Chapter 203: Not Lovers
{Third Person}
Amara stood there in silence, staring at the garden before her.
"...Lady Amara?" Barron’s voice reached her from several steps ahead.
Her lashes fluttered twice; only then did she realize she had stopped walking. Barron and Alexander had continued without noticing until the former glanced back.
"I’m sorry." She smiled apologetically as she hurried after them. "I was admiring the flowers."
Barron laughed. "I don’t blame you," he said, spreading his arms proudly. "This garden took the longest to finish."
Amara smiled as she looked around once more before following them farther into the grounds. They continued along the landscaped walkways, passing a small ornamental pond where colourful koi glided lazily through the clear water.
Every corner of the estate seemed more beautiful than the last.
Just when Amara thought she had seen everything she could have wished for, Barron led them through another pathway.
The scenery opened into a large orchard.
Rows of fruit trees stretched neatly across the grounds. Several of them were already heavy with ripe fruit, their branches bowing gently beneath the weight.
Amara’s eyes immediately brightened. She slowly turned in every direction, unable to hide the smile spreading across her face. It was genuine and completely unguarded.
Barron noticed it instantly. He stepped closer to Alexander and lowered his voice. "I told you she would love it."
Alexander remained standing with his hands clasped behind his back. His eyes rested quietly on Amara as she admired the orchard, completely absorbed in the peaceful surroundings. After a brief moment, he simply hummed.
"Mm."
Barron glanced sideways at his cousin before shaking his head with quiet amusement. Sometimes Alexander really was impossible to read. He could spend an entire day saying almost nothing.
Yet somehow, Barron knew that seeing the smile on Amara’s face was exactly the reaction Alexander had hoped for all along.
---
By the time Barron finally finished showing them around the estate, Amara felt as though she had stepped into a dream.
Every corner of the property had been thoughtfully designed. From the elegant interior of the house to the flower gardens and the sprawling orchard, there was not a single place she disliked.
If anything, she loved all of it.
It was only when they stepped back through the rear doors into the house that she became aware of a faint emptiness in her stomach. She had been so absorbed in the tour that she had completely forgotten it was already evening.
Barron glanced at the large grandfather clock standing in the foyer. "I didn’t realize we had been out there for so long."
With that, he led everyone back into the house.
As soon as they stepped in, Alexander looked at Amara before speaking in his usual calm tone. "Go and freshen up first." His voice was steady as ever. "We will have dinner afterwards."
Amara nodded. "Yes, Your Highness."
Mrs. Woods immediately stepped forward. "I will show My Lady to her room."
Alexander gave a slight nod.
Without another word, Amara followed Mrs. Woods upstairs. As they walked along the corridor, Amara gradually noticed something. Her room was not in the same wing as Alexander’s.
Mrs. Woods stopped before a white wooden door and smiled. "This will be your bedroom, My Lady."
Amara looked farther down the corridor before glancing in the opposite direction. She had already learned from Barron during the tour that Alexander’s suite occupied the other side of the house.
But for some reason, she felt a tiny sense of disappointment. The feeling caught her completely off guard.
Why would she feel that way?
She quickly shook the thought aside. This arrangement was perfectly normal. After all, she and Alexander were not husband and wife in the true sense... they were not lovers.
Their marriage had begun as a political arrangement, and although their relationship had grown considerably over the past months, nothing romantic had ever existed between them.
There was no reason for their bedrooms to be close to one another.
Convincing herself of that, Amara smiled faintly before opening the door. The moment she stepped inside, she stopped.
The room was beautiful.
Soft neutral colours gave the space a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Modern furniture had been carefully selected to complement the room without making it feel crowded.
A large bed occupied the centre, while elegant bookshelves, comfortable seating, and tasteful decorations made the room feel lived in rather than simply luxurious.
It was considerably larger than the bedroom she had occupied inside the Werewolf Royal Palace. This one was more spacious, more comfortable and more her.
Slowly, she walked farther inside. Then she noticed the glass doors leading onto a private balcony. Curious, she stepped outside.
A gentle evening breeze greeted her immediately. She rested her hands lightly on the railing.
Below, the flower gardens stretched across the estate, their colours softened beneath the golden light of the setting sun.
Her lips curved into a smile. The view was breathtaking.
As she turned back toward the room, her gaze settled on the wide floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
For a brief moment, she felt as though she had returned to her own room back in the Human Kingdom.
The architectural style, the spacious layout, the modern design... Everything felt remarkably familiar.
She had always assumed the Werewolf Kingdom consisted entirely of traditional palaces and ancient architecture.
If she had never left the royal palace, she would never have imagined that werewolves built homes like this as well.
The familiarity of it all quietly eased something inside her heart.
Some time later, after enjoying a warm shower, Amara changed into a comfortable cream-coloured dress suitable for an evening at home.
Mrs. Woods smiled approvingly. "My Lady, you look much more relaxed."
"Yes, I am." Amara admitted with a smile.
The two women left the room together. As they made their way downstairs, Amara suddenly remembered her pet and asked, "What about Ginger?"
Mrs. Woods smiled knowingly. "Miss Sonia is with her."
Amara nodded in relief. "I’m sure she’s making certain Ginger settles in comfortably as well."
Knowing Ginger was in good hands allowed her to stop worrying.
They soon reached the dining room. Almost at the same moment, footsteps approached from another corridor. Alexander entered with Barron and Jasper. The three men had evidently freshened up as well.
Alexander looked around the dining room before calmly saying, "Sit."
And everyone took their seats.