Chapter 202: Alicia Visits the Ashard Estate

The following day, around noon, the Ashard Estate was unusually peaceful.

The sun hung high above the estate, casting bright light over the enormous gardens and training grounds.

For once, no explosions and no Silas were screaming about something. It was almost suspicious.

Alicia stood outside the main entrance with a small package in her hands. She stared at the estate.

"Why am I here again?"

She looked down at the package.

"Right. Chloe."

She had been asked to deliver something to Chloe personally. Simple and easy. Nothing could possibly go wrong, except for one tiny detail.

Alicia had completely forgotten that Alpha lived here. She walked through the estate grounds, following the directions she’d been given.

The estate was enormous. She had visited before, but that was when everyone gathered together after the City Qualifier to celebrate. Today, however, the place seemed strangely empty.

"Where is everyone?" She glanced around. Then she heard something, footsteps. They were rhythmic and steady. Someone was jogging.

Alicia turned, and stopped completely. A young man was running along one of the estate’s paths.

White-blonde hair, soft facial features, long eyelashes, fair skin, a slender waist, and a surprisingly well-defined chest and abdomen. His body was feminine in appearance, yet there was no mistaking the strength underneath it. His legs moved with practiced rhythm, his breathing controlled and steady.

He wore a simple black sleeveless shirt and athletic shorts. Sweat glistened faintly against his skin beneath the afternoon sunlight.

Alicia’s brain immediately stopped functioning. Alpha continued jogging. He hadn’t noticed her. His hair bounced slightly with every step.

Alicia’s eyes followed him, her grip on the package loosening.

"Pretty..."

She immediately slapped a hand over her mouth.

"What did I just say?"

Alpha passed by her and slowed. He glanced at her.

"Oh."

Alicia froze, while Alpha stopped.

"You’re here."

Alicia stared.

"Yes."

"You okay?"

"..."

Alpha tilted his head, but Alicia’s brain was screaming, "CUTE!" She mentally slapped herself.

’Get yourself together!’

Alpha wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Did Chloe send you?"

"No."

He blinked. "Then why are you here?"

"I’m delivering something."

She raised the package. Alpha nodded.

"Ah." He smiled. "Thanks."

Alicia’s heart skipped. She stared at that smile. It wasn’t even intentional. Alpha wasn’t using any of his abilities, and he wasn’t trying to charm her. He didn’t even have any ability relating to charming... yet. He was just smiling, yet Alicia suddenly felt strangely warm.

’Why is my heart beating faster?’

She frowned.

’Am I sick?’

Alpha looked at her suspiciously.

"Are you sure you’re okay?"

"I’m fine."

"You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

"I’m fine."

"You’ve been staring at me for about thirty seconds."

Alicia’s face turned red.

"I wasn’t staring!"

"You absolutely were."

"I was looking at..."

She stopped. What was she looking at? His face? His body? His hair? Everything?

"The weather..."

Alpha slowly looked toward the sky. It was perfectly clear. He looked back at her.

"The weather?"

"Yes."

"It’s sunny."

"Exactly."

"..."

Alicia internally screamed.

’Why did I say that?!’

Alpha scratched his head.

"Okay."

He apparently decided not to question it. That somehow made everything worse. Alicia looked at him again. His shirt clung slightly to his body from the sweat. She immediately looked away.

’Stop. Stop looking. Why am I looking again?!’

She didn’t realize it, but something was already happening. Alpha’s natural charm was affecting her- just his presence, his appearance, and his mannerisms.

The soft contrast between his feminine appearance and the strength beneath it. And Alicia was completely unaware.

The doors of the estate gym opened. Silas stepped out first. He was wearing a black training shirt and sweatpants, a towel hanging around his neck.

Chloe walked beside him. She had a water bottle in one hand and looked as expressionless as ever. Silas took one step forward, stopped, and looked at Alicia, then at Alpha, and back at Alicia.

His eyes narrowed.

Chloe followed his gaze. She also stopped. Her eyes moved from Alicia, to Alpha, then back to Alicia.

"..."

"Hey." Alpha waved.

Chloe nodded. "Hey."

Silas remained silent. Alicia noticed them.

"Oh!"

She immediately straightened.

"Chloe!"

Chloe walked toward her.

"You came."

"Yeah. I brought this."

She handed her the package, and Chloe accepted it.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

Silas glanced at Alpha, then at Alicia, and back at Alpha. His lips slowly curled upward. Alicia noticed.

"What?"

Silas shook his head.

"Nothing."

"Why are you smiling?"

"I’m not."

"You are."

"I’m naturally happy."

Chloe looked at him.

"No, you’re not."

"That’s hurtful."

Alpha looked between them.

"What’s going on?"

Silas pointed at Alicia.

"Ask her."

Alicia blinked.

"Ask me what?"

Silas grinned.

"Why she’s been staring at you as if you’ve descended from heaven."

Alicia’s face instantly turned crimson.

"I HAVE NOT!"

Alpha blinked.

"She was staring?"

"This idiot..."

Chloe calmly looked at Alicia. "Yes."

Alicia looked horrified.

"You noticed?!"

"Everyone noticed." Silas nodded. "Even the garden statue noticed."

Alicia looked toward the statue.

"Don’t bring the statue into this!"

Alpha’s eyebrows rose.

"Wait."

He looked at Alicia.

"Do you... like me?"

Alicia froze. Her soul temporarily left her body. Silas’s grin became enormous, while Chloe’s eyes narrowed slightly. Alpha waited.

Alicia’s face became progressively redder.

"I..." She looked at Alpha. Then quickly looked away. "I don’t know."

Silas slapped a hand over his mouth. Chloe looked at him.

"Don’t."

"I’m trying."

"You aren’t."

"I’m really trying."

Alpha scratched his cheek.

"Well..." He smiled awkwardly. "That’s kind of flattering."

Alicia looked at him, and somehow, that made her heart beat even faster. Silas finally lost the battle, and burst out laughing.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Alicia covered her face.

"I hate this place."

Chloe calmly picked up the package.

"Welcome to the Ashard Estate."

Alpha looked confused.

"What did I do?"

Silas wiped a tear from his eye.

"Nothing." He patted Alpha’s shoulder. "That’s the problem."

Alpha stared at him.

"What does that even mean?"

Silas walked back toward the gym.

"You’ll understand eventually."

Chloe followed. Before entering, she glanced back at Alicia.

"Try not to stare too much."

Alicia’s face became even redder.

"I wasn’t!"

Chloe nodded. "Of course."

She disappeared inside. Silas’s voice immediately came from the gym.

"She totally was!"

"Silas!"

Alpha stood outside with Alicia, completely confused. He looked at her; she looked at him. Both were silent.

Then Alpha smiled.

"So..." Alicia’s heart skipped again. "Want to walk with me?"

Alicia stared at him for several seconds. Then she nodded.

"Okay."

Neither of them noticed the small translucent system window that briefly appeared behind Silas inside the gym.

[Observation: New romantic variable detected.]

Silas glanced at it, and his grin returned.

"Oh, this is going to be fun."