"What?"

"My son will die because he'll cause the Age Water to disappear and he will become terribly ill, " Alexander continued while I could hear my heartbeat echoing in my mind.

"What? He'll become ill? Why?"

"Because of the Age Water. After it disappears, it leaves a disease to the person who made it run dry, " Alexander answered solemnly.

"A disease? What disease, exactly?" I questioned, feeling faint.

"It's a combination of the two most deadliest diseases. Small Pox and the Black Death."

I gulped as I tried to stay calm. "But, Alexander...why are you telling me this?"

He was silent for a moment. A long moment.

"Alexander?" I whispered softly and his eyes locked with mine.

"Believe it or not, I was once in his place. Before I became leader, I was too attached to my work that I barely ate or slept. But my father..."

"What is it, Alexander?" I put a comforting hand on his shoulder. He sighed, but this time, it wasn't filled with sorrow.

"My father did something that saved my life. I would've been hopeless without him."

"What'd he do, Alexander? Can it save River too?"

Alexander smiled at me. "Oh, yes. I believe it can."

"Well, what is it?" I asked, hopeful.

"You see, my mother died of old age. River's mother, my wife, was past her fifties, but she ultimately died due to other natural causes. "

"They don't drink the Age Water?"

"No, only leaders are allowed to, " Alexander informed me and I frowned slightly. "My father believed that I needed another mother in my life."

"That wasn't possible in a week's time and he didn't want to be with anyone other than my mother. So, he had another idea, " he grinned. "He decided that I didn't need another mother, just another woman in my life."

I nodded. "Your wife, River's mom."

"Exactly. Now River is the one who needs a wife, " Alexander said, completely oblivious to how much the thought of River with another girl affects me. "And I know just the right person."

I took in a deep breath and quietly murmured. "Who?"

While I was practically in pain, Alexander was smiling as if he found a million dollars.

"Well, I'm thinking about a girl who's mature, beautiful, focused, friendly, intelligent, independent, trustworthy, and...pure, " Alexander listed, my eyes widening at each word.

Who was this girl? She sounded incredibly perfect.

"Who is she?"

Alexander chuckled. "Why, you, of course!"

"Me?" I gasped before pausing. "Wait. Is there someone named You I don't know about?"

"No, Miss Blair. There is not."

I gaped at him, bewildered and dumbfounded. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Completely, absolutely, positively, utterly sure?"

"Yes, " he smiled softly. "But, Miss Blair, this is entirely your choice. I can't force you to marry my son. As much as I love him, I wouldn't do such a thing to you or any woman. It's inhuman."

"I know. I appreciate that, " I nodded, forcing myself to be stay calm and collected. I had to do the right thing. I was definitely not a killer, even if I was in an assassination organization. "But, Alexander...you won't have to force me to marry your son."

His eyes gleamed with joy and I smiled. "It's inhuman to not save someone from their death when given the chance to. I would marry River every single day if that meant he would live."

"Oh, thank you! Thank you so much!" Alexander exclaimed. It felt good to make someone this happy.

And the fact that I get to marry my crush. My past crush, I meant.

"Miss Blair," Alexander cleared his throat. "Soon enough, I'll be calling you Mrs."

"How soon, exactly?"

"I'm hoping in a month's time. If that's alright with you."

"When is River's ceremony for when he takes full leadership?" I asked as we began to walk back to the building.

"Four months. I want to leave some time in between for you to connect with him and for River to become less addicted to his work, " he explained and I nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, that sounds good. When are you going to tell this to River?"

"He already knows."

I froze; my stomach dropped. I reluctantly questioned: "And he's fine with this?"

"He was okay with it. I didn't tell River the real reason why I wanted you to marry him, though, " Alexander informed me and I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Then, what did you tell him?"

"To become leader, you need to be married. Precisely that, " Alexander said. "It's believable because every leader for the past century has gotten married before their ceremony. It was somewhat of an unspoken tradition."

"Oh, " I murmured. "What a great coincidence."

"Indeed."

—

After Alexander left me to train with River, I ended up taking the path to the training rooms where River's office also was located.

"Hey, " I said, leaning on the door.

He looked up and smiled. "Blair. I thought we were meeting in the training room?"

"I know. I just passing by..."

"Oh. Well, here, " he threw me a water bottle from his mini fridge and I easily caught it. "Nice catch."

"Thanks. If you're not ready yet, I'll wait–"

"No, no. It's fine. Let's go, " he reassured me before walking with me to the training room.

"Where were you this morning? I went to your room to tell you I had to work some more before training. But you weren't there."

I cleared my throat. "Yeah. Um, I was with your dad."

"So...you know?" River questioned, suddenly tense, and I smiled playfully.

"Know what, my dear fiancé?"

"Smooth, Blair, " River chuckled before nervously rubbing the back of his neck. "But are you okay with it?"

"Are you?" I murmured.

He shrugged. "Well, if I had to marry someone today, I'd be glad if it were you. I don't really talk to anyone else the way I talk to you."

"Yeah... Me too, River, " I smiled softly; he reluctantly returned the smile.

Perhaps this wouldn't be a disaster after all. Or maybe it will be.

At least it'd be a beautiful disaster.