Chapter 205: Elowen Visits
{Third Person}
A few days passed quietly.
That morning, the first thing Amara did after waking up was step outside.
The morning air was pleasantly cool, carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers across the estate. Dew still clung to the grass as the rising sun bathed the gardens in a soft golden light.
She wandered leisurely through the grounds with no particular destination in mind.
Sometimes she stopped to admire the flowers. Other times she simply stood beneath the shade of a tree, listening to birds singing somewhere in the distance.
The silence was comforting. Not the oppressive silence she had often felt inside the royal palace, where every quiet corridor seemed to hide another scheme.
This silence was different. It was peaceful and safe. Without realizing it, Amara found herself smiling.
Eventually, her steps carried her toward the orchard. The sight of the fruit trees immediately brightened her mood.
Remembering the woven basket she had brought with her, she happily began picking ripe fruit from the branches.
An apple here. A peach there. Then a few pears that looked especially sweet.
She worked at an unhurried pace, occasionally stopping to admire the rows of trees stretching across the estate. The simple task filled her with an unexpected sense of contentment.
There were no guards following close behind her. No maids hovering anxiously nearby. And most importantly, she didn’t feel the urge to return indoors for fear that something might happen.
She was completely alone, and somehow, she had never felt safer.
By the time her basket was nearly full, the morning sun had climbed higher into the sky. Satisfied, she returned to the house.
After taking a warm shower and changing into a simple light-blue dress suitable for another quiet day at home, she made her way downstairs.
The dining room was unusually quiet. Only Alexander was seated at the table.
Barron had returned to his base on the second day after helping them settle into the estate, leaving the house considerably quieter than before.
Alexander looked up briefly as Amara entered. She greeted him politely before taking her usual seat beside him. Not long afterwards, breakfast was served.
The meal passed in comfortable silence. Neither of them seemed particularly inclined to speak. Instead, they quietly enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere around the house. It was only as breakfast drew to a close that Alexander finally spoke.
"If you ever wish to leave the estate, inform Mrs. Woods. She will arrange a car." He paused briefly before adding, "And a guard."
Amara smiled. "Thank you."
Although she had not yet thought about leaving the estate, his consideration warmed her heart.
The house still felt new to her. She had yet to grow tired of its peaceful surroundings. Still, knowing she could venture into the city whenever she wished gave her something pleasant to look forward to.
Perhaps one day she would explore the places beyond the estate. For now, however, she was perfectly content where she was.
After breakfast ended, Amara returned to her room. As she entered, her gaze drifted toward the writing desk positioned beside the wide glass windows overlooking the flower gardens.
A thought immediately came to mind. She should write to her friends.
She had promised herself she would let them know once she had settled into her new home.
Mrs. Woods helped prepare everything she needed. Once everything was arranged, Mrs. Woods quietly excused herself, leaving Amara alone.
A gentle smile appeared on Amara’s face as she sat down and began writing.
She told her friends that she had safely moved out of the Werewolf Royal Palace and into the city. She described the estate and confessed her love for her new home.
By the time she reached the end, she wished them good health and promised to write again whenever something interesting happened.
After reading through the letter once to make sure she had not forgotten anything, Amara carefully folded the pages and slipped them into the waiting envelope. She sealed it neatly before placing it on the desk.
Now all that remained was to wait for the right opportunity to give it to Alexander so it could be delivered to the Human Kingdom.
Just then, a gentle knock sounded on her bedroom door.
"Come in," she called.
The door opened, and Mrs. Woods stepped inside with a pleasant smile that immediately caught her attention. The older woman looked unusually cheerful, as though she had brought good news.
"My Lady," she said warmly, "you have a visitor."
Amara looked at her with mild curiosity. "A visitor?"
Mrs. Woods nodded. "Princess Elowen."
A look of pleasant surprise spread across Amara’s face. She had expected Elowen to visit eventually. Before leaving the palace, the Princess had already promised that she would wait a few days to allow them to settle into their new home before coming over.
Amara simply hadn’t realized that those few days had passed so quickly. "I’ll go and see her," she said as she rose from her chair.
Mrs. Woods smiled and stepped aside to allow her to leave the room. The two of them walked downstairs together before making their way to the sitting room.
The moment Amara entered, she saw Elowen standing near one of the large windows with her back partially turned.
Hearing the footsteps, the Princess looked over her shoulder, and a bright smile immediately appeared on her face.
Unlike her appearance in the royal palace, Elowen was dressed much more casually today. She wore a simple blouse tucked neatly into a long skirt, with a light cardigan draped over her shoulders.
Without the weight of royal etiquette pressing upon her, she looked younger, freer, and much more relaxed.
"There you are!" Elowen exclaimed happily.
She crossed the room without hesitation and wrapped Amara in a warm embrace. Amara laughed softly as she returned the hug, genuinely pleased to see her again.
"I’ve missed you," Elowen said as they finally pulled apart.
"I’ve missed you too," Amara replied with a smile.
The two women settled comfortably onto the sofas facing one another while Mrs. Woods quietly excused herself to prepare refreshments.
Elowen slowly looked around the sitting room once again before letting out a satisfied sigh. "I must say, I like this place very much. It doesn’t feel anything like the palace."
Her gaze wandered toward the large glass windows overlooking the gardens before she smiled again. "It’s peaceful... and somehow it already feels like a real home."
Amara followed her gaze before nodding in agreement. "I feel the same way. From the moment I arrived, I couldn’t explain why, but I immediately felt comfortable here."
"I can understand why," Elowen replied. "If I had a place like this, I probably wouldn’t want to leave either."