Battle Of Planets

Chapter 16: Alex is Engaged!
”I won’t let you marry anyone else,” Alex said hastily ”I’m more capable than him, and I promise I’ll support you every step of the way. All my life””Alex, but you hate politics,” Seraphina tried to reason. ”If you get involved with me, then—”

”I don’t care,” he interrupted, his eyes softening as he looked at her. ”I love you more than I hate politics. We’ll manage, I swear it.”

Tyson glanced at the elders. Their faces wore knowing smiles as if they’d anticipated this all along. Even now, it seemed Seraphina had caught onto their plan.

”Do you really?” she asked, searching his face for any hint of doubt.

”Yes, I do,” Alex replied, his hand reaching out to her.

Seraphina closed the distance between them, throwing her arms around him in a tight embrace. ”I always loved you,”

President Edmund gave Tyson a side glance, winking before clearing his throat. ”You can’t fool us. I know you two are just bluffing.”

They both turned to face him, and Alex glared at the elders. Seraphina’s voice lowered to a whisper. ”What do we need to do so you’ll believe that our feelings for each other are true?”

Liora slid two beautiful rings across the table, her eyes gleaming with purpose. ”Get engaged, right here,” she stated matter-of-factly. ”We need something solid to believe.”

Edward nodded, his gaze was approving. ”Yes, although you are my son, you need to prove to me that you care about her, Alex.”

Tyson was speechless. The cunning old generation had staged this entire moment, fooling Alex and Seraphina into confessing their feelings for each other. They even managed to bring out the rings at the right time. They had planned this from the very beginning.

Without hesitation, Alex took the ring and extended his hand. Seraphina, with a shy smile, allowed him to slip the ring onto her finger. Then, she did the same, placing the other ring on his finger. As the three elders began clapping, Tyson couldn’t help but feel like he had just witnessed an elaborate chess move unfold before his eyes.

----

Tyson peeked around the corner, catching sight of his brother sitting alone in his room. Alex’s eyes were wide, and beads of sweat ran down his horse-like face.

He processed what had just happened as the realization began sinking into him. he was still stunned by the events that had unfolded so quickly as if its was a destiny.

Tyson pulled out his phone and dialed Nancy’s number. He felt needed tell the latest news to someone...He waited through several rings before she finally answered.

Nancy lay on her bed, half-heartedly trying to drift back to sleep, but her mind kept circling back to Tyson and his talk about the president’s daughter. She had tried to push it out of her mind, but it was like an itch she couldn’t scratch. Why did it bother her so much?

It wasn’t like she had any claim on Tyson—not officially, at least. They just started dating but the more he mentioned Seraphina, the more she felt like a shadow was creeping into the space between them.

She had always been the one Tyson turned to, the one he relied on. But now, it seemed like Seraphina was getting too close, too fast, and that sting of jealousy hit her hard.

She’s so perfect, Nancy thought bitterly, tossing and turning under her covers. Why would he ever want to be with me? When he can be with her...

The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth. She do not want to feel this way—she didn’t want to be one of those people who let jealousy take over their mind but it gnawed at her every time Tyson spoke Seraphina’s name.

Before she could calm herself, the phone rang, pulling her from her spiraling thoughts. She hesitated, staring at it for a moment. She shouldn’t pick up. But then again... it’s Tyson.

Nancy groaned, grabbing the phone, her heart racing a little despite herself.

”Hey! Nancy, you won’t believe what just happened! Seraphina and—”

”I’ll kill you, Tyson, if you mention her name again!” Nancy’s voice was sharp and furious, and without waiting for a response, she hung up.

She threw the pillow across the room, her breath heavy. Why does he keep talking about her like that? She seethed internally, frustration bubbling up. Why does it feel like he’s slipping away from me?

Her heart ached, and the more she tried to ignore it, the more she realized just how much she cared.

Tyson stared at his phone screen, speechless and thoroughly confused. What just happened?

