{Third Person}
Escorted by palace guards, the royal family all began making their way toward the banquet.
Monts later, their arrival was announced. "His Majesty, King Sebastian Thornfield, and Her Majesty, Queen Lysandra."
"The Second Prince, Lord Zarek and his mate."
"The Third Prince, Lord Rowan and his mate."
At once, the entire banquet rose to their feet. Amara stood as well, lowering her head in a respectful bow along with everyone else.
The King and Queen ascended to their seats, their presence settling over the entire space like a command.
The princes and their mates moved toward the front row of the Werewolf side. Amara’s gaze followed them without aning to. This was the first ti she was seeing them properly since arriving in this kingdom.
The weight of their presence, their roles, their relationships—it all beca clearer in that mont.
"Sit," King Sebastian said with a smile, and everyone obeyed.
As soon as they settled, the low, steady beat of drums filled the air. A traditional folk song followed, rich and rhythmic, as perforrs entered from the open end of the oval.
They carried instrunts unfamiliar to Amara, their movents synchronized as they took their places at the centre.
For a mont, the music eased the tension, then Amara felt a gaze. She turned her head slightly and t Queen Lysandra’s eyes and imdiately gave a polite nod.
The Queen’s lips curved faintly before she asked, calm but pointed, "Where is the Alpha Prince?"
Amara answered just as calmly. "Your Majesty, I was escorted here alone."
In an actual sense, she was simply saying, ’Don’t ask , I know nothing about him.’
Then, without waiting for a response, she turned her attention back to the perforrs, her focus fixed ahead as if the question had already ended.
The music continued, but her mind didn’t settle with it. A thought crept in despite herself. ’Why isn’t he here?’
And just as quickly, she answered her own question. ’Perhaps this is exactly why he is disliked.’
At the royal table, King Sebastian’s gaze drifted to the empty seat beside Amara, and his expression darkened.
Below, murmurs began to spread among the Werewolf officials. Low voices, restrained but unmistakably displeased, questioned the Alpha Prince’s absence.
"What kind of attitude is this?"
"On a night like this..."
"Before both kingdoms..."
None of it escaped the ears of those seated nearby.
Zarek heard enough. A slow smirk ford on his lips as he lifted his cup of tea, taking a asured sip to hide it. His eyes flickered briefly toward his father, noting the tightening of his expression.
That was when Queen Lysandra leaned in toward the King, deciding to seize this rare opportunity.
"The Alpha Prince is the only one missing," she said softly, her voice ant only for the King, yet sharp as a blade. "What ssage is he trying to pass with his absence? Everyone has noticed."
She paused briefly before continuing, "Does he not understand how important this banquet is? Or... is he deliberately trying to show that he rejects the political bride and the peace treaty?"
The King’s frown deepened. Whatever restraint he had been holding onto slipped.
With a sharp gesture, he summoned one of his guards. The man approached imdiately and knelt.
"Take two hundred guards," the King ordered, his voice firm and final. "Go to the Alpha Prince’s residence and escort him here."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The guard rose and left at once.
Zarek watched the entire exchange unfold, satisfaction settling quietly in his chest. He lifted his cup again, taking another sip as if nothing of importance had just happened.
At the centre, the folk song carried on, the perforrs unaware of the storm quietly brewing beneath the surface.
anwhile, seated among the Humans, Lila had already noticed what others were whispering about.
Her gaze swept lazily across the royal tables before settling on the most obvious detail—the empty seat beside Amara.
The Alpha Prince was absent.
A faint scoff ford in her mind as her lips curved slightly.
’So this is the beast I would have been sent to marry?’ she thought. ’Not even present at his own banquet.’
In her eyes, it only ant one thing—the Alpha Prince either had no regard for Amara, or worse, he didn’t even find her worth the effort.
Just then, her gaze flicked back to her sister. Amara sat alone at that elevated table, composed on the outside, but to Lila, she looked utterly exposed.
’How pitiful,’ Lila mused inwardly, satisfaction settling comfortably in her chest. ’Seems like life isn’t so sweet on your side after all.’
Leaning slightly toward Torin, she lowered her voice. "Doesn’t she look pitiful?" she murmured, her tone laced with quiet amusent. "Sitting there all alone... while her dear husband couldn’t even bother to show up."
Torin didn’t look at Amara imdiately. When he finally did, his gaze was brief, detached.
"She doesn’t look pitiful to ," he said flatly.
Lila’s smile deepened just a fraction. That cold, final tone was empty of anything that resembled care. It told her everything she needed to know.
’Good.’ She leaned back slightly, reassured, then continued softly, "What a miserable life she must be living here. I heard earlier today that it’s common for princes here to have multiple won... concubines, consorts..."
She let out a small sigh, almost sympathetic, though her eyes betrayed her. "And the worst part? She’s not even his main wife."
Torin’s expression didn’t change. "Stop worrying about her," he said, his voice calm but dismissive. "She’s living out her fate."
Lila turned to look at him fully now, her smile warm, satisfied, as their eyes t. That was exactly what she wanted to hear.
At the centre of the banquet, the performance ca to an end. The final note of the folk song lingered in the air as the dancers completed their routine. In perfect unison, they bowed deeply before retreating from the floor.
Coordinated applause followed. Then, King Sebastian rose to his feet, and the entire space gradually quieted.
He began with a composed smile, his voice carrying clearly across the banquet grounds.
"Esteed ministers of the Human Parliant," he said, inclining his head slightly toward their side, "we thank you for honouring our invitation and journeying to our kingdom."
Polite applause followed.
He continued, "The peace treaty between our two kingdoms has stood the test of ti, ensuring stability and coexistence between our people." His tone deepened slightly. "It is my intention—and my expectation—that it shall continue to stand."
This ti, the applause was stronger. At the sa ti, servants moved swiftly, refilling cups and glasses across the tables.
Then, King Sebastian lifted his cup. "To peace between our kingdoms," he declared.
Glasses were raised. And the first toast was made.
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