Codename Black: Rise of the Fallen Commander

One Piece

"This charade has gone on long enough, Victoria! You’ve been consorting with a liar, a fraud, all to escape your duty to this family!" Edward's voice thundered through the room as he jabbed an accusing finger in Alex’s direction. "And you—standing there, pretending to be someone you’re not, deceiving us all—"

"Enough." Alex's calm voice cut through the storm of accusations, commanding the room’s attention. He stepped forward with quiet authority. "I’ll admit it," he said firmly. "I am not Heinrich Lancastriel’s adopted son."

Gasps echoed from the gathered family members and elders, the weight of his admission crashing over them like a tidal wave. Anger flared, rising rapidly among the crowd.

"You dare admit it now?" Edward shouted, his face twisting with fury. "You’ve lied to us, humiliated this family! For what? To take advantage of Victoria?"

Cries erupted from the onlookers.

"A fraud!"

"Shameless liar!"

"How dare he think he can get away with this!"

But Alex didn’t flinch. He stepped in front of Victoria, shielding her. "This has nothing to do with Victoria," Alex said. "She was never part of any lie. I take full responsibility for everything."

The room fell into a stunned silence. Victoria, standing behind him, stared at Alex in disbelief.

"That doesn’t absolve her!" Edward spat. "She's dragged our family’s name through the mud—"

"Let Alex speak!" Sir Thomas interjected, his tone commanding, eyes fixed on Alex. "You say this has nothing to do with Victoria... but you must understand the gravity of your actions. You’ve made a mockery of us. How can we trust anything you say now?"

Alex turned to face Sir Thomas directly. "I understand your doubts, Sir Thomas. But I didn’t come here to deceive or harm anyone. I only did what I thought was necessary to protect Victoria from an unwanted engagement. And while I may not be Heinrich Lancastriel’s adopted son, I stand by my word."

The tension in the room thickened as Alex’s voice echoed in the silence.

"I’m not here to offer false promises or claim titles that aren’t mine," Alex continued. "But I can still ensure the prosperity of your family, just as I promised."

A murmur rippled through the gathered crowd. Sir Thomas blinked, clearly taken aback. "And how exactly do you propose to do that?" he asked.

"By using my own resources and connections," Alex replied, meeting Thomas's gaze steadily. "I may not carry the Lancastriel name, but I am no ordinary man. I’ve built power and alliances of my own. I can protect this family—from anyone, including Dorian Blackwood."

The elders exchanged wary glances.

"You expect us to believe that?" Edward sneered. "You—a nobody mechanic—can offer protection greater than the Blackwood family?"

A subtle smirk tugged at Alex’s lips. "Believe whatever you like," he said coolly. "But I’ve never made a promise I couldn’t keep. And I’m not about to start now."

Victoria’s parents remained silent, their expressions conflicted. Sir Thomas, though visibly rattled, was the first to speak again. "If what you say is true... if you can secure the future of this family... then I will listen. But if you fail us, Alex, you will have more than just Dorian Blackwood to answer to."

Alex inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment. "You have my word."

Alex stood tall and let the noise wash over him for a moment. Then he subtly shifted his attention to Victoria, who still anxiously stood behind him.

"Victoria..." Alex called out. The suddenness of his tone caught her off guard.

She blinked. "What?" she asked hesitantly, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Do you believe in me?" Alex's eyes locked with hers.

Victoria, thrown off by the question, stammered. "Wh-what do you mean? Believe in you for what?" She couldn’t understand what Alex was getting at amidst all the accusations and threats. After everything that had happened, what was there to believe in?

Without missing a beat, Alex took a step forward. "You should believe in me," he commanded. "Because I am a thousand times stronger than Mr. Heinrich’s adopted son could ever be."

His declaration sent a ripple of shock through the onlookers. Victoria's eyes widened, and for a moment, she felt something stir deep within her.

The room suddenly fell silent. Everyone was listening now.

"You should believe in me because I am the one who will protect you from anyone who dares to harm you," Alex continued. "I don’t need a grand title or someone else’s name to prove my worth. I have the strength, the power, and the will to make sure you are safe. I’m not here to pretend to be someone else. I am enough. More than enough."

Victoria’s heart raced as she took in his words. She had never seen this side of Alex before. There was something about him that made her want to believe, even in the face of everything that had just unfolded.

"And you should believe in me," Alex’s voice softened slightly, "because I can make you the happiest woman in the world, Victoria."

Gasps echoed through the room. The elders now looked on in stunned silence. Even Edward seemed taken aback.

Victoria’s breath caught in her throat. She had no words, just the overwhelming emotions crashing over her like waves. For a moment, time seemed to stop. She stared at Alex, searching his face, trying to comprehend what he was saying.

"I’m not going to promise you empty things," Alex went on. "But I promise you that with me, you’ll never be alone. You’ll never have to be afraid again. I don’t care about titles, wealth, or what these people think. I care about you."

All eyes were on Victoria, waiting for her response.

"I..." Victoria hesitated, her voice shaky. "I believe you, Alex."

Alex gave a small, satisfied smile. "That’s all I need to hear..."

Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as Alex stood calmly in front of her, his hand outstretched, waiting patiently. There was no rush in his movement.

His eyes conveyed everything she needed to know: Trust me. I’ll take care of you.

For a brief moment, everything else faded into the background. All Victoria could see was Alex and the way he made her feel safe, even when everything around her was falling apart.

Without a word, she reached out and placed her trembling hand in his.

The simple act of holding his hand seemed to seal her decision. She chose Alex. She chose to believe in him.

Sir Thomas sighed as he uttered her name. "Victoria..."

"You are making a grave mistake!" Edward spat. "Don't you understand what you're giving up?"

"You’ll regret this!" Meredith added tearfully. "When he abandons you, don’t come crawling back to us!"

But their words no longer mattered. Alex squeezed Victoria’s hand gently, giving her the courage to stand her ground. He turned to her parents. "I think it’s time for us to go..."

Victoria nodded silently, taking a deep breath to prepare for what was to come. Together, they turned to leave.

As they took their first step toward the door, Dorian's voice finally rang out. "Do you really think... you can just walk out of here?" he snarled, his eyes filled with rage. "You’re not going anywhere, Victoria..."

With a flick of his hand, Dorian signaled to the dozen bodyguards stationed around the room. They moved swiftly, positioning themselves between Alex, Victoria, and the exit.

Victoria’s heart sank as fear crept back in. She clutched Alex’s hand tighter.

"Don’t make this harder than it has to be," Dorian said coldly. "You’re coming back with us, Victoria. And as for you"—he glared at Alex—"you’ll be lucky if you leave this house in one piece."