Chapter 214 - TEASER: Volume 2 (12-Year-Old Aleksis)

"Big Brother, will you leave me in the lobby?" Aleksis asked as she opened the car door and got out. She then took her puppy and carried him in her arms.

"Of course not. I will accompany you until your family comes," answered 'Prince Siegfried*' firmly.

"Oh, that's good. I am sure my parents would love to thank you in person for saving me." Aleksis was glad to hear that 'Prince Siegfried' would accompany her to the lobby.

She looked at him intently and suddenly realized that he didn't intend to meet her parents. 

"Will I be able to see you again?" Aleksis asked again. Somehow she had a bad feeling that this would be their last meeting.

'Prince Siegfried' stared at Aleksis for a few long seconds. He tried to hide his feeling through a smile and his purplish eyes looked as calm as the ocean, but the look in his eyes could not lie.

He did not want to meet her again.

Aleksis looked at 'Prince Siegfried' without blinking for a long time, which made the young man uncomfortable.

"What is wrong?" he asked in surprise.

Aleksis just frowned, "You don't want to see me again... How can I win the Go* match if you don't want to meet me again? Why don't you want to see me again? Am I that bad?"

'Prince Siegfried' slowly nodded, "Yes."

"Ahhh... Big Brother, you're so mean!" Aleksis smacked his shoulder in annoyance, "Am I really that annoying to you?"

'Prince Siegfried' just laughed. He then shook his head seriously and spoke in a very gentle voice, "I'm just kidding, little girl. You are the most amazing girl I have ever met. You will grow into an extraordinary woman. You are smart, beautiful, and very pleasant to be around. I don't want to promise things I can't keep, I'm not that kind of person. I can easily spit out reassuring words, but what if I can't keep that promise? That's why, I'd better not promise anything. Let us assume that in eight years you will defeat me in a Go game. I will just admit my defeat now."

"But why can't we have a proper match in eight years? I don't want to win without competing..." said Aleksis stubbornly. "Unless you really don't want to see me again..."

"It's not like that," the young man shook his head slowly, "I told you, I don't like to make promises. So many things can happen in eight years. What if I am no longer alive by then? Then I won't be able to compete with you and I'd break my promise. That's why, I don't want to promise anything..."

Aleksis immediately covered her lips with the back of her hand in surprise. Why was this man always so mysterious?

Why would he die before she could meet him again...? He was young; only in his early 20s. How could he possibly die? Unless…

"Are you terminally ill?" Aleksis asked worriedly. "Why do you think you will die before you can meet me again? My father is a very skilled doctor... He will definitely be able to cure your illness..."

"You said your father doesn't work...?" asked 'Prince Siegfried' in surprise, "Now suddenly he is a doctor? Little girl, you are indeed very good at scheming."

"No... I did pretend that my name was Laura, and I framed you to jump into the ocean, but this time I am telling you the truth. My father is a great doctor, but he is currently not practicing. He is taking a long break to stay at home with our family..." Aleksis was aware that Prince Siegfried wouldn't trust her words easily because she always talked so carelessly.

"Hmm... alright." Prince Siegfried nodded. He suddenly felt tired of this conversation, "I'm not sick, don't worry, but I'm not sure if I will have a long life either. That's why I can't promise to meet you again for the Go game match. So today, I just admit defeat."

He shook hands with Aleksis, who was dumbfounded and shook her head unsatisfied.

"I am pleased to meet you, for the second time, Aleksis. If we have a third meeting in the future, I will consider us to be destined, just as you and your puppy are destined to meet." Prince Siegfried stroked the back of the puppy on Aleksis' lap with affection, "Do you already have a name for him?"

Aleksis pursed her lips, "His name is Prince Siegfried!!"

The young man gasped in surprise, but his face looked amused, "Why... am I your dog now?"

"The thing is, you said that if we will meet again for the third time, it shows that we are destined, just like I am destined to meet this puppy. So, I will just consider him as you," Aleksis shrugged.

The young man nodded seriously and ruffled Aleksis's hair, looking amused. "Alright then."

.

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*Prince Siegfried is a royal prince from German mythology who was famous for being a dragon slayer

*GO is an abstract strategy board game for two players, in which the aim is to surround more territory than the opponent. The game was invented in China more than 2,500 years ago and is believed to be the oldest board game continuously played to the present day. People play with board and black and white stones. The game can last 1-6 hours, and some professional games exceed 16 hours and are played in sessions spread over two days.