After having breakfast with his family, Alexander was escorted back to the Command Ops where he will continue his duty as the commander-in-chief of the country at war.

Arriving at the Command Ops was the same gesture that staffers had been doing every time he came. Truthfully told, he was getting bored of it, and too lazy to remind them that they don’t have to do that gesture. He knew that he’ll always get the same response.

“So, how’s the extraction progressing?” Alexander promptly asked the moment he took his seat.

“Thanks to the sophisticated radar equipment of our reconnaissance aircraft, we plotted a route that will get us into the Britannia Empire without them seeing us. A destroyer that is part of the Baltic Fleet detached and is heading towards Britannia using the aforementioned route. This way, the helicopter that will pick the Special Forces and the survivors out of London would have enough fuel to get in and to get out.”

“You sure you have neutralized every anti-aircraft weaponry or aircraft around London right?” Alexander asked as memories of him being hounded by three spitfires flitted in his mind.

“There’s nothing to worry about, Your Majesty,” Kutnetzov assured. “I guarantee that we will bring them out of there alive and make sure that they won’t suffer the same fate as you.”

Kuznetzov said as if he was reading his mind.

“And how long is this mission going to take?”

“We estimated at fifteen hundred hours in St. Petersburg time,” Kuznetsov immediately answered him as if he already planned everything out.

“Very well. This time, keep me updated. I’m going to leave the Command Ops and visit someone here,” Alexander said as he rose to his feet.

“May I know who is the person you would be visiting?” Sergei asked carefully, trying not to sound bossy.

“You know him, Sergei,” Alexander shot a meaningful glance at Sergei.

Sergei decoded it with his keen wit and the answer that came up in his head is no other than the man himself. He snapped out of his pondering mode and spoke.

“Your Majesty, it’s dangerous,” Sergei warned.

Alexander scoffed, shrugging his warning off. “That man is chained from head to toe. Held the maximum security the Command Ops has to offer, and his prison cell is guarded by the elite members of the Imperial Guards. If he was Rolan, I would probably take your warning seriously, but considering the man’s condition right now, I think I can handle myself pretty easily against a pathetic person like that.” Alexander finished confidently.

“Well, if you say so, Your Majesty. But please be careful when you start speaking to him,” Sergei advised him before bowing his head.

With a wave of the hand, dismissing the subject, Alexander left the Command Ops Center. The Imperial Guards led him to the prison cell where they are keeping Sevastian temporarily.

“Your Majesty, do you wish to speak with the prisoner?” the chief, whose task is to keep an eye on Sevastian, asked.

“I do, so would you prepare it for me? I have some questions that needed answering,” Alexander answered him and looked pointedly at the Chief, and stepped closer to the cell.

The Chief nodded his assent before opening the door and stepping aside for the Emperor to enter.

Alexander entered immediately and the door was closed promptly behind him. He made a quick glance around the prison cell, a square cell with an area of five square meters. It was small, which is how the prison is supposed to be in the first place. The walls are made of solid concrete, there’s no way for a human to punch through that. In the center, Sevastian can be seen, sitting in a cold metal chair, his wrist bound to a table with steel cuffs. His neck was also chained with the chain connecting to the chain that binds his feet.

With all that set-up, he is rendered immobile. He can jerk, but that’s the only best he can do.

Alexander pulled a chair and sat across him. Despite Alexander’s appearance, Sevastian had never lifted his face, at least not yet.

Alexander twiddled his fingers nonchalantly before starting his questioning. “Why did you do it?”

Sevastian looked like he wanted to glare daggers at the person sitting opposite of him. Instead of speaking, he grunted angrily.

Not taking the hint, Alexander continued. “I mean why, an esteemed relative of the Royal Family turned his back on his emperor and the country? I know you gave me an answer but that was the time when you were completely irrational. I’m sure that locking you up here for three days has made you gather your thoughts. So, why?”

“The answer is the same, Your Majesty. Your grandfather and father’s shitty governance has led this glorious empire into ruination.”

“Well if that was your intention, believe me, I would have the same answer. They really don’t know how to run a country. They thought ruling the country with fear would bring them a good benefit when in actuality, it was quite the opposite,” Alexander stated calmly, even though he really wants to strangle the man in front of him. “They didn’t know anything about the responsibilities of being the ruler. Let me ask you this. When I was crowned and proclaimed the new Emperor, what do you think was the first answer I asked myself?” he rhetorically asked.

Sevastian didn’t answer, instead, he let him continue.

“Actually being an emperor doesn’t have to be idealistic. You just work for the best interest of your people and your country. Do that, and they’ll respect you and serve you well,” Alexander answered his question. “I was doing a pretty good job on it which I’m sure you witnessed yourself based on the data and the statistics you are analyzing to calculate the growth of the empire, am I right?”

Sevastian didn’t answer. He kept his eyes glued to the table

“I think I’m speaking to a wall here because he is not exchanging words with me.”

“Just get straight to the point!” Sevastian growled through gritted teeth.

“Despite my track record, why do you still want to take over? Do you really think you would do a better job than me?” Alexander asked.

“A person can be the wisest, but the moment he hesitates, even though knowing that it has to be done, he will fall further into the pits of self-loathing and misery,” Sevastian answered without missing a beat. “I don’t have that kind of trait.”

Alexander smiled wryly. “So, you really think you are better than me, huh? I’ll stop beating around the bush then. I will ask you a question and you are going to answer me truthfully.”