{Third Person}
The next morning ca quietly.
Amara got ready without much fuss, her movents slower than usual, her mind still lingering on everything that had happened the day before.
By the ti she stepped outside with Mrs. Woods, the morning air felt crisp against her skin, helping her stay a little more alert. And a carriage was already waiting.
Mrs. Woods guided her forward, and Amara climbed in only to freeze at the person already sitting inside.
For a brief mont, her instincts took over. She wanted to flee. Her body almost moved automatically, ready to step back out of the carriage. But one cold glance from Alexander, and she instantly abandoned the idea.
"Good... morning, Your Highness," she said in a small voice as she stepped fully inside and took a seat across from him.
The carriage began to move. And a thick, awkward silence followed.
Amara kept her gaze lowered at first, trying to focus on anything else—the faint sound of the wheels, the subtle sway of the carriage—but it didn’t help.
She could feel his cold gaze on her, and it lingered just enough to make her uncomfortable. In the end, she couldn’t take it anymore.
Slowly, she lifted her eyes and t his.
Her heart skipped a bit. And before she could lose a nerve, she spoke. "Your Highness... I—" She swallowed a gulp. "I’m sorry about yesterday."
He didn’t interrupt her, so she continued, a little faster now. "I didn’t an any of it. It was my first ti getting drunk, and I... I thought I could handle it, but I couldn’t."
Her fingers tightened slightly in her lap. "I usually have a good hold of my drink," she added quickly, then paused, realizing how that sounded. "I an—I don’t drink often. I don’t even drink much. It was just..."
She hesitated, rethinking whether she should say the next part or not. Finally, she said it. "...I haven’t been that happy in a long while. So, I got carried away."
"So," Alexander finally spoke, his voice calm but edged with sothing sharp, "you are trying to tell you have drinking prowess?"
Amara’s eyes widened imdiately. "No," she said quickly, shaking her head. "That’s not what I ant." She corrected herself almost instantly. "I don’t drink frequently. Yesterday was just... an exception."
Alexander held her gaze for a mont longer, then looked away just like that, without adding any further comnt.
Amara waited to see his next reaction, but when she received no response, she exhaled slowly, easing the tension in her chest.
’Does that an... he’s not angry anymore?’
She wasn’t sure, and she wasn’t about to ask.
The rest of the ride passed in silence, and soon, the carriage ca to a stop.
The King’s quarters stood before them—grand, imposing, and far more elaborate than any part of the palace Amara had seen so far.
The structure alone carried a weight of authority that made her instinctively straighten her posture.
Alexander stepped out first. Amara followed imdiately after, keeping a respectful distance behind him as he led the way inside.
They entered the receiving hall. Everyone, except for King Sebastian, was already there.
Queen Lysandra sat at the centre, composed as always. Zarek sat nearby with Julia, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp.
Rowan and his mate were seated quietly to one side, while Elowen was already present, looking far more awake than she had any right to be.
Alexander gave a slight nod toward Lysandra before taking his seat without ceremony. Then Amara stepped forward and curtsied politely.
"Your Majesty."
Lysandra’s gaze briefly brushed over her. Then, she gave a light wave of her hand, signalling her to stand.
Amara straightened, then nodded politely to the others in greeting before her eyes shifted around the room, unsure where to sit.
For a split second, confusion flashed before her eyes. Then she noticed sothing. Each woman was seated beside her partner.
With that, her gaze flickered toward Alexander. Choosing not to overthink it, she walked over and took the seat beside him.
As she settled, her eyes lifted and t Elowen’s. A small natural smile quickly passed between them.
But while Amara smiled freely, Elowen imdiately avoided looking in Alexander’s direction, her gaze shifting elsewhere as if she hadn’t noticed him at all.
Around them, greetings towards Alexander followed. Rowan inclined his head respectfully, while Zarek offered his, though it was half-hearted at best.
Alexander responded with a glance.
And the Queen, she didn’t even acknowledge him at all.
The tension in the room was subtle, but it was there. And Amara could feel it. She was already becoming uncomfortable.
Just then, Queen Lysandra cast her gaze on Amara, let it linger intently before speaking smoothly, "I heard that you left the palace yesterday and returned very late."
Though her tone was calm, the implication behind it was not.
Amara straightened slightly, already sensing where this was going. Trouble had already found her in less than a minute after her arrival.
Before she could respond, Eowen spoke. "Mother, I was the one who took her out."
All eyes shifted briefly to her. Lysandra turned her head slowly, her gaze settling on her.
The warmth from earlier was gone. "Elowen, stay out of this and listen," she said in a firm but controlled tone.
Elowen blinked, taken by surprise. But she pressed her lips together and leaned back, though her expression clearly showed her dissatisfaction.
Lysandra cleared her throat and turned back to Amara as if nothing had interrupted her.
"As a woman of the royal family," she continued, "there are expectations you must uphold. Your movents, your conduct, your timing—everything reflects not just on you, but on this palace."
Amara listened quietly, but her mind was far from calm. ’She knows Elowen took out as she said it herself. Yet, she says nothing to her daughter.’
Her gaze flickered briefly towards the Princess, and her thoughts sharpened. ’Didn’t she just say these rules apply to all won in the royal family?’
Then her eyes returned to Lysandra. ’Then why does it feel like this is only directed at ?’
It didn’t take long for her to realize that this wasn’t just a lecture, but a deliberate, subtle humiliation carefully wrapped in etiquette.
Of course, she couldn’t say anything. She had no option but to endure and just listen.
But just as Lysandra continued, Alexander’s cold, precise voice cut in. "I heard a piece of good news yesterday."
The room stilled as all attention turned to him. And slowly, his gaze shifted, landing directly on Lysandra.
"One of His Majesty’s won is with child after years. And considering you are the temporary head of the inner palace, as His Majesty still hasn’t returned your seal."
Then, he continued evenly. "I thought your hands would be too busy with both mother and child."
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