{Third Person}
Amara shifted slightly, suddenly conscious of herself under his quiet observation. The air between them felt different, not tense, but not entirely comfortable either.
After a mont, she stood. "I will take my leave," she said and turned toward the door.
"Amara."
She stopped right in her steps. ’D-Did he... Did he just call my na?’
She could hardly believe her ears. Alexander had just called her by na.
Slowly, she turned back to him, still reeling in the shock. For a brief second, it seed as though he was about to say sothing more, but whatever thought had crossed his mind faded just as quickly.
"You may go," he said.
Amara hesitated for a fraction of a second, then nodded. But as she reached the door and opened it, he called out to her again.
"Amara."
She paused again and turned back once more.
This ti, his voice was more casual. "Study the textbook."
She nodded. "I will."
Then she left.
—
Back on her side of the residence, Amara returned to her room. She set the textbook aside and sat down with the notes in her hands.
Curiosity got the better of her, so she flipped through the pages slowly. Her brows lifted almost imdiately.
The handwriting looked exactly like hers.
Each stroke, each curve, even the slight inconsistencies, had been replicated so precisely that if she had not known better, she would have believed she had written everything herself.
She turned a few more pages before setting the stack down. Then her thoughts began to wander.
’Why is he suddenly doing all this for ?’
She leaned back slightly, her gaze unfocused.
The image she once had of Alexander—the cold, bloodthirsty figure spoken of in fear—no longer matched the man she had co to know.
Since her arrival, he had not acted without reason. Every harsh action and every retaliation had co only after soone provoked him first.
He was not cruel without cause.
That realization settled quietly in her chest. Then another thought followed.
’If that is the case... Why is he like this with ? Why is he so kind to ?’
Her fingers brushed lightly against the edge of the papers as the question lingered in her mind, unanswered.
And for the third ti, Amara found herself not just wary of Alexander, but quietly curious about him.
---
After Amara left his study, Alexander remained seated for a mont, his gaze resting briefly on the door before shifting to the three envelopes she had left behind.
He reached for them.
One by one, he turned each envelope over, checking the back carefully. His eyes moved across the handwriting, confirming that the addresses had been written properly—just as she had done the last ti.
Satisfied, he opened the first envelope.
His expression did not change as he read through the contents. His eyes moved steadily across the page, taking in every line, not out of curiosity alone, but out of habit—control, precaution.
When he was done, he folded the letter neatly and placed it back inside.
He repeated the sa process with the second. Then the third.
By the ti he finished, the three letters were returned to their envelopes exactly as they had been before, as though they had never been opened at all.
Alexander then reached for his seal.
The wax lted into a deep red pool at the mouth of each envelope before he pressed his seal into place, one after the other, marking them cleanly and firmly.
When he was done, he stood.
Without calling for Jasper, without informing anyone, he picked up the letters and left his study.
Later that day, Alexander left the residence, and the matter was handled personally.
***
The next morning, however, was far from normal.
Alexander woke with a sharp discomfort that spread through his entire body.
His head throbbed heavily, a dull, persistent ache that refused to settle. His body felt weak, weighed down in a way that did not match his usual state.
Beads of sweat had already ford along his forehead, despite the coolness of the room.
He exhaled slowly, but even that felt strained.
Sothing was wrong. No. He already knew what it was.
The curse. It was acting up again.
A faint irritation spread along his gums, an unnatural itch that made his jaw tighten slightly. His breathing grew heavier, controlled, but only just.
Alexander pushed himself upright, though the movent clearly cost him more effort than usual.
A knock ca at the door. Before he could respond, it slid open, and Jasper stepped in.
He took one look at Alexander and froze.
"Your Highness..." His voice lowered imdiately as he hurried forward. He didn’t need to ask as he had seen this several tis.
"The curse is acting up," Jasper said, already moving closer.
Alexander inhaled slowly, steadying himself before speaking. "Prepare ."
Jasper frowned. "Prepare you...?"
"To leave the palace."
The words were clear and firm. But Jasper’s reaction was imdiate.
"No, Your Highness."
Alexander’s gaze snapped toward him, but Jasper held his ground.
"Your Highness, you absolutely cannot hunt on the first day," he said, his tone respectful but unwavering. "And it is barely daybreak."
Alexander’s eyes darkened, but Jasper did not step back. Instead, he added, "I will get you sothing else."
Without waiting for permission, he turned and left.
—
Outside the room, Jasper’s calm expression hardened. He moved quickly.
Within monts, he had gathered the servants and guards in the residence.
"Listen carefully," he said, his voice low but firm. "No one is to let His Highness leave this residence today. Lock down every exit."
The guards straightened imdiately.
"If he attempts to leave," Jasper continued, "you stop him. No matter what."
There was no hesitation this ti. "Yes, Sir."
The servants and guards dispersed at once, each moving to their positions.
The entire residence shifted into quiet alertness.
---
anwhile, on the other side of the residence, everything felt completely different.
Amara sat at the dining table, enjoying her breakfast. Ginger sat beside her, unusually calm again, occasionally nudging against her arm as she ate.
Amara fed her small bits from ti to ti, her mood light, unaware of the tension building just a few walls away.
For a mont, everything felt normal and peaceful. Then, about ten minutes later, Mrs. Woods stepped into the room.
"My lady," she said gently, "Ms. Nora is here to see you."
Amara paused. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she set her cutlery down. "She really doesn’t give up, does she..." she muttered.
After a brief mont, she nodded. "Let her in."
Mrs. Woods inclined her head. "Yes, my lady." Then, she turned and left to bring Nora inside.
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