{Third Person}

Amara was dumbfounded.

She just stared at the sheets of parchment in front of her, unmoved, as though they might disappear if she blinked too hard.

She hadn’t expected this from him.

"Do you need more paper?" Alexander’s voice broke through her thoughts, calm, almost indifferent.

Amara blinked, then quickly shook her head. "No."

She reached for the pen, her fingers wrapping around it with a slight hesitation, as though grounding herself before beginning. But just as she lowered the tip to the parchment, she paused again.

He hadn’t looked away, and he wasn’t making any plans of leaving.

She lifted her gaze briefly, realizing he had no intention of giving her privacy. Before she could think too much about it, he spoke again, his tone light but firm.

"Do not divulge any information about this palace in your letters."

She nodded immediately. "I won’t." Only then did she begin to write.

At first, her movements were careful, measured. But as the words started to flow, her hand grew steadier and quicker. The tension in her shoulders eased, her focus narrowing into the lines she filled—one page, then another, then the last.

She didn’t realize how much time had passed until she finally set the pen down.

"I’m done," she said softly.

Alexander extended his hand toward her. She picked up the pen and placed it in his palm. He didn’t take it.

"The letters," he said.

A small flicker of discomfort passed through her, but she said nothing. One by one, she gathered the sheets and handed them over.

He took them without comment. His eyes moved across each page briefly, just enough to assess it before he folded each letter neatly.

Then, with quiet precision, he reached for three envelopes and slid each letter into one.

Amara watched, her brows faintly drawn together.

He picked up his pen again. On the first envelope, in clean, controlled strokes, he wrote: To Hazel.

Then, beneath it, he signed his name.

Amara’s eyes flickered.

He moved on to the second and wrote: To Rachel.

Again, his signature followed. And then the last, he wrote: To Davina.

Each name was written exactly as she had addressed them in her letters.

Amara’s confusion deepened, but she remained silent, simply watching.

Alexander stood then, moving to the side where a small setup rested. He lit the flame without haste, holding a stick of sealing wax over it until it melted into a rich red liquid.

One by one, he let a drop fall onto the mouth of each envelope. Then he firmly pressed his seal into it.

By the time he returned to his seat, all three letters were sealed completely. Then, he looked up at her.

"They are ready."

Amara just stared at him. Her thoughts felt scattered, unable to settle on one thing at a time.

This... this was not what she expected. Not from Alexander—someone she had only ever known as cold, distant, and... terrifying.

And yet, here he was, helping her without resistance, without mockery and without even asking for anything in return.

Before she could gather herself, he spoke again. "Write their addresses in detail."

Amara quickly reached for the envelopes. One after the other, she carefully wrote each address beneath his signature, her handwriting steady despite the emotions still swirling inside her. When she finished, she handed them back.

Alexander took them, then reached for the telephone on his desk. He dialled a string of numbers. The line connected quickly.

"Let His Majesty know that I will be coming to see him in twenty minutes."

He didn’t wait for a response before placing the receiver back down. Then he called—

"Jasper."

The door opened after a few seconds. Jasper stepped in and bowed. "Your Highness."

"Prepare the carriage."

"Yes, Your Highness," he said and withdrew at once.

Alexander rose to his feet, lightly adjusting his sleeves before his gaze returned to Amara. She was still looking at him in surprise, a mixture of confusion and gratitude. All clearly visible on her face.

"You can leave," he said. "When a response comes, I will inform you."

That was what finally snapped her out of it. "Oh—" She stood quickly. "Thank you... Your Highness."

He didn’t respond. He just shifted his gaze slightly. "Take it with you."

Amara followed his line of sight to Ginger. The cat was still lounging comfortably as though it had claimed the place as its own.

Then, she bent slightly. "Come here."

Ginger glanced at her, then looked away, completely unmoving. Amara was at a loss on what to do.

How could her pet not come to her when she called out to it? Did it not want to go with her?

Alexander reached into a small drawer, pulled out a packet of snacks, and held it out to her. She took it, confused.

The moment the scent reached Ginger, its ears perked. It hesitated for only a second before padding over.

Amara let out a small, relieved smile as she scooped it into her arms.

"Thank you," she said again to Alexander, her tone softer than earlier. Then, she turned, walking toward the door that led back to her side.

This time, there was a real smile on her face. And she carried Ginger with her as she stepped through the connecting door.Top of FormBottom of Form

The carriage rolled to a steady stop before the King’s palace, its presence announced before the doors were even opened.

Alexander stepped out without waiting.

The guards stationed at the entrance immediately straightened, their fists pressed to their chests as they bowed. "Your Highness."

He didn’t pause for pleasantries. A brief nod was all they received before he continued forward, the sealed letters held firmly in his hand.

Inside, the atmosphere shifted the moment he entered. Servants stepped aside, and Officials lowered their heads.

A palace attendant hurried ahead of him, guiding the way toward the King’s receiving hall.

"His Majesty is already waiting, Your Highness."

—

The doors opened.

King Sebastian was seated, but it was obvious he hadn’t been there long. The faint disarray of the documents on the table beside him, the untouched cup of tea, the way his posture hadn’t fully settled—it all gave it away.

He had been interrupted, and he hadn’t liked it.

Still, the moment Alexander stepped in, Sebastian gestured before he could even complete his greeting.

"Sit."