{Third Person}
A car ca to a quiet stop across the street.
From where they were parked, the view was clear enough.
Alexander sat in the back seat, his gaze fixed ahead but unmoving, while Barron leaned slightly towards the window, his eyes following the other car that had just arrived.
A mont later, the door opened, and Elowen stepped out first. Amara followed shortly after, with Ginger in her arms.
Barron’s lips curved faintly. "Well, we were right on ti," he murmured.
Alexander did not respond, though his attention remained on Amara. In his eyes, she looked different outside the palace.
’Why does she look lighter and less guarded?’
For a brief mont, sothing in his expression shifted, though it disappeared just as quickly.
Ahead, Elowen said sothing that made Amara smile, and the two of them turned and walked towards a nearby restaurant.
Barron watched them disappear inside, then leaned back in his seat before turning to Alexander.
"Are you not hungry?" he asked casually. "Or are we just here to admire the scenery?"
A few seconds later, Alexander reached for the door, pushed it open without a word, and stepped out.
Barron’s smile widened as he followed almost imdiately. "I will take that as a yes."
Next, they crossed the street without drawing attention, their presence commanding without effort. By the ti they entered the building, the atmosphere shifted subtly, and the attendants at the front desk straightened almost instinctively.
Barron stepped forward first, and the attendants bowed respectfully.
"My lords."
Barron returned the gesture with an easy smile. "Two beautiful ladies just ca in before us," he said smoothly. "One bright, the other quiet. Which table are they seated at?"
The attendants exchanged a quick glance before one of them replied, "They were escorted to a private dining room, my lord."
Barron nodded, as if that was exactly what he expected. "In that case, we will take the room next to theirs," he said.
"Of course, my lord."
The attendants moved quickly, making arrangents without delay, then stepped aside to lead the way.
Barron followed, completely at ease. Alexander, on the other hand, walked behind him in silence, completely uninvolved.
He let Barron handle everything, just as he had since they left the palace. But his thoughts were far from still. A part of him was too aware of what he was doing.
Following her. Coming here. Sitting close enough to know where she was.
His sudden action wasn’t necessary or logical. And it was certainly not sothing he would have done before.
Right then, his steps slowed for half a second.
If he had left the palace alone in the first place, he would have turned back by now, returned to the palace, buried himself in work, and pretended none of this mattered.
But Barron was there, moving ahead without hesitation. Sohow, that was enough to keep him going.
So, Alexander said nothing and followed.
---
On the other hand, unaware of the eyes that had followed them across the street, Elowen pushed open the door to the private dining room and stepped inside with her usual bright energy.
Amara followed closely behind her with Ginger held securely in her arms.
The reaction was imdiate as soon as both won stepped inside.
"Elowen!"
Her friends greeted her almost at once, their voices overlapping with excitent as they stood or leaned forward in their seats.
But just as quickly as their attention landed on Elowen, it shifted to Amara. They were all about to welco her as well when their gaze dropped to the cat.
The room fell into a brief, noticeable pause.
"...Is that—?" one of them began, her brows knitting in disbelief.
"A cat?" another finished, clearly startled.
The surprise was not subtle. To them, the sight seed unnatural.
An animal they were used to hunting, being carried and protected, even... cherished.
Amara felt the shift imdiately, but before the mont could grow awkward, Elowen clapped her hands lightly.
"Don’t just stare," she said with a laugh. "At least let us sit first."
That broke the tension. Her friends quickly recovered, offering greetings properly this ti.
Amara inclined her head politely as she took a seat beside Elowen, keeping Ginger close. But even as everyone settled, the attention did not fully leave her or the cat.
Across the table, Kael’s gaze had already found her. And it stayed there quietly with intent, unmoving.
Amara didn’t notice, or perhaps she did but chose not to acknowledge it.
Once everyone was seated, curiosity took over completely.
"So... what exactly is that doing in your arms?" one of the won asked, leaning forward slightly.
Amara glanced down at Ginger, then looked back at them. "This is Ginger," she said calmly. "She’s my pet."
