{Third Person}
Amara waited as Julia arrived with an unreadable expression at first glance, though there was a certain sharpness in her eyes.
"Are you enjoying the attention?" Julia asked.
Amara frowned slightly. "I don’t understand what you an."
Julia scoffed softly, her gaze narrowing. "You really don’t, do you? Or perhaps you just pretend not to?" she asked.
Amara’s confusion deepened. ’Did she stop just to speak in riddles?’
Julia stepped closer, her voice lowering slightly, though the edge in it remained.
"Be mindful of your actions," she said. "And stop dragging His Highness into traps that are not even ant for him."
Amara blinked, caught off guard. "What—"
"Every problem you find yourself in sohow ends up involving him," Julia continued, cutting her off. "If you cannot handle the attention that cos with your position, then stop creating situations that draw more of it."
Her tone was no longer subtle. It was direct and critical.
"And if you have any sense at all," she added, her gaze hard now, "you will learn to stay out of his enemies’ reach instead of leading him straight into it."
Amara stood there, stunned. The words did not fully make sense to her.
Julia gave her one last condescending look before turning away without waiting for a response.
And just like that, she was gone, leaving Amara standing there, confusion written plainly on her face.
She remained still for a mont longer before finally turning back toward her carriage, her thoughts unsettled.
"Mrs. Woods, was that woman insulting or giving a warning?" Amara asked as soon as she sat in the carriage.
"Don’t pay attention to her," Mrs. Woods replied. "She has no right to lecture you."
"I thought as much," Amara muttered under her breath. Still, her brows remained furrowed.
---
By the ti Amara’s carriage returned to the Alpha Prince’s residence, the weight of the morning had almost completely disappeared.
She stepped down quietly, her gaze drifting toward the entrance of the house.
Mrs. Woods stepped forward at this ti and said to her gently, "My lady, it would be best if you inform His Highness about what happened at the Queen’s palace."
Amara turned to her, surprised. "Do you think..." she hesitated, then added honestly, "he would want to see ?"
The mory of that morning—of him walking past her without even acknowledging her—was still fresh.
Mrs. Woods smiled, a knowing softness in her expression. "His Highness may not say much, but he will listen," she replied. "At worst, he might ask Jasper to send you away."
That did not sound reassuring.
Amara’s lips pressed together slightly, but after a mont, she nodded. "...Alright."
She headed inside first, deciding to change her dress before going anywhere near Alexander.
The mont she stepped into her room, Ginger ca padding toward her, letting out a soft, expectant sound before brushing against her legs.
Amara bent down automatically and picked her up. "I’m going to see His Highness," she murmured, almost as if explaining.
Ginger blinked at her. Then, without hesitation, she settled into her arms.
Amara sighed softly. "You’re coming too, aren’t you?"
There was no resistance.
In the end, she adjusted her hold on the cat and stepped out again. Sohow, having Ginger with her made the idea of facing Alexander feel... less awkward.
Or at least, more manageable.
---
In his private quarters, Alexander sat at the dining table.
The spread before him was excessive by any standard—various cuts of at prepared in different ways, each dish arranged neatly but untouched, as though he had not yet decided where to begin.
Jasper stood nearby when a knock ca. He stepped out briefly, only to return monts later.
"Your Highness, Lady Amara is here. She wishes to see you," he revealed.
Alexander frowned imdiately. "Send her away," he ordered without thinking too much about it.
Jasper did not move. "She says she has sothing to discuss with you."
Alexander’s expression darkened slightly. The last person he wanted to face at that mont was her. But after a brief pause, he exhaled quietly.
"...Let her in."
Jasper inclined his head and stepped out again.
---
Amara paused at the entrance before stepping inside. The mont she did, her eyes landed on the table, and then, the food.
Her steps slowed slightly as she thought to herself, ’This is... a lot.’
Her gaze flicked toward Alexander, who was already seated, his posture composed, his expression unreadable.
She straightened instinctively. "Your Highness," she greeted.
Alexander gave a faint nod in acknowledgent.
Amara hesitated, then added, "I apologize... I didn’t know you were about to have lunch."
At the sa ti, Ginger shifted in her arms. Its attention had locked onto the table. More specifically, the food.
Amara felt it imdiately as the cat began to squirm, clearly interested and trying to move.
"No," she muttered under her breath, tightening her hold slightly. "Stay still."
Ginger did not agree. Its focus flicked between Alexander and the dishes, curiosity overriding everything else as it tried to free itself.
Before Amara could fully control it, Alexander spoke.
"If it does not stay in one place," he said coldly, his gaze fixed on the cat, "it will end up on this table as one of the dishes."
The effect was imdiate.
Ginger froze, then very slowly, it curled deeper into Amara’s arms and let out a small, subdued ow.
Amara blinked, then quickly lowered her head to hide the smile threatening to appear. ’So you do understand threats.’
Then, she cleared her throat lightly, composing herself again.
Alexander, anwhile, gestured toward the table. "Sit."
Amara nodded and moved to take a seat at the far end. But before she could settle properly, his voice ca again.
"You are too far."
She paused. Then she awkwardly shifted, moving closer until she reached the seat to his right.
Just as she sat down, a servant entered quietly, carrying a tray. Without a word, the servant placed a bowl of rice, a serving of soup, and a fresh set of cutlery in front of Amara before bowing and leaving.
Amara stared at the food, then at the table, then briefly at Alexander. ’...Am I really having lunch with him?’
This had not been part of her plan. Not even slightly.
Her gaze drifted again across the table, taking in the variety of at dishes laid out before him. There was enough food for multiple people.
"...Did you plan to eat all of this?" she asked before she could stop herself.
The question slipped out naturally.
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