{Third Person}
Elowen’s friends quickly turned it into playful retaliation, pointing at her and demanding so form of compensation.
"Drink!"
"Yes, you owe us at least that much!"
Elowen only laughed harder, leaning back as she accepted their teasing without resistance.
Amara watched them quietly, a faint smile forming on her lips. But not everyone joined in.
Kael remained still. While the others focused on Elowen, he leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice just enough that it didn’t carry across the table.
"You are really the human political bride... for the Alpha Prince?" he asked.
There was sothing in his tone, sothing less playful and more... searching.
Amara adjusted Ginger gently in her arms before nodding. "Yes."
Kael exhaled slowly, as though sothing inside him had finally settled. He lowered his gaze briefly, then inclined his head.
"My apologies," he said. "I did not address you according to your status before now."
Amara frowned slightly, caught off guard by the shift.
"I hope my behaviour toward you... has not been disrespectful in any way," he added.
There was a trace of sothing else beneath his words. Disappointnt, or perhaps sothing he hadn’t expected.
Amara noticed. She shook her head gently and said, "Not at all. You haven’t disrespected ."
Her tone was soft and reassuring.
Kael nodded slowly, though the heaviness in his expression did not fully disappear.
Then he leaned back into his seat, returning to the group even if he felt just a little more distant than before.
---
anwhile, in the room next door, Barron leaned back in his chair, a quiet, knowing smile tugging at his lips as the voices from the other side carried through the wall.
He didn’t say anything at first. Instead, he reached for another piece of beef, then a slice of fish, eating with exaggerated focus, as though the al in front of him demanded his full attention.
Across the table, Alexander watched him with annoyance flickering plainly in his gaze.
He saw the smile, felt the silence, and knew Barron was clearly listening. So he already knew Barron was doing it on purpose.
Barron chewed slowly, swallowed, then reached for his drink before finally speaking, his tone light and almost conversational.
"Wow," he said, as though comnting on the weather, "I didn’t know the political bride had a secret admirer among our people."
Alexander’s gaze sharpened instantly. Barron, however, didn’t even look at him. He picked up another piece of food, completely unfazed.
"Seems like things are getting interesting," he continued. "At this rate, more people might start vying for her attention."
Still, no response ca from Alexander.
Barron finally lifted his head and looked at him directly, the amusent in his eyes impossible to hide.
"Looks like you’ve got yourself so competition."
Having had enough, Alexander’s voice cut through the air, low and cold. "One more word about this from that mouth of yours, and I will have your tongue."
Barron paused, then slowly raised both hands and made a show of sealing his lips, miming the action with exaggerated care.
The ssage received.
Alexander exhaled faintly and reached for his glass, taking a asured sip of water.
Barron dropped his hands and glanced at the table. "You haven’t eaten," he pointed out, gesturing lightly at the untouched dishes in front of Alexander. "Is the food not to your liking?"
Alexander didn’t even look at it. "You eat," he said simply.
Barron nodded, as though that was all the permission he needed, and continued without hesitation.
For a while, the only sound between them was the quiet clink of utensils. Then, without warning, Alexander stood to his feet a few minutes later.
The chair scraped softly against the floor.
Barron looked up mid-bite and asked, "You’re leaving already?"
Alexander didn’t answer. He was already walking toward the door.
Barron was forced to swallow quickly, grabbed one last piece of food, and stood as well, following after him.
"At least wait—"
Alexander didn’t slow down to wait for him. He seed eager to leave the environnt.
Barron stopped after a few steps, watching him go before clicking his tongue.
"Go on, then," he muttered under his breath. "I have the key to the car. You will still have to wait for in the end."
A small smile returned to his face, then his gaze shifted toward the door next to theirs—the one the voices had been coming from.
Without hesitation, he turned and pushed it open.
The lively chatter inside ca to an abrupt halt as every head turned toward the door.
Barron stepped in as if he had been invited all along. "Hi," he said casually, lifting a hand in greeting.
The reaction was imdiate. Everyone, whether or not they recognized who Barron was, bowed their heads in silent acknowledgent of his presence.
Amara’s eyes widened slightly as a few thoughts began to wander in her head.
"Lord Barron." Elowen blinked in surprise as well. "What are you doing here?" she asked.
Barron shrugged easily. "I just finished having lunch next door with His Royal Highness," he revealed.
The room stirred instantly.
"His Highness is here?"
"He’s here?"
"The Alpha Prince..."
Whispers broke out around the table.
Amara blinked, her thoughts catching up slowly. ’Alexander... is here?’
At the sa ti, Elowen pushed her chair back and stood. "My brother ca here with you?" she asked.
Barron nodded, clearly enjoying every second of this. "Yes."
Elowen frowned. "Why didn’t he say he was coming?"
Barron only shrugged again. "Well, there was no need for that," he said lightly. "Also, he just left."
Then his gaze shifted from Elowen to Amara, then back again. "Are you both ready to leave?" he asked.
Elowen’s lips parted, ready to protest, but she didn’t get the chance as Amara had already stood with Ginger in her arms.
"I’m ready to leave now," she said.
The decision was sudden, but not unthought. In the brief mont before she stood, Amara had already weighed everything.
If Alexander was here, it was safer to return with him than with Elowen, just in case soone planned to make things difficult for her once she returned to the palace.
Elowen stared at her in surprise. "You’re leaving already?" she asked.
"Yes." Amara nodded without any signs of hesitation as she grabbed her purse as well.
Barron’s smile deepened, though he hid it well as he turned toward the door. "Then we will go back together," he said.
"Goodbye," Amara gave a quick, polite wave to the others, then she followed him out without delay.
She left behind a room full of stunned expressions and one pair of eyes that lingered on her a mont longer than the rest.
---
Barron led the way out of the restaurant without saying much, though the faint satisfaction on his face had not faded in the slightest.
The mont they stepped outside, the cool air greeted them. And just a few steps ahead, Alexander stood beside the car.
His posture was still, his expression slightly impatient, as though he had already been there longer than he preferred. His gaze shifted the mont he noticed movent.
It landed on Barron first, then on Amara. The faint lines of irritation on his face eased almost instantly.
Barron caught it. The corner of his lips lifted ever so slightly as he slowed his steps, allowing Amara to co alongside him before they both ca to a stop in front of Alexander.
Amara lowered her head politely. "Your Highness."
At the sa ti, Ginger let out a soft ow, her small head lifting as she looked directly at Alexander, as though seeking his attention.
He spared the cat a brief glance, then his gaze returned to Amara.
"Why did you co out?" he asked calmly.
Amara adjusted Ginger slightly in her arms before answering. "I am ready to leave, but Elowen is still with her friends, so... I thought I could return with you instead."
Alexander studied her for a brief mont, then he gave a small nod and did not question it further.
Behind them, Barron had already unlocked the car.
"You can both get in," he said casually, stepping toward the driver’s side.
Alexander walked around the car and opened the back passenger door for Amara, then gestured towards her.
This gesture took her unawares. She blinked a few tis and asked herself, ’He... he opened the car door for ?’
In the end, she recovered, thanked him, then stepped in carefully and adjusted Ginger as she settled into the seat.
Alexander closed the door once she was inside, then moved toward the front.
Barron’s amused gaze followed him. But at a glance from Alexander, he imdiately looked away and got into the driver’s seat.
The ride back was quiet at first. Barron, naturally, did not let the silence stretch for too long.
"So, did you enjoy your lunch?" he asked, glancing briefly at Amara through the rearview mirror.
Though Alexander looked like he wasn’t paying attention, his ears perked up.
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