He scratched his head, wondering what had caused such an intense reaction from Nancy. ”What’s going on with her?” he muttered to himself.

Alex wiped the sweat from his forehead, the coolness of his shirt sleeve as he glanced down at the diamond ring on his finger.

It was a silent reminder of what he had just done. He couldn’t help but stare at it, feeling the weight of the decision he just made.

Did he really mean it? He wondered. Did he love Seraphina enough to dive into this whirlwind?

All his life, Alex had prided himself on doing things on his own. He had never relied on anyone. Whether it was facing the world or even father or navigating his personal ambitions, he always believed he was better off going solo.

He thrived in his independence, the belief that no one could pull him in any direction but his own.

But now, with the cold ring resting against his skin, the very idea of doing something for someone else felt foreign, even terrifying.

I’m not ready for this, he thought, his chest tightening. I can’t just throw away everything I’ve built for this... this political circus.

Yet, beneath the doubt, there was a part of him that couldn’t ignore the truth—he cared for Seraphina. More than he had ever allowed himself to admit, more than he had expected to. But even as he stood there, watching her smile, watching their elders stage this tangled net of affection and duty, part of him wanted all this to happen.

I’ve always been the one who could move, adapt, and survive without anyone else. And now... now I have to be responsible for someone else? Another thought crept in his mind.

His thoughts spiraled until they were interrupted by a noise at the door. Tyson. Of course. The one person who never left him alone. Alex looked up at the ceiling, a wave of frustration hitting him.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he grabbed his shoe, the leather cool in his hand, and hurled it at the door. The shoe bounced off the doorframe with a loud *thwack*, narrowly missing Tyson, who scrambled away like a thief caught red-handed.

Great, Alex thought bitterly, sighing as he watched his brother run down the hall. Just great.

----

”When did you realize what we were planning?” Liora asked, a mischievous glint in her eye, as Seraphina sat beside her father and Edward, both of them basking in the success of their carefully composed plan.

”Well, I had a hunch when Father suddenly brought up the topic of my marriage,” Seraphina said, a soft smile tugging at her lips as she shyly touched her new ring. ”I got confirmation when I saw Uncle Ed sitting there, all silent, despite you all pushing me toward something I didn’t want.”

She had realized what was going on the moment things started feeling unusually suspicious. As the daughter of the President of Elria, if she hadn’t picked up on the sudden shift in the atmosphere, it would’ve meant she’d learned nothing over the years. Her instincts had been honed by a lifetime of watching and listening, and this wasn’t the first time the elders had schemed behind closed doors.

The group laughed, and Tyson, leaning casually against the doorframe, couldn’t help but glance down the hallway where Alex was still sitting alone, his mind a million miles away.

”You guys are a bunch of weirdoes,” he muttered under his breath.

”We just did what’s best for our daughter,” the President replied proudly, ”There’s no better match for her than Alex.”

”Yeah, those two are friends since childhood,” Edward added with a grin, raising his glass as he offered Tyson one. ”A bond like that doesn’t come every day.”

Tyson raised an eyebrow, taking the glass but clearly skeptical. ”Poor chap,” he commented.

”By the way, Tyson,” Seraphina said lightly, her tone teasing. ”I heard about Nancy from Uncle. What’s going on with you two?”

Tyson quickly gulped down the wine, avoiding the question entirely.

”He does need a little push, I guess,” President Edmund said with a faint smile.

”No!” Tyson almost shouted, causing everyone to burst into laughter. ”I’m fine. I want to take things slower.”

”Good lord, look at his face, Edward,” Liora remarked with amusement. ”He’s blushing!”

”I am not,” Tyson tried to defend himself, but his words faltered. ”I better go get some fresh air.”

”Tyson!” Edward called after him, his tone suddenly serious. ”Tell Nancy that I’ve invited her to a family dinner when we return.”

Tyson paused, a genuine smile tugging at his lips. ”I’ll let her know.”