Chapter 25

The grand family meeting room, adorned with golden accents and elaborate tapestries, was uncharacteristically silent. Members of the royal family sat in their designated seats, exchanging nervous glances. The summons had been abrupt, the tone of the messenger firm and unyielding. None of them knew the reason, but the words “By order of His Majesty King Alexandros” had left no room for refusal.

The heavy double doors creaked open, and the air in the room seemed to shift. Alexandros entered, his presence commanding, his expression cold as carved marble. Gone was the gentle, approachable Alex they knew; in his place stood the sovereign ruler, the King of the realm.

He moved with purpose, his long strides echoing against the polished floors. His black and gold embroidered cloak trailed behind him, accentuating the regal fury radiating from his figure. His piercing gaze swept across the room, silencing even the faintest whispers. The attendants standing near the walls averted their eyes, overwhelmed by the weight of his authority.

Alex reached his seat at the head of the table and lowered himself onto the intricately carved throne. His movements were deliberate, his posture a testament to his control and strength. One leg crossed over the other, his hands rested on the armrests, fingers tapping lightly against the wood—a subtle yet ominous rhythm that mirrored the tension in the room.

His expression remained unreadable, but his eyes burned with fury. He said nothing at first, allowing the silence to stretch, his gaze traveling from one face to another. It was a calculated tactic, one that left the family members squirming under the weight of his unspoken anger.

When Alexandros finally spoke, his voice was low but carried an unmistakable authority that filled every corner of the room. “I trust you all understand that I have not summoned you here as a mere courtesy.” He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharpening. “I am here as your King. And I demand answers.”

The atmosphere grew heavier, the tension palpable. No one dared to speak, no one dared to move. They all waited, breath held, for Alexandros to reveal the purpose of this gathering.

Alex sat with a cold, controlled fury, his eyes fixed on the family members before him. Across the table were his father, the Lord; his mother, the Queen Mother; his uncle, the Lord; and his aunt, the Lady. Each of them sat stiffly, their expressions uncertain as they faced not Alex the son or nephew, but King Alexandros, whose authority demanded their attention.

He leaned forward, his voice sharp yet deceptively calm. "I’ve been thinking about something," he began, his words cutting through the silence like a blade. "And I thought it best to confront all of you together."

The tension in the room thickened. He turned his piercing gaze toward his mother. "Mother," he began, "did you tell Max that he should stay inside the palace more? And that he should wear loose clothing because that’s how royal people behave?"

The Queen Mother faltered but managed to nod. "I... yes, I did."

Alex’s jaw tightened. "Alright," he said tersely before shifting his attention to his aunt. "And you," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "did you say to him that the only thing he’s good for is giving the royal family its heir? That this is his sole purpose?"

The Lady paled, her hands clasping nervously in her lap. "I didn’t mean it that way—"

Alex abruptly stood, his chair scraping loudly against the polished floor. His sudden movement silenced her mid-sentence. He smirked—a cold, sarcastic smile that carried no warmth. "You didn’t mean it that way, but he took it that way, didn’t he? So it doesn’t matter how you meant it. Not to him."

The room was deathly silent as Alex’s voice rose, each word hitting like thunder. "You all need to understand something. In front of Max, your words matter more than your intentions. You don’t get to decide how he should feel or interpret what you say. He’s pregnant! Do you even realize the weight of that? He doesn’t need to decipher your words to find hidden meanings. You need to think before you speak to him."

He turned to his mother again. "I don’t care what you meant—whether it was good, bad, or indifferent. All I care about is Max. He’s the person I vowed to protect, the person I care for the most. That man is my husband. MY HUSBAND. And none of you have the right to make him feel small or insignificant."

Alex took a deep breath, his fury still simmering just beneath the surface. "From this moment on, Max can do whatever he pleases. He can roam the entire kingdom if he wishes, and I dare anyone—anyone—to tell him otherwise."

His voice crescendoed into a roar, startling even the most composed among them. "If I ever see anyone of you—anyone—telling him what he can or cannot do, let me remind you that this will not be a pleasant outcome." He paused, his glare icy and unyielding. "This is not Alex speaking. This is King A warning you. Do you understand me?"

