Chapter 170: Amara’s Origins
{Third Person}
Elder Mage Seraphina arrived not long after Jasper delivered Alexander’s summons.
By then, Alexander had already left his bedroom and moved to the sitting room. The mages had initially protested the idea, but after seeing how quickly his strength had returned, they eventually relented.
Although he was not yet fully recovered, he certainly no longer looked like a man who had nearly died the previous night.
When Seraphina entered, she immediately noticed that fact. A brief look of surprise crossed her face before she quickly concealed it.
"Your Highness."
Alexander inclined his head slightly. "Elder Mage."
Barron and Jasper were also present. Neither man spoke as Seraphina took a seat across from Alexander at his gesture.
She already knew why she had been summoned, but unfortunately, that did not make the conversation any easier.
Alexander wasted no time. "Barron tells me you recognized the markings on Amara."
Immediately, Seraphina’s brows furrowed slightly as she looked away for a moment. She was uncomfortable.
"I did," she said, folding her hands neatly in her lap.
Alexander watched her carefully, expecting more. "And?"
Seraphina hesitated for a second before replying, "I would prefer to wait until I confirm a few things."
But Alexander wasn’t having it. His expression did not change. "Why?"
"Because speculation can be dangerous."
The answer came immediately, prompting Barron to almost roll his eyes. The woman was clearly avoiding the question, and, unfortunately for her, Alexander noticed.
"Tell me what you’ve already deduced."
Alexander was only met with silence, but his gaze never left her. He was that patient and determined.
The silence stretched, then stretched further. Eventually, Seraphina released a quiet sigh. She knew she was losing this battle.
"Very well."
The room became noticeably still.
Seraphina looked briefly toward the window before turning her attention back to Alexander.
"I do not believe Lady Amara is human."
The statement landed heavily in the room. This was a serious deduction that could make or mar more than one kingdom.
Alexander remained silent as Barron straightened in his chair, while Jasper’s expression hardened.
Neither man interrupted.
Seeing this, Seraphina continued with her deductions. "I believe she belongs to the Mage race."
This time, Barron nearly choked. "What?"
Jasper looked equally stunned. Only Alexander remained composed. His face revealed very little, though his attention had sharpened considerably.
Seraphina nodded. "I cannot be completely certain yet, but that is currently my strongest conclusion."
Barron stared at her. "A Mage?" He repeated. The disbelief in his voice was obvious.
Seraphina nodded again. "The markings gave it away." She paused briefly before continuing.
"Among ordinary humans, poison often goes unnoticed until symptoms begin to appear."
Her gaze shifted toward Alexander. "For Mages, it is different."
"Different how?" Barron asked.
Seraphina folded her hands once more. "There are certain Mage bloodlines whose bodies naturally react to poison. The markings are essentially a warning."
She glanced toward the door, as though she could still see Amara beyond it. "The body alerts its owner that something harmful has entered the system."
Barron’s eyes widened. "All Mages can do that?"
"No." The answer came immediately.
Seraphina’s expression became more complicated as she indicated, "Only a specific faction."
Finally, Alexander’s attention was caught, and he spoke. "What faction?"
Seraphina hesitated again. The reluctance was obvious as there were information she wasn’t supposed to share with those outside her race. But eventually, she answered.
"A banned one."
The room grew quiet at the response. And Seraphina continued before anyone could interrupt. "Their magic was unusually powerful."
Her tone remained careful.
"Unfortunately, it was also heavily aligned with negative energies."
Barron frowned. This was his first time hearing something like this. "What does that mean?" he inquired.
"It means their abilities were feared." Seraphina’s answer was simple. "For generations, they were isolated from the rest of Mage society."
Right then, a faint shadow crossed her face. "Eventually, they were segregated entirely."
No one spoke after that. Even Barron had lost the urge to interrupt.
For several moments, only the crackling of the fireplace filled the room. Then Seraphina added quietly, "I have not seen one in decades."
The statement drew everyone’s attention back to her.
"Nor have I heard of one."
Barron exchanged a glance with Jasper. The revelation was becoming increasingly unbelievable.
Alexander remained thoughtful.
Meanwhile, Seraphina continued, but the hesitation returned. "However.. I do not believe Lady Amara is a pure Mage."
That immediately caught Alexander’s attention. "What do you mean?"