The word alone drew another wave of reactions. "Pet?"
Amara nodded. "She is a stray," she continued. "I took care of her, and she’s been with since I arrived here. She is a good company."
There was a brief silence, not uncomfortable, just... processing. And the difference between them beca clearer in that mont.
To the werewolves in the room, animals were not companions. They were prey. Food. Nothing more. So the idea of keeping one, naming it, holding it, caring for it felt foreign and strange.
And yet, their curiosity only deepened.
One of them leaned closer, eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Ginger. "She’s... small," she said.
"And quiet," another added.
Ginger, as if aware of the attention, shifted slightly in Amara’s arms and pressed closer to her, her body tense in a way that did not go unnoticed.
"She’s not used to this," Amara said softly, her hand moving gently over Ginger’s back.
Elowen picked up on it imdiately. "Alright, that’s enough," she said, her tone light but firm as she glanced around the table. "You’re all staring like she’s sothing exotic. You will only scare her."
A few of them laughed, easing back slightly. "Fine, fine," one said. "We will behave."
The atmosphere softened after that. Then, monts later, the door opened, and the waiters entered, moving efficiently as they placed dish after dish across the large round table.
The scent of freshly prepared food quickly filled the room, rich and inviting.
Glasses were set and plates arranged. Then, just as quietly, the waiters left, and Conversation resud.
Hands reached for food, and gradually, the focus moved away from the cat.
But across the table, Kael’s gaze never fully left Amara. He kept stealing glances at her with every opportunity he got.
---
The room settled into an easy rhythm for a while.
Amara found herself relaxing just enough to eat properly, her guard lowering in the warmth of the mont.
Then, Kael spoke. "May I ask you sothing?" His voice was calm, but it cut cleanly through the soft chatter.
The table quieted just slightly.
Amara looked up and saw that his steady, focused gaze was already on her.
"There’s sothing I’ve been wondering since the Hunt," he said. "Are you... related to the Royal family?"
The question landed without warning.
Amara blinked, caught off guard. Before she could respond, the others imdiately picked up on it.
"Now that you ntion it, I rember that too."
"You were seated with them, weren’t you?"
"And not just anywhere," another added. "You were seated beside His Royal Highness."
The curiosity that had been simring quietly suddenly rose to the surface all at once. And questions began to overlap.
"Are you so distant relative?"
"Or connected through marriage?"
"How did you end up sitting there?"
A few glances shifted toward Elowen as well, as though expecting her to confirm or deny everything.
Elowen only smiled. Amara, however, slowly set down her utensils.
The room gradually quieted again as attention returned to her.
She lifted her gaze and t theirs one by one. "No. I am not related to the Royal family," she calmly answered. "I have no blood ties to them," she added.
It took a mont for that to settle. Then—
"Oh—"
"Wait—"
"That ans..."
Realization began to spread across their faces almost at the sa ti.
One of them leaned forward slightly, eyes widening. "You are the political bride, aren’t you?"
Another gasped softly. "That’s the only explanation."
Instantly, all eyes snapped back to Amara. Kael’s gaze sharpened, his attention fully fixed on her now.
Amara did not answer imdiately, so the silence said everything.
"You are really the political bride?"
"Wait—so you’re actually his human bride?"
"That makes you Elowen’s sister-in-law!"
Voices rose in surprise, overlapping again, and the sudden burst of excitent startled Ginger in Amara’s arms. The cat shifted nervously, pressing closer against her.
Amara steadied her gently, then lifted her gaze once more. After a brief pause, she nodded.
The reaction was imdiate. A collective gasp filled the room. Then, almost as quickly, all attention shifted to Elowen.
"You—"
"Why didn’t you tell us?"
"You introduced her as your friend!"
Elowen burst into laughter, clearly enjoying herself. "Well, she is my friend," she said, completely unapologetic.
Her friends groaned in unison.
"You played us!"
"That’s not fair!"
"You owe us for this!"
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