Rebirth: Childhood friend of the heroine

Rebecca and Alex were brought to the conference room in the main house of the capital. Naturally, the secret of his identity was revealed the moment his silver hair came into view.

Now, standing before the patriarch were the two travelers who came here as saviors but now were being regarded as assailants.

"Tell me, the Brave One, did you desire revenge on your family by taking refuge here in Dorhales?" The patriarch of the clan—Godric Dorhales, asked Alex as he sat at the head position.

On his left were his councilmen, who were here to help him with the best judgment for the situation.

Alex heaved a heavy breath as he revealed, "My only purpose of coming here was to get myself a sponsor for the contest, so even if my identity gets revealed, there could be someone backing me up."

Godric raised his brows, "As such, you saved my daughter and wished to use me in this revenge mission you have?"

Alex lied, "It's pure coincidence that I was there when the carriages got attacked; I had a different method of winning your trust."

Godric narrowed his eyes, "And what was that?"

"By showing you my strength," Alex responded without hesitation.

Godric was aware of the fact that Alex, a teenager, just slaughtered a seasoned warrior and someone who worked as the henchman for the Frostbate's patriarch.

A brief silence descended as the patriarch rested his arm on the armrest pillow before asking, "You believed that despite knowing your identity during the contest, I would continue to support you? Do you not know about your wanted criminal tag?"

Alex scoffed, "It's not like anyone, but the Frostbate ever considered me a criminal. And during the contest, when I would show my strength, I doubt you would pull your hands away."

The older one snickered, "Quite prideful you are....but overconfidence is unhealthy, young one."

Alex shrugged, "If you think I am overconfident, then that's that."

The hall turned silent after that, for a few moments.

Godric turned toward the seven men on his left, before asking, "Gentlemen, share your concern."

The first one on the left, possibly the person with the most authority after the patriarch, asked,

"Is there no other lead that would allow the Patriarch of Frostbate clan to know about your stay at the Dorhales?"

Alex responded without much thought, "If your men stay silent and that body is burned, Eryndor will not know anything about my relationship with Dorhales."

Godric chuckled, "Look at you, being all casual speaking his name."

Alex didn't reply to that but didn't look guilty or regretful at all.

The second council member asked, "And that lady? Is she your betrothed?"

Rebecca narrowed her eyes, "Why does it matter to you?"

Her cold voice made the man flinch before he glanced at the Patriarch.

Godric's smile didn't falter as he said, "He is trying to obtain if you also have some secret motive here, little lady. So yes, tell them. Who are you?"

Rebecca glanced at Alex and found him nodding.

Heaving a sigh, she told him, "The daughter of Victor Steelhound. Rebecca."

"...!!!" The expression on everyone's face changed upon hearing that. Although they don't know about the origin of the Steelhound, the rumors of them being the most dangerous killers of Grimland don't allow the council to sit comfortably anymore.

Even Godric, who had been nonchalant until now, frowned as he asked, "Are you planning to massacre the Frostbate? Is it the way of your revenge?"

Rebecca scoffed, "Adding me into the mix means massacre, huh? That's quite an insult, don't you think."

Godric took a sharp breath upon hearing that, however, what he said was true. Bringing a Steelhound along means this matter wouldn't stop just by killing one or two men.

Steelhounds are infamous for their brutal hunting style, and the young miss of the family seemed to be the one who has taken after her father when it comes to mass killing.

Alex heaved a weary sigh, and told the man, "Respected Patriarch, I was hoping to get your support in this, but it isn't like without you, I won't be able to participate. It's an open contest after all. So if you are having so many problems with our origin and motive, then I will excuse myself."

"Stop right there!" Just as Alex showed any movements, the soldiers surrounded him, pointing their spears towards his neck.

But then, a domineering aura surged from nearby, making the soldiers tremble in dread, as they felt their blood running cold

Rebecca's eyes were gleaming with something far more ominous than a threat; she was inches away from massacring these humans for pointing their weapons at her beloved.

"Don't you dare threaten him!" Her words resonated across the hall, and the pressure she extruded, was enough to make the soldiers back away immediately.

Godric raised his hand and gestured for them to go out. The soldiers heeded their command before the patriarch finally spoke,

"I am ready to support you, but on a single condition."

Alex raised his brows, no longer intending to walk out as he listened intently, "What that might be?"

"You need to completely dominate the field and make everyone know that Dorhales isn't just a vault of gold."

Alex was curious, "How will that be useful to you?"

"Umm...patriarch..." Before Godric could have said anything, the second in command interrupted, showing hesitation if Godric should be saying it.

However, "It's okay, Adam, he is worthy to know about it." Turning his eyes back to the silver head, Godric voiced, "Through this contest, we gain the right to vote during the Joint clan meeting. For the previous seven years, Eryndor has been enjoying the majority of votes since during the contest, only his warriors participate even in the quarter-finals."

Alex hummed, so that was the case. Through Alex, Godric wanted to make his presence profound during the meeting.

But unfortunately, after half a month or so, the world would no longer be focusing on these things. Once the Celestial Decree descends, every faction would be focused on choosing the Champion who can save their world from its doom.

But well, not like Alex could or ever would tell him about that. After all, because of Godric's deed, he was gaining himself a backer.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Understood; I will thoroughly demolish any enemy I would be facing in the championship."

---------**-------

After the long and tiring meeting with the Patriarch, Alex and Rebecca returned to their room.

Once Rebecca entered the room, she couldn't help but ask, "Why did you reject taking another room?" Although she asked that, the elated smile on her face told how contented she was with his decision.

Alex simply responded, "I still do not trust these people, so if I find some unnecessary steps being taken, it would be easier to run away if we are together."

Rebecca hummed happily, as she sat down on the futon and invited Alex beside her.

"I am not sleeping on the same bed," Alex told her before he took out a folded bed for himself.

"I was just asking you to sit down tho..." Rebecca's eyes turned sad.

Since it was getting cold and it would take time for his bed to warm up, he slid into her blanket, before asking, "Ask whatever you wanna ask."

Rebecca, with a face full of smiles, joined him in the blanket, before asking, "Did you meet your informant?"

Alex heaved a sigh, "I did...but she had to run away given we were attacked."

Rebecca's smile faltered as she asked, "Why is it...always a woman, Alex?"

The silver head raised his brows, "I feel someone has asked the same thing from me in the past...but well, does it matter? Man or woman, information is information."

Rebecca was about to say something when suddenly,

*Slide*

The door of their room was slid open, only to reveal the second Princess standing there, "Hello, Mister Savior."

There was a beautiful smile on her face as she walked in, "Were you resting just now?"

Alex was a little taken aback by her abrupt behavior, but he responded soon after, "Yes, I was a little tired."

The Princess looked at the intimate closeness between the two, urging her to ask, "I thought you two were pretending to be betrothed?"

Rebecca narrowed her eyes; the previous warmth vanished, and her demeanor turned frosty as she asked, "Why do you care? And just so you know, Alex and I are bonded by a relationship much purer and closer than a simple engagement."

Alex felt his brows twitching...what is this girl on about?

The Princess didn't stop smiling as she voiced, "Well then, I won't disturb you anymore. I just came here to deliver this letter."

Alex took the letter from her with brows raised, "Who sent it?"

The other one shook her head, "I have no idea. It was just stated to you so I brought it to you."

Alex nodded before he looked down at the letter. A frown appeared on his face, "There is no name on it."

The Princess smilingly said, "Flip it."

Alex did as she asked...and was shocked to find the name written on it,

--To Ceaser.

---------**---------

A/N:- Thanks for reading.