The family members nodded mutely, their faces pale as they absorbed the weight of his words. Alexandros stood tall, his fiery gaze lingering on each of them. "I’ll take my leave now," he said sharply. "And remember: no one—not a single one of you—has the right to make Max feel unworthy again."

As he turned to leave, his rage softened ever so slightly. His eyes instinctively flicked upward, and there, peeking from a high window, he saw Max watching. Their eyes met for a brief moment before Max disappeared from view.

Alex’s heart clenched. He immediately headed toward their shared room, his previous fury melting away with every step. By the time he entered, he was no longer the commanding king but a nervous husband, worried about how Max would react. His demeanor had shifted entirely, and his family, watching his retreating figure, was left stunned.

It was as if the storm that had consumed Alexandros had suddenly dissipated, leaving behind a vulnerable man who only wanted to ensure the happiness of the person he loved most.

As Alex entered their shared room, he saw Max sitting by the window, his gaze distant, almost as if lost in thought. The tension from the family meeting still hung in the air, and Alex couldn’t shake the feeling that Max might be upset with him.

"Max," Alex said softly, his voice now quieter, the sharp edge of his earlier anger completely gone. "Did you hear all of that?"

Max didn’t look at him immediately. Instead, he just sighed, clearly not in the mood for a conversation. "I heard," he muttered, his tone sulky. "And I don’t need you to do that for me, Alex. You don’t have to act like that."

Alex furrowed his brow and took a few steps closer, sitting beside Max on the bed. "But I thought… they wouldn’t listen to me unless I was tough on them. You know how they are," he explained, almost sheepishly. "I didn’t want them to think they could just walk all over you. Don’t you think it would have been the only way?"

Max's lips curled into a pout, his eyes still not meeting Alex’s. "I understand you want to protect me, but that doesn't mean you should act like that, Alex. You scared everyone in there. And I hate it when you raise your voice like that."

Alex leaned in, trying to catch Max's gaze. "But it worked, didn't it?" he said, his lips curling into a playful grin. "They were all scared to speak, so now they’ll listen to you. And it’s for your own good, too, you know."

Max huffed, clearly still upset, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Yeah, well… that doesn’t mean you can keep scaring everyone just for me. I don’t like it." He crossed his arms, still looking away, trying to maintain his sulking stance.

Alex chuckled, his heart lightening at the sight of Max acting so adorably mad. He reached out, gently taking Max’s chin in his hand, turning his face towards him. "You really don’t make things easy for me, huh?" Alex said with a teasing grin. "You know, I do all this for you, and yet you still find a way to look mad at me."

Max blinked, trying to suppress his smile but failing. "I’m not mad at you. I just…" His words trailed off, and he finally looked at Alex, his eyes softening. "I don’t want you to be so harsh. But I guess… I understand why you did it."

Alex’s smile grew, his fingers brushing gently against Max’s cheek. "I’m sorry. I just want to protect you, that’s all."

Max sighed, leaning in closer, his face now just inches from Alex's. "I know you do," he murmured, his voice soft. "But next time… maybe try to protect me without scaring everyone to death?"

Before Alex could respond, Max closed the gap between them, pressing his lips gently against Alex’s in a kiss that was filled with warmth and forgiveness. It was soft at first, but the moment Alex relaxed into it, Max deepened the kiss slightly, his hands moving to cup Alex’s face.

When they pulled apart, Alex was left breathless, a smile spreading across his face. "Does this mean you forgive me?" he asked, his voice low and teasing.

Max nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, I forgive you," he said, his eyes soft. "But don’t do it again, okay?"

Alex chuckled, pressing a light kiss to Max’s forehead. "I promise, I won’t. But you’re going to have to remind me if I get carried away again."

Max rolled his eyes, but the smile on his face said everything. "You better keep that promise, Alex."

The two of them sat in comfortable silence for a moment, their hands finding each other’s, the earlier tension between them now completely gone.