27

As soon as Elsa regained consciousness, Knox hit the ground with a loud thud. Surviving the fall from such a high ceiling seemed nothing short of a miracle. Dazed but alive, he stood up and made his way to a mirror. A small wound marred his forehead, but the moment he glanced at it, the injury vanished.

"Amazing," he muttered, pressing a finger to the spot where the scar had been. There was no pain, no trace of the wound at all.

"I'm turning into a complete Joseph," he said quietly, staring at his reflection. His hand glided over his face as if searching for any other signs of change.

As he gazed at himself in the mirror, a thought struck him. "No, not becoming like Joseph... I am Joseph." His eyes sparkled with excitement at the realization.

"Who would even know? The people of his planet could easily be deceived."

A plan formed in his mind as he stood there. What if he replaced Joseph entirely? Everything would be under his control—this planet, its people, and their advanced technology. He could even subjugate Earth’s population. The entire world could be his.

His scheme took shape swiftly. And as for Joseph? His weakness was obvious—Elsa. Knox just needed to control her, and Joseph would become nothing more than a puppet. He closed his eyes, considering the possibilities.

"Would it really be that easy to fool these aliens?" he mused aloud.

"Of course," Knox answered himself, a sly grin forming. "Poor Joseph thinks he’s always watching me, but he doesn’t realize that the easiest thing to deceive is the mind." He chuckled darkly.

In that moment, Knox had changed. No longer was he the man guided by principles and morality. Something about this planet had twisted him, altering his personality in ways he hadn’t anticipated. Perhaps it was the air, or maybe something deeper.

Joseph would soon learn that trusting Knox had been the second biggest mistake of his life—a mistake that could cost him everything.

Knox had become the wolf in sheep’s clothing, hidden within Joseph’s circle. But the question remained: would Joseph uncover Knox’s treachery in time, or was a new disaster about to unfold in the lives of Joseph and Elsa? Could the king of an entire planet be outwitted by a mere man from Earth?

"What have I been telling you for the past three days?" Elsa said, her tone exasperated, as Joseph entered the room with a smirk. It had been three days since Elsa had fully recovered, but Joseph still hadn’t taken her back, despite her repeated demands.

"Are you angry with me?" he teased, lips curved into a smile. "When have you been talking for three days?"

"Joseph, don’t test my patience," she warned, sitting down on the bed, clearly frustrated.

"You’re testing my patience by not believing in me. Do you really not trust me that much?" Joseph’s expression softened into an innocent look.

"Don’t give me that cheap lover’s talk," she snapped. "If I were into those kinds of things, I’d have two or three kids by now… yes… and—"

"What cheap lovers?" Joseph interrupted quickly, feigning ignorance. "Who are these cheap lovers you’re talking about?"

"Forget that. Tell me, what’s going on? You gave your heart to Knox, and now you’re playing tricks on me, storing memories in my mind—memories you can erase at any moment?" She marched toward him, standing directly in front of him, her eyes blazing. Despite her height, she barely reached his chest.

"As usual, you've imagined everything," Joseph sighed, giving in.

"And as always, you're lying to me," she shot back, her voice firm.

"You really want to go back, don’t you?" he asked, his tone more serious now.

"Yes."

"Then let’s go." Without another word, he grabbed Elsa’s hand.

"Close your eyes and take a deep breath. We need to get to the control room."

"If you want me dead, just kill me now. Why bother?" Elsa tried to pull her hand away. She knew what this meant—Joseph was planning to take her to his planet, and she couldn’t survive there without protection. The very air would suffocate her.

"Close your eyes," he commanded. Her breath caught in her throat, her fear silencing her protests.

A moment later, she felt a freezing gust of wind hit her face, as if someone had shoved her into a freezer. But the sensation passed quickly. When she opened her eyes, she found herself in a strange, narrow chamber. It looked like a massive test tube, expanded just enough for them to stand inside. Through the glass walls, she could see the control room outside.

"Is this glass?" she asked in awe, reaching out to touch the wall, her earlier anger momentarily forgotten.

"If it were glass, it would shatter the moment it hit the ground."

"Then what is it?"

"I made a cage for you," Joseph said, barely holding back his laughter. "And only I know the code to open it. From now on, you’ll stay here."

"So why are you still standing here? This is my cage, right? Leave." She spun around, glaring at him in frustration. Joseph just smiled.

"You look good when you’re angry."

Elsa’s mouth dropped open. "Who taught you to flirt? I guess copying my behavior isn’t all you’re doing now?" She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"This isn’t flirting," he replied. "Now, let’s go."

Elsa looked up and saw that the lid of the test tube had opened. Before she could react, she found herself suddenly airborne, and she screamed. They both flew out of the tube. As soon as they landed, the test-tube-like rocket vanished into thin air. She instinctively checked her hands and feet, ensuring she was unharmed.

"Feels like you had throat surgery," Joseph teased.

"What?"

"To silence your voice," he laughed, clearly enjoying himself.

"You heartless alien!" Elsa yelled at the top of her lungs, her voice echoing as she stormed off. Joseph, grinning, covered his ears and followed close behind, mimicking her steps like a shadow. On Earth, he acted like a normal human being.

"Okay, Anna, tell me something," he called out, keeping pace with her. Elsa remained silent, fuming.

"I’ve seen your world, my world, many planets, countless galaxies… but I’ve never seen this nonsense. Where is this place you keep sending everyone?" He had a knack for asking serious questions in the most nonchalant way possible. Elsa stopped in her tracks and turned to glare at him. But when the same familiar colors and butterflies began to flutter around her, she quickly averted her gaze.

She muttered under her breath, "Go back, Joseph... we’re not heading toward the same destination."

She could sense that he’d heard her. When no response came for a while, she turned to look behind her, but he was gone. She glanced around in growing anxiety. The wide expanse of greenery and towering trees seemed to mock her.

"Did he really leave?" she whispered.

"Good," she told herself, blinking away the moisture in her eyes as she picked up her pace. "Maybe that’s for the best."

"Elsa...?" Her father’s voice echoed through the door as he knocked, waking her. It was seven in the morning, and she had barely gotten any sleep after going to bed at three.

Groggily, she forced herself up. "What is it, Dad?" she asked, still half-asleep.

"Do you know what day it is today?" he sounded uncharacteristically stern.

"No," she yawned. "But did you wake me up just to ask that?"

"Elsa..." His voice carried an edge of frustration now.

"Yes, Dad?" she finally opened her eyes and sat up properly.

"I'll check the calendar," she muttered, getting ready to head out.

"No need. Today’s the fifteenth... and you need to be ready in one minute. We’re going to the parlor in fifteen minutes, so hurry."

She blinked, confused. "Maybe I’m still dreaming."

Her father shot her a look as if she’d lost her mind. She felt a sinking sensation in her chest, something wasn’t right.

"Okay, I’ll be ready in five minutes," she said, trying to gather herself.

"Only five minutes," her father warned as he walked away.

As soon as he was gone, she slumped onto the bed, running her hands through her hair. "What’s going on? Why haven’t I been there in days?"

"Don’t think so hard or your hair will fall out," Joseph’s voice suddenly echoed in her mind, jolting her upright in shock.

"What is all this about, Joseph?" she demanded aloud, her anger flaring. His amused laughter echoed in her thoughts, making her nerves fray.

"We’re engaged today."

"What? Who told you that?"

"I did. And you know I’m always right."

"Are you joking?"

"Not at all," his voice sounded deeply satisfied.

Her father’s voice called out again from outside, and she hurried to meet him. As she descended the stairs, her thoughts raced. Was Joseph really waiting for her outside? Could this be real?