"She is part-human," Seraphine revealed.
A long, heavy silence followed, the kind that usually descended after a crisis had passed.
Barron just stared at her.
Jasper looked as though he was mentally rearranging everything he thought he knew about Amara.
Even Alexander needed a moment to process the information. He kept repeating the information, like he was trying to let what Amara was sink into his head.
Part-human.
Part-Mage.
But the implications were enormous.
Seraphina opened her mouth as though she intended to continue. Her lips parted and closed a few times, but in the end, she sealed them.
Whatever additional thoughts she had chosen not to share remained unspoken.
Alexander noticed. This time, however, he did not press her. The information she had already provided was more than enough.
Finally, he leaned back slightly in his seat. "Whatever was said here... remains here." His voice was calm.
Seraphina immediately understood.
Alexander’s gaze locked onto hers. There was nothing threatening in his expression, yet the seriousness of his warning was unmistakable.
The room seemed to grow colder.
Seraphina understood the implications just as well as he did.
If Amara truly possessed both human and Mage blood, then her very existence represented a scandal of enormous proportions.
Relations between the three races had always been carefully managed. The Mages especially enforced strict rules regarding bloodlines.
Someone had broken those rules. And the result was Amara Caldwell.
If the truth emerged publicly, the consequences would extend far beyond one young woman.
Political tensions. Diplomatic outrage. Perhaps even war.
Seraphina slowly inclined her head. "I understand, Your Highness."
Only then did Alexander look away, indicating that the conversation was over for now.
---
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the residence, Amara was getting dressed.
Mrs. Woods had insisted that she remain in bed and rest for at least another day, unfortunately, she had refused.
"He almost died."
Mrs. Woods sighed. "My Lady—"
"And I am his political bride."
Amara adjusted the sleeve of her dress before turning toward the older woman. "If I don’t visit him after what happened, people will talk."
Mrs. Woods could not argue with that. Amara was right. The entire palace was already discussing the events of the banquet.
If Alexander had recovered and Amara failed to check on him, questions would inevitably follow.
After a moment, Mrs. Woods finally surrendered. "Very well."
Relief immediately appeared on Amara’s face. What she had just given was a pure official excuse. In reality, she really wanted to see Alexander with her own eyes to confirm he was well.
But no one else needs to know her true intentions.
Mrs. Woods shook her head. "Let’s go."
The journey across the residence was short. Still, Amara found herself becoming increasingly nervous with every step.
The last truly meaningful conversation she had shared with Alexander was the one in his study where she confessed the truth, and when she went to give him the birthday shawls she made for him.
Before Amara knew it, they had reached the sitting room.
At almost the same moment, the door opened, and Elder Mage Seraphina emerged from inside.
Amara immediately stepped aside and offered a respectful greeting. "Elder Mage."
Seraphina paused. her eyes lingered on Amara’s face for a moment. Her gaze was strange and thoughtful, almost searching. Then it disappeared.
The older woman gave a small nod. "Lady Amara." Her response was brief and polite, nothing more.
A moment later, she continued on her way and disappeared down the corridor.
Amara watched her leave before turning back toward the room. For reasons she could not explain, that brief exchange had left her feeling oddly unsettled.
Before she could think further about it, Mrs. Woods gently reminded her why they had come.
Taking a small breath to steady herself, she stepped forward and entered the sitting room and immediately noticed how different Alexander looked compared to the image she had carried in her mind since waking up.
The last time she had seen him, he had been coughing blood in the middle of the banquet hall while panic spread around him.
Even now, the memory remained vivid enough to make her uncomfortable.
Yet the man sitting before her looked nothing like that.
He was a little pale, but not alarmingly so. More importantly, he was sitting upright, fully dressed, and appeared far stronger than someone who had supposedly nearly died less than a day ago.
For a brief moment, relief washed over her. Then she quickly greeted him, "Your Highness."
Alexander looked up and hummed a response. "Hmmm."
Amara offered a proper greeting before turning toward Barron. "Lord Barron."
Barron smiled. "My Lady."
Only then did she glance toward Jasper. He greeted her with a respectful nod. "Lady Amara."
Amara returned the greeting politely before turning her attention back to Alexander. She hesitated for a moment, then she finally asked the question she had come here for.
"How are you feeling?"