Codename Black: Rise of the Fallen Commander

At Their Worst

Edward’s face flushed an alarming shade of red. His fists clenched tightly at his sides as he paced the length of the room.

“This… this is all because of Dorian!” Edward spat. "She’s using this connection to Heinrich Lancastriel as a ploy! It’s the only explanation. She’s playing games to escape the engagement and sabotage our plans."

Sir Thomas sank heavily into a chair, burying his face in his hands. "Edward, we don’t know that—"

"Don’t be naive, Thomas!" Edward snapped. "Why else would a man like Heinrich Lancastriel suddenly take an interest in her? He’s not the type to meddle in the affairs of ordinary families like ours without some leverage. It must be tied to Dorian. Either Victoria is conspiring with Heinrich, or Dorian’s enemies have caught wind of this engagement and are trying to undermine it."

Sir Thomas looked up, his eyes weary and filled with doubt. "You really think Dorian's rivals would go that far? Involving a man like Heinrich in something as personal as an engagement?"

Edward stopped pacing and faced his brother. "The Blackwood name has powerful enemies, and Victoria’s defiance is putting all of us at risk. This isn’t just about her anymore. She’s dragging us into something far bigger than we realize. If Dorian believes Victoria’s loyalty is compromised, he’ll cut us off completely. And if Lancastriel is involved..."

He didn’t finish the sentence. The Blackwood family wielded immense power in the city, and crossing them—or appearing to threaten their interests—could bring ruin to anyone in their orbit.

"Victoria’s actions are reckless," Edward continued. "If she refuses to marry Dorian, if she keeps defying us… you’ll lose everything, Thomas. Everything."

Sir Thomas sat in silence, fully aware his brother wasn’t exaggerating. His shoulders slumped. "What are we going to do now, Edward?"

"We need to act, and fast," Edward growled. "Dorian needs to know about this. He needs to be informed that Victoria is in contact with Heinrich Lancastriel. It’s the only way to control the narrative before she makes fools of us all."

Sir Thomas nodded reluctantly.

Edward’s eyes gleamed. "We’ll call Dorian. And when this is over, Victoria will understand that defying this family was the biggest mistake of her life."

***

In the dim light of the rented villa, Alex sat silently in the living room, his focus sharp as he administered a self-treatment to purge the lingering poison from his system. As he worked, his thoughts wandered to Dorian Blackwood, Victoria's arrogant fiancé.

‘Dorian will pay’, Alex thought, his grip tightening on the armrest of the chair. His steely gaze hardened with every passing second. The more he uncovered about Blackwood, the clearer it became that the man’s reach was poison itself.

He had to be crushed. And Alex would be the one to do it.

Suddenly, the front door creaked open. Victoria stepped inside, freezing at the sight of Alex.

“You’re… still here?” she asked, surprised. She had expected him to leave, especially with the danger surrounding them both.

Alex looked up, a faint smirk playing on his lips as if he'd been waiting for this very moment. "Where else would I go?" His voice was calm—too calm, considering he’d just been battling poison coursing through his veins. "This is the safest place I know..."

Victoria blinked, her confusion shifting to concern as she crossed the room and approached him. "You don’t look well," she observed, noticing the sheen of sweat on his forehead. She hesitated, unsure whether to press further. "What’s wrong with you?"

Alex glanced at the mixture on the table next to him, then back at her. "Nothing you need to worry about," he replied. "It's something I’ve dealt with for a long time."

“But—”

“Victoria,” he gently interrupted, “I’m fine. What about you? You seem… rattled.”

She swallowed hard, her hand instinctively tightening around the business card Hawthorne had given her. "It’s my family," she said, sinking into the chair opposite him. "They’re furious—especially my uncle Edward. He thinks I’m trying to sabotage the marriage to Dorian."

Alex’s eyes darkened at the mention of Dorian, though he kept his expression neutral. "And are you?" he asked softly.

