Chapter 195: Unrighteous Thoughts
{Third Person}
At once, Lysandra understood. And just as quickly, her interest almost vanished.
So that was the reason? Nora was panicking because she feared being abandoned. How pathetic.
Lysandra looked at the kneeling woman and felt nothing but contempt.
This woman had spent months in Alexander’s residence and had achieved absolutely nothing. She had failed to gain his attention, failed to gain his affection, and failed to become useful in any meaningful way.
Completely worthless.
Lysandra almost regretted ever placing her there.
Nora’s voice shook as tears gathered in her eyes. "Your Majesty, please help me." She lowered herself further. "Please... I do not want to be left behind."
Lysandra stayed silent, watching Nora tremble before her. Annoyance marked her face at first, but slowly, it gave way to something else—a thought, then a possibility.
Lysandra studied Nora again, but this time more carefully. The woman before her was weak, emotional, and desperate. And desperate people could be useful.
Very useful.
Slowly, Lysandra’s expression softened with calculated patience, unlike what Nora thought was kindness.
Nora, too overwhelmed by fear to notice the difference, remained kneeling.
When Lysandra spoke again, her voice had changed completely. It was calmer now, almost gentle.
"Nora."
Nora quickly raised her head. "Yes, Your Majesty," she sniffed.
Lysandra held her gaze. "Do you know why Alexander is leaving the palace?"
Nora shook her head. "No, Your Majesty." She actually had no idea whatsoever about the sudden decision.
Lysandra sighed softly, as if burdened by an unfortunate truth. Then she leaned back and spoke with deliberate calm. "He is leaving because of that political bride. Amara."
Nora almost faltered in that position. Her reaction was incredulous. It moved from confusion to hurt within a few seconds.
Lysandra watched each shift in Nora’s expression with quiet satisfaction before continuing, her voice smooth and controlled. "That girl changed everything. Alexander is leaving because of her."
Nora stared at her, speechless. ’How was that possible?’ she thought to herself. She couldn’t see that possibility.
Lysandra continued. "He is choosing someone who has just entered his life over everything else." She let the words sink in before delivering the final blow. "He is choosing her over you."
Nora’s lips parted slightly. Her breathing became unstable.
Lysandra’s voice softened further, carrying the false warmth of sympathy. "You are being left behind because she does not want you near him."
Nora’s face turned pale. "No..." The denial came out weakly.
Worst of all, Nora knew she was neither worthy nor deserving of Alexander. Yet some private, persistent voice within her still gave her the audacity to think of him as someone she could want.
Lysandra pressed on, her gaze sharpening. "Think carefully. Before Amara arrived, Alexander stayed in the palace. But now?" She paused, then lowered her voice. "He is leaving."
Each word was deliberate, each sentence aimed where it would hurt the most.
Lysandra watched the pain in Nora’s eyes darken into something sharper. The hurt remained, but resentment had begun to take root.
Good.
Lysandra went on, her voice barely above a whisper. "If Amara were no longer in the picture..."
She let the thought hang unfinished.
Nora stared at her, her heartbeat pounding.
A faint smile touched Lysandra’s lips. "Who knows?" Her eyes gleamed with dangerous intent. "Perhaps things would change."
Silence settled over the room.
Nora remained frozen, but Lysandra could see the damage was done. Nora’s desperate fear had found direction—and a target.
Amara.
As Lysandra watched the storm gather in Nora’s eyes, satisfaction settled in her chest.
Perhaps this useless woman had some value after all.
---
After leaving Queen Lysandra’s palace, Nora returned to the Alpha Prince’s residence in a daze.
Though her feet carried her forward, her mind remained trapped in that sitting room, replaying every word the Queen had said to her, over and over again.
Each sentence sank deeper into her heart like poison.
He is leaving because of Amara.
He is choosing her over everything else.
He is choosing her over you.
By the time Nora reached her own quarters, her emotions had become a tangled mess of fear, pain, humiliation, and growing resentment.
She sat on the edge of her bed, staring blankly at the floor as those words continued to echo inside her head.
At first, she tried to resist them. She tried to tell herself that the Queen had to be mistaken. But the more she thought about it, the more everything began to fit together in a way that disturbed her deeply.
Before Amara came, nothing had changed. Alexander remained in the palace, and his residence stayed exactly as it had always been. Then Amara arrived, and everything shifted.
