroundings.

The reason why Alexei asked Elise to come here first was to avoid leaving too many tracks..

It was difficult hiding one's true nature and so the crowd of masses around them was a good way to hide. Not that Alexei was worried about anyone trying to track them down beside Elise's husband, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

Since Hilde was currently staying at Alexei's penthouse, Alexei and Elise ended up visiting Baron's own place which wasn't that much different from Alexei's own accommodations. The man was a rich, powerful, and successful model.

Elise looked slightly surprised when she entered the penthouse. 

While Elise recognized that people like Alexei were different from ordinary people, she didn't think it also meant that someone like him had access to a great amount of wealth. How were they able to gather up so much in the first place?

Was it because of their long life spans?

Elise was really shocked about this but not as surprised as Baron himself who was lounging at his sofa and was sipping a soda. When the door swung open at Alexei and Elise's arrival, Baron quickly looked up in annoyance.

"Alexei, what do you think you're doing with bringing someone here?"

"I'm bringing a friend of mine?"

"I mean, why my place?" Baron let out a frustrated sound.

"You know that my apartment's currently preoccupied with Unrequited Love moping around there and stalking her target, so where else was I supposed to head to?" Alexei rolled his eyes. 

"Your own place."

"That was a rhetorical question, the answer is my best friend's place," Alexei answered with his sweetest smile.

Seeing this man smile like an angel, it was hard to believe that in the past, some humans worshipped him as their god of wars, Baron thought to himself.

Elise watched the two bicker around for a bit like a couple of teenagers but realized that she didn't want to overstay her welcome if this man didn't want Elise to be here in the first place.

"Um, please excuse us for being a bother. I didn't realize that Alexei was going to bring us here," Elise said. She finally recognized the white-haired young man as the model back in Italy and it was surprising to know that Alexei was really close and frank with him.

Did it mean that even this Baron was just like Alexei? Was he…. an immortal too?

Baron's expression shifted slightly at Elise's words, because while Alexei suddenly dropping by was a nuisance to him… the woman didn't do anything wrong by being brought here. There was something Baron realized though.

Baron rubbed his face and then pulled up to his feet.

"If I knew that I was going to have a guest, I would have been able to prepare more properly." Baron inclined his head and gave a small bow. He adopted a more polite tone. "Please make yourself comfortable in my household, Miss…?"

"Elise." 

"Baron. A pleasure to be your acquaintance." Baron introduced himself properly and then threw a look at Alexei. 

He wondered if Alexei knew what he was doing or if the man didn't know anything?

"Great! Now that the two of you are friends, Elise and I will be borrowing one of your private rooms to talk without any interruptions, okay?" Alexei looked around Baron's house and chose the furthest room from the living room.

Baron scrunched up his face. "I don't think you'd stop even if I were to say otherwise."

"You know me so well, Baron. No wonder we are still friends after 12 centuries." Alexei grinned. "Well, this way, Elise. You don't have to worry about where you'll be staying as long as we stick around in this place."

"Do you really think this is alright?" Elise asked.

"Of course. This isn't too far away from your place since we're still in New York, but the last place where your husband will be looking for is a young model's penthouse, right?"

The door shut behind them after that.

"What kind of trouble are you bringing yourself?" Baron muttered.

Baron would be the last one to interfere in matters as stressful as this one. 

What was Alexei doing with someone like this Elise? The younger guy didn't tell him anything at all about Elise before and now he was bringing her here?

Baron remembered what he'd seen back in Italy. 

When Alexei no longer returned to the fashion show to watch and support him, Baron was present and witnessed the scene of Hilde harassing Elise and even flirting with her husband. 

The person that Alexei sensed who was exuding the energy of the immortals before was Elise's husband, no doubt. 

That was easy enough to piece to gather like a puzzle.

What remained was understanding what Baron's place and role were in this mess that was just about to untangle. And there was going to be a huge mess.

Baron could sense drama.

"Should I tell him?" Baron asked himself and idly watched the door where the two entered to talk in. He thought about letting Hilde know that Elise was here and imagined what kind of trouble would happen if she went here?

Hilde's unrequited affection was for Elise's husband. Elise was currently here with Alexei for reasons unknown to Baron. 

How much trouble would start if he were to start it?

Baron didn't want any sort of drama though and even just revealing what he knew was going to make him involved in the matter he did not want to be part of. 

It was better to be an observer in this scenario.