"Yes," Althea replied, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I'm sorry, Robin."
Robin's fists clenched at his sides. "What about me?" he demanded, his voice louder now. "What about us? I thought you loved me!"
"I did. I still do," she admitted, her voice breaking. "But… I love him more. I'm sorry."
Robin stood there, the weight of her words crashing down on him. Then, almost out of nowhere, a spark of hope lit in his eyes.
"Wait a second. You said you came from a small tribe, right? Less than a thousand people? Do you have customs or traditions where men fight for a woman's hand? Because if that's the case, I'll challenge him. I'll crush this Ross guy and win you back!"
Althea gave him a bittersweet smile. "There is a tradition. It's called Lagus. It's a duel meant to resolve conflicts, but…"
"But what?" Robin prodded, his excitement building.
"Lagus doesn't end with just a winner and a loser," Althea said grimly. "It ends with the death and complete annihilation of the loser."
Robin hesitated for only a moment before scoffing. "Good! That'll make my victory even sweeter. I'll smash him without breaking a sweat!" He flexed his arm, as though to prove his point.
Althea didn't react, her face unmoved. "You'll die, Robin. You wouldn't last a second against him."
"Impossible!" Robin shot back. "How strong can he possibly be—"
Before he could finish, Althea stood, and in an instant, she vanished from sight. A feather-light touch brushed the back of his neck.
"You're dead," her voice whispered behind him.
Robin spun around, his heart racing. "What the—" But there was nothing there.
"It's no use, Robin," Althea said, suddenly back in her seat as though she'd never moved. Her eyes glowed faintly with a crimson radiance. "You can't even track my movements, and Ross is far stronger and faster than I am."
Robin's jaw dropped. "What the hell was that? And your eyes—what's happening to them?"
"This is soul art, the one I was talking about earlier," she explained. "It's a power that comes from within. In my past life, my people cultivated it. It's part of who I am."
"Teach me!" Robin said, his excitement returning. "If I learn that, I can definitely beat Ross!"
Althea shook her head sadly. "It's easier to scale the heavens than for you to master soul arts, Robin. You have no aptitude for it."
Robin stared at her, his frustration mounting. "Were you even on Earth in your past life?"
"I don't think so," Althea admitted. "There's no record of my people here, no knowledge of soul arts. It must have been a different world entirely." She looked at him with a mixture of sadness and resolve.
"I'm sorry it's come to this. If you're still unconvinced, look in the room I stayed in earlier. It's just a glimpse of the destruction Ross is capable of. Please, Robin, don't follow me. It'll only lead to your death."
Before he could respond, she vanished again, the door to the suite opening and closing in an instant.
"ALTHEA!" Robin shouted, sprinting through the suite. He searched every corner but found no trace of her. Finally, he entered the room she mentioned.
The sight stopped him cold. The walls were scorched, the furniture splintered, as though a bomb had gone off inside. Whatever doubts he'd had vanished in an instant.
Robin clenched his fists, his determination surging anew. "I'm not giving up just like that," he muttered, grabbing his phone. If there was any way to bridge the gap between him and this otherworldly Ross, he was going to find it.
* * *
The day wound to a close as Ross drove home with his harem, the convoy of sleek, expensive cars gliding smoothly into the driveway of his opulent mansion.
The house stood like a modern-day palace, its glass-paneled facade reflecting the deep orange hues of the setting sun.
Laughter and casual conversation filled the air as the group exited their vehicles, their arms laden with shopping bags from their day out.
Your next journey awaits at empire
Ross led the way, his confident stride exuding an effortless charm that captivated everyone around him. When they stepped through the massive double doors, however, the lively chatter ceased abruptly.
Someone was already inside.
The group froze in place, their gazes locking onto the figure standing calmly in the middle of the grand living room.
"Wow," one of the women said, breaking the silence. "It seems like you've got a visitor, Ross." Her voice carried an edge of curiosity and wariness.
"She's beautiful," another murmured, narrowing her eyes. "And… strangely familiar."
"Wait a minute," Jade said, her voice rising in astonishment. "Isn't that… Althea Quinn?"
The room collectively gasped, the name rippling through them like a shockwave. Althea Quinn—celebrity, household name, an icon whose face graced magazines and billboards alike. And now, here she was, standing in their midst.
Ross's expression remained unflappable, a lazy grin tugging at his lips. "Ahhh… yeah, she's a close friend of mine," he said, his tone nonchalant. "We've been chatting online for a while, and this is the first time we've actually met in person. She decided to surprise me."
Althea inclined her head gracefully, her smile warm but composed. "Hello, everyone," she greeted, her voice smooth and inviting. "I'm Althea. This was meant to be a surprise visit for Ross. I found the key to your house under the flowerpot, just like you mentioned in one of our chats." She looked at Ross with an air of familiarity that didn't go unnoticed.
Ross's harem exchanged skeptical glances. Jade, always the boldest of the group, crossed her arms and stepped forward, her sharp gaze fixed on Althea. "Is what she said true, Ross? Or have you charmed yet another woman into your little circle?"
There was no malice in her words, but there was certainly suspicion. Jade's piercing eyes darted between Ross and Althea, and she couldn't help but notice the subtle way Althea's gaze lingered on Ross—filled with something deeper than mere friendship.
Ross chuckled, the sound rich and amused. "I don't know, Jade," he replied smoothly. "Maybe we should let Althea answer that for herself. Hehehe."