As soon as the door closed, Elizabeth exhaled deeply and finally relaxed. She pulled a bottle of wine from under the desk. From one of the drawers she took out three glasses, which clinked softly as she set them on the table.

  “It hasn’t been five seconds since Gornorax left, and you’re already reaching for the alcohol,” Astarion muttered with a faint smile.

  “Don’t be a bore,” Elizabeth said with a dramatic wave of her hand. “Besides, we still haven’t celebrated Alex’s victory over Lorenzo. And this is one of those rare moments when we’re all free.”

  “For you, any achievement of Alex’s is a reason for a feast,” Astarion chuckled lightly, sitting down beside Alex.

  “Unlike some people, I know how to celebrate my nephew’s successes,” Elizabeth replied, pouring wine into the glasses. “Sure, we could arrange a grand dinner the way certain people do for their sons, but in my humble opinion, that’s far too dull.”

  Astarion sighed, but didn’t argue. Elizabeth handed out the glasses and looked at Alex. Her eyes shone with genuine pride. She raised her glass and said warmly, yet firmly:

  “To Alex.”

  “To Alex,” Astarion echoed.

  Alex simply smiled in return. The glasses clinked, and each took a sip.

  Astarion spoke first:

  “You were smart to embellish the story about the underground a little when telling Gornorax. I’ve heard about him from several aristocrats — all of them mentioned his hot temper and tendency to doubt any information.”

  “Fenrix told me the same,” Elizabeth nodded. “So it’s no wonder Gornorax decided to test you. If I didn’t know you, I’d also find it hard to believe that a second-year student managed to take down Lorenzo and all his underlings alone. Your improvisation was excellent, by the way. How long did it take you to come up with it?”

  Alex smiled faintly.

  “Actually, I didn’t come up with anything. Everything I told him was the truth. And the man I went through the entire underground with… was the Jester.”

  Silence filled the office. Elizabeth stared at him, visibly stunned. Astarion’s reaction was more contained, but even he couldn’t hide his shock. Alex took a calm sip of wine, set the glass down, and continued:

  “I understand why you’re surprised. I was no less shocked when I saw him — especially considering that there hasn’t been any news about him for eight months. But I have to admit: with his help, the whole chase after Lorenzo took much less time than I expected. And without him, I probably wouldn’t have been able to save all the slaves and orphans at once. It was his subordinates who transported them to the Jester’s estate, where they received help.”

  Elizabeth was the first to recover. She looked aside, composing her thoughts, then said with a trace of irony:

  “So the main antagonist finally makes his return.”

  “Alex,” Astarion said seriously. “Tell us everything. Every detail. What happened underground?”

  “As for the part about the underground, everything happened exactly as I told Gornorax,” Alex answered. “The Jester and I didn’t talk much — only exchanged a few brief remarks. But after it was over… he invited me to his place. He said he wanted to talk in a calm environment.”

  “What?!” Elizabeth exclaimed, alarmed. “No, Alex, that’s unacceptable. Such a meeting should take place on neutral ground. Letting you go into his claws alone is far too dangerous.”

  She shot a quick glance at Astarion, as if asking for support. He opened his mouth to agree, but Alex interrupted:

  “You don’t need to worry. That meeting already happened. Yesterday. And, as you can see, I’m completely fine.”

  Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. A moment later, Adam walked into the office. He greeted his father and Elizabeth calmly, but immediately noticed their expressions — surprised, tense, slightly confused. His gaze slid to Alex, who sat at the table perfectly relaxed, holding a glass of wine.

  Adam smiled lightly.

  “Looks like I came right on time,” he said, taking a seat in an empty chair.

  Looking at his father and then at Elizabeth again, he suddenly let out a short laugh and quickly apologized:

  “Sorry — but now I understand exactly what kind of face Alex laughed at yesterday.”

  “Yours was even more surprised,” Alex countered with a smirk.

  Elizabeth, who had been silently processing the situation, finally turned her eyes from Alex to Adam. Her expression softened — a warm, almost maternal smile appeared on her lips.

  “Good to see you, Adam,” she greeted and pulled another glass from a drawer. Filling it with wine, she handed it to him. “Help yourself.”

  “Thank you, Miss Elizabeth,” Adam nodded, accepting the glass.

  Then Astarion spoke, turning to his son:

  “So you already knew about Alex’s meeting with the Jester?”

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “I only knew that it happened,” Adam replied calmly. “And Alex promised to share the details today, so everyone could hear them at once.”

  “I see,” Astarion said shortly, shifting his gaze to Alex. “Then tell us. Everything. Without embellishment. What happened between you two.”

  His voice was calm, but it carried both seriousness and concern. Alex took another sip of wine, set the glass on the table, and leaned forward slightly.

  “Well…” he began. “There really is a lot to tell.”

  He started his story. First — about how the Jester invited him to visit the freed orphans and slaves who had been given shelter in his estate. How those children, who had survived real hell in Lorenzo’s dungeons, were now receiving help, a roof over their heads, and care. And though the Jester remained just as ironic, mysterious, and at times provocative, Alex sensed something new in him.

  Then he moved to the main part — their conversation. How they spoke about each other’s motivations. How the Jester, for the first time, talked about what he truly wanted. About a gazebo, about the wind, about a mug of ale beside his wife. A simple, yet sincere dream. It impressed Alex more than any grand speeches.

  “There wasn’t a hint of deception in his words,” Alex said quietly. “And though I don’t have Astarion’s ability to feel a heartbeat, I… believed him.”

  He went on about their decision to join forces. About how the Jester agreed to become, in a sense, his teacher. To help with what Alex lacked most — endurance. And for that, he needed real trials, the kind only someone like the Jester could provide.