Victoria hesitated before speaking. "I never wanted to marry Dorian," she admitted. "Not from the start. He’s… cruel, controlling. But now, with all this... I don’t know what to do anymore.” She sighed, tears threatening to spill. “My family is falling apart, and they’re blaming me."

Alex leaned back in his chair. "You’re not responsible for their greed or Dorian’s threats," he said quietly. "But you do have a choice. You can let them control you, or you can fight back."

Victoria stared at him, unsure. "Fight back? Against Dorian? Against my family?"

"Against all of them," Alex replied. "Dorian won’t stop unless someone makes him. Your family won’t stop unless they fear losing everything. The real question is, what are you willing to do?"

"I..." She faltered, uncertain. "I don’t know if I can."

Alex leaned forward. "You can," he said firmly. "And you will. I’ll make sure of it."

The room fell into a tense silence. Victoria didn’t fully grasp what Alex was offering, but she knew one thing: with him by her side, she wasn’t alone anymore.

She nodded. "Alright. I’ll fight."

Alex allowed himself a small smile. "Good. But remember, you're not just fighting for yourself—you’re fighting for your future. And I’ll be there to make sure you win."

Victoria sat quietly, letting his words sink in. After a moment, her eyes softened as she looked at him.

“You know,” she said with a thoughtful smile, “you never told me your full name. Or maybe you can’t remember it yet. But since you stepped in like some kind of knight... I think I’ll call you ‘Knight.’” She tilted her head, teasing slightly. “It suits you well.”

Alex raised an eyebrow. “Knight?” he repeated, mildly amused. “I think I’ve been called worse.”

Victoria chuckled softly, but the humor quickly faded as her thoughts returned to Dorian. Her smile faltered. “Thank you,” she said quietly, “for standing up to Dorian. I don’t know how to repay you.”

Alex leaned back, studying her with those calculating eyes. “There’s nothing to repay,” he replied. “I did what needed to be done.”

“But Dorian...” Victoria began. “He won’t let this go. He seeks revenge, and when he does... I don’t want you caught in the crossfire.”

Alex’s face remained unreadable, but there was a sharp glint in his eyes. Victoria reached across the table, gently placing her hand over his.

“I want you to leave,” she said softly. “Take this.” She fished into her pocket and pulled out a small envelope filled with money, sliding it toward him. “It’s not much, but you should use it to get away. I don’t want to see you hurt because of me.”

Alex glanced down at the envelope, then back at her. “You think I’m afraid of Dorian Blackwood?” he asked, his tone firm.

“It’s not about being afraid,” Victoria insisted. “I know you can handle yourself, but Dorian has connections—power. He could come after you, and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to you.”

A shadow of a smile crossed Alex’s face. “Victoria, you don’t need to worry about me. If Dorian tries anything, he’ll find out exactly what kind of mistake he’s made.”

“But I can’t just sit here and do nothing while he—"

Alex gently placed his hand over hers, cutting her off. "I appreciate what you’re trying to do," he said softly. "But I’m not running. Not from Dorian. Not from anyone."

Victoria’s heart skipped a beat as their eyes met. "But why?" she asked quietly. "Why would you risk yourself for me?"

Alex’s gaze softened for the briefest moment. He didn’t answer immediately, as if weighing his words carefully.

“Because you deserve better than this,” he said simply. “And I’m not going to let anyone take that away from you.”

Victoria’s throat tightened at his words, and she gave him a small, grateful smile. “Then I guess you really are my knight.”

Alex smirked slightly. “If you insist.”

“Just promise me you’ll be careful,” she added.

Alex nodded. “I will.” He leaned back, arms crossed casually. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’ve never been bullied, not since the day I was born. Dorian or anyone else—they’re no threat.”

"I don’t doubt you can handle yourself," she said softly, fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. "But I thought I could handle things too, and now… I’m barely holding on."

Alex’s gaze softened, but before he could respond, Victoria spoke again.

"There’s something I didn’t tell you earlier," she said, taking a deep breath. "I haven’t had much control over my life lately, but Heinrich Lancastriel… he’s the reason I’m not married to Dorian yet. He rescued me… when things were at their worst."