Chapter 219: A Thoughtful Move
{Third Person}
Barron watched Alexander carefully.
He knew his cousin well enough to understand that the thought he had just placed before him was not a small one.
Alexander had spent years searching for his mate, and every disappointment had taken something from him. The last thing Barron wanted was for him to become convinced that Amara was the answer simply because his body had begun to improve.
"You should not assume too quickly," Barron said. "My theory points toward her, and I would be lying if I said I did not find the connection strange, but there could still be another explanation."
Taking a small breath, he continues, "You have spent too many years hoping for this. If you allow yourself to believe that Amara is your mate before you are certain, and you later discover that she is not, you may not recover from that disappointment easily."
Alexander’s expression remained calm, although Barron’s words had struck somewhere deep within him. He knew exactly what his cousin meant.
"I know," he replied.
Barron studied him for another moment before continuing. "There is something else you need to consider. If she really is your mate, you cannot afford to be careless about finding out. You need to know before anyone else does, especially Zarek."
Alexander’s eyes hardened slightly at the mention of his brother.
"Zarek has been watching me for years," he said. "If he notices that my condition is improving, he will begin asking questions."
Barron quickly interjected, "And once he starts asking questions, the palace will not remain quiet for long."
Alexander nodded in agreement.
Barron released a quiet breath. "So do not tell anyone. Not your father, not the mages, and certainly not anyone connected to Zarek. You need to figure this out yourself."
"I will."
"So, what are you planning to do?"
Alexander looked toward the distant house. "I will pay more attention to her. I need to see how my wolf reacts around her, how my body responds when she is near me, and whether these changes continue."
Barron’s lips curved into a smile. "That is better. Do not rush her. Do not frighten her. Just test the waters and see what happens."
Alexander gave him a brief look. "I know how to handle it."
Barron chuckled. "I know you do. I am only reminding you because this is different from anything else you have dealt with."
Then his expression became serious again.
"And Alex, there is one more thing. Even if you become certain that Amara is your mate, your father must not know about your recovery until you are ready. He must not know that you may have found your mate either."
"I know."
"Good."
Barron finally relaxed. He trusted Alexander’s judgment, but this was one matter where caution was more important than ever.
If Sebastian discovered that the curse was weakening, everything could change. If he discovered that the woman responsible for that recovery was Amara, then she could suddenly become more important to the royal family than either of them was prepared for.
The two cousins continued walking, but Alexander’s mind was no longer entirely on their conversation.
For the first time in years, there was something he wanted to investigate rather than something he wanted to escape.
And the answer was living under his roof.
---
Over the following days, Alexander began watching Amara without making his interest obvious.
He did not follow her around or deliberately create reasons to be near her. He simply became more observant whenever their paths crossed.
He noticed that his breathing remained unusually easy when she sat beside him at meals. He noticed that his wolf, which had once reacted to the smallest excitement with aggression, remained strangely settled whenever Amara was close.
Though it was not enough to convince him, it was enough to keep the question alive.
Amara, meanwhile, began noticing that Alexander was different.
He still remained reserved, and he had not suddenly become a man who talked endlessly or sought her company every hour of the day.
However, there were little changes she could not ignore. He sometimes asked her what she had been doing during the day. He occasionally stayed at the dining table a little longer after their meals rather than leaving immediately.
There were also moments when she caught him looking at her, although he usually turned his attention elsewhere before she could determine what had been on his mind.
She found herself thinking about those moments more often than she wanted.
Their life together had changed considerably since they left the palace.
There were no servants watching their every movement, no royal obligations pressing down on them, and no constant reminder that their marriage had begun as a political arrangement.
In the city, the house had become a place where she could breathe freely. And somehow, Alexander had become part of that comfort.
That realisation made Amara uncomfortable.
She did not know when she had started looking forward to seeing him at breakfast or when his quiet presence had become something she noticed whenever he was absent.
She only knew that she had begun developing feelings she was not yet ready to name.
She kept telling herself that it was nothing. After all, Alexander was still her husband in name, and they were slowly becoming comfortable with each other. Perhaps that was all it was.
She decided not to think about it too much.
One evening, after dinner, Amara was about to return to her room when Alexander stopped her.
"Amara."
She turned around. "Yes?"
"Come outside with me," he said to her.
She hesitated for a moment before nodding.
They walked out onto the terrace together. The evening air was cool, and the garden below was quiet beneath the fading light. Neither of them spoke for a while.
Amara sat down, while Alexander took the seat beside her.
There was no discussion about the palace, politics, or his health. For once, there was nothing they needed to solve.
After several minutes, Alexander looked at her. "What did you enjoy doing when you were younger?"
Her lashes fluttered lightly. The question surprised her. But she thought for a moment before smiling.
"Playing on a swing."
"A swing?" He seemed to find that answer a bit ridiculous because he didn’t understand.
She confirmed with a nod. "We had one while growing up in my house. I used to spend so much time on it that my mum would sometimes have to come and drag me away herself."
Alexander’s lips moved slightly, almost forming a smile. "You enjoyed it that much?"
"I did." She looked toward the garden. "I liked the feeling of being outside, especially when the weather was nice. I could stay there for hours, even reading a book on it."
Alexander followed her gaze. "Would you like one here?"
She turned toward him. "Here?"
"I can have one built," he said to her.
Almost immediately, her eyes brightened. "Really?"
"Yes." He nodded.
She smiled before realising how quickly she had answered. "I would like that."
"Where?" he inquired.
She looked around the estate, considering it seriously. Then she pointed toward the flower gardens. "Over there."
He followed the direction of her finger, then asked, "Why there?"
"The air is fresher there." She laughed softly. "And I like the flowers."
Alexander looked at her for a moment before nodding, keeping his thoughts, ideas and intentions to himself.
Amara smiled again.
The conversation continued naturally after that. They spoke about simple things, childhood memories, the places she had visited in the Human Kingdom, and even some of the things Alexander remembered from his own childhood.
Not one of them noticed how late it had become.
For Amara, the evening passed so comfortably that she forgot to be careful about every word she said. For Alexander, sitting beside her did not feel like an obligation.
It felt easy.
That realisation stayed with both of them after they eventually returned inside.