  “We even had a duel,” Alex added. “A small test to gauge each other’s strength.”

  A faint smile appeared on his face.

  “I lost. Expectedly. But I learned a lot from that fight. And the Jester promised to prepare a training plan for me once I finish dealing with the orphans.”

  Everyone listened attentively. Adam — with light, barely concealed admiration. Astarion — focused, his brows slightly drawn together. Elizabeth — silent, but with less fear in her eyes now, replaced by interest and anxious hope.

  Alex looked at each of them, then continued:

  “That’s… all we talked about.”

  He took another sip of wine, pushed the glass aside, and a brief silence settled in the room. Only a moment later did Alex speak again.

  “Though… there is one more thing. But I’ll get to it in a moment. First, I’d like to hear your thoughts on what you’ve just heard.”

  Adam was the first to break the short silence. His voice was calm and firm:

  “Even though I don’t trust the Jester…” he paused for a moment and looked at Alex. “I trust you completely. If you’re confident in your choices, then I have no objections. I’m with you.”

  Then Astarion spoke. His voice remained steady, but every word carried weight and restraint:

  “I also have doubts about this alliance. But you’re no longer a boy, Alex. And I’m certain you understand what you’re getting involved in. Perhaps…” he sighed lightly, “you might even manage to pull the Jester to your side.”

  He took a sip of wine, but set the glass down immediately, looking at the young man with seriousness.

  “But please — be careful. Very careful. His words, like his past actions, may be nothing more than a cover. It’s possible all of this is just a way to distract your attention from something truly important. Although…” he smiled faintly, “I’m sure you already considered that when you agreed.”

  He turned his gaze to Elizabeth, raising a questioning brow.

  “Am I right, Elizabeth?”

  Elizabeth had remained silent all this time, never looking away from Alex. Her face was like carved marble — calm, distant, contemplative. But at last she pulled a faint smile and nodded:

  “Yes. You’re right, Astarion. I’ll trust Alex’s decision as well… and I hope everything turns out for the best.”

  Alex smiled. A small spark of relief and gratitude bloomed inside him at that moment.

  “Thank you,” he said sincerely. “Thank you all for your support.”

  He leaned back slightly in his chair, taking a deeper breath.

  “To be honest, I hesitated for a long time. I couldn’t decide how I truly felt about the Jester, or whether I was ready to trust him completely. And even now, after making my choice… I still have small doubts about whether it was the right thing to do. His words may be sincere, or they may be manipulation. But…” he shrugged, “I need to do something about my endurance one way or another. I won’t get access to S-rank dungeons. And of all the available options — the Jester remains the fastest, most reliable, and strongest resource I could use.”

  Alex paused, took a sip of wine.

  “Besides, he isn’t asking for anything in return. For now. Which means I can focus solely on training. And I’m glad you supported my decision. It… made things a little easier for me.”

  He fell silent for a moment, but there was something new in his eyes — a shadow of something left unsaid.

  “Well then, we can return to the final detail of my conversation with the Jester.”

  He glanced at each person present.

  “You all remember the potion the Jester injected into Reiner? The one that restored his normal appearance.”

  All three nodded.

  “For a long time, I believed that potion was something universal. That aside from healing and restoring physical form, it could also serve as a remedy against curses.”

  Alex paused, his voice lowering slightly.

  “But I was wrong. The Jester said it won’t help here.”

  Alex’s gaze settled on Astarion’s face.

  And something in that face changed. Subtly, barely noticeable. As if a tiny spark of hope that had been smoldering there quietly… finally went out. The line of his mouth tightened. He lowered his gaze, trying to maintain composure — but for a brief moment, his expression revealed more than any words could.

  Silently, Alex opened his inventory. His fingers slowly reached for a small glass vial filled with black liquid. He turned it in his hand for a few seconds, examining it carefully, then lifted his eyes to Astarion.

  “This…” he said calmly. “This is the potion the Jester gave me. According to him, it can remove any weak or moderate curse. Whether it can handle a strong one — is unknown.”

  Alex held the vial out to the count.

  “But… it’s worth trying.”

  Astarion didn’t react immediately. His eyes locked onto the vial, his face frozen in a tense expression. He reached out, and Alex felt the faint tremor in his hands as the count took the vial from his palm. Astarion’s gaze remained fixed on the dark liquid — as if it held the answer to a burden he had carried for more than a decade.

  The silence was deep and heavy, until Adam’s anxious voice broke it:

  “This… this might really help Mother?”

  Alex shifted his gaze to the boy.

  “I don’t know.” He shrugged. “And since neither you nor your father fully trust the Jester — the choice is yours, whether to use this potion or not.”

  Adam took in a breath, then looked at his father. Astarion was still holding the potion, unable to tear his eyes from it.

  “Father…” Adam whispered.

  Astarion slowly raised his gaze. Hope and doubt, fear and resolve all mixed in his eyes. The count looked at Alex:

  “If you don’t mind… I would like to return home. And…” he paused, gripping the vial tighter, “use it.”

  Alex smiled softly, warmly, sincerely.

  “And who am I to stop you from finally having a chance to see your wife again?”

  He glanced at Adam, giving him a playful wink:

  “And your mother. After all, you’re waiting for that meeting just as much.”

  Astarion looked to Elizabeth — as if seeking one more shard of support. She merely nodded, smiling gently.

  “Go, Astarion,” she said softly. “We’ll be waiting for news.”

  The count rose from his seat, and Adam stood up right after him. He walked closer to his father, lightly touching his arm, as if helping him steady his emotions.

  A bright magical circle flared beneath their feet. And a moment later, they both vanished, leaving behind only a fading pulse of mana.