Alexander’s attention had shifted. His routines had changed. And now... he was leaving.
Nora slowly clenched her fists as an unfamiliar bitterness took root in her chest. She had spent months in this residence.
Even if Alexander had never truly noticed her, she had stayed quietly, enduring everything in the hope that one day things might change. Yet Amara had arrived and taken it all with effortless ease.
The more Nora thought about it, the more certain she became.
The Queen was right. Amara had stolen everything, and the thought turned Nora’s ache into something darker. Something dangerous.
Nora squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them again, a strange determination burned there.
An idea took shape.
She rose from the bed. If she wanted answers—if she wanted to know who Amara truly was—there was only one thing left to do.
She had to see Amara for herself.
---
When Nora reached Amara’s residence, Mrs. Woods frowned at once, clearly surprised by her arrival.
Nora lowered her eyes respectfully. "I came to see Lady Amara."
Mrs. Woods studied her for a moment, hesitation crossing her face, before turning and going inside.
Soon after, Amara agreed to receive her, and Nora was led into the sitting area, where Amara was already waiting.
Amara appeared as composed as ever, her expression neutral—neither welcoming nor cold. Still, Nora noticed something that irritated her.
Even seated quietly, Amara looked completely at ease, as if she naturally belonged there.
The thought stung.
Nora bowed her head. "Lady Amara."
Amara nodded slightly. "What is it?" she asked, calm and direct.
Once permitted, Nora sat carefully, and the conversation began politely. Choosing her words with care, Nora spoke softly about the coming move and how deeply the news had unsettled everyone in the residence.
Amara listened in silence, allowing her to continue.
Gradually, Nora let her emotions show. Tears gathered in her eyes, and her voice began to tremble.
"Lady Amara... I am afraid." Her voice broke. "If you and His Highness leave the palace, I will be left all alone."
Tears slid down her cheeks, and she lifted a trembling hand to wipe them away.
Amara watched silently, and for a moment, a faint trace of pity stirred in her heart.
Nora kept crying, speaking of loneliness, uncertainty, and fear. Outwardly, she seemed helpless, but inwardly, she watched Amara closely, studying every reaction, expression, and response.
The longer she observed Amara, the more something inside her hardened.
The Queen was right. Amara felt pity, yes—but only pity. Nothing deeper. Nothing sincere enough to make her sacrifice anything.
Nora went on carefully, softening her voice even more. "Lady Amara... I know I have no right to ask this."
She sniffled, then raised tearful eyes to Amara. "But... could you speak to His Highness for me?"
Amara remained calm and silent, allowing Nora to continue.
"Please ask him to take me with you." Her tears fell harder. "I do not want to be abandoned."
Silence filled the room. Amara watched her for several moments before speaking, her voice gentle but firm. "I cannot do that."
Nora froze.
Amara continued, "That is not something I can ask of His Highness. Some matters are not mine to interfere with."
Nora’s heart sank. Even though she had expected rejection, hearing it directly still hurt. Worse, Amara’s calm refusal only strengthened the poison Lysandra had planted in her mind.
The Queen was right. Amara does not care.
Nora lowered her gaze and hid the bitterness flashing in her eyes. She looked defeated outwardly.
Slowly, she nodded. "I understand." Her voice sounded weak and resigned.
Silence lingered between them before Nora spoke again, her voice softer. "There is one more thing I would like to ask."
Amara waited as Nora lifted her gaze.
"Two nights before you leave the palace..." Nora hesitated, then continued, "Would you visit me at my residence?"
Amara blinked, faintly surprised.
Nora quickly explained. "I know we are not close." Her voice softened with quiet sadness as she lowered her eyes. "But... I want that night to mean something."
A pained smile touched her lips. "Perhaps it will be my last meaningful memory in this residence."
Silence followed. Amara studied her for a moment before finally saying, "I cannot promise."
Nora’s fingers tightened slightly in her lap.
"But I will think about it," Amara added.
The answer was far too vague. Nora was unsatisfied, but she hid her disappointment and bowed her head respectfully.
"Thank you, Lady Amara."
She then stood. Amara gave a small nod, and she bowed once more before leaving.
The moment she stepped outside, the softness vanished from her face, and her expression darkened.