4

ALFRED'S POV.

We arrived at the place, and I thought it would be a basement or some hidden underground spot. But no—it was a massive castle with huge gates and lots of guards everywhere. To get in, they scanned our IDs and faces, more thorough than airport security. They even opened our cars and checked inside, under them, and went through our clothes. I thought they were looking for guns or bombs, but they were also searching for cameras and phones. They took my phone, and somehow, they even found my spare phone! I always keep it hidden for emergencies, but I still can’t believe they found it. I’d hidden it under my seat in a secret pocket. These people weren’t playing around—this was way more serious than I had imagined.

I followed my father, keeping some distance as he asked me to, but I couldn’t take my eyes off his shoes. When we entered the place, I froze. It was nothing like I expected. There were so many elegant men sitting around a huge round table—it looked like a special edition or something. It wasn’t like anything I’d seen before. Like my father had told me, the champions sat behind the players, and there were guards everywhere. There was even a judge! It felt strange and intense.

My father and the others took their seats, but one chair was still empty. Less than a minute later, everyone stood up—my father, the champions, the guards, even the audience. They were all saluting someone. A man walked in with a powerful, confident stride. His presence was intimidating, but he was strikingly handsome. I couldn’t see his face clearly from where I stood, but I felt like I’d seen him before. He had to be the legend.

The game started exactly at 12 p.m. sharp. These men weren’t here for fun—this was serious. The room was dead silent, and everyone was focused. Round after round, players were eliminated until only my father and the legend were left. For the final move, they both hesitated for a moment before flipping their last cards. My father won. I didn’t even see the cards, but the judge announced him as the winner. I was so excited I clapped and smiled ear to ear. I even started walking toward him to hug him—but then I stopped. I remembered what my father had told me. No one else clapped. Everyone just stared silently, as if they were afraid to even breathe.

Suddenly, the legend slammed his fists on the table and shouted, “What the hell! You defeated the legend? How dare you!” His voice boomed as he glared at my father. He gritted his teeth, and my father, though visibly tense, stayed calm. I’ve heard people say that when someone knows they’re about to die, they lose their fear. Maybe that’s what was happening to my father.

“It’s just a game,” my father said, smirking slightly. “If you can’t handle losing, why let others play?”

Why was my father provoking him? He knew this wouldn’t end well!

The legend scowled. “You’ve got guts. Are you not afraid of me?” he growled.

“To be honest, I am scared,” my father replied. “I’m just a regular man. But I knew I was going to die sooner or later, so I did this for my family.”

The legend wasn’t listening. He roared, “Shut up, or I’ll fill you with bullets! You cheated, didn’t you? Admit it, and I’ll forgive you!”

“No, I didn’t cheat!” my father said firmly. “I practiced for this moment. And, in fact, I was the legend twenty years ago. Ask the champions if you don’t believe me.”

“Then why are you back now? To take back your name?” the legend demanded.

“No,” my father replied. “I did it for money. For my family.”

The legend didn’t care. He seemed deaf to anything my father said. At that point, I couldn’t stand by anymore. I had to protect my father. I rushed toward him, but as soon as I saw the legend’s face clearly, I froze. He looked at me, and we stared at each other for what felt like five minutes. He didn’t say a word to my father—just kept his eyes on me.

“Alfred!” my father yelled, pulling me behind him. “I told you to run if something like this happened!”

I stepped up beside him, wrapping my arm around his shoulder. “It’s okay, Father. I came here with you, and I’m not leaving without you—even if it costs me my life.” I shot a defiant glance at the legend, making sure my words were loud and clear.

The legend sat back in a chair that looked almost royal. Guards surrounded him, all armed. This was definitely his castle. He lit a cigar, exhaled slowly, and pointed at my father, signaling him to step closer. I stayed right by my father’s side.

The legend’s sharp eyes locked onto mine, and his frown deepened. His voice carried both mockery and curiosity as he asked, “So, how do you plan to save your father? Are you going to sacrifice yourself and die in his place?” His smirk made it clear that he thought he had complete control over the situation, as though my response would amuse him rather than challenge him. He leaned back slightly, waiting for my answer, his presence so overpowering that the air around him seemed heavier.

I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as I tilted my head back and gazed at the ceiling, as if searching for courage in those high, unyielding walls. “No,” I finally said, my voice steady despite the tension in the room. “I’ll give you my virginity.” My words hung in the air, shocking even me for a moment. It wasn’t just a statement—it was a gamble, the only move I could think of to tip the scales in my father’s favor.

The room grew so silent that I could hear my own heartbeat pounding in my ears. Every pair of eyes in the room was on me, but none more intently than the legend’s. He stared at me, his expression frozen in surprise, as if he hadn’t expected such a bold answer. A tense moment passed before he cleared his throat, breaking the stillness. With a snap of his fingers, he leaned forward slightly, his smirk returning as though he had regained his composure.

“I’ll accept,” he said, his voice calm but laced with authority. “But on one condition.” He paused deliberately, letting his words sink in before continuing. “Marry me.” His tone was so matter-of-fact that it almost sounded like an order rather than a request.

“Okay,” I replied without hesitation, my lips curving into a small grin. My response was simple, but it carried a quiet confidence that seemed to catch him off guard. I shrugged, as if agreeing to marry him was no big deal, even though I knew it was a monumental decision.

The legend’s eyes narrowed as he studied me, his curiosity evident. “Are you that scared of me?” he asked, his voice low but sharp. “Or is it that you’re afraid I’ll kill your father right in front of you?” His words were cutting, almost cruel, as if he was testing me, trying to see if fear was the only thing driving my decisions.

“Neither,” I said, meeting his intense gaze with one of my own. My voice was firm, and I refused to let him see any sign of weakness. Before I could say anything more, my father grabbed my hand tightly, his grip trembling slightly. He leaned in close and whispered urgently, “What are you doing, son? Are you out of your mind? You don’t have to do anything like this!” His voice cracked with desperation, and I could feel the weight of his fear for me.

I turned to my father and gently patted his shoulder, offering him a small, reassuring laugh. “This isn’t for you, Father,” I said softly, though my words carried a hidden determination. I glanced back at the legend, my expression calm but resolute. Deep down, I knew this wasn’t just about saving my father—it was something more.

The legend raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by my response. “Then why are you agreeing to my condition?” he asked, his tone laced with curiosity. He leaned forward slightly, as though he couldn’t figure out what my true intentions were. It was clear he wasn’t used to being surprised, and my actions seemed to puzzle him.

“Because I’ve dreamed of you,” I said simply, a smile spreading across my face. My words were honest, and for a moment, it felt like I was speaking more to myself than to him. I had dreamed of him before, and now here he was, standing in front of me. For a brief second, I wondered if this was all just another dream, but no—everything was real. The room, the tension, the legend himself—it was all real. And he was the man I had seen in my dreams.